Page 55 of The Beta's Heart

No, Riv, it has to stay here. It’s part of luna’s game.When it looked like his pouting might turn into a tantrum, I added,When it’s time to go home, I’ll shift so you can run around and look for another treasure.

Otay, Ty-Ty!

With a smile, I shook my head. This wolf and his mate box.

“What’s funny, Ty?” luna asked.

“River. He wanted to take the doggy home for his mate box, but I convinced him to leave it here with the promise we’d find something else on the way home.”

“Mate box?” Interest lit her dark blue eyes as they met mine. “What’s a mate box?”

I explained how, ever since he came to understand the concept of a mate, he’d been collecting little treasures to give her. A blue jay feather, a shiny rock, an interesting leaf, a tiny pinecone—anything he found that he thought she might like.

“I only hope his mate appreciates it and doesn’t make fun of him,” I admitted my secret worry. “He’s so excited to go over each and every item with her and share how he felt when he found it. He’ll be devastated if she laughs or scoffs at him.”

“I won’t stand for it if she does!” luna said with fire in her eyes. “That is the sweetest, most precious thing I have ever heard, and I am sure your mate will cherish itandRiver! And if not, I’ll have a few words with her myself!”

Mr. Price and I looked at each other with amused eyes, but then the sound of a vehicle coming up the drive made our noses lift, and the smell of unfamiliar wolves brought us to our feet.

“Stay with the luna, Ty,” Mr. Price said in his business voice. “Do not leave her side.”

“Yes, sir.” I gave him a quick nod as he headed for the front door.

“What is it?” luna asked, curling in on herself.

“Visitors from outside the pack,” I replied. “I knew we were expecting someone, but they’re supposed to be meeting Crew at the alpha offices, not here.”

“Let’s go watch from the living room window.”

She stood and grabbed my hand, pulling me with her. Since I knew she wasn’t in any real danger with both me and Mr. Price here, I let her, and we reached the window in time to watch a dark-haired shifter I didn’t recognize get out of his pick-up truck while three other shifters stayed in it.

Mr. Price linked me the live-feed of their conversation and, when I smelled the stranger’s alpha blood, I decided I’d better let my alphas and the other betas know something was up. Of course, none of them were happy to hear what I had to report, especially when Alpha Cole revealed that the visitor was Alpha Bellamy Jones of Gray Shadows, which was not a good thing at all.

“Ty, what’s happening?” Luna tugged on my hand. “I can’t hear what they’re saying. Can you?”

“Mr. Price is asking him why he’s here.”

“Who is he?”

“Alpha Bellamy Jones of Gray Shadows. He’s Emerson’s father, but they have no relationship.” I bit my lip, not sure how much to share of someone else’s story. Thankfully, I didn’t have to make that call because Mr. Price linked me to bring her out on the porch. “He has something for Emerson and will only leave it with an official pack leader. He wants you to come out there and get it.”

Her brow furrowed as she thought about that, and the alphas went ballistic when I linked them what was happening.

“Okay, Ty.” Luna wrapped her other hand around our joined ones, then put her chin up and her shoulders back. “Let’s go.”

“You sure, luna?”

“I can deal with this, and I want to,” she assured me despite her trembling.

Sorry, alphas,I told them,but her order overrides yours, and she wants to deal with it. She says she can do it.

And River was awake and alert. Mr. Price and Alabaster were formidable enough, but nothing would harm luna on my wolf’s watch.

Me kill him,River promised.Me kill himdead’fore he touch luna.

Please don’t make any sudden moves,I silently begged Alpha Bellamy.Otherwise, you’re going home in a box.

Opening the front door, I led luna outside, keeping her hidden behind me until we came to the top of the stairs, where I took a step to the side, still slightly in front of her to let everyone know they’d have to go through me if they wanted to get to her.

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