Read Online Garrett's Choice by A.J. Jarrett - Free Book Online

with his lion when he ran and hunted. He’d heard the same from his fellow shifter warriors that running was a good release from the pressures of human society.
    Lachlan kept at an even pace and trotted along without a care in the world. The sunshine beamed down, chasing away the autumn chill. It made the temperature comfortable and perfect for a midday run.
    “Are you queer now, too, boy?”
    The sound of shouting in the distance had Lachlan stumbling to a stop. The foul and disgusting word got his attention more than the raised voice did.
    “No, Dad. I just like living on my own is all. I swear.”
    Lachlan eased closer to the voices and saw Josh talking with another man. From the resemblance, Lachlan took an educated guess this was Josh’s father. Wes had been right. The man was a bastard.
     
    Garrett’s Choice
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    “On your own, huh?” The man snickered. “With all those fags over there, I’m starting to think I raised a fairy. You like their company more than your own family, boy?”
    From what Lachlan was witnessing he’d say, yes, the company at Garrett’s house was ten times better than anything at Josh’s house.
    His home life must have been terrible.
    “No, Dad. I just…”
    Josh never finished his sentence. His father hauled back his hand and smacked Josh across the face. The sound echoed in the quiet afternoon. Before Lachlan could stop himself, he took off running toward the men.
    Josh might be an ass, but he was a member of Garrett’s pack and by circumstances Lachlan’s, too. Josh’s dad may be a member as well, but to treat another with such cruelty wasn’t okay in Lachlan’s opinion. The guy deserved to be bitch slapped right back.
    Just as Josh’s dad was pushing his hand back in the opposite direction, knuckles out toward Josh’s face, Lachlan let loose a loud roar. Both men jumped, but it was the older man who cowered in fear.
    “What’s going on here?” Lachlan asked as he brought his hand up to Josh’s chin to look at the red mark flaming at the side of his face.
    “Are you okay?”
    Josh met his eyes, and for a brief moment Lachlan saw the vulnerability in the young man’s eyes. The usual hard gray softened and glistened with what only Lachlan could assume were unshed tears.
    “Get your hands off my son, you…”
    Josh jerked out of Lachlan’s hold and Lachlan let him go without taking offense. It was hard to show weakness in the presence of a man he considered an enemy, even if Lachlan truly wasn’t his enemy.
    Lachlan swung around, strategically putting himself between Josh and his father. “If I were you, I’d be very careful of the next word that comes out of your mouth.” Lachlan kept his voice low and eyes hard as he eyed Josh’s father. He wanted to make the man feel small and 56
    AJ Jarrett
    worthless like he’d just done to his own child not more than five minutes ago.
    “Why? What are you going to do to me, cat man?”
    Cat man? Lachlan wanted to laugh. The name sounded like a moniker a superhero would use. But if he cracked even a smile, it’d take away from the seriousness of the situation, and it was serious.
    Lachlan wouldn’t stand for any member of his pack to be treated like shit, not even Josh.
    My pack? Where did that come from? Lachlan shoved that thought to the back burner for the time being. He had an out-of-line parent to deal with.
    “This.” Lachlan brought his fist up and bestowed upon Josh’s dad the same gift he gave Josh a few nights prior. The man’s eyes went wide then he stumbled backward, clutching his nose. Blood oozed out around his clenched fingers, dripping dark crimson to the ground.
    A smug smile creased Lachlan’s face. If anyone deserved a beat down it was this prick standing in front over him. Lachlan glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of a small smile on Josh’s face. But in the blink of an eye it disappeared. Back were the hard edges that made the young man seem older than his twenty-two years.
    “Go home,