Page 19 of Luna: Posy 2

"I understand." He stared at his shoes.

"Twenty extra laps each morning for the next week."

He blanched and let out a nearly silent whine, and I held back a satisfied grin. If there was one thing Matthew Rose hated, it was extra laps.

"That's for upsetting Posy twice since you've met her," I said. "For tormenting Tyler after my warning, you're my sparring partner for two weeks, to begin after we return from Tall Pines."

His jaw dropped and his light blue eyes widened in dismay. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he quickly snapped his mouth closed.

"Yes, alpha."

"Matthew, if you need to talk to someone about Ev—"

"I'm good, alpha."

Narrowing my eyes at him, I studied his face. Matthew was a good person, and a great beta. Losing his best friend had hurt him down to his soul.

"Alpha?" Matthew's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Crew says the king and his party are here."

"Very well. Dismissed."

"Thank you, alpha."

After he left, I sat in my chair for a few minutes and thought about Everett Breckenridge's unfortunate demise.

I can only imagine what Matthew would do if he knew the whole truth,Garnet muttered.

Only we and our brothers know,I reminded him, and that's the way we want to keep it.

Posy wants to know. She will ask again when she remembers.

Cursing under my breath, I balled up one hand in a fist. That wasnota conversation I wanted to have with her, but I wasn't surprised. Not after Quartz and Jay’s reaction at dinner the other night when Ash mentioned it.

Maybe she'll get so distracted, she'll forget it.Garnet sounded more wistful than hopeful.

Pfft. I know our mate. She'll never forget, and she'll worm the truth out of us.

Better us than Jayden and Q.

Truer words were never spoken,I told him, then smiled.Now let's go get the kisses we were promised.

Yes!Garnet's tail wagged and his tongue lolled out.Hurry, Mason! Kisses await us!

Chuckling, I got to my feet and went looking for our girl.

6: Sibling Rivalry

Ash

Of course, the queen noticed Posy's mate mark right away, and she and Gisela made a big deal over it. Our girl's face turned redder and redder as they fussed, but she radiated happiness through our bond, so we didn't intervene.

Once Tristan and Ariel arrived, the king wanted Ariel to talk with him, Gisela, and Ranger, so he took them out the back door to the patio. Luke and Tristan trailed along with their mates.

Wyatt went to the parking lot, ostensibly to make sure all our gear was loaded in my SUV, but we knew that excuse was a blatant dodge of dish duty. Mase followed him with our betas, wanting to go over some last minute instructions where Posy wouldn't hear - and probably to chew Wyatt out. As for Cole, he'd gone to pick Peri up since Posy wanted her to spend the day.

That left me and Jay alone with our girl.

Careful not to mess up her hair, I took her face in my hands and kissed her slowly and thoroughly until we were both gasping for air. Leaning back, I studied her pretty blush and sparkling eyes and seared the image in my brain. I wanted to stitch it into all the memories we'd been creating with her, then throw them around me like a comforting blanket when I was missing her later.

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