Page 30 of Mates: Posy

Very slowly, he slid his arms around me and clasped his hands together right above my bum. It was a loose hold, one I could slip out of easily if I wanted to, and he didn't try to pull me against him. It was as if he knew a tight, close hug would make me feel trapped.

Tilting my head back, I met his silvery blue eyes, and any remaining anxiety evaporated. I moved a little closer and laid my palms on his chest, and his huge grin nearly split his face.

"Me, too, princess," Ash bounced on his toes. "I want a hug, too!"

"No. Get away," Wyatt grumbled. "While I was dealing with pups skipping patrol duty, you were skippingyourduty just so you could spend time with our girl!"

"I didn’t skip anything." Ash crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at Wyatt. "I can’t help thatI’mso good, I finished early."

"Only because you took the easiest job."

"That’s funny because the last timeyouhad to hear the earnings report, you said it was ridiculously boring."

To distract them from needling each other, I laid my cheek against Wyatt’s sternum. His hands went to my back and rubbed up and down. Granite purred under my ear, and I smiled.

"Where are the others?" I asked.

"Jay is interviewing a warrior who asked to join the pack. Cole’s checking in with a patrol that scented rogues on the western border of our territory. Mase went to deal with a feral wolf."

I nodded because it all sounded like normal alpha duties, until he said that about Mason. Raising my head, I tensed in his arms.

"A feral wolf?"

"His mate died about a month ago." Ash ran his knuckles down the side of my face. "The wolf lost his mind, and the man’s not far behind."

"Is he— Will Mason have to put him down?"

"Most likely," Ash sighed.

"And Mason wentalone?"

"He can handle it, cutie," Wyatt told me. "He and Cole are two of the most powerful wolves in the country. In fact, they’re among the top ten in the whole world."

"I’m not worried about him being in danger." I stepped back from him with a worried frown.

"Then what?"

"It will hurt him, and he’s all alone."

"Oh," they said in sync, then looked at each other for a second.

"He wouldn’t want anyone else there, Posy," Ash said slowly. "He doesn’t like an audience for that kind of thing."

"Not an audience, but for support," I argued.

"You think he’d cry on one of our shoulders? Princess, Mase is solid ice. Even when hedoesfeel upset about something, he never shows it to any of us."

"Could you check on him, please? I’m really worried." My eyes stinging, I sniffed and blinked rapidly.

"Sure. I’ll link him right now."

As Ash’s eyes clouded, I looked back to Wyatt. He frowned at what he saw in my face.

"Mase isn’t going to crack from grief because he has to put down a wolf who needs mercy."

"I know that." I couldn’t hold the tears in any longer.

"Then what’s upsetting you?"

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