Page 71 of Pack: Posy 3

Runt.

Pathetic.

Worthless.

Weak.

The same words cycled through my mind, making me blind and deaf to the world around me. It was a good thing Lark was ascendant. If it were me in control, we would have hit a tree long ago.

She was getting tired and slowing down, though. Despite how strong I'd become over the last several weeks, I was still and always would be small and weak.

Useless.

Runt.

Pathetic—

Stop it,Lark gasped.I need stop. And you need pay attention. We not alone.

Had we run into a patrol? We were still in pack territory, so I knew it was unlikely to be rogues.

The betas.Lark slowed to a trot, then a walk.Tristan and Matthew follow us since we left. Other three catching up.

She wheezed with her head hanging low. I looked around and spotted a grassy clearing and pointed it out to her. She got us there, then collapsed on her side and panted heavily.

Matthew and Tristan joined us in an instant, still in their human forms.

More proof of how weak I am. They hadn't even needed to shift to keep up with my wolf.

Crew, Emerson, and Tyler ran into the clearing from different directions, all within a minute of each other.

"Whathappened?" Emerson demanded.

Matthew's eyes went glassy, and I knew he was showing them everything. I felt several nudges on the link again, but ignored them all. Once Matthew finished, anger lit Emerson's eyes and Tyler's face, and Crew looked upset.

"We need Alpha Mason to come homenow," Emerson growled.

"He was already on his way home," Matthew told him. "Luna, he wants to know why you won't talk to him. What do you want me to tell him?"

I was too afraid to open any of my mate links.

Does he know what happened?I asked.

"No. I thought you would want to explain, but I can tell him if you'd prefer that."

What if he says the same things?What if he doesn't want me anymore, either?

Why did my mates stop loving me? Then a horrible new thought struck me. Did theyeverlove me? Was it all an act? But why? Why would they do that? What would they have gained from that other than humiliating me?

"No, my little luna bunny." Emerson reached over and stroked Lark's head. "I guarantee that's not the case."

I didn't respond, and Matthew came closer.

"Here, luna." He laid a stack of clothing next to me. "Good thing Lark is small. Your clothes survived the shift. You don't have to shift back if you don't want to, but at least you can if you do."

"I grabbed your Chucks, too." Tristan held up my sneakers, then sat them next to my clothes.

I nodded, but wasn't having much luck holding back the tears. They trickled into Lark's soft fur as I whimpered. Several people pushed on my pack link again, but I continued to ignore them.

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