Page 87 of Family: Posy 4

We had just reached the end of the driveway when my phone rang.

There weren't that many people who called me, only people outside our pack, so I didn't carry it in my pocket. I had to dig around in my purse to find it, then saw Aiden's name and quickly accepted the call.

My brothers called me at least once a week just to chat and check in on me, and I really appreciated it. They caught me up on their lives and their mates, and I enjoyed hearing how the twins were settling in at Green River and taming my brothers into little puppies.

Not that James or Aiden admitted that last part, but it was easy to tell by the stories they told and the way they talked when all four of them were on the call.

I was especially glad to hear from Aiden right now. James had called me a few days ago to inform me that Aiden was on suicide watch. I'd wanted to go right to Green River, but James convinced me not to, saying Keeley and the pack's new therapist were working with him. He also pointed out that Aiden would be ashamed for me to know that he was so 'weak' - Aiden's word - and that could affect his recovery.

I understood and reluctantly agreed. While some might have thought that having a mate would instantly cure mental and emotional trauma, I knew it didn't. There was no quick or easy cure, not even the love of a mate. That love, however,didhelp you see that life was worth living and made you want to find and use coping methods.

So instead of hightailing it to Aiden's rescue, I hired Poppy to go down there and conduct an absolution ceremony. She'd done it for Leo when he couldn't get over that bad business with the demon and what it had made him do at Tall Pines. In essence, she washed the guilt and shame away and left it up to him to decide if he wanted to move on or pick that burden up and carry it again.

Leo chose to move on, and I was hoping Aiden had, too.

"Hello," I said as I put the phone on speaker in case my mates wanted to join the conversation.

"Hey, baby sister." He sounded happy, which made me smile in relief. "Are you safe and well?"

"Of course I am. We're on our way to the queen's coronation," I told him.

"Sounds fun. Glad I'm not going. Don't want to hobnob in a monkey suit again anytime soon," he laughed. "Still coming to the Swift reunion next weekend?"

"Yep! My mates are taking me on vacation after we leave the royal pack, then we'll head over to Crystal Caverns."

"Oh? Where are you going? Are they taking you to Bora Bora?"

"Um, no, I don't think so. I need a passport for that and I don't have one. I wish they'd tell me, though," I pouted and shot a look at Wyatt, who sat next to me.

"It's a surprise, cutie," he smirked. "We're not going to tell you."

"I'm shocked she hasn't wormed it out of you yet," Aiden snorted. "Usually, she crooks her little finger and you cave in a heartbeat."

"Just like I imagine you do with Keeley," Wyatt retorted.

"You'd imagine correctly," my brother chuckled. "These mates, man. They have us whipped."

"It's the same for us, you know," I said. "We'd do anything for you boys, too."

"I know, Posy," he said. "Well, enjoy the coronation and we'll see you guys next weekend."

We all chorused a variety of goodbyes, then I put my phone away with a happy smile, glad my brother was healing.

Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive, I repeated what Lark quoted the other day.I really am going to see about getting that printed on t-shirts.

Or tattoo over one of you scars, Lark suggested.

A tattoo?I cringed.I don't think so.

"What are you thinking so hard about, honey?" Cole reached up from the back seat and massaged the back of my neck. "I can practically hear the gears turning in your head."

"Lark suggested tattooing over my scars, and I told her to forget it." I shivered.

"I thought you liked tattoos." Mason turned around from the front seat and frowned at me.

"I likeyourtattoos. They're super sexy!" I giggled as his cheekbones blazed red.

"Thank you," he said through his bashfulness. "Tattooing over scars can be difficult, especially depending on how damaged the skin is. I wouldn't recommend it even if you wanted to do that."

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