Runt of the Litter (Halfbreed Chronicles Book 1) (10 page)

Chapter.
 
19 – Avery

This woman is going to be the death of me.  

From the books I read, the woman wants to be seduced, and
sometimes, only seems to be doing it to please the man - which gave me
seemingly unrealistic expectations of me needing to convince Riley, or any
other woman, that I’m a worthy mate.  But she wants me just as badly, and
isn’t afraid to hide it.  And it just turns on me more.  She knows
what she wants, and it’s me.  My ego couldn’t be stroked any harder.
 I want her, and if the family
wasn’t
encircling
us, I wouldn’t even care to loose my virginity in the fucking mudroom.  
But they are, and I need to lose the hard on fast.  In fact, I don’t even
reply to her mating comment, because it would just make my dick twitch in
response.  I need to pretend she isn’t even here, if I’m going to survive
this family gathering.  
When her Dad knocks on the screen door, I’m almost ecstatic.  Nothing gets
rid of my sexual urges faster, than seeing him glaring at me.  I reach for
the handle, and he walks in, followed closely by Savannah.  She’s kind
enough to offer me a smile, and ask where the rest of my family is, while their
Dad continues to seethe,
“Oh, everyone
is sitting in the living room - we’re just waiting on an apple pie to finish
baking in the oven.”

Riley, defiant as usual, takes my hand, and I’m pretty
certain if it weren’t for Savannah, their Dad would growl at the sight.  For
now though, I lead them across the kitchen, and past the dining room, walking
into the room where Liam and Lou stand, while Haley remains seated because
nowadays it takes her half a minute to stand, or sit, with her pregnant belly.
 After the rounds of introduction, and some generic pleasantries, Liam and
Lou sit down on either side of Haley, while I suggest
the
large two
seater
for Riley, Savannah and their
Dad.  I planned on taking the lazy boy for myself, but it doesn’t seem
like my woman wants to be too far away from me, and she plops herself on the
arm of the chair, resting her hand on my knee.  To be honest, I like her
being so close to me, far too much to really object, though I’m sure her Dad
hates to watch us almost snuggling in front of him.  
I’m still hoping to go with a more respectful line of earning his approval, so
I make no play to get her any closer to me.  Though Riley begins to
absentmindedly stroke my leg and I’m pretty sure I’ll have to pull her to me
after all, if anything, to hide the erection.  

“It’s so weird to
see you be romantic.  From one day to the next.”
I look up, and catch Liam eyeing us, but Haley slaps his arm, and he mumbles
something unintelligible.  
“It’s
been weird for me, too,”
I answer honestly, because frankly, two days ago,
I was a virgin bachelor accountant for the local community.  No more, no
less.  
Just the statue, unchanging, as the sun rose and
set around me.
 Now, time isn’t going by the same way.  It’s
like it’s slowed down, where every moment with Riley counts, and when I’m not
with her, I’m counting down the minutes for when I am.  I know what this
means - that I love her, but I’ve never been before, and I’m not sure if I
should say it to her, unless I know for sure this is what it is.  I think
it is.  But I don’t have anything to compare it to.  
“Aren’t you mated with your wife
?,
”
Riley chimes in, all eyes got to Liam and Haley, and
I chuckle.  Because
yup
, sure enough it was the
exact same for them.  Liam went to work one day, and then we didn’t see
him for almost two.  In fact, we were just about to go to the police, or
even the Council, when he must have come up for some air, and called us when he
realized how long he had been at Haley’s apartment.  

My oldest brother shares a bit of their story: how he went
to work at the farm on the other side of Sleepy Eye, and though he’d been there
for months, it was the first time he met the foreman’s daughter.  Her
being human, he didn’t think she’d have the same pull, but it seemed mating
took a hold of both of them, and from the first moment they accidentally
brushed up against one another, they were going to be together come hell or
high water.  They haven’t been apart since, and that was two years ago.
 Now, she’s expecting their first child, and though of course the rest of
us smile, and Riley and Savannah congratulate her, their Dad has to chime in a
bit with reality - though for once, he seems to be trying to be sensitive,
“Pardon me for even bringing it up, but I
understand it’s very rare for a human to be able to carry a werewolf pup.
 Is it different for shifter babies?  I only ask, because I’m not
familiar with the subject.”

Haley shifts a little to look at him directly, her red
waves bouncing slightly on her bare shoulders.  Liam, as usual, follows
her line of sight, and holds her hand, obviously knowing what she’s about to
say, before she even opens her mouth,
“Sometimes
it can be, but we’re very grateful, because unlike others we haven’t had any
losses yet.”  
The ‘yet’ is slightly emphasized, and I think it’s
saddled with fear.  A lot of
half breeds
don’t
survive the birth, so the sense of anxiety we have for Haley’s - and the baby’s
- safety, can easily overshadow our joy for her.  This whole pregnancy has
been filled with cautious optimism.

“I’m just happy,
because for a long time I had worried that maybe we’d never have any kids.
 So if we can just even have one, I’ll be very grateful.”
Their Dad nods his head, and sits back in his seat a little, while Savannah
continues the conversation by asking her how she’s feeling, and the names they
have picked out - but suddenly, their father chimes in again, not having
realized they were still talking,
“So it
is safer for a shifter to mate with a human, than a werewolf with a shifter?
 Because I’ve never heard of a successful birth between pureblood and a
halfbreed
.”

It’s obvious he’s referring to Riley and me, and though I
can tell Lou is about to come and defend my honor or something, I hurry to
respond first.  Because frankly, I know that my response is going to be
calmer than his (and especially Riley’s - who’s own hand is now digging into my
leg, trying to hold back).  I actually don’t think he’s trying to be an
arrogant prick for once.  In fact, I believe he’s coming from genuine
concern for our possible future children, and the pain it would cause Riley if
we never get pregnant.  Or worse, do, but lose a child.  It’s not
something I had really allowed myself to contemplate yet, but it is valid
concern to raise, and I need to make sure everyone else in the room,
understands it, too,
“I don’t think it’s
entirely baseless to be concerned about any future children we try to have -
because I actually haven’t heard of a pureblood and
halfbreed
breeding successfully either.”

I can tell Riley is looking at me, but I keep my eyes on
her Dad, because I want him to understand that any concerns he’ll raise, I’ll
treat seriously.  He needs to know that I care about his daughter, as much
as he does.  But he tests even my patience, by what he says next,
“So you agree - it is better for a shifter
to stick with a human mate, and allow the recessive gene to win out.  To
have human babies, and allow the human side to get back to what it does best:
be normal.”

Liam growls, actually
growls
,
as if to prove he’s no mere human - and Lou leans forward, his sheer size
seeming to actually get bigger, as if his own wolf is ready to pounce on Mr.
Connolly, in his phased form (too bad, they can only phase during a full moon).
 The room is about as tense as it could get, but Riley’s dad just sits
there, unsure of how just how offensive his words seem to be.  I can’t
tell if he’s ignorant, or just doesn’t care.  So I try one more time, just
in case I can diffuse the situation,
“Our
mother was a pureblood werewolf sir, and it obviously worked out just fine for
her - she had three sons.”

He looks between the three of us, but otherwise, seems
unphased
,
“But
that’s just the thing, Avery.  A werewolf, mixing with a human isn’t the
answer either – look, it obviously didn’t work out for you guys.
 You have the short end of the stick, in terms of abilities, in comparison
to us werewolves, because you’ve been tainted by human blood.  And worse,
if your mom is any indication, a pureblood obviously can’t raise a
halfbreed
, since she is nowhere to be found.”
I’m sure my jaw would be dragging the floor by his statement, if I didn’t have
to stand and stop Lou from attacking the guy.  Liam joins me in trying to
keep Lou back, and thankfully he allows us to pull him aside, closer to the
dining room.  Riley and Savannah drag their Dad to another corner, close
to the fireplace, and I’m assuming we’re all telling each other to keep calm.
 Thankfully Lou hadn’t said anything out loud to the guy yet, but he’s got
plenty to say to me,
“How can you marry
into a family like that?  You’ll never have any respect from them, or your
mate.”  
I look back at Riley, almost twenty feet away from me, and the concern on her
face - the worry her Dad might have just ruined everything between us - tells
me Lou is wrong, and I need to help us move passed this.  
As quickly as I can.
 Turning back to my brothers, I
try to whisper, and hope Mr. Connolly is too distracted by Riley’s words, to
hear mine,
“Look I get it, the guy is a
total ass, or ignorant, or both, but please don’t rip into him right in front
of Riley.  It wouldn’t bode well for my long term plans.”
Lou straightens a little, and both he and Liam take a deep breath at the same
time, looking more like twins than ever,
“Fine,
for your sake, I’ll back off.  For now.”  

I shrug, and grin,
“Hey,
I’ll take it.  Thanks.”

Liam rolls his eyes, seemingly already aware that he left
Haley alone on the couch, in the middle of this mess,
“Let’s just get through this dinner, so I can bring her home.”
 Lou and I nod in agreement, and head back into the living room.  I’m
not exactly sure what his daughters told him, but the werewolf actually
apologizes, and for what it’s worth - though it’s tense - we move into the
dining room, and begin to eat quietly.  

Too quietly.

Maybe this night isn’t going to get any better.

Chapter.
 
20 - Riley

Even though the dinner was far more strained than I had
hoped, at least we made it through without my Dad making anymore dumb
statements about who should mate whom.  And neither of Avery’s brothers
tried to lunge at him.  So I guess that counts as a win.  Savannah
tried to make small talk with Haley, and at least for a little while, their
generally happy moods managed to help balance out our sour ones.  But
nobody else talked, not even Avery and me.  

In fact, I’m so desperate to get this dinner moving
forward (and send everybody home), that when Avery begins to pick up the plates
after dessert, I quickly volunteer to help him.  Because all I want is to
kiss him, and hold him, and for now, it’s just easier to do that away from
everyone else.  I hope it won’t be this hard all the time.  
And that even if Avery is a
halfbreed
,
he’ll be respected as my mate.
 I feel like a big part of the
reason I need to mate him tonight, is simply to prevent any more fighting
between our families.  Which makes me kind of sad to dwell on, because
that shouldn’t even part of it.

Once in the kitchen, I look over my shoulder for just a
moment, and see Savannah and my Dad talking, while Avery’s family sticks to
themselves.  Not a ringing endorsement for future family gatherings, but
we both knew we’d have to start somewhere.  Taking a step closer to the
sink, I gently place the dishes inside, when suddenly Avery grabs me and kisses
me.  The small peck deepening instantly, and I gladly wrap my arms around
his neck.  When we come up for air, I see Avery grinning, and it makes me
smirk,
“Missed kissing me?”

“What do you think
?,
”
he presses his pelvis against mine, and I feel the
almost hot heat between us.  How am I ever going to make it through the
goodbyes at this rate?  I give right back into him, pressing my groin
against the bulge, and sucking in a quick breath at the pleasure that comes
along with it.  Closing my eyes, I try to breathe, but my whole body is
tensing up, knowing full well, that only he can give me the relief I need,
“Why don’t we leave - tonight.  Just
go rent a cabin on the beach, and fuck each other’s brains out till sunrise?”

Avery grunts against my neck, and I know he’s fighting
against the idea.  His body seems ready to carry me off at any moment, but
his brain is telling him something else, something I don’t understand,
“Come on Avery, we’d be at the beach in an
hour.”  
I lower my right arm, to take his hand, ready to lead him
outside.  But he stops me in my tracks, when he grabs my wrist,
“Wait Riley.  We can’t leave tonight.”
I lean into him, just a breath away from his lips,
“And why not?”
“It’s just
- ,
”
he releases his grip on me, and takes a step back, and I know him well enough
to know the moment is gone.  Once he’s made up his mind, he can be just as
stubborn as I am.  Luckily, I’m persistent, too,
“Why not, Avery?”

His blue eyes look into mine,
“It’s just, I know that if I get you under me, then I have no idea when
I’ll come back up for air, and I don’t want to miss the festival.”

The festival?  My brow narrows, in obvious
frustration,
“Who cares about the
fucking festival?”  
Not when he should be more concerned about mating
me?  It’s infuriating, but thankfully, he’s quick to explain,
“Not the festival, but I mean, about the
Council coming.  Remember, I want to do the
bloodtest
.”

Oh God, we’re still on that?  I shake my head, and
lift my hands to either side of his face,
“Baby,
please, you’re a shifter, just like your brothers.  I can see your wolf
leering at me from the inside.”  

For a second, I think he believes me, but then my Dad has
to walk in, and ruin the whole damn moment:  

“You do realize
she’s only trying to get you out of town because more werewolves are coming,
right?”
“Dad!”
I practically hiss right back
at him, angry as Hell that he knows me too fucking well and saw right through
my plan.  But I’m even angrier that he’s trying to turn Avery against me
for it.    

Avery is still holding my wrist, seemingly desperate to clutch to me, while his
brain tries to understand what is being said,
“
Wha
- I’m not following.”
I open my mouth, trying to say something,
anything, that
might smooth over the blow.  But my Dad once again says it all, in the
most monotone way.  As if he wasn’t trying to ruin everything for me,
“A few weeks ago, I had sent out a message
that there’s an unmated female werewolf in Sleepy Eye - there’s plenty of males
coming to vie for her hand, and it’s not uncommon for male werewolves to prove
themselves by going one on one against one another.”
Avery still looks confused, and I can’t hold back against my Dad’s barbaric
ideas any longer,
“I’m not a piece of
meat, for you to sell off to the highest bidder.”
For once, my Dad actually looks bothered by what I say, and lets his impatience
get the better of him,
“Stop it - I know
that.  I was honestly just trying to help you find your mate - I had no
idea it was going to be Avery, nor did you.”
Avery finally lets go of me, and I instantly miss his touch.  He moves
forward a little, stepping between me and my Dad, and I think he’s more
confused than ever,
“Okay, but I’m still
not following - “
My Dad, looks back at Avery, probably more exasperated than anything,
 

I’m practically seething, but my own feelings don’t even come into the equation
when I realize Avery is now turning to me, having realized what is being said,
“ . . .
wha
-
Riley, is this true?”
My anger is gone, replaced by one of the very new feelings I’ve tapped into
since I met my mate: desperation,
“I
just want you to be safe.  Not get hurt.”
I think it makes him more upset that I haven’t instantly waved off my Dad’s
comments as ridiculous,
“Do you think I
can protect you, or not?  Stop anybody else who might have their sights on
you?”
I’m not sure what I can say that will make him understand where I’m coming
from.  And in my hesitation to respond, while I contemplate the best
explanation, I break eye contact, unsure of how to approach the subject,
“.
. . Avery I - “
“Oh my God, you don’t, do you?”
I can hear the tone of his voice, the shock behind his words, and I instantly
look right back into his eyes.  All I see is confusion, and even a hint of
pain,
“Avery please, I couldn’t stand it
if you got hurt - and we aren’t mated yet.  Once we do, no one else would
ever touch me.”
“So you want to mate me solely because
you don’t think I could protect you, not because you just want to be my mate
?,
”
my Dad is nodding in the background, as if he agrees
with Avery’s statement, but luckily, my mate’s eyes are only on me, and he
doesn’t see my Dad’s actions.  But he still wants an explanation, and
dammit
, if I don’t screw it up even more,
“It’s - It’s for both reasons - but Avery,
please.“

He seemed upset when I took too long to
answer,
now I think I made another mistake by responding too quickly, and not finding
the best way to word it all.  So I do everything I can to make it better,
and reach out for him.  

But he instantly backs away from me,
“I - don’t Riley.”
His reaction feels like a punch in the gut, and I can even feel tears beginning
to form in my eyes, and my throat has that distinctive emotional burn, making
it hard to talk.  But I’m desperate, and have to try anyway,
“Oh please, no - don’t be mad, I just don’t
want to see you hurt, I - “
Avery puts up his hand, stopping me in my tracks,
“I think . . . I’m going to let Lou pack up some food for you guys, and
I’m going to head upstairs for a bit.”
Oh thank, God, and I try to close the gap between us,
“Yes, let’s talk upstairs - “
“No, Riley.  I’m going upstairs
alone.  I need - I need some time here.”
 His reply floors me,
and I freeze as his words crash into me, almost knocking me over,
Screw it, I don’t even care if my Dad sees me crying, or hears my desperate
pleas.  I don’t even care if anybody else in this
house,
sees me begging on my knees.  I can’t, I won’t, spend another night
without him.  If he doesn’t want to mate me, fine.  If he wants me to
stay in the corner, and not touch him, or hold him, or kiss him, then fuck it,
I will.  But I can’t be without him,
“Please
Avery, just let me explain.”
It’s as if my desperation isn’t even registering with him.  He’s closed
his mind to anything I might be trying to offer right now, and his tone is
almost flat in comparison to the emotions in mine,
“Riley, I just need some time please.  I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I’m so shocked, that when he turns to head upstairs via
the second stairs in the kitchen, I stand there for a second, trying to
understand how the pull of our mating bond is even allowing him to leave the
room.  When I fear that my knees might just buckle underneath me, I feel
my Dad’s arms wrap around my waist.  He’s trying to hold me steady, but
all I can think is that he’s the one who caused this in the first place.
 When he looks down at me, all I can do is glare back at him.  My
tears stop at the edges of my eyes, and instead, seething anger replaces all
reason,
“Are you happy now?”