Innocent Little Runt
Chapter 27

Josh’s POV

I stared around, waiting for Jake. We are supposed to run away today from this horrid, horrid place. I started to bite my nails, hoping that he would arrive any second.

“Jake,” I whispered to myself. “Where are you?”

The forest outside of the pack house was a scary place. The trees looked as if they belonged in an ominous scene of a horror movie. The grass was dying because of the upcoming winter. Every single noise made me jump, fearing that Alpha Henry had come looking for me.

Alpha Henry was a cruel man. He was old with a beer gut and he was perverted. He always tried to touch me when no one else was in the room. He had almost seriously hurt me one time but Jake had saved me. That was when Jake found out about how I was treated.

I heard a few twigs snapped and I looked up, hoping that it was Jake. My smile fell and was replaced by a look of horror as I saw Alpha Henry. His graying hair was slicked back, as if that could make him look professional. He was wearing a white wife beater top that was covered in mystery stains. He was wearing sport shorts that were one size too small. Overall, he was asking for people to cringe when they saw him.

“What the hell do you think you are doing out this late?” I stuttered for a moment before he walked forward, grabbing a fist full of my hair. “Well. . . Answer me!”

“I was just going for a walk Alpha,” I lied. He took his free hand and wrapped it around my throat.

“How dare you lie to me boy!” He started to squeeze my neck and I gasped. I brought up my hands, trying to pry his away from my throat.

“Pl-please. . . Stop.” Tears started to gather in the corner of my eyes from lack of oxygen. He chuckled and tightened his grip on my throat. Right before I blacked out I smelt the smell of coffee and pine.

I jumped up out of my bed. That same damn nightmare. The night that Jake and I ran away was the last night that Alpha Henry ever touched me. Jake had finally arrived and got Alpha Henry off of me. I remember I had fallen to the ground gasping for air as I watched Jake beat Alpha Henry through blurry eyes. In the dream though, Jake doesn’t make it before I pass out and I just end up in an abyss of darkness.

I look at my hands as they shake uncontrollably. I got up out of my bed, pushing away my forest green sheets. My entire room was modeled to make it seem like a forest, which is the second most comfortable place for me. I am more focused when I am in the forest, which is one of the reasons why I am such a good tracker.

I walk out of my room, quietly closing the door behind me. I tip-toe across the hall and open Jake’s bedroom door.

“Jake,” I whisper as I walk in. I close and lock the door behind me. “Jake?” I see him sit up and look at me.

“Josh?” I stand still and nod. “Well don’t just stand there. Get over here.” I smiled and laid down on the bed. He pulled the cover over us and pulled me to his bare chest. “You’re shaking,” he whispered and kissed the side of my neck. “What happened?”

“I had a nightmare.” It sounded embarrassing to my own ears but I didn’t care. Jake knew my darkest secrets and I knew his. I knew the reason why we ran so far and he knew why we ran in the first place.

“Which one was it this time?” It was like he kept a mental note of all of my nightmares and what way calmed me down best after each one.

“The night that we ran away.” He sighed and sat up. He pulled me to his side and kissed up and down the side of my neck. My breath caught in my throat. I love it when he does this.

“You know we are safe now, right?” He kissed below my ear and I smiled at the feeling. This was one of my favorite feelings.

“Then why do we keep this a secret? What is wrong with what we are? Zay is open about her relationship. . .” I trailed off.

“Zay and Kaleshia are mates, it’s different for them. We don’t want to give the pack a bad name. Other packs aren’t this accepting with certain situations.” He continued to k**s up and down my neck and then kissed his way to my mouth. The k**s was slow but full of love and l**t. I turned around so I could k**s him easier. He pulled me on his lap with my legs on either side of him.

“Maybe one day we can tell the pack. Even if it has to be kept a secret from the other packs.” I nodded at his suggestion and laid my head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady, and had a rhythm that no one else had. It was a sound that always comforted me.

“Why couldn’t we have just been mates? That would have been so much more simpler. We wouldn’t have to have an explanation of why we are together. We wouldn’t have to just say that we are just two people who happened to fall in love.”

“Are you saying that you regret it?” Concern laced his voice and my head snapped up. I shook my head frantically and leaned forward, smashing my lips onto his.

“Of course not. I would never regret any of it.” He smiled and put an arm on the back of my neck. He brought me forward and kissed my nose.

“I love you Josh. So much.” I smiled.

“I love you too.”