Page 72 of Mates: Posy

"I’m Tristan Harrington, Alpha Wyatt’s beta."

His dark brown eyes were kind and warm as he held out his hand and waited to see if I’d take it. I looked up at Ash to see him smiling down at me, so I turned back at Tristan and laid my fingertips in his palm in a not-quite handshake. Very gently, he laid his other hand over top of mine.

"Hello, Beta Tristan," I murmured.

"You can call me Tristan or Tris or whatever you’d like. My wolf’s name is Creek. Yours is Lark, yeah?"

I nodded and gave him a tiny smile.

"Where are we going shopping today?" he asked as he released my hand.

"I don’t really know. Peri’s in charge of the whole thing."

"Oh, no! We’re in trouble before we leave the driveway." He grinned when I giggled. "I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, luna."

"Thank you. Me, too."

The next beta to come over had shaggy, sun-streaked brown hair and calm gray eyes that were a bit bluer than Mason’s. He gave off a very zen vibe and looked to be in his early twenties. His outfit consisted of a white t-shirt, long black shorts, and checkerboard skate sneakers.

"Hey, luna. I’m Crew Myers. My wolf is named Bay. I’m Alpha Jayden’s beta."

"It’s nice to meet you, Beta Crew."

This time, I gathered my courage and held my hand out first. With a lopsided grin, he shook it gently.

"I’m happy you’re with us, luna. Your presence has brightened everything up already."

I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I nodded and ducked my head shyly.

"So, luna, you can call me just Crew, okay?"

I nodded again and gave him a small smile.

Someone suddenly spoke from right beside me, and I jumped a little. Ash’s hand tightened on my waist, and I felt him drop a comforting kiss on my head.

"I’m Emerson Jones, luna," said the last beta. "My wolf is Cove."

He was the biggest of the betas, almost as tall as Mason and nearly as wide as Cole. His stance and demeanor screamed danger, and he didn’t smile. A little scared and intimidated, I instinctively drew my shoulders in to look smaller and huddled closer to Ash.

A flash of something - maybe shock - zipped through his dark eyes, then he bent down with his hands on his knees to be at my eye level.

"I’m sorry I startled you, little luna," he murmured. "I didn’t mean to. None of us will ever hurt you, and we’ll never let anyone else hurt you, either. If one of us scares you, tell another one of us and we’ll sort him out, all right?"

I studied him. He had dark brown eyes and short black hair that was slicked back. He wore a black t-shirt, camo cargo shorts, and black cross trainers.

He smiled at me, flashing white teeth and dimples, and I wondered how I’d associated him with danger.

I smiled back, showing him my own dimples, and his eyes lit up.

"Hello, Beta Emerson."

"Little bunny, you can call me Emerson or Em or whatever you want."

"Little bunny?" Ash interjected himself into our conversation.

"You got to admit, alpha, she’s awful small, just like a bunny." Emerson quirked an eyebrow up at him.

"Only in stature," Ash said. "Her heart and courage would turn you and me into dwarves if they were visible."

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