Page 81 of Mates: Posy

How could I be when I was once more helpless and scared and locked in a room?

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Lilah

After we shut the bathroom door, we looked at each other. Posy was not doing wellat all. Her breath came fast and shallow, bright red spots dotted each of her cheeks, and her eyes grew increasingly wild.

I fought back my own terror so I could think clearly.

The Tall Pines wolves were here to drag me back tohim, and I made the decision that the only way I would go back was as a corpse.

They'll need to take my last breath to take me.

"Okay, we know help is on the way, but the betas are outnumbered four or five to one right now." Peri gathered us into a tight huddle. "We need a plan in case they can't hold the line until the others get here. We can’t let anything happen to the luna."

"Behind the diner is an open field that leads to the woods," Callie said. "As soon as we hit the trees, we're on pack territory. I say we go through the kitchen, out the back door, and book it for the border."

"What if there are wolves in the back, too?" I asked, wanting the plan to be solid before we made our move.

"Twinny and I will cause a distraction," Keeley said. "We'll shift and run them in circles."

"I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me!"

Tears rolled down Posy's face, and her breathing had devolved into sharp pants.

"You're the important one here, luna." Callie gripped her shoulders. "The alphas wouldn't survive losing you, and the pack wouldn't survive losing them. Getting you to safety is everyone's top priority."

"We'll be fine," Keeley added. "If we have to shift, Sparrow and Finch are fast. Really,reallyfast."

"Lilah, are you faster on two legs or four?" Peri looked at me.

"Even with Kestrel asleep, I'm faster in wolf form."

"The only problem is, you can't link with anyone since you're not pack yet."

"Alpha Jayden inducted me into the Moonset pack," I explained. "I can link with enough people to be okay."

In fact, I'd linked the alpha, Beta Crew, and Luke as soon as I'd confirmed the nauseatingly familiar smell of Tall Pines wolves. The beta had alerted his team, which launched them into motion and ended up with us locked in this restroom.

Unfortunately, Luke had shifted into Rain and Alpha Jayden into Quartz, andneitherof those wolves was at home to reason.

I decided linking with Beta Crew was my best bet for a while.

"Good," Peri said, "because Posy can't directly link with anyone yet."

All our eyes went to the tiny luna. She was shaking so hard now, I didn't know how she was still standing.

Half of me wanted to fall apart, too, but the other half wouldn't hear of it.

You will keep it together,I ordered myself. These girls are all younger than you and far more valuable. Keep it together so you can help them. Remember, it's not over until you're underground.

"Luna's not going to be able to run, Per," Callie stated what we all knew.

"My wolf is a large one. I'll carry her." I took a deep breath to calm myself as panic tried to flare again. "The three of you run guard around us. If we're attacked, buy as much time as you can for me to get her back on pack lands."

That border patrol better be close by then, or we'll both be in trouble.

The twins nodded. Peri looked conflicted for a moment, then nodded, too.

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