Page 57 of The Beta's Heart

Since it seemed like this situation was under control, I was about to ask Mr. Price if we should stay or go since luna had already linked the alphas to come home, but Reau lifted up his t-shirt to wipe his nose—and I held River back by the skin of my teeth when we saw the bruises and marks on his skeletal torso.

“I’ll kill that rat bastard!” Mr. Price snarled as I wrestled with my wolf, who wanted to do the same, and I wasn’t too far behind.

“Who needs killing? Because after the morning I’ve had, I’m more than ready to put down a wolf or two.” Alpha Cole walked up to join our little drama party with Alpha Mase at his heels, both of them covered head to toe in limestone dust and their eyes wolf-lit.

Although River still wanted to take off after Alpha Bellamy Jones, the presence of his alphas calmed him some, enough for me to push him back, anyway, which was all I needed at the moment.

The intruders were at the caves in Great Rocks?I linked the alphas, wondering if we needed to send a clean-up crew out there.

Yes,Alpha Mase answered in an unusually disgruntled tone. Five humans who thought it was a good idea to go spelunking despite numerous No Trespassing signs all around them.

I kindly reminded them that they were on private property,Alpha Cole added, his words curling around a growl,and asked them nicely to leave before we called the authorities to remove them. Then Gamma Nick followed them to the border to make sure they were gone.

Me bet he ask nice,River snickered.

Yeah, he’s looking like he could chew nails, and Alpha Mase isn’t any happier. He’s just better at hiding it.I bit back a smirk as Alpha Cole picked up luna and squished her between him and Alpha Mase.I bet the two of them spend their lunch hour taking it out on luna.

Dey hurt luna?River gasped, ready to fire up again.

No, baby. They’re just going to love on her,I hurried to tell him.

Probably hard and fast, but he didn’t need to know that.

Sure enough, the alphas handed the matter over to Mr. Price and carried luna into the house.

Ty, tell McFlynn to get a crew out to the caves. I want each of the bigger entrances secured with some kind of locking gate, Alpha Mase linked me as he kicked his front door closed behind him.No one else needs to tunnel their way out after one collapses on them.

Yes, alpha,I said, holding back a laugh as I pictured our two bear-like alphas digging out of a cave-in like a pair of mammoth badgers.I’ll also get the gammas to see why there was a gap in the border patrol long enough for five humans to get on the property.

Tell them I want a report on my desk first thing in the morning.

As Alpha Mase closed the link, I felt a second of concern for the gammas. Organizing, training, and leading border patrols was their bread and butter.

Ha! At least it’s the gammas’ butts about to get whupped and not ours,I thought with a smirk, ready to rub this in Landry and Reuben’s faces.

Team Beta one, Team Gamma zero.

14. Temper, Temper

Peri

The community hall buzzed with excitement and anticipation as we walked in, the scent of cakes and pies mingling with the tang of citrus from the decorative bowls of lemons and oranges. Streamers in silver and blue hung from the rafters, catching the light and casting playful shadows on the crowd below.

Callie, Keeley, and I exchanged excited glances, our hearts pounding in unison. Today was a significant day for the pack, as my sister-in-law Posy would officially be named luna. We were thrilled to be here and support her since she was our friend as well as our luna.

As we made our way through the throng of pack members, the twins and I giggled and whispered to each other, but then something changed. Keeley suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in surprise as she sniffed the air, and Callie mirrored her reaction, her face lighting up with a mixture of shock and delight.

I knew right away what happened, of course. They’d scented their mates!

“Do you smell that?” Callie gasped.

“Yes!” Keeley’s eyes scanned the room. “But who?”

We turned to see two unfamiliar, strikingly handsome men standing near the front of the hall, their intense gazes fixed on the twins. The taller of the two, who had dark hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward, his whole focus locked on Callie. The other one, who was slightly shorter but equally muscular, also had dark hair, his face similar enough to the first guy’s to proclaim them brothers, but his dark blue eyes were softer and seemed to see right through Keeley.

Biting my bottom lip, I held back a squeal as my friends approached their mates, the four of them seeming so hesitant, but their attraction was undeniable. In fact, the air around them crackled with more chemistry than a high school science class!

I didn’t recognize the men, so I linked Jay, who was sitting with Posy on the stage and watching the scene unfold with a smile. He explained that Callie was mated with James Briggs, Posy’s oldest brother, who was now the alpha of Green River. As for Keeley, her mate was Aiden Briggs, Posy’s second-oldest brother and James’ beta.

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