Page 106 of Pack: Posy 3

The next guy had a thick tuft of blazing white hair, which I would have thought was fake, except his eyebrows were also light, and his skin was super pale. Not like he was sick or anything, but like he'd burn before he tanned. He was very handsome and the tallest of the gammas, easily Mason's height, but lean like Jayden.

"I'm Alpha Jay's gamma, Adam," he said with a nice smile. "Adam Bishop. My wolf is Sequoia."

"Hello. Thank you for being here today."

"No worries, luna. It's my duty."

"Oh." I blinked. Was he forced to be here against his will?

"No, I didn't mean it like that." He covered his face with one of his palms. "Sorry. I'm lousy at talking to girls, even mated ones like you, luna. I'm an awkward nerd."

"He is," agreed my mate, Emerson, and the other gammas.

"You should have seen his clothes before we helped the brother out," Rio pretend-whispered with his hand cupping the side of his mouth. "All black t-shirts and jeans and old-man sneakers."

"And if it wasn't for us," Nick said, "he'd be camped out at the game shop playing Dungeons and Dragons or Magic every afternoon."

I didn't know what those games were, but I didn't like them making fun of him if he liked to play them. Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at each of them.

"Are you bullying him?"

They stared at me with surprise in their eyes, except for Wyatt, who huffed out a laugh and pulled me into the shelter of his side.

"No, baby, they're not bullying him. They're teasing him. Adam, do you feel bullied?"

"Oh, no, alpha!" Adam raised his hands and met my eyes. "Luna, theyarejust teasing. They play D&D once a week, too, and I'm fully aware that I have no more dress sense than I've got game."

"I don't understand half of what you're saying, but as long as they're not bullying you, I guess that's okay." I uncrossed my arms and held out my hand to him.

He took it carefully in both of his, just like Beta Tristan had done, and bowed over it instead of shaking it. Rio's and Nick's eyes went from me to him and back to me, as if waiting for me to do or say something. Ignoring them, I gave him a full smile, dimples and all, and the pale skin of his cheeks blushed bright pink.

"My turn, now," said a voice I recognized. "I've met both of you before."

"Reuben Ford! Luna, he's Alpha Wyatt's gamma!" Thoreau crowed. "He bought me ice cream a couple of days ago!"

"Oh, that was so nice of him," I said.

"Yes, it was." Thoreau nodded his head rapidly. "His wolf, Larch, knows Spring. They gabbed like crazy while I ate my ice cream."

"It's good to see you again," I told Reuben, studying his face as I shook his hand.

He looked a lot healthier and happier than the last time I saw him, although I still saw shadows in his black eyes. He was just as scary as the others - tall and muscular with a bunch of tattoos, even one on his throat! - but Mom had trusted the guy to babysit Wesley and the heathens, and Tyler wouldn't have hung out with him if he were bad or mean.

That left the last gamma, who was easily the scariest. Even if I hadn't already learned the others' names, I would have known his just by the dead look in the aquamarine eyes that wouldn't meet mine.

And by the way Emerson tensed and Wyatt watched us.

"Landry Benson, Alpha Ash's gamma. My wolf's Oak," he said quickly and quietly, as if just wanting it over with.

I could relate to that.

He didn't hold out his hand. Neither did I, and I was sure we were both okay with that. I got the impression that he would respect me, and even obey me, as his luna, but that was all. He didn't like me, didn'twantto like me, and had no intention of ever finding something about me to like.

Kill him with kindness, Lark advised.

Well, I didn't plan to be unkind to him,I said.

You kind to everyone. It your default setting.

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