Runt of the Litter (Halfbreed Chronicles Book 1) Read Free Page A

gaze, “Besides, we didn’t run you over, you practically ran over us when you
tumbled into the car.  If you needed a ride, you could’ve just asked.”  She steps a little closer, standing merely a few inches away and I can tell
she’s sniffing me by the way her nostrils flare ever so slightly.  A human
might not have noticed the subtle move, but I sure as heck did, and I back away
a little, not sure what she could possibly be trying to accomplish, “Excuse me?”

 
    She realizes she’s been caught redhanded ,
but instead of backtracking she just looks at me, and I feel more confused than
ever.  This feels like the longest interlude I have ever had with a woman,
besides Liam’s wife, Haley of course.  I mean, to most humans, I’m decent looking,
with my blonde hair, and blue eyes.  And I’m 5’11 - tall enough for a
human man, and as I now realize, just as tall as the woman before me.
 Neither of us have to look up or down at one
another, we’re just equal in our gaze, and I can’t help but soften a little.

 
    I’m probably reading more into it, but for a second, I
smell a change in her pheromones, and I perk up a little, surprised that I even
care in the first place.  It’s not that no one has
 ever showed interest in me, or that I’m not curious about love (or
Hell, just even sex).  But I have yet to meet a halfbreed like me, and though my brother lucked out with a human, I think she’s the
exception in her willingness to tolerate us.  And I won’t even begin to
discuss the ludicrous notion of a pureblood falling for a halfbreed .
 It just doesn’t happen.

 
    Finally, she speaks, and I’m kind of surprised she doesn’t
just climb back in the car, but instead insists on finding out more about me.
 I don’t get it.  But um, okay.

 
    “So what’s your name sugar?”

 
    Never having been called any other nickname but “runt”,
I’m getting a little too happy at her nicknames for me, and though I try to
tell myself she’s just friendly and calls everyone these names, I go with it
anyway.  Even if it’s just for a few more minutes, I like the feeling of
her kindness.  But then I remember I have this ludicrous name, and I
wished I was as smooth as Lou, who would just come up
with something quick on the spot.  I shift a little, from one leg to the
next, my hands still gripping my broken bag tightly to avoid the papers falling
out, “Uh, it’s - it’s Avery.  Avery
Gallagher.”

 
    She practically snorts, and once again, I feel about five
inches tall.  I could just walk away, and half a mind to do just that, but
just as I’m about ready to bolt, she catches my look, and her tone changes
immediately - as if she wants to explain herself.  She doesn’t really seem
the type to explain herself to anybody, so though my pride is about as wounded
as can be, I remain in place.

“I wasn’t laughing at you, it’s just
that our parents had the same idea.”

 
    My brow lifts quizzically, and luckily she doesn’t make me
guess what she means, “My name is
Connolly, Riley Connolly.  See?  Both our parents gave us unisex
names.  It’s kind of cosmical that we ran into
each other then.”

“Well you ran into me - “ I mumble,
and she smirks before laughing.  And I pause realizing she laughed at my
joke, not me.   Kinda nice to be honest.  Still, I realize just how late I must be, and I try to
be polite about it, but I really have to get going, “I’m sorry, but I need to get to an appointment, so though it was nice
to meet you . . . ”

 
    I didn’t think she’d push it any further, chalking up her
general disposition to nothing more than a general kindness she extends to
everyone, but here she is, pulling out one of the pages from my haphazard pile
and is so close to me, I could pull her into my arms  I get a whiff of her scent - a mix of lilies, and honey - and my mouth begins to
water.  I’ve never had a strong physical attraction to anyone