Page 130 of Home: Posy 5

"Little flower—"

Let them see me, then we can run.

"You sure?" Jayden said slowly, cupping my face in one hand and stroking his thumb gently over my cheek. "You're so pale and seem so weak."

I’m sure. Lark has lots of energy, and she's been denied this for so long. I'm sure I'll fall asleep once I shift, though, so please keep an eye on her.

"Our wolves aren't going to let her out of their sight," Wyatt said as he pulled my t-shirt down. "You want me to carry you behind a tree to shift?"

No. I'll just shift in my clothes. Now help me up.

"So lucky," Ash grumbled as he put his hands in my armpits and lifted me up. "I can't tell you how many clothes Sid's ruined by shifting before I'm out of them."

I blew an amused breath out of my nose, too tired to even laugh, as he set me on my feet and turned me around to face the pack. Thankfully, he kept his hands under my arms and basically held me up. Otherwise, I would have gone right back down under the weight of my weariness.

"Ready for us to address them?"

At my nod, Mason stepped forward.

"Wolves of Five Fangs!" he boomed while linking the whole pack. "Your luna performed a miracle tonight! By her sacrifice was the shifter Thoreau Ezra Jones merged with our late beta Everett Breckenridge's wolf Spring. Let us celebrate by dedicating tonight's run to our mate, to your luna, to Posy Anne Everleigh!"

Wolf howls and human cheers rose up in a roar around us.

"Even the back of your neck is red, little tomato," Ash bent down to talk in my ear as the din grew and grew.

It's embarrassing, waffle!I whined, just barely keeping my eyes open now, and felt his giant self shake with laughter against my back.

When it finally quieted down again, Mason continued.

"Join us in welcoming our special guests, King Julian and Queen Lilah. Your majesties, we would be delighted and honored if Onyx and Kestrel consented to lead our run tonight."

"That would be our very great pleasure," the king's deep voice rang out.

The pack thundered its approval once more as King Julian took the queen's hand and led her behind a giant oak. Moments later, a massive black wolf and a large buff one emerged to stand proud and sure under the light of the full moon.

My mates waited to shift until I was surrounded by my beta wolves, including Spring at my request. I figured he would have been among them if Everett Breckenridge had lived. Arroyo, Matthew's wolf, bounced around with happiness to be running with his best friend again.

Then I grinned as Firth and Ocean, Archer's and Wayne's wolves, tried to sneak into the group and stand near Spring. Jet and Alabaster, Dad's and Papa's wolves, came over and took them by the ear to drag them out of the inner circle, but Lark stopped them before I could get my shattered brain awake enough to intervene.

Leave them, she linked in a regal tone, and Jet and Alabaster bowed their heads and stepped back.

Seeing she was in her element, and too pooped to deal with anything else tonight, I handed Lark the reins and she shifted quickly. Wiggling out of my t-shirt, she shook herself from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail, tipped her head back, and let out ana-roo!as loud as her little lungs would allow.

As the pack howled in return, my mates' wolves surrounded Lark, rubbing their faces all over her and licking her, and she delighted in their love and attention.

Ready, sweetheart?Garnet asked, his tongue lolling.

Let's run, dearest!Topaz yipped.

So excited to run with my darling!Sid turned around and around in a circle.

And that's when Lark dropped her head with a little whimper. Of course, they all noticed immediately and began rubbing all over her again.

What wrong, my love?Granite cooed.

Happy for Spring and Reau, but I get left behind now,she pouted as her ears drooped.Too slow to run with big wolves.

Don't worry about that, little mate,Quartz assured her.I've taken care of it. We willneverleave you behind.

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