Page 173 of Luna: Posy 2

"All right, Mr. Price," I told him, glancing at him over my shoulder. "On one condition. After this, we will talk only when and ifIwant to. You don't approach me again on a personal level, only for pack business. And no more stunts like that 'urgent and dire' appointment."

"I'm invited to the same family functions you are, and what if Mama invites you to dinner? We're going to have to interact with each other."

He didn't sound happy, but I was past caring what he felt. He never cared how I felt when he denigrated me in front of his friends or my brothers.

"I'll be as civil as you are whenever we're around our family," I said. "The second you overstep, so will I."

Oh, I am looking forward to what we'll do if he oversteps, Garnet muttered.

"Very well," he agreed, surprising me again. "I accept your terms with the hope that we can renegotiate them in the future."

So instead of going home to our girl, I got into my truck and linked Cole to let him know I was going AWOL for a while.

For how long are we talking?he demanded.Hours or days?

Maybe an hour or two.

Is everything okay?he wanted to know.Do you need us? Ash is asleep with Posy, but the rest of us are just playing COD. We can—

My father wants to talk. I don't know how long it will take, and I might need a run afterwards, depending on what he has to say. I'll be back when I get back.

Dude, let me come with you.

I'd rather you stay with our girl.I didn't want to tell him I might be a mess afterwards, and none of my brothers needed to see me like that.He's been decent so far, and it's not like he'll do anything to me.

Except say things to hurt you!Cole blasted through the link.

Nah.Nothing he can say will hurt me, I lied.I've decided I don't value his opinion enough to care anymore.

Mase, I can tell your ly—

Look, if I need you, I'll link you.

You always say that, but you never do. We want to support you, brother. You need to let us. It hurts us to know that you'd rather suffer alone than trust us to be there for you.

It's not like that.I shook my head as I turned onto my parents' street.It's not about trusting you; it's about burdening you when you all have your own issues you're working through.

You are not a burden, Mase!he growled.How many times have you said that to Wyatt? Or Jay? Or me? Hear your own words. Stop bottling everything up and shutting us out. We want to help you. Weneedto help you. We're in this together, brother.

All right,I said as I parked along the curb.I'll try. This time, IpromiseI'll link you if I need you. Fairs?

Fairs.

Closing the link, I got out of my truck and followed my father into the house and back to his home office. As soon as I entered, my eyes flicked around to see nothing had changed in the three years since I'd moved into the alpha house.

Well, wait. That's new.

My gaze stopped on a large easel that held a black frame full of professionally matted documents.

It stood out in this plain room. Royal Price was not one for trinkets, knick knacks, or any kind of decoration, really. His desk held a PC, keyboard, and mouse, and that was all. No toys, photographs, or even a cup of pens. Likewise, the walls were bare save for a simple clock.

What was so important to him that he'd have it framed and displayed in his minimalist workspace?

My curiosity getting the better of me, I walked over to see what it was - and came to a sudden halt, my body turning into a statue.

I recognized that handwriting. The torn corner of the one map. The unlabeled spot. The misspelled word.

"I threw that away," I whispered.

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