Page 20 of The Beta’s Heart (Five Fangs #5)

Peri

Most shifters took a week of vacation when they found their mates, similar to how humans went on honeymoons, and Tyler was made to do so, too, regardless of whether he wanted to or not.

When he showed up for fighter practice the second day after his birthday, Ash literally carried him out to his SUV and alpha-commanded his ass to go back home.

So we enjoyed ourselves and our alone time, but by day three, we were both rather raw from ‘rabbiting,’ and our wolves were getting annoyed with our constant requests for healing, so we decided to get out of the house for a bit.

Besides, I missed my family, especially William and Winnie. I’d been there with them when they were born and every day since until I found Ty. When I told my mate that, he reminded me that I didn’t have to give up my old life just because I’d started a new one, but also added that my family understood the need we had to be together while our relationship was so new.

I linked Mom to ask if they were available to come over for dinner, something I wasn’t exactly sure I could afford with so many mouths to feed, but I didn’t want to come out and ask if we could go over there for dinner. My way, she would most likely issue the invitation before I could finish getting mine out of my mouth.

But, Sorry, love, we’re going over to Emerson and Angelo’s, she linked back. Wayne and Arch are having a sleepover with Thoreau, so we’re dropping them off. Em said they have a surprise for us, then Dad’s taking me and the heathens out to eat.

Where are Wade and Wesley?

Wade’s at Jeremy’s with some of their friends for a sleepover, and Rook invited Wesley to spend the night at the orphanage. Delta Charlie is going to take all the lads fishing tomorrow morning while Honor is at a birthday party.

Hmm. Well, what if I take William and Winnie off your hands for the night? I suggested, thinking fast. If I couldn’t go to my babies, they could come to me! Give you and Dad a little alone time?

Do you have an ulterior motive behind this, love?

No, Mom. I just miss them. I love Ty very much, and I’m as happy as can be, but my days don’t feel right without boys running around me and creating messes and arguing and begging me to play race cars with them.

I know what you mean, she chuckled. Right, then. We’ll bring them ’round on our way over to Em’s, if that suits?

Absolutely fabulous, dahling, I tried to imitate her English accent, which made her laugh .

We chatted for a few more minutes, and she let me know that her last ultrasound confirmed she was having a boy.

What a shock! I gasped.

Don’t be cheeky, she chided before letting me go.

Running out to the backyard where Ty was practicing tai chi under the old oak tree, I word-vomited what I’d arranged so fast, he stood and stared at me for a few moments. Then, leaning his wooden practice swords against the tree, he came over and cupped my face in his rough palms.

“You can have any of the kids over any time you want to. I’ve babysat them all at one time or another, and we get along great, probably because we share a lot of the same interests.”

“Yeah, and probably because you’ll wrestle around and rough-house with them,” I agreed with an eye roll.

“And you don’t?”

“I’ll have you know that I am an awesome tickle monster, but, no, I am not getting my tits kicked or my hair pulled or worse. Those little bastards are vicious when they wrestle!”

“True enough,” he chuckled as he dropped his hands from my face. “Future warriors for sure. Want me to call and ask them over?”

“Why? I already confirmed it with Mom.” I tilted my head.

“It will be special for them if I do, that’s why.” He grinned as he assured me he had both Mom and Dad’s cell numbers. “I’m at a good stopping spot, so I’ll call now, then get a shower. What else do we need to do to get ready?”

“Nothing much. I figured we’d do a pillow fort in the living room with snacks and a movie. That will be good enough for them, and we can play games if they get tired of the movie.”

“Sounds great.” He went over and grabbed his swords, and I looked at them as he walked back to me.

They weren’t very nice swords, pitted and cracked and worn, obviously second- or third-hand and Goddess knew how old.

Ty had told me that he learned about tai chi at a free workshop held at the YMCA in Greenville and had fallen in love with it. He’d said it didn’t make his scars pull or pinch as much as other martial arts did, and the deep, slow breathing and smooth, flowing motions helped him settle his mind. He had told me that he thought of it as physical meditation.

He’d also been highly impressed when the instructor gave a performance at combat-speed with a pair of elegant master swords.

“After that, I kept my eye open for anything that would work to practice with and was lucky enough to score these at a thrift store,” he’d said, holding up his two battered relics. “Banged my head and shins too many times to remember, but eventually I got the hang of it!”

Staring at them now, I knew exactly what I was going to get him for our first Christmas together. I could ask Angelo del Vecchio for some advice; he was an expert in any kind of weapon you could name, so surely he’d know where I could get a fine pair for my love.

Now I just have to figure out how to afford them, I thought to myself. That waitressing job at Roger’s is sounding more and more appealing… After school starts, though. I want to enjoy the rest of the summer with my man.

“Per? You good?” Ty bumped my arm with his elbow.

“Yeah. Just planning tonight in my head. Go ahead and call the boys, then get your shower. I’ll make sure we have enough snacks.”

Kissing my forehead, he jogged into the house, and I closed my eyes as I linked Roger Poe.

#

Tyler

William and Winnie arrived with big grins and shining eyes, clutching their little overnight bags and bouncing with excitement.

“Hi, Ty!” William called out as he ran into the living room, nearly tripping over his own feet. Winnie, the three-year-old, toddled after him, dragging his favorite blanket.

“Hey, guys!” I scooped up Winnie and spun him around, his giggles filling the room, and Peri shot me a look that was half-amused, half-warning.

“Remember, you’re the responsible adult,” she teased. “Don’t get them too riled up.”

“I’ll try my best,” I replied with a grin.

“What are we doing tonight?” William asked as he threw his stuff on the couch.

“Something amazing!” she crowed, and they looked at her with wide, expectant eyes. “We’re going to build the biggest pillow fort ever!”

“Really?” William’s eyes lit up.

“Biggest evah ?” Winnie squealed.

“Really and, yes, biggest ever! But first … Snacks!”

We all headed to the kitchen, and Peri handed the boys bowls of popcorn while I poured juice into sippy cups. William and Winnie chattered non-stop, their excitement contagious, and it was endearing to see them so happy to do something so simple.

A reminder for life, really, I thought to myself. Enjoy the simple things. River’s an expert at it, too.

Back in the living room, we started building the fort. Peri and I pulled out every pillow and blanket we could find, while the boys darted around, “helping” by throwing pillows everywhere.

“Hey, hey, careful!” I laughed as one hit me in the face.

“Sorry, Ty!” William giggled.

“Sure you are,” I teased back, ruffling his hair.

Finally, the fort was complete, a sprawling, cozy masterpiece that the heathens declared really was the biggest they’d ever made. They crawled inside with Peri, who settled them with their snacks while I looked for a movie.

“What do you want to watch?” I asked.

“ Toy Story !”

“ Toy Towy !”

“I guess Toy Story it is,” I said, finding it and hitting play before diving into the pillow fort myself.

As the movie started, I marveled at how easily Peri managed the boys. She was patient and gentle, and they adored her. I glanced at her, feeling a surge of love and admiration for the woman who would be the mother of my pups someday.

Halfway through the movie, the boys started to get sleepy. Winnie snuggled up against Peri, his eyelids drooping, while William tried valiantly to stay awake.

“Ty?” William said, his voice small and sleepy.

“Yeah, buddy?”

“Can we do this again sometime?”

“Absolutely.”

“Of course we can, sweetie.” Peri kissed his forehead.

By the time the movie ended, both boys were sound asleep, and Peri tucked them in under the blankets while I gathered up the popcorn bowls and sippy cups.

“They’re adorable,” I whispered, not wanting to wake them.

“Yeah, they are. Thanks for being so great with them tonight.”

“Anytime,” I said with a grin. “I love this—”

Suddenly, the beta bond blew up like a supernova, making every muscle tense as I scrambled to my feet.

“I have to go. Something’s happened to luna, and most of the alphas are off pack territory on missions.” I glanced apologetically at Peri, only to find her eyes as wolf-lit as my own.

“I know. I can feel it, too. The pain Posy’s broadcasting—Ty, something’s hurt her! Go help her!”

“Don’t worry, Sunshine. I’ll take care of her.”

I didn’t want to downplay what was happening because I could tell it was something awful, but I also didn’t want to upset Peri further by confirming just how much luna was suffering. Her pain was strong enough in the pack bond; in the beta bond, it was all but crippling.

As I headed out, adrenaline spiking, I wondered who had been foolish enough to sign their death warrant tonight.

#

Peri

After Ty left, I waited in the fort with the boys, worrying for my sister-in-law.

If one of my brothers caused this, he’s going to be lucky to survive Mom’s wrath, never mind the betas’, I grumbled.

I stayed up, watching another movie quietly, waiting for Ty to come back. When he finally walked through the door, he looked tired, but relieved.

“Everything okay?” I asked softly. “I tried talking to Posy several times, but she wouldn’t open the link. Mom said the same thing. Heh. Mom was all ready to storm the alpha house to find out what was wrong. If I hadn’t had these babies, I might have run up there myself.”

“Your damn brother!” Ty grumped, slipping off his shoes. “It’s sorted out now, but by the moon, Cole is lucky he survived tonight!”

“Oh, dear. Come on in and tell me all about it. We saved you a spot.” I lifted the side of the blanket, inviting him to join us.

With a tiny smile clearing away his frown, he crawled in beside me, careful not to wake the boys. Wrapping an arm around me, he pulled me close and burrowing his face into my neck, taking a big inhale of my scent.

Ever so slowly, I felt the tension ease out of him until he was fully relaxed against me.

“I would have been home sooner, but I had to let off some steam since I knew I couldn’t come home and, um, burn the anger and frustration off with you,” he muttered, his lips brushing my skin.

I was kind of disappointed by that, but knew as well as he did that him going beast mode in bed wasn’t possible when the two babies were here.

“So what did you do?” I asked. “Run it off? Haha! Did you end up on the other side of the state?”

“Nah. Reuben Ford was still awake—well, he’d woken up from a night terror—so he met me at the training facility, and we sparred until we couldn’t stand up anymore.”

“Thanks for taking a shower before coming home,” I teased to lighten up the mood a bit. “Now what did my big grumpy bear of a brother do this time?”

“Went and got himself infected by a freaking parasite while he was down at Cold Moon today!”

“I guess you don’t mean a tick latched onto him, do you?”

“Looked more like a blood-red slug from what Maria and Ariel linked us. It started attacking him as soon as it spawned into him. Near as we can figure, Topaz fought it as hard as he could, but it did enough damage to Cole to take over his mind and control him for a bit. Or at least, that’s how I understood the witches’ explanations.”

“Don’t tell me he attacked Posy,” I gasped, my heart speeding up at the thought.

“Not physically.”

“Verbally for someone like her is almost worse,” I murmured as I cuddled into him. “Did y’all beat the shit out of him? Or just beat the parasite out of him?”

“The witches drew it out while Mase, Ash, and Wyatt locked him down.”

“Is he all right? Or going to be? And what about Topaz?”

“Yeah, Ariel said they’ll both recover just fine given enough time and love and food.”

“Food.” I rolled my eyes, but knew what they meant. Wolf shifters burned through a lot of calories, especially when fighting. “And Posy?”

“They said she will be, too, eventually. I’ll take you to see her tomorrow.” Ty sighed and pulled me on top of him, crushing me into his chest.

“There’s a lot you’re not telling me, isn’t there?” I raised my head from his shoulder to squint down at him.

“I’ll give you the whole story in the morning. For now, just let me hold you.”

“I’ll always want you to hold me,” I whispered and dug my face into his throat.

We stayed that way for a long time before Ty rolled me onto my side and craned his head to see past me.

“Those little devils look like angels when they’re asleep.”

“You know better than anyone that looks can be deceiving.”

“True. Still, this is nice.”

“Yeah, it is,” I agreed.

As we lay there, surrounded by pillows and blankets, with William and Winnie sleeping peacefully, I knew how blessed we were with moments like these. They reminded us of what really mattered.

“Someday, this will be us with our own pups,” I whispered as I headed toward dreamland.

“Yeah, but not for a while, Sunshine. We need to be more financially stable first.”

“I know, and we’re only eighteen. I want at least a couple of years of having you all to myself!”

“We’ll make sure that we’re both good and ready before we decide to have pups.” He kissed the top of my head, and I smiled, feeling content.

#

Tyler

The next day, Mom organized a big dinner at the alpha house so that everyone had an excuse to go over and check on luna. Cole, too, of course, but mostly luna. Mom and Julia Price were bringing all the food so that luna wouldn’t have to do anything but sit down and eat, and Peri and I volunteered to bring dessert, albeit with ulterior motives.

Emerson had linked me after breakfast and asked me to come over that afternoon to see someone. I thought he meant Thoreau, who was a great kid and a big River fan, and I told Peri we might need a bribe to get my wolf to leave so we weren’t late for dinner.

“Does ice cream always work?” she asked as I drove us over to the del Vecchios.

“Except for when he’s already escalated,” I replied with a grin.

It wasn’t only Reau, though, waiting for us at Em and Angelo’s.

“Who’s that?” Peri asked, pointing to a wolf chasing the giggling boy around the front yard. “It’s not Cove.”

I brought the SUV to a short stop as my jaw dropped.

“It’s Spring,” I breathed. “I didn’t know he was back.”

“Spring? Oh, wait. Everett Breckenridge’s wolf?” Peri gasped as she covered her mouth with her fingers. “But Mase said he was practically comatose.”

“He was.” Shutting down the vehicle, I flung off my seat belt and leaped out, ran around to Peri’s side and opened her door. “I saw him the day of the funeral, and he was completely shut down.”

“The Royal Pack elders and healers must have worked a miracle, then.”

“I think he worked one himself,” I murmured, taking her hand and leading her toward the pair capering around like pups.

“George-ous!” Reau shrieked. “Pretty! Come meet my new wolf!”

Yeah, he called me George-ous and Peri Pretty. Em had explained to him that he couldn’t call Peri Sunshine because that was my special name for her. Reau, in all his earnest innocence, then insisted on coming up with nicknames for us and that’s what he settled on. Of course, he couldn’t pronounce ‘gorgeous’ correctly, so I was George-ous. I’d heard it half a dozen times now, and it still made me freaking blush.

Peri thought it was cute, which only made my face burn redder.

“I know your wolf,” I told him as Spring sniffed my fist, then consented to me rubbing his head and ears. “It’s good to see you.”

You, too , he acknowledged gravely. I heard you that day, by the way. Wasn’t able to respond, but I heard you.

“Good. I know River’s been linking you, and the second he wakes up, he’s going to want to see you, if you’re up for it?”

Of course. I’ve missed my friend’s antics. He insists he’s been staying out of trouble. Spring tilted his head as his amber eyes met mine, as if to question if that was the truth.

“He’s too busy with Dove to get into much mischief these days,” I assured him. “This is Peri, my mate, if you haven’t met her.”

“Hello, Spring,” Peri grinned and held out her knuckles for him to sniff. “Welcome back!”

Thank you, and congratulations. I was happy for you both when River linked me that you were mates.

“Speaking of River, I’m going to go find a place to shift so he can greet Spring properly,” I warned everyone.

“You can use my room, Beta Ty!” Reau volunteered. “It’s the middle one on the second floor!”

“River’s too fluffy to shift inside,” I started to protest, but Em and Angelo waved aside my concerns as they joined us.

“We’re all used to a little wolf hair, Ty,” Em said with a grin. “But you can use the downstairs bathroom so Riv’s claws don’t tear up the staircase.”

Giving in, I ducked into the house right as Reau suggested a game of Tag, earning a groan of, “Not again!” from Angelo and a giggle from Peri as Reau argued that it was the best game in the world.

As soon as I was undressed, I cracked the bathroom door open a sliver, then shifted into River’s gray fur suit and gently woke him up.

No, Ty-Ty. Sleepy, he whined at first and tried to lay down and roll belly up in the tiny confines of the bathroom, but I stopped him before he could break anything.

But we have a surprise for you. Don’t you want it?

A surprise? That made his eyelids pop up. Me want surprise!

Okay, then. Gently push on the door so it opens. Don’t bust through it; I can’t afford to replace anything in this house.

Who house we in? he wanted to know as he nosed his way out of the bathroom and looked around. Smell like Em and Gelo and Toro!

Ever since the luna ceremony, Thoreau was Toro for the youngest Barlows and my wolf. William thought it was hilarious that Winnie, who was only three, said it that way. Since River had never been able to pronounce “th” and “fr” sounds, either, Toro stuck.

Yeah, I replied, and you know he loves all this old woodwork and antique stuff.

Why here? Oh! See Toro?

Yes, he’s here, and he has someone special with him. You have to be a good boy, Riv, remember? Don’t get too excited, or you might scare or hurt Toro.

Me never hurt pups, Ty-Ty! he growled. Never, ever!

I know you wouldn’t, but accidents happen when you’re too excited to pay attention.

Me will pay dah tension! he said in a cranky voice. Me gentle teddy big bear good boy! Now want Toro and surprise!

Okay, go out to the front yard.

As River loped toward the front door, which I’d also left slightly ajar or he would have just bashed through it, I linked the others that we were on our way and to be prepared for anything since Riv was a little irritable from me disturbing his nap.

As we got closer, River’s nose woke up faster than his brain, and he took off running the second he was clear of the front door, leaping off the top porch step and tackling Spring with happy yips and excited barks that the older wolf echoed. Reau, instead of cheering them on as I expected, started flapping his hands around, his breathing erratic as he whimpered a little.

“They’re playing, Reau, not fighting,” Em explained as he hugged the boy.

“Spring is happy to see River?” Reau asked.

“Very happy.”

“That is okay then.”

Soon enough, the boy was back to scampering around with the wolves in some kind of chase game he made up on the spot. They played around for a good while, then Peri said we had to start making tracks for the alpha house if we didn’t want to be late for dinner.

Nooo! River pouted.

When she pointed out that we had just enough time to swing by the store and pick up a couple of gallons of ice cream, he obediently ran back to the bathroom where I’d left my clothes and handed over control, but not before pointing out that he’d never tried “back ass bee” ice cream.

I was just about to scold him for cursing again when I realized he was saying black raspberry , and I shifted back to myself with a chuckle.

#

Peri

It was good to have everyone together again, not only to make sure that Posy—and Cole—were both okay after yesterday, but also because the whole family hadn’t assembled like this for about a week now, and I for one missed it.

Guess that old saying is true, I thought as I looked around the table at my big family. You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.

It’s not gone, Miss Drama Queen, Dove pointed out with an eye roll. It’s sitting all around you!

You know what I mean, I shot back. I’m used to this every day. When Cole and Wyatt moved out to live with the other alpha brothers, it was hard, and now that it’s just me and Ty rattling around in our big place, I feel unsettled.

“Sunshine?” Ty nuzzled his nose in my ear. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head with a fake smile, but I should have known he wouldn’t buy that, not with the emotions I couldn’t hold back flooding through our mate bond or the tears gathering in the corner of my eyes. He set down his fork, wrapped one arm around my waist, and pulled me onto his lap, his big hands framing my face like blinders on a horse so I could only look at him.

What’s wrong, Per? he linked me, and I realized he was giving me what privacy he could when we were surrounded by more than a dozen pairs of curious ears and eyes. Tell me so I can fix it or help you fix it.

I’m just a little homesick, I guess, I sniffed, turning my eyes up as I blinked rapidly so none of the tears would escape. I’m used to this kind of dinner every night.

Fried chicken and mashed potatoes and corn on the cob? I can make that happen. I know how to cook those things, but wasn’t it boring to have the same meal all the time?

Goddess bless his innocent heart.

Reminding myself he was an only child and had spent his teen years in an orphanage, I refrained from calling him a doofus and from slapping him upside the head.

I meant, with a big, loud family gathered around, I clarified.

Oh. Well, as we agreed last night, we’re not having pups for a while, but we can always kidnap Winnie and William whenever we want. I’m sure Mom and Dad won’t mind that for a minute. That earned him a soggy chuckle, which made him smile. But I think I can fix this just a little for you.

Oh? How?

Instead of answering, he pecked my lips, then moved his hands to cup my face, studying it as if to make sure not a single tear had escaped on his watch, and I never loved him more.

Once he found what he was looking for, he nodded to himself, then slid me back on my chair and kept his arm draped around my lower back. As we both went back to eating, Cole glared at Ty and Wyatt teased him about keeping his hands to himself at least during dinner, but Jay and Mase were watching me closely now, and Posy, Julia Price, and Mom all tapped on the link.

I’m okay, I linked them. Just didn’t realize how much I missed dinners together like this.

“You know, Mom,” Ty began before any of them could respond, “I never knew how much fun big families were. I think we should have meals together like this more often.”

“He did not just play the orphan card to get invited to dinner again!” Ash fake-gasped. “Come on, bro! You’re better than that!”

“Ash Loto Mitchell!” Mom and Julia Price both tore into him.

“Per, you should have just said you missed us instead of manipulating your mate into manipulating Mom,” Jay teased, relieved now that he knew I wasn’t upset over anything too deep.

“I didn’t manipulate anyone!” I protested. “Ty asked what was wrong and I told him and he said he’d fix it. End of story.”

“Well, I agree with Ty,” Dad chimed in. “Let’s try to have at least one meal together as a family each week. We can rotate houses, too, so no one feels like it’s a burden.”

“I love it!” Posy clapped her hands and bounced up and down in her seat, and that pretty much sealed the deal.

“To the weekly gathering of the … wait.” Ash paused with his glass in his hand. “What are we going to call this family? We have more last names between us than there are colors of paint.”

“Ours,” I said as I gave Ty a giant smile. “ Our family.”

“Sounds good to me,” he murmured.

“All right,” Ash raised his glass again and waited until we each had done the same, “To the weekly gathering of our family.”

“To our family,” we all echoed.