Page 86 of Mates: Posy

I fought against the rage rising inside my chest as I thought of how close we'd come to losing her.

"A Tall Pines wolf tackled Lilah and you flew off her back. We’re pretty sure you hit your head on a rock or something." I picked up her hand and touched her fingers to the fading remains of the bruise. "Is it still tender?"

"Only a tiny bit," she admitted. "What happened to everyone else? Peri and Lilah? The twins? The betas? Are they okay?"

"They are. I’ll tell you everything, but give me a second, okay? I'll be right back, I promise."

"Oh. Sure."

She started to sit up, and I scooped her into my arms, stood, then deposited her back on the couch. Dropping a quick kiss on her cheek, I straightened up, then ran for the bathroom.

When I came back a few minutes later, I found her right where I left her, an adorable pout of confusion on her face.

"Sorry, baby. I had to pee." I chuckled when her face burned red. "Everyone is fine or going to be."

I lifted her up and got us back in the same position, wiggling a bit until I was comfortably sprawled out with our mate on top of me again.

"The betas are on watch outside along the house perimeter," I explained as she nuzzled her face in my throat. "Peri's pissed that her plan didn't work, but she and the twins weren’t injured."

"Did they all go home?"

"Our gammas took Peri and the twins to our parents' place. They're going to stay with them for a while." I kissed the top of our girl's head. "Things are going to get a little crazy here once Lilah wakes up and the king returns."

"How is Lilah? She was in so much pain before the fight," Posy sounded like she was on the brink of tears.

"She has some broken bones and gashes." I couldn't lie to her. "She's asleep upstairs in a guest room with her brother and the king's beta standing guard over her."

"What? Why?" Her perfect brows scrunched up. "I mean, our betas are all around the house and you are here, too. Do you think Tall Pines will be back?"

"No, honey. She's the king's mate. He's going to use his best guards to watch over her when he can't be with her himself."

Posy lifted her head and stared at me with shock all over her face. I grinned.

"She was in wolf form when he found her. Still is, as a matter of fact. Plus, Luke's fairly certain that she has no idea who her mate is. It's going to be interesting when they meet face to face, so to speak."

"He won't reject her, will he?" Her little hands fisted up in my shirt.

"Are you kidding?" I smirked. "He adores her already. That little she-wolf has no idea how cherished she's about to be."

"You're sure? She's my friend, and she's been hurt enough."

"I'm sure, baby."

She laid her head back down, and I rubbed circles between her shoulder blades.

"Where are the rest of the guys?" she asked.

"Mase is helping the king and Ranger interrogate the Tall Pines prisoners."

"Who’s Ranger?" she interrupted.

"The king’s younger brother. You’ll meet him and King Julian later. Anyway, Wyatt is out with a patrol unit to make sure we didn't miss any intruders and Ash is supervising the cleanup at the diner." I shook my head. "Thank the Goddess that wolves own it. As soon as you told the betas you wanted to eat there, they linked Roger and had him clear the place out for you. At least we don't have to worry about a cover up for the humans."

When I didn't say anything else, she asked what I knew she would.

"And Jayden?"

"He let Quartz out when we learned you were in danger. After the fight, Quartz, um, well, he went a little crazy. He's in an isolation cell until he calms down a bit."

---