Free Runt of the Litter by Sam Crescent

plan?” Jack asked.
    “Home, food, then a tour of the house, and after all
that’s done, I’ll show you what else I’ve set up.” Her uncle was excited, which
could only mean one thing. He had something special planned for her.
    Jack took hold of her hand once again, locking their
fingers together. She stared down at his hand, which was much larger than hers.
    “Are you okay?” she asked.
    “I’m fine.”
    “You’re away from the pack. It must be affecting you?”
    “It is, but I don’t mind.”
    She was touched by his determination to help her.
Reaching out, she touched his cheek. “I really appreciate you. You know that
right?”
    Everything fell away as she stared into his eyes. She
forgot about Uncle Paul, the car, what they were all going to do.
    “I know.” He took her hand, kissing her knuckles.
    Mate.
    Mate.
    Mate.
    Her wolf started to wake up once again. Why was her
wolf being like this? Why was she calling for Jack to be her mate? She really
didn’t have a clue what the mating was like. Her attraction to Jack was
overriding everything rational.
    “Stop the truck,” Jack said.
    “What?”
    “Stop the truck.”
    Tori was pulled out of the trance as the truck came to a sudden jerky stop. She
gasped at the seatbelt tightening around her.
    Jack climbed out of the truck, and he started to pace.
    “What’s going on?” Paul asked.
    “I don’t know.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and started
to climb out of the truck.
    “Stay inside, Tori,” Jack said, holding his hand out
as if to ward her off.
    “What’s wrong with him?”
    “Give him a minute. He’s struggling to control his
wolf. It’s going to be harder for him. The pack is gone, the open forest, it’s
just going to take him a little longer to get control.”
    “This keeps happening with me. Every time my wolf gets
close to the surface it seems to send him crazy.”
    “I bet it does.”
    She frowned. “What do you know?”
    “Nothing,” he said, a little too quickly.
    “Uncle Paul?”
    “I don’t know anything, and you’ve got to stop trying
to get me to speak up. I’m not going to break his confidence.”
    “Something has happened then?”
    “Stop it, Tori. We’re concentrating on you for now.”
    “Wait, Jack’s out there right now, and we’re dealing
with me?”
    Paul turned toward her. “Do you care about him?”
    “Yes. Of course I do.”
    “Then wait until he’s ready to tell you something.”
    Blowing out a breath, she shook her head. “Fine, I’ll
behave and be quiet about it.”
    Watching Jack pace, she waited several minutes before
he climbed back in the truck.
    “I’m ready. Let’s get this show on the road.”
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “You’d tell me if anything was bothering you, right?”
    “Tori, you’ve got nothing to worry about, okay? I’m
fine. I’m just getting settled into being away from the pack.”
    He was shaking his leg up and down. She took his hand,
covering it with both of hers. “I’m here.”
    His leg slowly started to slow down until it stopped
altogether.
    “Thank you,” he said.
    “It’s what I’m here for.” She smiled at him.
    Uncle Paul didn’t say anything for the remainder of
the journey. He kept driving toward his ranch.
    Jack looked out of the window, and she held his hand
the whole way to the ranch.
    “Fuck me, man, this place is a dream,” Jack said when
the ranch came into view.
    “It really is. I’ve got men who work the ranch, but
they’re always out of the way. It’s perfect for Tori, and it’ll be great for
you.”
    “I believe you.”
    The truck was parked near the house. Jack opened the
door, helping her out before he grabbed their bags.
    “We’ll get rid of those bags first.”
    “Do you want me to take my bag?” Tori asked.
    “No. I’ve got it.” He lifted their bags with ease.
    Slapping her thighs, she followed both men up to the
house. They were both much bigger than she was, making her feel really small.
    Uncle