Page 102 of The Beta's Heart

They didn’t have a choice,Angelo chuckled.It was the first time she used her full luna power. Since she didn’t know what she was doing or how to wield it, her order caughteveryonewith an animal spirit when she demanded they shift.

Ah.I bit back a grin as he showed me the flood of fur and feathers that fled out the door when luna threw it open and told them toGO!in such a power-laden voice that my skin shivered just hearing it in Angelo’s memory.

“Luna?” I cupped the side of her tear-stained face in one hand and brought it up so I could see her eyes. “Let’s check on Landry, then I’ll take you home.”

“I didn’t even make sure he was okay!” Her face crumpled up. “I’m being so selfish, over here crying and whining when he might—”

“He’ll be fine, luna,” Angelo assured her. “You heard thestreghe. Some sleep and a few good meals, and he’ll be back to normal. Besides, Reau has been entertaining him.”

All of our eyes went over to where Thoreau had plunked down next to Landry, who still lay flat on his back in only his shorts, looking a little dazed as he listened to Reau rambling about Papa Gelo taking him to the zoo.

“Papa Gelo?” I asked with a grin, my eyebrows shooting up.

“Oh, and wait until you hear him say Mama Bubba!” luna chirped. “It’s adorable!”

“I’m sure Em’s going to love that.” I traded a side-eye glance with Angelo, who chuckled. “Beta Beast is now Mama Bubba.”

That made luna giggle, which was what I intended, and the tension in my shoulders finally relaxed.

Oh, I was still angry with my brothers-in-law for hurting my luna’s soft heart, but she was safe and smiling again, and that was good enough for right now.

#

“Will they ever come back, Ty?” Luna Posy whispered into my shirt as she cuddled into my side, and I wished for the fifth time that I’d had time to take a shower between Pup Patrol and bringing her back to the alpha house.

It not matter,Riv grunted.Sweaty stink not matter when luna need Ty-Ty.

His words seemed true enough, because she was latched onto me tighter than rust on bare metal.

“Of course they will, luna,” I assured her and rubbed my hand up and down her arm.

“But I was so mean to them!” she wailed.

“That wasn’t being mean. That was telling the truth.”

“But I yelled at them!”

“Then it was telling the truth with volume.”

That got a watery chuckle out of her, and I linked Peri yet again to see if those rotten alphas were finally on their way home.

They’re getting ready to leave now,she told me.Angelo and Reau brought Jay’s SUV over, so I gave Reau the praying mantis we found. He’s so excited to take it home for his garden.

The edges of my lips curled up a bit. Reau was a blessing to all of us, full of kindness and innocence. He reminded me a lot of River, actually.

Well, except for the whole “When me ’splode, me kill everytingdead!” issue my wolf had.

That’s good, Sunshine. I knew he’d love it.I laid my cheek against the top of luna’s head as her sniffles slowed down, knowing she was most likely drifting off.Do you think your brothers learned a lesson this time?

I do. Ash teared up, and Cole and Wyatt threw hands. We’re down a kitchen chair, and do not even ask if you happen to see glitter in the rug under the table. On the plus side, the swear bear is stuffed full, and Jay just told me to use it for something we needed or wanted.

Lost your temper, huh?I teased her.

Pfft! Not me, baby. Quartz. Poor Jay. He had to drop in an IOU for the last $26.

Then she linked me the scene of Q dropping one f bomb after another when she asked him to make a sorry card for Posy.

Sounds like you had your hands full,I snorted.

---