Page 83 of Home: Posy 5

"Youaregorgeous, honey. Just remember who's waiting for you at home."

"How could I forget?" Stretching up on my tiptoes, I rubbed my palms over his stubble beard. "I'll always come home to my mates."

As his smile grew, he scooped me up and crushed me in his usual tight bear hug.

"I love you, Posy," he rumbled.

"I know, and I love you, too."

"Link us throughout the day when you get a chance. And if you need anything. And if anyone bothers you. And if—"

"I will." I kissed his lips, then kissed them again. "I'll be fine, pine tree. Don't worry."

"I'll try not to," he sighed.

When he put me down and stepped back, Jayden wrapped an arm around my waist and whirled me around the kitchen, making me giggle and blush.

"I hope you have a great first day, sweetness," he said before he kissed me.

Ash grabbed me next and danced us in a slow circle as his dark eyes smiled down at me.

"Best wishes for your first day, princess." He pecked my lips and passed me off to Wyatt.

"Don't panic about anything, cutie. There isnothingthat you can't handle."

After he hugged me, he handed me over to Mason, who kissed my forehead before he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Youdohave your spandex on, right, baby?"

"Yes, Mason," I giggled.

"Remember to eat a good lunch. It's already paid for. Just say your name to the person at the register."

"I will." I looked around at my mates with only love in my eyes. "Thank you. Thank all of you. I couldn't do this if I didn't have your support."

They smiled at me, then Wyatt's eyes fogged over.

"Ty's here!" He grabbed my pretty new backpack from the kitchen counter. "Come on, cutie! Time to go!"

School buses didn't run this far away from the human school, so Ty and Peri were going to pick me up since they had to drive past the alpha house, anyway. Konstantin would drive Thoreau and Spring, and the rest of our friends already had rides established.

Thoreau had a little meltdown when he realized he wouldn't be riding with Archer and Wayne, but their houses were simply too far apart to make it work. So Emerson tricked him into thinking Konstantin needed someone to keep him awake on the way in, which was an easy sell because everyone knew the half-dragon was a sleepyhead in the mornings, and Thoreau accepted the job with pride and glee.

I ran after Wyatt, and the rest of my mates followed us outside. Jayden made me stand by the rosebush at the end of the walk, then pulled out his phone and snapped several pictures of me.

"For our photo album," he said with a grin. "Posy's first day of senior year."

"It might be myonlyday," I joked.

"Don't say that!" Wyatt scowled as he opened the back door of Tyler's car and sat my backpack between the seats. "You are smart and you are brave. You will be fine, cutie."

"Okay, fifth star." I patted his shoulder to calm him down, then slid into the back seat.

"Hi, Posy!" Peri turned around and grinned at me. "I'm so excited!"

"Me, too! Nervous, but excited." I grinned back as I buckled my seat belt.

"Good morning, luna. I half-expected we'd have to come rescue you from them."

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