Page 104 of Family: Posy 4

Yesterday was different! Yesterday, he wasn't shifted and he wasn't angry and he hadn't been in absolute control for hours!

Please, Quartz. Please trust me.

I trust you with my life,I said with clenched teeth,but not with yours. It's the most precious thing in the world to me, and you'd throw it away in an effort to save a waste of space mutt.

He not a mutt,she barked indignantly,or waste of space! He family! And we going to help him with or without you permission!

Not if I alpha command you, you won't!I bellowed.

Lark sucked in a sharp breath as a flash of fear hit our mate bond, and Jayden face-palmed.

Shit.

I screwed up.

I screwed up real bad.

Worse than when I'd growled at Posy after she helped Gamma Landry.

How many times do I have to tell you?Jayden said with a heavy sigh. Anger clouds the mind! You never learn, do you, Q?

With a frustrated snarl, I counted to ten. Then I counted to ten again.

Lark, Posy, I apologize. I spoke in anger.

No response.

I'm sorry,I tried again.I allowed my fear for your safety to trigger my temper, and I'm ashamed of myself for threatening to alpha command you. I swear by the moon that I will never do that. I am not the monster your stepfather was.

At least, not to either of them. Only my enemies needed to know the monster I could be, never my little mate.

How sorry is you?Lark mumbled.

Extremely.

Prove it,she challenged.Help with Maple.

What do you have in mind?

With Jayden's permission, you use his body and guard us. If Maple attacks, you respond as you want. If he not attack, you stay a guard only.

You know if he attacks you, he's a dead wolf.I raised one eyebrow.No discussion. No debate. No second chance.

Yes.

You're that confident?I questioned.

Yes.

Then I agree to your terms and will abide by them.

Thank you, Q. I knew I could count on you,she purred with a toothy grin.

And a tiny spark of suspicion flared in my brain. Had she played me? Did she deliberately goad me into losing my temper, then use my regret to make me do what she wanted?

What does it matter if she did?Jayden snickered.Besides, she would have talked you into it either way. A few sniffles and you would have caved.

That's rich, coming from you,I snorted.One crystal tear falls from Posy's beautiful eyes and you and your brothers whimper like pups and fall all over yourselves to make her happy again.

---