Page 92 of The Beta's Heart

“It’s Spring,” I breathed. “I didn’t know he was back.”

“Spring? Oh, wait. Everett Breckenridge’s wolf?” Peri gasped as she covered her mouth with her fingers. “But Mase said he was practically comatose.”

“He was.” Shutting down the vehicle, I flung off my seat belt and leaped out, ran around to Peri’s side and opened her door. “I saw him the day of the funeral, and he was completely shut down.”

“The Royal Pack elders and healers must have worked a miracle, then.”

“I think he worked one himself,” I murmured, taking her hand and leading her toward the pair capering around like pups.

“George-ous!” Reau shrieked. “Pretty! Come meet my new wolf!”

Yeah, he called me George-ous and Peri Pretty. Em had explained to him that he couldn’t call Peri Sunshine because that was my special name for her. Reau, in all his earnest innocence, then insisted on coming up with nicknames for us and that’s what he settled on. Of course, he couldn’t pronounce ‘gorgeous’ correctly, so I was George-ous. I’d heard it half a dozen times now, and it still made me freaking blush.

Peri thought it was cute, which only made my face burn redder.

“I know your wolf,” I told him as Spring sniffed my fist, then consented to me rubbing his head and ears. “It’s good to see you.”

You, too, he acknowledged gravely.I heard you that day, by the way. Wasn’t able to respond, but I heard you.

“Good. I know River’s been linking you, and the second he wakes up, he’s going to want to see you, if you’re up for it?”

Of course. I’ve missed my friend’s antics. He insists he’s been staying out of trouble.Spring tilted his head as his amber eyes met mine, as if to question if that was the truth.

“He’s too busy with Dove to get into much mischief these days,” I assured him. “This is Peri, my mate, if you haven’t met her.”

“Hello, Spring,” Peri grinned and held out her knuckles for him to sniff. “Welcome back!”

Thank you, and congratulations. I was happy for you both when River linked me that you were mates.

“Speaking of River, I’m going to go find a place to shift so he can greet Spring properly,” I warned everyone.

“You can use my room, Beta Ty!” Reau volunteered. “It’s the middle one on the second floor!”

“River’s too fluffy to shift inside,” I started to protest, but Em and Angelo waved aside my concerns as they joined us.

“We’re all used to a little wolf hair, Ty,” Em said with a grin. “But you can use the downstairs bathroom so Riv’s claws don’t tear up the staircase.”

Giving in, I ducked into the house right as Reau suggested a game of Tag, earning a groan of, “Not again!” from Angelo and a giggle from Peri as Reau argued that it was the best game in the world.

As soon as I was undressed, I cracked the bathroom door open a sliver, then shifted into River’s gray fur suit and gently woke him up.

No, Ty-Ty. Sleepy,he whined at first and tried to lay down and roll belly up in the tiny confines of the bathroom, but I stopped him before he could break anything.

But we have a surprise for you. Don’t you want it?

A surprise?That made his eyelids pop up.Me want surprise!

Okay, then. Gently push on the door so it opens. Don’t bust through it; I can’t afford to replace anything in this house.

Who house we in?he wanted to know as he nosed his way out of the bathroom and looked around.Smell like Em and Gelo and Toro!

Ever since the luna ceremony, Thoreau was Toro for the youngest Barlows and my wolf. William thought it was hilarious that Winnie, who was only three, said it that way. Since River had never been able to pronounce “th” and “fr” sounds, either, Toro stuck.

Yeah,I replied,and you know he loves all this old woodwork and antique stuff.

Why here? Oh! See Toro?

Yes, he’s here, and he has someone special with him.You have to be a good boy, Riv, remember? Don’t get too excited, or you might scare or hurt Toro.

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