Page 103 of Home: Posy 5

"And can you get your temper under control and keep it there?"

"I might need some help with that," he admitted slowly, "but I'll work hard on it."

"Luna Posy wants you to see Dr. York, so we'll set that up. For now, my parents are going to get you settled in your new space at their house. Then my father will take you over to your place to pack anything you want to keep." Mase stood up, signaling this meeting was over. "Oh, and Alpha Quake brought Brynn's things from Cold Moon. We'll store them until you're ready to go through them."

"Thanks, alpha," he said in a husky voice.

Mase gave him a nod, then left the office to greet his parents, who had just come in the front door. As for me, I laid my hand on the kid's shoulder.

"Mrs. Price can teach you how to care for a baby, and Mr. Price will teach you how to keep yourself on the straight and narrow," I said. "It's not going to be easy, but Rosebud deserves a good daddy. Be that for her."

"I will." His eyes were steady and sure as they met mine, and I read nothing but determination in them. "I'll do my best for her."

Since Mama's footsteps were coming closer, I hurried this along. Squeezing his shoulder hard enough to make him gasp, I bent almost in half so we were face to face and he could see Sid in my eyes.

"But I'm giving you this one warning, boy. A bruise, a fingerprint, a scratch, a single mark that you gave her because you lost your temper, and I will end you."

"I would never hurt her, alpha!" His eyes were wide and full of fear. "I swear by the moon!"

With a curt nod, I released his shoulder and stood straight.

"You have a large support system, little dude. You always have. Use it instead of pushing people away. For your pup's sake, if not your own."

Then Mama's head poked around the corner, and there was a brightness in her face I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Oh, isn't she beautiful?" she breathed.

Bridger and I nodded, and he even smiled at her, a rare occurrence. His face was usually screwed up in an angry scowl.

"Maybe you can help me think of a name for her, Mrs. Price," Bridger invited, and he couldn't have done or said anything else that would have elevated my opinion of him so quickly.

Mama's bottom lip wobbled for a second before she nodded with an eager smile.

Satisfied with how this was working out, I gave the kid a light noogie and went to see if I needed to break up World War III between Mase and Papa. As I walked down the hall, my mind lingered on the pure joy I'd seen in Mama's eyes.

Maybe that tiny pup can comfort more than one broken person in this pack.

21: Mate!

Posy

After school on Friday, Peri, Grace, and I hung around outside the gym as we waited for the guys to be done showering after football practice.

"Grace, you’re only taking a couple of classes in the morning, right?" Peri asked.

"Yeah, I just needed a math, a science, and a year of Spanish to graduate."

"What do you do the rest of the day while you wait for Landry?" I tilted my head, curious as to how she filled the hours.

"I signed up for a few AP classes." She shrugged. "I’m not too sure about going to college, so I thought this was a way to see if I’d like it."

As we chatted, Yolanda, Bram, and Sophia joined us with Delilah Evergreen in tow.

"It’s unusual to see you all here this late," I said as we greeted each other. "Is everything okay? Do you need rides?"

"Dellie and I are waiting for Adam to pick us up," Sophia explained. "We're going to drop her off at the cake shop, and I'm going to pick up our order for the party."

"And Yoyo and I are hitching a ride with the Halls today," Bram added.

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