Pack, p.1
Pack, page 1
part #3 of Five Fangs Series
Pack
Posy: Book Three
Mary Ann Weir
Copyright © 2023 Mary Ann Weir
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Art Painter
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
1: The Truth About Mom
2: A Day in the Life
3: Sad But True
4: Happy Birthday, Tyler!
5: Pool Party
6: Memories
7: Photo Albums
8: Tag!
9: Invaders
10: Foxy Lady
11: Lost and Found and Lost
12: Solving Mysteries
13: Toys!
14: Cold Moon
15: New Wolf
16: Betrayal
17: Broken
18: Too Much
19: Consequences
20: Wolf to Wolf
21: Right Where I Belong
22: School
23: A Little History
24: Meeting the Gammas
25: Self-Defense
26: Surprise Attack
27: Heart of Darkness
28: Fury
29: We’re in Trouble
30: Crafting with My Bros
31: Can’t Go Wrong with Flowers
32: Making Up is Hard to Do
Letter from Posy’s Mom
Family Trees
End of Book Three
Books By This Author
1: The Truth About Mom
Posy
After the ceremony, I conked out and didn't stir until I woke up the next morning in our big bed all alone.
No Wyatt? I pouted. Where's my fifth star?
Looking at the clock, I saw it was almost ten and freaked out. Never in my life had I slept so late!
Yawning, I went to my bathroom, took care of business, got a shower, and blow dried my hair. After I was dressed, I grabbed my comb and my flower hairpins and went searching for Ash.
My nose led me to the home office, where I found my mates clustered behind Mason's desk as he showed them something on his laptop. When I stepped inside, their heads lifted in unison and their wide eyes made me suspicious.
"What are you guys doing?" I asked.
"Planning something, obviously." Closing the lid to the computer, Mason folded his hands on top of it and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, it's a surprise. No, we won't tell you."
My mouth dropped open, but Wyatt cut me off before I could speak.
"Hi, Posy. You look pretty today." He came over and took my empty hand in his.
"Mmm. I missed waking up with you," I murmured.
"I figured you needed the rest." He smiled and pecked my lips.
"Princess, what's going on with your hair?"
Ash loomed over us with a scowl, and I smiled up at him.
"I washed and dried it." I held out the comb and the card of hairpins, then pooched out my bottom lip. "Fix it, waffle?"
Smirking, he put his hands on my waist, picked me up, and sat me on top of Mason's desk. As he worked, I yawned again and patted my hand in front of my mouth.
"So cute," Cole said, and my cheeks turned pink.
"How's it going with planning Ty's party?" Jay asked as he leaned one shoulder against the wall and looked at me.
"The queen and I have a list of decorations I need to buy," I told him. "After I get them, you guys can help me put them up. I described the cake I wanted and Tristan ordered it. Emerson and Angelo are going to pick it up Thursday morning on their way over here. Crew is getting the balloons, Matthew is in charge of setting the speakers up poolside, and everyone knows I told Tyler to be here at noon on the dot, so they need to arrive before that."
"Sounds like you've got it all under control," Mason said.
"Well, except for a present. What did you guys get him?"
"We're still deciding," Wyatt told me. "We were going to get him one big gift from all of us instead of a bunch of smaller, separate ones. Unless you'd rather get him something from just you?"
"No, I'm good with a big group gift, but we're running out of time. We only have two days. What about a place of his own so he can move out of the orphanage?"
"He'll receive the property of his choice when he finds his mate," Mason informed me, "just as we gifted the other betas."
"Okay, then what about a car?" I suggested. "He could really use it, and I bet he gets self-conscious about having to borrow one or ask for rides all the time."
Their faces were blank as they stared at me, and I began to fidget.
"I mean, it doesn't have to be some expensive luxury car or anything—"
"It's a great idea, honey."
"Cutie is so smart!"
"Why didn't we think of that?"
"We need to consult you more often, sweetness."
And Mason nodded.
"I'll talk to Dad," Wyatt said with a grin. "In fact, why don't we go over to the garage now?"
"Garage?" I tilted my head and blinked up at him.
"Dad owns the Busted Knuckle. He specializes in restoring classic and vintage cars. Ty worked for him until he became Ash's beta. Dad probably has a car in mind, or will at least have an idea of what Ty would like."
"Okay, great! So which of you are going to the garage and which of you are coming with me to visit my brothers?"
The game of Rock-Paper-Scissors that followed was intense, although I wasn't sure if they were playing to see who got to come with me or who got to avoid my brothers.
#
The twins' house was a mess.
James let us in when Jayden and I knocked on the door and warned us that the place was in an uproar.
"Hi, Posy!" the twins chanted when we walked in. "Hi, Alpha Jayden!"
"Hi, sisters-in-law!" I called back, which made them giggle.
They paused long enough to give me a hug, then went right back to flying around, their mouths moving as fast as their hands as they threw things in the boxes and bags that were scattered everywhere.
"Sweetheart, we'll pay for a crew to move your stuff," Aiden laughed as he caught Keeley around her waist and reeled her in. "You only need the essentials for now."
"And there's no rush." James took Callie's hands in his, then leaned down to peck her lips. "We can stay another day if we need to."
"No, it's not a good idea to leave the pack in your gamma and delta's hands longer than necessary." She shook her head. "It needs its alpha and beta right now."
"Okay, okay," James laughed, something I hadn't seen or heard in years. "But don't try to pack the whole house today, love. Like Aiden said, we'll hire movers, and we can buy you whatever you want once we're back at Green River."
"We don't need to waste the pack's money," she disagreed. "We have everything we need, right, Keeley?"
"Right," Keeley giggled.
Wow. Callie's stepping into the luna role so naturally, Jayden linked me with a smile.
I see that. They all look so happy! I turned to him. And I'm happy that you came with me, even if it was because you lost at Rock-Paper-Scissors. You're much more open-minded about my brothers than the others. Except for maybe Ash. And possibly Mason.
I deliberately lost.
What? My eyes widened as my mouth dropped open. My highly competitive mate lost at something on purpose?
Yeah, so that I could come with you.
How do you deliberately lose Rock—
That's my secret. He took my fingers in his hand and raised them to kiss my knuckles. I wanted to escort you, my lady.
"Aw! You two are so cute!" Aiden cooed as he released Keeley to let her go back to packing. "I'm so glad for you, Posy."
"I'm glad for both of you, too," I giggled. "I knew finding your mates would do you good."
"You were right, baby sister." James came closer. "Come with us to the kitchen for a minute. We have something for you."
"Oh?" Curious, I tilted my head.
"As we were tearing down the alpha house, we found some items Mom hid to save for us," he explained as Jayden and I followed him to the kitchen. "It's a miracle Father didn't find and destroy them."
"Whoa! What kinds of things?" I asked, threading my fingers through Jayden's.
"She made each of us a photo album," Aiden said as he came into the kitchen, too. "It has pictures of her, us as kids, and her family that we were never allowed to meet. Some other people, too."
"I always thought she didn't have any family." In my shock, I squeezed Jayden's hand and he gently squeezed back.
"That's what Father wanted us to think," James muttered darkly. "We're having a reunion with Mom's family in August. You should come with your mates."
"I'd like that. Is it at Green River?"
Now I was bursting with curiosity. Did I have aunts and uncles and cousins? Did I have grandparents?
"No, Mom's dad, our grandfather, was the alpha of the Crystal Caverns pack. His grandson, our cousin, is now the alpha, and Mom's family still lives there."
"Crystal Caverns?" Jayden eyebrows flew up in surprise. "Alpha Liam Swift?"
"Do you know him?" I asked right as James answered, "Yes."
"We helped him out with an issue three months ago," Jayden said.
His beautiful dragon eyes grew sad and his brow wrinkled up. At the same time, Quartz growled quietly, and I knew there was more to the story.
Three months ago? Everett Breckenridge die three months ago, Lark reminded me. You think it happen at Crystal Caves?
Crystal Caverns, I corrected. I don’t know, but we'll find out, just not when there’s a risk of setting Quartz off.
Yes, yes, no ask when my Q around, she agreed solemnly.
"Well, anyway," Aiden continued, "Mom left us a letter, too. After reading it, a lot of things make sense."
"Did you bring my letter? Or was it one letter to all of us?"
"One letter, and yes, we brought it." James handed me a white gift box. "This is your photo album. It's the exact same as ours. Somehow, she managed to go behind Father's back and get it professionally bound. The letter is in the box, too. Aiden and I made photocopies for our albums, so you can keep the original."
"Posy, be sure you want to know the truth," Aiden cautioned me. "You have every right to read that letter, but you might wish you didn't once you find out what really happened. You know the old saying that ignorance is bliss, right?"
Could the truth be that bad? Did I want to know? Or should I let it stay in the past?
I met Jayden's eyes as I thought about my brother's words.
It's whatever you want, sweetness. I will support you in any decision you make.
"James, Aiden, do you regret reading it?" I asked them.
"No, but it affects us differently than it does you," James said. "Just remember one thing, Posy. You have always been, and will always be, our baby sister."
I took the lid off the box to reveal lined paper resting on top of a hardcover book beautifully bound in celery green linen.
Picking it up with trembling fingers, my eyes ran over the letter, greedy to see what secrets my mother had to share, then pouted in disappointment.
"I can't read this kind of English." I dropped my hands to my lap, still clutching the paper.
"Baby sister, what do you mean?" Aiden laughed. "This kind of English?"
"Curved if. Or something like that. Emerson is going to teach Ty and me, but we haven't started lessons yet. He got busy with his mate and little brother."
"Ha ha ha, you mean cursive," Aiden laughed again and the other two chuckled.
"I'll read it to you if you'd like, sweetness," Jayden offered. "If you don't mind me knowing what it says."
"Of course I don't." I grinned at him and handed him the paper. "I'll tell all of you, anyway."
"Baby sister, we're going to give you some privacy while you read it," James told me. "And go help those two darling mates of ours not lose their minds. Is that okay?"
"Yes, thank you." I nodded.
He and Aiden hesitated for a second, then nodded back and left.
They wanted you to hug them, Quartz sneered.
I know, my love. I made sure the smile I gave him was full of dimples. Q, when we get home, do you think you could convince your brothers to join us for a snuggle?
Convince them? he smirked. I'd have to fight them not to.
"Ahem, now that you two have your date planned," Jayden interrupted with an eye roll, "do you still want me to read this letter now? We can always save it for later, sweetness."
"No, my dragon." I sobered up and lifted my chin. "I'm ready now. I want to know the truth."
#
Jayden
I cleared my throat before I began to read.
Dear children,
If you are reading this, I died before I could explain anything to you, and for that I am sorry. A sad story poorly told on notebook paper will have to be explanation enough now.
Kendall Briggs was not my Goddess-given mate. We met at an alpha conference when I tagged along with my father, William Swift. At thirty, I was one of the oldest unmated females there, and Kendall the oldest unmated male at thirty-four. We chatted and found some common ground we thought we could build on, so we made an arrangement. We would be chosen mates with the understanding that we'd separate amicably if ever one of us found our true mate.
"What's amicably mean?" Posy asked.
"Like friends."
"Since he wasn't her true mate, that's why he could hurt her, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Yes. I'm so sorry, Posy."
She sniffled a bit, but nodded her head for me to go on.
Kendall did not stand by that agreement. When James was four and Aiden three, emissaries from the king arrived at Green River, and among them was my true mate. Logan Everleigh wasn't an alpha or a beta, not a gamma or even a delta. He was a regular wolf, as he liked to call himself, but to me, he was everything I ever wanted in a mate.
"I bet Father wasn't pleased when she told him," Posy said. "What is an e-missionary?"
"An emissary is a representative," I explained. "Like we are when King Julian sends us somewhere."
"Thank you. Keep reading, please."
When the emissaries left to return to the royal pack, I went with my mate and brought you boys along. I should have known then that Kendall was plotting something. If I hadn't been blinded by bliss, I would have realized that he'd never let his heirs leave Green River.
For three months, my mate and I lived in happiness and peace, visiting often with my family. Every day shone brighter, and I dared to dream we had the rest of our lives to spend together as a happy family. Logan loved you both, James and Aiden, as if you were his own sons. Posy, you would have been the apple of his eye, his little princess, if only he had lived to know you.
"Oh!" she let out a hurt little sound. "I could have had a real father. I could have known what it's like to have a dad."
"Come here, baby."
Laying the letter on the counter, I wrapped my arms around her waist and cuddled her into me. She wiped her tears on my t-shirt and sniffed, then asked me to keep reading.
"Are you sure?" I whispered in her ear.
"I'm sure."
Against my better judgment, but knowing it was her right as Aiden had said, I picked up the letter and read, keeping her tucked into my side.
Unfortunately, Kendall destroyed everything. Before I was even sure that Posy slept under my heart, Kendall found us and killed Logan. He killed my mate in front of my eyes while James and Aiden were at school. He reported to King Magnus that he'd found the man who'd 'kidnapped' us, but was too late to save me from Logan's 'madness.' He faked my death so that my family wouldn't know to save me, then spun a tale for his pack to think I'd been taken by rogues.
In his ignorance of the truth, the king praised Kendall for his unrelenting dedication to finding us and offered him compensation for the 'atrocious crimes' committed by a member of the royal pack.
How ironic that Kendall was paid handsomely for killing my innocent mate and dragging us all back to Green River - or should I say, dragging us back to hell?
"What's atrocious mean?" Posy asked. "And ironic?”
"Atrocious means bad. Really bad. Like, super really bad. Ironic means the opposite of what you expect would happen."
"My mom knew some big words," she mumbled, fiddling with her fingers. "Even if this wasn't written in cursive, I would have struggled to read it."
"I can help you with improving your vocabulary, if you want. It wouldn't be a problem," I told her gently. "We can read together."
"And visit the alpha library!" Her eyes lit up, which I was happy to see because they looked so sad and dim just a second before.
"Yep. Did Tyler tell you about it? He's the only other one who really goes there."
"Yeah. At the ice pop party. Will you keep reading the letter now, please?"
"Of course."
Call me right or wrong, I refused to read the next few sentences to our girl. I'd tell her eventually, but for now, she didn't need to know some of this. It would only hurt her more and give her nightmares, so I skipped to the next paragraph.
I don't know how much more my body can stand. I am only sorry to leave you behind, darlings. I'd stay and shield you until he beats the last breath from my body if I could, but I fear the sickness will end me before he can.
By now, I pray that you are free from the monster known as Kendall Briggs. If you are not, keep trying, my darlings. Try and try until you escape this wretched hell. If you cross the borders of his territory, head for my father's pack, Crystal Caverns. He and my family will protect you.
