Page 5 of Mates: Posy

The strangers stayed silent, and James didn’t tell me their names. I knew I wasn’t worth an introduction, and they probably didn’t see the point. After all, it wasn’t like they were going to keep me.

Until they reject me, I guess I'll identify them by their scents.

"We’re finally free," James went on. "This morning, I stepped up as alpha and named Aiden my beta. The whole pack has been in party mode since."

Aiden came over and slowly sat on the other side of the bed. He had my stuffed rabbit in his hands, and my eyes widened with panic.

Oh, no. Not Mr. Nibbles!

"Here’s your bunny." He held it out to me. "I washed him up for you. He’s nice and fluffy again."

Despite how badly I wanted Mr. Nibbles, I didn’t move. This was another trick. Father used it a lot, too. If I reached for whatever he held out, he’d punish me for being greedy. If I didn’t reach for it, he’d punish me for being ungrateful. Then he’d destroy whatever the item was. Flowers. Food. Pictures of my mom. Clothes. Shoes.

Before I could stop it, a tear rolled down my cheek. I didn’t want to lose Mr. Nibbles. He was the only good thing I had left in my life. And I couldn’t take another beating.

Let this be the last one,I begged the Moon Goddess.Let me die at my brothers’ hands. I don’t want to do this anymore.

Two of the strangers whimpered. Why were they in pain? Did they get hurt during the fight in the kitchen?

Then I heard one of them shift their feet. As the air stirred, maple syrup wafted to my nose.

My mates had intervened with Father. Would they intervene with my brothers, or let them hurt me?

Why would they help a worthless runt? No one else ever has.

Aiden stretched his arm closer to me.

"Please take it, baby sister," he murmured.

Baby sister? When was the last time I’d heard that? How many years?

My confusion and heartache must have shown on my face because James sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face.

"Posy, we neverwantedto hurt you. Father made us. Aiden and I fought as hard as we could, but no one could defy him when he gave a command in his alpha voice."

I was too stunned to answer.

"That's why we moved out." Aiden set Mr. Nibbles next to my hip. "Ignoring you was miserable, but hurting you was worse. Every time I had to hurt you, I died a little inside. I’m sorry, baby sister. I’m so, so sorry!"

"It made our wolves crazy and harder to control," James went on when Aiden choked up. "Slate and Agate tried to protect you as much as they could, but his alpha command bound them, too."

"You didn’t knowanyof this? You thought we hurt you by choice?" Aiden looked devastated, his blue eyes welling up with sorrow and hurt.

I stayed silent as my tired brain worked to process everything.

They … don’t hate me?

After six years of isolation and abuse, it was hard to believe. Deciding to take a risk, I asked the question that had plagued me for so long.

"Why?" I whispered.

It was the first time I'd spoken to someone other than Father in years.

"Why what, baby sister?" James asked. "Why did he treat you that way?"

I nodded.

"I’d like to know that, too," said Campfire.

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