Theodore (Xavier's Hatchlings #2) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,47

One of them was eyeing him like he was some kind of tasty meal. A couple of them came to talk to him, asking him if he’d read them a story.

“No. Go away, kid. I don’t have time for your shit today. Can’t you see I’m hurting?” The kids went back to their moms, and he got the stink eye from them. He thought people were way too sensitive nowadays. All they wanted to do was blame everyone else for their lot in life.

Patrick had always known he was lazy. In fact, he embraced the idea of being the laziest slob ever created. Why should a person work for a living when there were so many ways to not have to work? Like when his missus would go down to the mall at Christmas and put Pem’s name on one of those little soldiers or whatever that hung on the tree. People would take the name, buy whatever was on the list, and then send it to the house.

Putting his own name on one of the cards had worked for a few years. He’d gotten some really fun stuff. Then some old bitty had noticed his name, and he’d been barred from getting anything. Even his kid had been taken off the list. His wife had been powerful mad at him for getting Pem knocked off the list too.

When he was finally called to see the doctor, the doctor took one look at the bite marks and told him he couldn’t do anything. That they’d been made by a wolf. Patrick asked him what that had to do with anything.

“Well, you were bitten by an alpha, a wolf in charge of his pack. The only way these will stop bleeding and seal up is for the alpha to forgive you for your transgressions. Meaning you have to tell him you’re sorry for doing whatever he caught you at to have bitten you. You have to mean it too.” Patrick told him that was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard. “That’s the way it works. I’m sorry.”

“Are you sorry enough that you can just slap something on them so that I can get into the shelter tonight? Miss Picky Butt said that with me bleeding, I can’t stay there. Something about a path being made up or something.” He told him that it would continue to bleed. “So? I just need to get someplace to sleep tonight, and I’ll find the alpha tomorrow. It’s been a stressful day for me.”

After having his ass numbed up, the nurse cleaned the wound up for him. Using her phone, she took a picture of his ass cheeks and showed it to him. Damn, but they’d gotten him good. Leaving the clinic, he was feeling pretty good. One thing in his life had gone according to plan.

As soon as he was in front of the shelter, he knew he was going to be finding himself someplace else to sleep tonight. The fucking place closed the doors at seven. According to the clock on the town square that had been there since he’d been a kid, it was five after.

“Mother fuck.”

He pounded on the door, knowing someone had to be in there. But no one came out to let him in. Patrick was going to have to have a word with someone about this shit, just as soon as he could figure out who. Damn it all to fuck and back. He didn’t want to sleep outdoors.

Poor Patrick. You’re having a shitty night, aren’t you? He looked around to find the person making fun of him. When I bit you earlier tonight, I got a bit of your blood. Now I can talk to you anytime I want. You should know better than to try and steal from the Mannings. They’ve given me permission to do whatever I want to you. Isn’t that just great? I decided I’m going to play with you a bit before I have to crush you. And trust me when I tell you, I plan on making your last days on this earth a very difficult time for you.

“You need to come and fix my ass. It’s hurting again now that that shit has worn off.” The man just laughed. “There isn’t a damned thing funny about biting a man in the butt area. Didn’t your momma teach you not to bite?”

No. She was a very big supporter of biting whoever I wanted when they screwed around with me. Now that