Page 8 of The Beta’s Heart (Five Fangs #5)

Peri

A week after the whirlwind of my youngest brothers’ race car birthday and the surprise go-kart track, we found ourselves at Disney in Florida. Mom insisted it was the perfect way to kick off summer vacation, and honestly, I wasn’t about to argue, even if it was chaos to navigate the Magic Kingdom with six rambunctious boys.

“Peri, catch up!” Wayne called back over his shoulder, leading the charge towards Space Mountain.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I huffed, dodging a family with a stroller and nearly tripping over William as he danced around me.

“Peri, bet you can’t ride every coaster twice in a row.” Archer sauntered along beside me, little Winnie riding on his shoulders.

“I’m not trying to break a record here, Arch. I’m trying to survive this trip with my sanity intact.” I rolled my eyes as Wade, who had recently come into his wolf Scout, bounded up to us.

“Peri! Peri! We’ve got to try the Avatar ride!”

“Okay, we’ll get there, buddy.”

Why all these boys always glommed onto me was a mystery I didn’t even try to solve.

“I wonder if they have a model of the Millennium Falcon.” Wesley lagged behind, walking as slowly as possible past a gift shop window so he could stare at a miniature model of the Epcot ball.

“You’re such an old soul, Wes,” I teased, stopping to tousle his dark brown hair. “We’ll make sure to check before we leave the park.”

“Peri, can we see Mickey now?” William tugged on my hand, his eyes wide with excitement, and I grinned down at him.

“Sure thing, sweetie. Let’s go find Mickey.”

As we wound through the park, avoiding crowds and sticky ice cream hands, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for my boisterous, blended family. Sure, they drove me crazy at times, but they were mine, and moments like these made it all worthwhile.

#

The week went by in a flash of fun adventures with my lively brothers. However, the activities they planned for next week—monster truck shows, dirt bike rallies, and car exhibitions—left me less than enthused.

“Really?” I muttered to myself. “Boys and their toys.”

Finally, with my parents’ permission, I flew home a week early. The idea of having the house to myself made me giddy, but little did I know, an even better surprise awaited me upon my return.

My older brothers had found their mate!

Boy, are they going to be in trouble when the parents get home, Dove snickered. Not letting Mom know the instant they found her? That’s going to go over really well.

Sounds like a them problem, not an us problem, I smirked. I’m going to rub it in everyone’s face that we get to meet her first! Bwahahaha!

#

Posy Briggs was a pretty girl with dark blue eyes that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. She had her brown hair up in adorable space buns that I’d bet anything Ash had insisted on styling for her, and she was short, one of the shortest she-wolves I’d ever seen, but it wasn’t only her height that caught my attention.

She was thin. No, not just thin. Skeletal.

Oh, my. I wonder if she has an eating disorder, I thought.

Whether she does or not, you mind your big mouth today, Dove demanded. Don’t say one word about her size.

I know that, Dove! I shot back. I was just concerned for her!

As well as being physically tiny, she had an air of fragility about her, too, and a nervousness that made her jump at the slightest noise. And then there were my big brothers hovering protectively around her, their eyes watchful. I could see that all five of them were absolutely smitten with her, but something about their behavior waved a big red flag in my face.

“Hey, you must be Posy,” I greeted her with a warm smile, hoping to ease some of the tension that clung to her like a second skin.

She nodded hesitantly, her gaze flickering between me and my alphas brothers.

“Um, yeah. That’s me.”

“I’m Peri,” I introduced myself, offering my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Posy shook my hand tentatively, her fingers cool and delicate in mine.

We fell into step together as Ash led us through the crowds, an effortless task for someone just shy of seven feet tall. As my other brothers walked in a loose square around us, I stole glances at Posy, noticing how she kept close to her new mates, almost like she wanted to hide in their enormous shadows.

“So, Posy,” I began casually, trying to draw her out a little to get to know her. “Are you excited about shopping?”

She hesitated, then nodded slightly.

“Yeah, I haven’t done it in a long time.”

Something in her tone told me that by ‘a long time,’ she didn’t mean a few days or even a few weeks.

“Well, I’m here to help you find some cool stuff. What do you need first?”

“Thanks.” Posy’s shoulders relaxed a fraction, and she glanced at me with a hint of gratitude. “Um, a couple of outfits would be nice. And definitely some underwear.”

“Sure thing,” I said cheerfully, leading her towards a trendy boutique. “Let’s find you something nice.”

As we browsed through racks of clothes, I kept a careful eye on the small girl. Her choices were modest, practical even, which didn’t surprise me given her demeanor, but when we ventured into the lingerie section, I couldn’t resist teasing her a bit.

“Hey, how about some fancy ones for the boys?” I playfully held up a sheer black set.

“Um, I... I don’t think so.”

Posy’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she ran back to the front of the store where the boys waited, and I immediately regretted my words, realizing I had pushed too far.

Me and my big mouth. It always gets me into trouble.

Don’t tease her, Mase told me in the link as I walked toward them. She’s innocent.

She needs to get some things here for sure, especially bras , Jay joined our silent conversation. She’s probably too shy or embarrassed to tell you, but hers are old and in horrible shape.

If she’s so innocent, how do you know that? I asked, half teasing and half serious.

I helped her pack her stuff to move here, then unpacked it into her dresser. All of her clothes are rags, Per.

She needs everything, Ash chimed in. Accessories, shoes, jewelry, hair supplies, all of it.

Can you help her without teasing or embarrassing her, Periwinkle? Wyatt asked with a seriousness that was unusual for him. She needs a friend.

Of course. I didn’t quite know what to expect from her, so I treated her like I would Callie or Keeley, but I’m getting the picture now. I need to handle her even more delicately than I do Sophie and Yola.

Exactly, Cole agreed with relief. Pretend Posy is Yolly on one of her extra shy, sensitive days, and that might be close enough.

With a tiny nod at him, I touched my fingertips to her shoulder, which startled her, and I wondered again what all this girl had been through.

“Sorry, Posy,” I apologized. “I was only trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“It’s okay.” She shook her head, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’m just not... ready for that.”

“I understand,” I replied gently. “We’ll find something else, all right?”

When she nodded, her relief palpable, I took her gently by the elbow and steered her towards more comfortable choices.

The more we shopped, the more I knew I was right about her. She shrunk back from the noise and commotion around us, her eyes darted around constantly, and her whole body jerked if someone moved too quickly or spoke too loudly.

“You’re fine,” I reassured her after she nearly jumped out of her skin when someone nearby screamed with laughter. “We’re all here. You’re safe.”

Yeah, it took me too long, but I had finally figured her out.

She was scared.

Scared out of her mind.

Scared of everything and everyone.

Whatever had happened to her before my brothers found her, Posy was fragile, like delicate glass on the verge of shattering, and I knew we all had to tread carefully.

It tugged at my heartstrings, but I didn’t know what to do to help her because I didn’t know why she was so afraid or of what.

What I did know was that my new sister-in-law was one brave ass bitch.

Not once did she ask to go back home or give up. She might have been shaking like a leaf inside—and sometimes on the outside—but she kept trying to be a normal girl out shopping with a friend.

It was the kind of courage that broke your heart and buoyed it up at the same time.

Our last stop was the beauty supply shop, its shelves lined with colorful bottles and jars promising transformative beauty.

“Pfft! As if either of us need that !” I made a silly face, which earned one of her nearly silent giggles, and I patted myself on the back.

Ash, who fancied himself a stylist, immediately launched into a spirited debate with me about hair care products. I was so engrossed in defending my favorite brand that I completely missed Posy’s soft voice chiming in from behind us.

Who knows how long we would have continued our debate since both of us were passionate about hair care, and neither of us was willing to back down, but a low, guttural growl erupted from the center of the store, cutting through our argument like a knife.

Together, we ran toward the sound and found Lark ascendant in Posy’s body as she glared at Wyatt and Cole.

Uh-oh! What happened here?

Looking into my brothers’ eyes, I realized their wolves were also running their bodies, and neither Granite nor Topaz would be my first choice to calm down a fragile, agitated girl.

“What did you two do to upset our mate?” Ash demanded.

With a fierce frown, Lark jabbed a finger in his chest, and my eyes flew wide open. This little wolf was nothing like her timid human counterpart, it seemed!

“And you! How you not even see the only thing in here my girl like? She try to show you, but you too busy deciding everything for her. You no listen to her!”

“What? No! I...” Ash’s voice trailed off, his eyes flaring neon green as his wolf surfaced, and Sid was in charge seconds later.

“My darling, I sorry. Ashy get excited sometimes and lost in his head. He not mean to ignore—”

“How none of your boys know they hurting Posy?” Lark spat, her frustration visibly boiling over, and I wondered what the hell Wyatt and Cole did to cause this disaster.

Thankfully, Mase and Jay came back from dropping our purchases at the car and tried to calm everyone down, but when Lark admitted that Posy was hurt and frightened, Granite, Topaz, and Sid let my brothers know just how unhappy they were while Mase’s wolf snarled his rage at them.

Unfortunately, Lark seemed to take Garnet’s anger as directed toward her and began stuttering apologies, covering her face with her hands and curling her shoulders in as if to physically protect herself.

Did she think someone was going to hit her? Did she think my brothers would ever allow someone to hit her?

“Lark.”

Oh, dear. Not that wolf, I thought and glanced at Jay to see Quartz’s golden eyes staring back at me. Well, shit.

“Come. Here. Now,” he ordered his little mate, who couldn’t argue with his alpha command, but poor little Posy’s body called it quits and crumpled in a slow fall.

Thank the Goddess, Quartz caught her before her head hit the floor, and I breathed a sigh of relief. A brutal bastard Jay’s wolf might be, but he’d rip his own fangs out before he ever hurt his mate. Holding her would keep him in check, and that would keep the rest of us alive.

While I was still processing everything that had happened, Mase gently took my elbow and guided me towards the exit.

“Come on, Per,” he said softly, his tone steady and reassuring.

We stepped outside into the warm afternoon, and Mase led me to the waiting SUV. The scents of blooming flowers and the distant laughter of shoppers filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension we’d just escaped. I looked over my shoulder, relieved to see Quartz following us, still holding Lark-in-Posy’s-body protectively.

Mason unlocked the doors, and Quartz crawled into the backseat, cradling Posy with care. The sight of her frail form nestled against his broad chest tugged at my heart. Mase opened the front passenger door for me, gesturing for me to get in.

“Everything was going so great, Mase,” I sniffed, my voice breaking as tears welled up in my eyes. “I thought we were becoming friends. Do you think she hates me now?”

“Of course not,” he scowled, his usually cold gray eyes softening a little at the sight of my tears. “She doesn’t know how to hate anyone.”

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I asked, my voice trembling with worry, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest.

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll fix it.”

I believed him, too, since fixing things was one of Mason Price’s areas of expertise, so I nodded, taking a deep breath and wiping my tears with the back of my hand. As he started the engine, I couldn’t help but glance back at Posy, hoping she would be all right and that my chance to become her first friend hadn’t been ruined.

#

Later that day, I sat in the kitchen, trying to distract myself with a book. The house felt unnatural to me without half a dozen noisemakers there to liven it up. As my mind kept drifting back to Posy, the silence weighed heavily on me, amplifying my unspoken worries.

A knock on the back door jolted me from my thoughts, and I glanced out the window to see Cole standing on the porch, his expression tense and weary.

“Hey, Sissy,” he rumbled in his basement-deep voice after I opened the door. “You have time to talk?”

“Of course,” I replied, stepping aside to let him in.

We moved to the living room, and I sat down on the couch, motioning for him to join me. He hesitated for a moment, then sank into the armchair across from me, looking more upset than I’d ever seen him.

“Do you want to talk about what happened while we were shopping today?” I asked, trying to help him out.

“Sure, but we already apologized to her and gave her a big surprise that she really liked, so don’t jump down my throat about it,” he warned me, and I rolled my eyes.

Oh, yeah. He’d screwed up big time.

My brothers, though well-meaning, have a lot to learn about handling someone as delicate as Posy, I thought to myself. Should be a good learning experience for them, if Posy’s strong and patient enough to endure it.

“Callie and Keeley saw us and came over to ask if the rumor was true about us finding our luna,” he began, and I made a quick mental note to link the twins later and see if their story matched up with the one I was about to hear.

I was sure it would, though. He had the devil’s temper and tried to solve problems with his fists more than his words, but Cole Barlow was dead honest, even if a lie would get him out of trouble or make him look better.

“Wyatt and I were about to say yes and that Posy was there and we could see if she was up to meeting them, but then three human girls came over and butted into the conversation.”

“Link me their faces,” I demanded, already knowing the most likely culprits.

“I’ll link you the whole scene,” he muttered.

So I watched as Korine, Heidia, and Olivia, those brides of hell, started flirting with Cole and Wyatt, who were absolutely clueless as usual, and then Heidia touched Cole’s chest and ran her hands all over it while he stood there with his jaw dropped. Of course, that’s right when Posy walked over to them.

“You dumbass!” I shook my head. “Why didn’t you stop her? Or step back if you didn’t want to push her away?”

“I was in shock, Sissy! Neither Wyatt nor I realized what they wanted until she touched me, and by then it was too late! Posy thought we were flirting back with them!”

“You two fuckers shouldn’t be allowed out without a leash and a muzzle,” I muttered.

“Look, Mase already tore into us good and proper, so I don’t need to hear another lecture, okay? And certainly not from my kid sister!”

“I hope he told you to treat all girls like they’re flirting with you from now on.”

“He did. Like I said, we gave her a nice surprise, which made her happy, and she said she forgave us when we apologized.” He stopped and rubbed the back of his neck, then continued with a rasp in his voice. “I also owe you an apology. We all do. We should have given you a heads-up about Posy. About what she’s been through.”

“What do you mean?” I leaned forward, my heart pounding.

He took a deep breath, his eyes darkening with pain.

“When we got to Green River the other day, we found our little mate being beaten by her father. Garnet and Quartz ended Alpha Kendall Briggs immediately, of course, but Posy passed out from the pain. He’d struck her on the face hard enough to break her jaw, Sissy.”

“Oh my Goddess!” I felt a wave of horror wash over me, but something told me her story was about to get worse, and I was right.

“While waiting for her to wake up, we interrogated her older brothers and learned that Alpha Briggs kept her locked in a dark room and only let her out to cook and clean for him,” Cole went on. “For the last six years, she’s been abused and starved and isolated from the pack. At least, that’s what we know so far. I’m sure there’s plenty more, but unless she decides to tell us, we’ll never know all of it.”

I covered my mouth with my hand, feeling sick to my stomach.

“She has so many scars,” he continued, his voice trembling. “Her father made them with liquid mercury and silver. The worst one, though, is a brand in the center of her spine right above her waistband. KAB. Kendall Allen Briggs. His fucking initials, Sissy!”

“That’s... that’s monstrous!”

“As for Lark, her wolf, she’d just woken up from a three-month coma after being poisoned by wolfsbane.” My brother’s eyes filled with tears as he finished the story. “She told Ash that her bastard father fed it to her as a punishment for trying to run away.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I listened to my brother’s heartbreaking confession. I wanted to scream, to rage against the cruelty Posy had endured, but I knew I needed to be strong for Cole.

“I had no idea,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I can’t believe she went through all of that.”

Cole’s sobs grew louder, his shoulders shaking with the force of his grief. I moved to sit beside him, wrapping my arms around him and holding him close.

“It’s not your fault,” I murmured, trying to comfort him. “You couldn’t have known.”

“But we should have,” he choked out, burying his face in his hands. “We should have been there for her, and we weren’t!”

“Well, you’re here for her now, so help her heal. All of you. I will, too.” I held him tighter, my own tears mingling with his.

“Can she?” Cole asked, his voice breaking. “Can she heal from something like that?”

“Of course she can! It’s going to take time and love and patience, but she’ll heal, especially if her mates are by her side every step of the way.” I looked into his tear-filled eyes and squeezed his hand.

“Damn right we will be!” Now his eyes blazed with determination, and I knew my strong, bear-like brother was back to normal, despite the tears drying on his cheeks.

“I’ll be there, too. If she wants me to be, that is,” I added.

“I’m sure she will,” Cole told me, his voice steadier now. “Thanks, Sissy. Not only for listening to me vent and all, but because it would mean a lot to her and us if you two became friends.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Good, because you’re invited to dinner tonight, and we need to get going before our were-pig brothers start without us.”

“Cole!” I scolded as I jumped to my feet. “You could have told me that first, doofus, and spilled your guts while I got ready!”

“You look fine. Throw on a pair of shoes and let’s go.”

“But this is one of my homemade dresses! And I need to check my hair! And—”

Before I could finish my tirade, my clueless brother picked me up and carried me to the back door, stopping only long enough to scoop my old flip-flops off the porch before carrying me out to his SUV.

“Fine, fine!” I huffed, trying to sound annoyed while secretly enjoying this burst of rare spontaneity from him. “But you owe me big time for this!”

Cole grinned mischievously as he settled me into the passenger seat.

“Sure, sure, Sissy. I’ll buy you a bottle of Miss Dior,” he promised as he closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.

Since I was very bribable when it came to my favorite perfume, I couldn’t help but laugh as we drove off to what I knew was going to be a rowdy dinner. He was so much like Dad sometimes, and I was glad he was my brother.