Page 109 of Pack: Posy 3

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and slowly reached out to wrap my fingers around his wrist. It was so thick, my index finger and thumb didn't meet.

"Now I'm going to rotate my hand. Watch," he said and lined up his thumb with mine. "I'm going to bend my elbow, and it's going to pull my wrist out of your grip. Try hard to hold on to me, okay?"

I nodded and squeezed as tightly as I could, but his wrist easily pulled out of the weak spot made by my not-touching fingers.

"See how easy it is? Are you okay to try it? If so, it means I'm going to hold your wrist in my hand."

My eyes flew up to his as my lungs started to strain.

"Or not." He held up both hands. "You don't have to. You can have one of your mates try it with you later. Or even Reau."

"I'll try it," I said despite my rising heart rate.

"You don't have to, luna," he assured me quietly.

How much about my past had my mates shared with the gammas? I knew they'd told the betas some of it, and I'd confided a bit in a few others - Mom, Mama, and Peri - but I wondered if these guys knew what my stepfather had done to me. Was that why they were being so careful around me?

My thoughts must have slipped into the mate bond because Wyatt linked me.

We only told them that you and Reau both came from abusive homes where you were locked up and away from everyone.They had to know, Posy, so they didn't say something dumb or trigger you accidentally.

I understand, I told him, and I did.

"I want to," I said. "I want to be brave."

"You sure?" Reuben gave me one last chance to say no.

"Yes. Just, um, please let me go if I ask you to," I said in a shaky voice, "and, ah, move slowly."

"Of course, luna."

You're strong. You're strong. You're strong, I chanted to myself.

Keeping my eyes on his, I raised my arm and held it out to him. I knew I was trembling and everyone could see it, but there was nothing I could do about it.

"I'm going to hold your wrist now," he said, and I liked how he told me what he was going to do before he did it.

I nodded to let him know it was okay. Watching him closely, I saw his much bigger, stronger hand inch toward mine until his long fingers carefully and gently curled around my wrist.

At the touch of his skin on mine, I whimpered almost soundlessly, just a breath of distress really, and felt everyone around me tense.

You're okay, cutie, Wyatt linked me immediately.He would never, ever hurt you.

Breathe, luna bunny, Emerson murmured.I'm right here, little sister.

"Luna, don't be scared!" Thoreau called out. "Gamma Rube is nice. He bought me ice cream!"

Despite my distress, a tiny giggle slipped out. I didn't know how Reuben buying Thoreau ice cream was supposed to make me not scared, but at least it eased some of my nerves.

"Are you ready to try to break free?" Reuben asked.

He kept his fingers loose around my wrist, so loose that I probably could just slip my hand out of the circle of his fingers without needing to do the move he was teaching us.

"Tighten your hold so I can practice properly," I said.

Nodding, he did, not enough to make me panic, but enough that I'd have to use the move to escape. Turning my hand like he had, I got our thumbs aligned, then bent my elbow and jerked my hand to the side and out of his hold.

"You did it!" he chirped with a grin.

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