Page 75 of Mates: Posy

I nodded, and he leaned down and kissed my cheek.

As soon as Wyatt let go, Ash gently swooped me up into his arms for a big bear hug. I giggled as he growled into my neck, then squeaked when he left a kiss at the base of my throat. Laughing, he carefully set me back on my feet.

"If you find cute hair things, get them for us, cupcake."

"I will," I promised with a grin.

Then Jayden cupped my face with his palms and leaned in to kiss my forehead, then each eyelid, and finally both cheeks. My blush spread all over my face and down my neck. His husky chuckle slid over my skin like a caress, and I quivered.

"Enjoy your morning, sweetness," he murmured. "I’ll see you when you get back."

I stretched up on my tiptoes and kissed the edge of his jaw, and his eyes widened before he grinned.

Then Cole came over. Holding me close against his side, he walked us to his big, black SUV and handed Lilah the keys. Peri claimed shotgun when I didn’t want it, so he helped me into the seat behind Lilah’s.

"Do not try to ditch the betas," he warned us with a stern scowl.

My eyes wide, I nodded frantically. No way was I going to disobey Cole when he looked likethat.

Or ever, really.

"I’m mostly saying that for Peri and the twins, honey." Cole smirked, which relieved his dark expression. "I know my smart girl wouldn’t do something stupid like that."

I smiled, showing him my dimples, and he kissed my cheek.

"Okay, okay, Cole!" Peri fussed. "Bye already!"

He winked at me, then stepped back and closed my door.

"Talk about a worry wart!" Peri snorted.

"Aw, he just loves his mate," Keeley giggled. "All the alphas all do. It’s so easy to see. You’re a lucky girl, luna!"

"No, no. Call me Posy," I insisted.

"Thank you!"

"All right, betas Crew and Matthew are getting into their truck. Are we ready?" Lilah asked.

"Yes!" we all chorused.

And away we went.

18: The King Arrives

King Julian Hemming

As we crossed into Five Fangs territory, Onyx surprised me by lifting his ears and going on alert.

What's up, Nyx?I asked him.

He didn't respond, which was normal. He was a primitive wolf and not the most talkative to begin with, and every year that we went without our mate, he withdrew even further. To be honest, I worried that he'd go feral if we didn't find our special girl soon.

He perked up last week when I reminded him that our vacation was coming up. He loved the Five Fangs territory and hanging out with his best buddy, Quartz. When I had to move our trip to today, I thought that he would be ecstatic, but he was too furious about Alpha Halder. Ever since Ash's call, he'd been in a filthy temper.

A frustrated sound came from the back seat, and I looked over my shoulder at my new beta.

"All good, Gisela?"

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