Page 7 of Mates: Posy

"You don’t know how many times we challenged him, Posy," he said, "but his wolf was too strong."

"After our last try failed, we decided to bide our time until Posy turned eighteen," Aiden explained. "We had hoped Lark would be strong enough to help us fight him, but we didn't know she was MIA until we tried to talk to her."

"What did he do to her, Posy?" James asked. "How long has it been since you last sensed her?"

I didn’t want to tell them about the wolfsbane, and I'd lost count of the weeks. I hid my face in my thighs. I didn’t want to look at any of them anymore.

"Is that why we can’t sense her wolf?" Roses asked. "Alpha Kendall Briggs did something to her?"

"Most likely," James answered. "We’ll probably never know everything, but she's lived in hell these past few years."

"When we realized something was wrong with Lark, that our plan wasn’t going to work, we contacted the king for assistance," Aiden explained. "It was clear that Father was never going to give up the alphaship. Wemighthave been able to reason with Basalt, his wolf, but Father was a whole different story. He was insane."

"Yeah, that’s what King Julian said before he asked us to come here," Maple Syrup replied.

Wow. My mates are powerful enough that they help the king with other packs?

Someone touched my arm, and I flinched before drawing myself into a tighter ball.

"Someday, I hope you can forgive us, baby sister." Aiden’s voice was full of pain. "We can never make up for failing you so badly, but please know that we love you very, very much."

"We always have, Posy," James added, "and we always will."

I peeked up at them. Their faces were so sad, it broke my heart. If what they said was true, they hadn’t failed me. They were victims as much as I was. And I had never stopped loving them. I didn’t have the courage to say any of that, but I wanted to make a peace gesture.

Maybe if I ask for their help, they’ll understand.

"Thirsty," I croaked.

They fell over themselves in their hurry to reach the bottle of water on the nightstand. James got there first, twisted the cap off, and held it out to me. My shaking hand reached for it, and I guessed he knew I wouldn’t be able to take it without spilling it everywhere because he didn’t release his hold on it. He let me place my hand on his and guide it to my mouth, but he controlled the bottle otherwise.

"Dr. Swedes left some pain meds for you," Aiden said. "How about you take them now?"

I nodded, and he shook two white pills out of the little container and handed them to me. James helped me with the water bottle again, then I dropped back against the headboard.

"More water?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"I’ll leave it here if you want it later." He set the bottle back on the nightstand. "You can ask any of us for help."

He swept his hand out to include my mates, but I wasn’t brave enough to look at their faces.

Campfire stepped closer to the bed.

"Can we have a word with her in private?" he asked my brothers.

"Only for a few minutes." James shot him a warning look. "She needs to rest, especially since Lark isn’t there to help her heal."

"Of course."

After my brothers left the room, my mates moved a little closer, and I took a glance at each of their serious, unsmiling faces before dropping my eyes back to my knees.

Despite Lark’s silence, I sent her my sincerest apology and hoped she heard it. She didn’t deserve to die like this. After being tortured and suppressed for so many years, she finally found a mate - mates - and now they would kill her.

Oh, not on purpose, but female shifters rarely survived being rejected by one mate, and I hadfive. I was as good as dead.

At least I’ll join my mother in Heaven now, and leave the torment of this world behind.

---