The Runt novel Chapter 24

I have no idea what the fuck is going on with Kace and his old man but their already shit relationship has only gotten more tense and messed up. Ever since Kace brought his mate back from the summit, nothing has been the same – which I don't get. She was angry the little time I spent with her and then when we got back – she practically disappeared. Can't see how she'd be causing problems when she isn't even around most of the time. Plus, she's cute as a bug but I'd never say that out loud - Kace would kick my ass and then Phoenix would kill me.

I'm not sure what happened but I know Luna is in the hospital and has been for a while. Whatever happened must have been big and bad but she's still alive, which is great news. Why Kace is acting like such a fucking nightmare is beyond me though – the last couple of weeks his mood has gotten worst and physically he looks like shit. I don't think he's sleeping going by the bags under his eyes and he's definitely lost weight, so he isn't eating right and not getting his training in – meanwhile his old man is walking around like he owns the place.

What the hell is going on with those two?

KACE, MASTERED

Penelope is still in the hospital – which is great in that the old man can't touch her in there but it's bad in that she is on a feeding tube. She is so shut down she wasn't eating so after three days I had to order the tube. Now she just lays there and stares at the ceiling with that goddamn tube going into her – at least she's still breathing on her own, but something tells me that if she could control that, she wouldn't be.

Ever since she rejected me, even though I haven't accepted her rejection – Phoenix has been... fading. The pain is just too much, and he has since 'shut down' – I haven't heard from him in more than two weeks. Because of this, I've lost the ability to shift and am growing weaker by the day. At this rate I'm going to have to either resign the pack to AJ or take a chosen as soon as possible because I'm not going to last much longer.

Turns out you can die of a broken heart.

PENELOPE, ABSENT

"And he'll spare her life if I go along with his chosen mate bullshit and keep his secret," Kace says, sending me an image through the mindlink of what is clearly a cut across Penelope's throat while his father looms beside her. His father would kill her in a heartbeat, and it wouldn't ruin his sleep for even one night – he might toss and turn a little bit after killing his son, but it wouldn't be much. He is such a piece of garbage!

We continue talking for a while when Kace's office door swings open and his father strolls in. He looks at both of us like we're the dirt under his shoes and there is a wide smirk on his face when he speaks.

"I'm glad you're here, Beta," he says with a sneer in my direction. "You're just in time to witness this," he declares, looking in Kace's direction. He doesn't leave us waiting long before stunning us with his next words.

"I, Alpha Michael, challenge you Alpha Kace for control of the Timber Bay Pack."