Page 61 of Luna: Posy 2

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I muttered over and over as I sobbed.

"Shh. You have nothing to be sorry for." He started rocking us again and rubbed his cheek on the top of my head. "I love you. Your brothers love you. Your mate loves you. Your family loves you. We're all here for you. And not because wehaveto be, but because wewantto be."

I dripped snot and saltwater all over him for a few minutes before I got myself together. He must have realized the storm was over because he handed me the box of tissues from the side table. I didn't know whether I should mop him up first or myself, and he solved my dilemma by grabbing a wad of tissues and swabbing his chest.

After I blew my nose and dried up my face, I went to stand up, but he caught my shoulders and tugged me back down, then reclined the chair.

"You're staying here, baby brother," he said on a yawn. "I'm too exhausted to move, and I want you with me. We'll talk more tomorrow. For now, just go to sleep."

Shrugging, I made myself comfortable, pushing at him until he gave in with a sigh and moved where I wanted him. Once we were both settled, he started petting my head.

I didn't know why my brothers couldn't leave my hair alone. Any time they were being affectionate, the first thing they did was pet my head or give me a soft noogie.

I'dneveradmit it, not even under torture, but I loved it.

We lay there quietly, listening to the unfamiliar noises the house made, and I knew he was on the edge of sleep and only waiting for me to drop off first.

"I don't want Posy to know," I whispered. "Not yet. I'll explain to her, but not yet."

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, and she won't see you any different. Youknowshe won't. But, yeah, wait until you're ready. When you do, we'll be there for you."

"You always are."

"And we always will be, baby brother," he promised and kissed the top of my head.

With a tiny smile, I snuggled closer and closed my eyes.

#

Cole

An almighty roar rattled the whole house, jolting me from sleep.

"Who pissed Mase off so early in the morning?" Ash asked in a groggy voice.

"I don't know, but we better find out before they get killed."

I leapt out of bed to find a pair of shorts and noticed Jay was gone. By the light coming from the windows, it was just after dawn, which was early for Jay to be up and about.

"Where are the others?" Ash asked as he rolled out of bed and hunted for his own shorts.

"It was a bad night," I said. "You fell asleep and left Sid in charge, then Wyatt went wolfy."

"Oh, no. Why?"

"I don't know. I was busy with Sid, and you know how Papa Bear gets about Wyatt. He carried him off, and I assume they fell asleep together somewhere."

"Did he call him baby brother?"

"And growled at me when I told him I had it covered." I rolled my eyes.

"He's going to be such a good dad," Ash smirked at me as we hustled out of the bedroom and clamored down the stairs.

Yeah, he was, which was interesting considering how Papa treatedhim.

He gets it from Mama, Topaz piped up.He's more like her than Papa.

I nodded in agreement. Mama was one of the greatest moms ever. So was Wyatt's. After our mothers had died in the sickness, Mama and Mom took Jay, Ash, and me into their homes and hearts without hesitation and cared for us as if we were their own.

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