Page 146 of Mates: Posy

Swinging my head around, I saw her wicked grin. She winked at me, and I instantly understood.

We had taken over the pool-side cabana in the backyard, relaxing on the cushioned loungers and sucking on ice pops that the betas took turns fetching for us. We'd gotten a text from Peri, asking if she could come over and hang out, and we were plotting how to get her here.

I couldn't drive, and the king had asked the queen to stay on our property with the betas until he returned. Since he'daskedher instead oforderedher to, she wanted to reward him by complying.

"Tyler?" I called, and he came right over.

"Yeah, luna? Want another ice pop?" he asked with a big grin.

"No, thank you. Do you know how to drive?"

"Yeah, but I don't have a car or anything." Now his eyes were puzzled, as if he couldn't work out where I was going with the question.

"Could you please go pick Peri up for us? She can't drive and we want to hang out with her."

"Luna, my orders are to stay here and guard you." Tyler straightened to his full height and pulled his shoulders back.

"Out of curiosity, can a luna's orders override an alpha's?" I asked Queen Lilah.

"Asking for a friend, are you? Well, I'm not sure, but I know a queen's can."

She gave Tyler a sweet smile, and his cheeks and the tops of his ears flushed red.

"Your majesty, I'd be failing in my duty if I left my post to run an errand."

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and the conflict was clear on his face. I opened my mouth to put him out of his misery, but Luke stepped in before I could say anything.

"Ty, we're on pack territory and there are five other betas here, one of whom is the king's. Your luna will be safe and protected." His stern expression relaxed into a kind smile. "Take a word of advice, son. Piss off your alpha a dozen times before you piss off your luna once."

Tyler jerked his head in a quick nod of acknowledgement, then looked at me.

"All right, luna. Which car should I use?"

"Take your pick." I shrugged, not really caring.

"Um, actually, luna, the alphas are fussy about their vehicles," Matthew was brave enough to say despite my glare. "For example, Alpha Mason does not let anyone drive his truck."

He and the rest of the betas joined us and claimed their own loungers.

"Hmm. Well, they took Cole’s and the king's vehicles, which leaves Wyatt, Ash and Jayden." I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow at him. "Of those three, which of my mates would mind the least?"

"Don't touch Alpha Wyatt's car if you want to keep breathing," Emerson muttered, and Matthew and Crew burst out laughing.

"Alpha Jay won't care, Ty, so take his," Crew said, still grinning. "He only sees vehicles as a tool to get from point A to point B and doesn't understand his brothers' obsession."

"What about Ash?" I asked, curious now.

"Normally, I'd say he wouldn't care either, but he just got it like a month ago. I think he's still a little possessive of it."

"A boy with a new toy," the queen chuckled.

I grinned and told Tyler where to find the keys. Once he was gone, Luke plopped on the lounger next to Lilah and pulled his mate down to lay on top of him.

"Sister, why are you being so cruel to that boy?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. "He likes her! She likes him! What does it hurt to arrange some one-on-one time for them to get to know each other better?"

"Even though they're clearly attracted to each other and their chemistry is obvious to everyone, you can'tknowthat they'll be mates."

---