Page 93 of The Beta's Heart

Me never hurt pups, Ty-Ty!he growled.Never, ever!

I know you wouldn’t, but accidents happen when you’re too excited to pay attention.

Me will pay dah tension!he said in a cranky voice.Me gentle teddy big bear good boy! Now want Toro and surprise!

Okay, go out to the front yard.

As River loped toward the front door, which I’d also left slightly ajar or he would have just bashed through it, I linked the others that we were on our way and to be prepared for anything since Riv was a little irritable from me disturbing his nap.

As we got closer, River’s nose woke up faster than his brain, and he took off running the second he was clear of the front door, leaping off the top porch step and tackling Spring with happy yips and excited barks that the older wolf echoed. Reau, instead of cheering them on as I expected, started flapping his hands around, his breathing erratic as he whimpered a little.

“They’re playing, Reau, not fighting,” Em explained as he hugged the boy.

“Spring is happy to see River?” Reau asked.

“Very happy.”

“That is okay then.”

Soon enough, the boy was back to scampering around with the wolves in some kind of chase game he made up on the spot. They played around for a good while, then Peri said we had to start making tracks for the alpha house if we didn’t want to be late for dinner.

Nooo!River pouted.

When she pointed out that we had just enough time to swing by the store and pick up a couple of gallons of ice cream, he obediently ran back to the bathroom where I’d left my clothes and handed over control, but not before pointing out that he’d never tried “back ass bee” ice cream.

I was just about to scold him for cursing again when I realized he was sayingblack raspberry, and I shifted back to myself with a chuckle.

#

Peri

It was good to have everyone together again, not only to make sure that Posy—and Cole—were both okay after yesterday, but also because the whole family hadn’t assembled like this for about a week now, and I for one missed it.

Guess that old saying is true,I thought as I looked around the table at my big family.You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.

It’s not gone, Miss Drama Queen,Dove pointed out with an eye roll.It’s sitting all around you!

You know what I mean,I shot back.I’m used to this every day. When Cole and Wyatt moved out to live with the other alpha brothers, it was hard, and now that it’s just me and Ty rattling around in our big place, I feel unsettled.

“Sunshine?” Ty nuzzled his nose in my ear. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head with a fake smile, but I should have known he wouldn’t buy that, not with the emotions I couldn’t hold back flooding through our mate bond or the tears gathering in the corner of my eyes. He set down his fork, wrapped one arm around my waist, and pulled me onto his lap, his big hands framing my face like blinders on a horse so I could only look at him.

What’s wrong, Per?he linked me, and I realized he was giving me what privacy he could when we were surrounded by more than a dozen pairs of curious ears and eyes.Tell me so I can fix it or help you fix it.

I’m just a little homesick, I guess,I sniffed, turning my eyes up as I blinked rapidly so none of the tears would escape.I’m used to this kind of dinner every night.

Fried chicken and mashed potatoes and corn on the cob? I can make that happen. I know how to cook those things, but wasn’t it boring to have the same meal all the time?

Goddess bless his innocent heart.

Reminding myself he was an only child and had spent his teen years in an orphanage, I refrained from calling him a doofusandfrom slapping him upside the head.

I meant, with a big, loud family gathered around,I clarified.

Oh. Well, as we agreed last night, we’re not having pups for a while, but we can always kidnap Winnie and William whenever we want. I’m sure Mom and Dad won’t mind that for a minute.That earned him a soggy chuckle, which made him smile.But I think I can fix this just a little for you.

Oh? How?

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