Page 10 of Pack: Posy 3

"Can I take my hand out of my pocket?" I asked.

"Why do you need to ask?" Wayne Black tilted his head as he frowned at me.

"Bubba said not to touch. I put my hands in my pockets so he can see I'm not touching."

Frustration made me frown. Explaining took too much time, but Bubba said to be nice so people like me, and I wanted the boy to like me.

If he likes me, he will take me for a ride. If I make him sad or mad, he will hurt me and not take me for a ride.

"Oh. Yeah, sure." Wayne Black said. "That way, you can shake my hand."

I did, then looked at Mr. Black-hair. A giggle slipped out before I could stop it and I put my hand over my mouth.

"What's funny?" Wayne Black asked.

"You're WayneBlackand he's Mr.Black-hair." I giggled again behind my hand.

"I'm Archer Barlow." He held his hand out, too, and I shook it.

"What's your name?" Wayne Black asked.

"Thoreau Ezra Jones, but my nicky name is Reau."

"Sweet. Good to meet you, Reau." Wayne Black grinned. "I don't have a 'nicky name,' but you can call Archer Arch if you want."

"Arch." I stared at him as he stared back at me. "You are quiet, but you have pretty green eyes. I love them!"

He frowned, but Wayne Black laughed so hard that his face turned red.

"What is Wayne Black laughing at, Arch?" I asked with a tiny frown of concern.

"Just call him Wayne," Bubba said, coming up behind me. "You don't have to say his last name every time. He is one of Alpha Wyatt's younger brothers, and Arch is one of Alpha Cole's younger brothers. They're both your age."

"Wayne and Arch, I am Beta Emerson Jones' younger and only brother. Gelo is my brother-in-law, and Leo is our friend." I nodded my head, proud of myself for getting everything straight.

"Good job, Reau." Bubba patted the top of my head, and I looked up at him with a happy grin. "Are you okay hanging out with these guys for a while? Angelo, Leo and I want to talk to the luna for a bit."

"We got you, Beta," Wayne said. "He wants to go for a ride on the bike, anyway."

"He doesn't have any safety gear," Bubba started to say, but Gelo talked over him.

"He'll be fine, Em. Boys, don't take him far. Reau, have you ever been on a bike?"

"A bicycle!" I crowed. "Bubba taught me how!"

"A dirt bike is a little different, but we're experts, so you're in good hands," Wayne said.

I looked down at my hands, then his. Nobody's hands were on me.

Bubba leaned down and whispered in my ear.

"He means you'll be safe to learn with them because they know what they're doing."

I nodded, even though I thought it was a silly thing to say.

"All right, then." Wayne grinned, showing nice, white teeth. "We'll just go up and down the driveway. Nothing to jump, but you can really open 'er up since our brothers got it paved."

"Don't go too fast," Bubba told them. "And no wheelies!"

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