Page 92 of Family: Posy 4

Leaning over as far as I could with the seat belt around me, I kissed his cheek and rubbed his head where Cole hit him.

"What's your favorite ice cream flavor?" I asked to settle them down.

Mason's was mint chocolate chip, Cole's rocky road, Jayden's birthday cake, Ash's butter pecan, and Wyatt's black raspberry.

"Mine's cookies and cream," I told them. "I never tried it before Wayne took over the ice cream truck at the fair, but it was yummy-yummy!"

"Cutie, you're too adorable for words," Wyatt crooned and raised my hand to kiss the back of my knuckles.

And so the miles flew by as we asked questions and teased each other, with only an occasional smack upside the head to interrupt our giggles.

10: The Everleighs

King Julian Hemming

I raised my hand to knock on the guest house door, then paused when I heard ... nothing. With the five alphas, silence was a rarity, and I worried that something had happened.

Have luna now, Onyx reminded me.Mate makes difference. Mate tames and calms.

She surely does,I agreed with a smile, thinking of my own queen.

I knocked and waited until Wyatt pulled open the door. Seeing me, he raised one finger to his lips and I nodded, then he led me into the living room.

Ash was walking around the room while holding a sleeping Posy, one arm under her bum to support her weight while the other hand rubbed up and down her back. Her head lolled against his shoulder, her tiny fists gripped his t-shirt, and her legs hung on either side of his waist. Every once in a while she sniffled in her sleep, and Ash bounced her gently and hushed her until she quieted again.

Even from here, I could see the red tip of her nose and the wet streaks running down her cheeks. Although I didn't like knowing something had upset her, I was pleased to see that those cheeks were no longer sunken in. Her skin was also a little tan, now that she was no longer sun-deprived, and the dark circles under her eyes were gone, as were the tense creases along the sides of her mouth.

Lilah will be so happy to see that her friend is doing well.

Link mate picture now, Onyx demanded.Nyx share with Kestrel. Nyx's pretty little wolf happy. Jul make mate happy, too.

I rolled my eyes, but did as he asked so he didn't keep pestering me about it.

"What's wrong?" I whispered. "Did something happen during the trip?"

"She's afraid to meet her father's family," Wyatt whispered back, "and had a little breakdown. Ash just got her to sleep when you knocked."

"Thinks they won't like her," Jay added as he walked into the room. "That they'll hate her because of what her stepfather did."

"Well, you can assure her that isn't the case," I told them all.

"Ash, tuck her in bed, then we'll talk," Jay murmured.

With a nod, Ash slowly walked out of the room with his precious bundle and disappeared from sight.

"Where are Mase and Cole?" I asked.

"Unpacking our suits and dealing with Posy's gown," Wyatt said with a shrug.

"It got a little wrinkled on the way," Jay explained. "They're trying to figure out how to iron it or whatever."

"We googled it," Cole said as he and Mase joined us. "We steamed it in the bathroom and hung it up. It should be fine for tomorrow."

"Good to see you guys again," I said.

We all did our bro-hug handshake, then took seats around the room. Cole, Mase, and I each took an armchair while Jay and Wyatt plopped on either end of the couch facing us.

"So how is she really?" I met Mase's eyes. "Other than the anxiety about meeting her family?"

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