Page 104 of Mates: Posy

"Good night, sweetness."

Jayden leaned up and kissed my cheek, then laid his head on Ash's shoulder and stared at me.

"Good night," I murmured.

I wanted to stay awake so I could watch him watch me, but it had been a long day, and it caught up to me all at once. Ash's maple syrup and Wyatt's luscious vanilla scents combined to relax and comfort me, and I drifted off listening to the steady heartbeat under my ear.

#

Wyatt

I waited until I was sure our girl was asleep, then slipped out of bed. I needed to leave before I exploded. I silently made my way down the stairs and headed for the one place I knew I could findsomerelief from the absolute rage swirling in my chest.

I could have talked with Mase and Jay about it, but Jay was exhausted after reining Quartz in twice today, and I couldn't keep depending on Mase to fix everything all the time. Not after Posy made me and Ash realize how much we took him for granted.

Call Papa or Dad, Granite encouraged me, but I shook my head.

They're busy with the heathens.

Stomping along, I threw open the door to the training room with a grunt. Not stopping to wrap my hands, I went straight to the heavy bag and let everything out. With each punch, I imagined I was killing Alpha Kendall Briggs again and again.

An hour later, my knuckles were busted and bloody. Sweat streaked down my face and body in rivers, and every muscle burned. Exhausted, I dropped my forehead against the bag.

"Done?" Mase asked from somewhere behind me.

I nodded, but didn't turn around.

"What's it about, Wy?"

"Dude. She had a panic attack because she accidentally flashed her titsto her mates."

"She's okay now. It will get easier as she grows more comfortable with us and there's some time and distance between the present and her past."

"Yeah, but we can't even touch her!" I banged my head on the bag. "She had a panic attack when I tried to hug her, remember? It's not even about mating, although I want to do that so bad, I hurt. But I want— I want to be able to hold her, just hold her, and it's killing me that I can't."

"Listen, I know it's hard, but all we can do is be there for her. We can't rush her. It'll take a lot of patience on our part, but she's worth it. Or don't you think so?"

"Of course I do!" I snarled. "I don't begrudge her the patience and time it'll take."

"Then are you— Are you disappointed with our mate?"

"Goddess, no, Mase! I love her! I love her down to my bones. I'll give her all the support I can. I'll do anything for Posy."

"Well, what are you struggling with? You haven't lost your temper like this in a long time."

"I. Hate. Him." I clenched my jaw so hard, I was surprised my teeth didn't crack. "I hate him so much for what he did to our girl."

An arm suddenly laid across my collar bones and another one wrapped around my head. Mase pulled me away from the heavy bag and back against his chest - and I couldn't hold it together any longer.

Standing in my big brother's arms, I sobbed like a kid who'd lost his stuffy. My rage melted into sorrow for all the things that Posy had lost or been denied by the man who should have loved her.

Mase didn't say a word. He just hugged me and petted my sweat-soaked hair and let me cry.

Finally, my eyes ran dry, and I wiped my snotty nose on his t-shirt.

"Better?" he asked.

"Better." My voice crackled harshly. "Thanks, Mase."

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