Page 15

WREN

I woke to wildflowers and the hint of pine and mint in the air. Kingston. There was no note next to the tiny vase with its mixture of yellow and purple—tiny blossoms I knew were only found deep in the woods.

My fingers skated over the delicate petals as an ache took root deep in my chest. I may have begun to repair things with Brix, but this bond was still beyond fractured.

Kingston felt like a ghost, barely visible but with echoes of him everywhere.

And Ender was hardly present at all. He stopped in for the occasional meal but then immediately took off again.

I should’ve been thankful for the lack of accusations and thorny barbs, but I found the silence unsettling. Princess let out a meow as if she agreed. I reached over to scratch her ears. “I don’t know what we’re going to do either.”

All I could do was take things one step at a time. Today, that meant getting back to work. I needed to earn all the money I could if I decided running was the best thing.

But I had a feeling if I bolted, I’d have three wolfy companions.

Shoving those thoughts aside, I rose to get ready. Thankfully, the worst of my injuries had faded to faint scars, but I certainly had new ones.

I reached up to trace a red line on my neck. The memory of Angus slicing into me battered against my emotional shields, but I refused to let it in. Instead, I traced lower, my fingers dipping beneath the neck of my Arcane T-shirt to the brand Puck had left on my shoulder.

A pleasant shiver raced through me at the contact. I grabbed hold of that sensation and didn’t let go. I needed it. Had to carry it with me today—the reminder that not all scars were bad.

Opening my eyes, I took in my reflection. My complexion had regained its color, and the dark shadows beneath my eyes had eased. I’d tamed my hair into its normal glossy waves, and my eyes no longer looked quite as frightened.

I was ready.

I headed out of my bedroom, Princess bounding after me. Voices came from the kitchen, and the moment I stepped inside, all talk ceased as three sets of eyes moved to me.

“Birdie,” Puck rumbled as he crossed the space. “You look good with my bar on you.”

My lips twitched. “You love to brand in every way possible, don’t you, buddy?”

Those green eyes sparked gold. “What did I tell you about calling me buddy?”

I grinned. “That you love it?”

Locke choked on a laugh. “It’s his favorite word.”

Puck sent Locke a glare. “Do not enable her, or I will hide all your energy drinks.”

Locke pushed back his stool and rose to his full height. “You do that, and I’ll hack your high score on Candy Crush.”

Puck’s jaw went slack. “You wouldn’t.”

“You don’t want to come between me and my caffeine,” Locke threatened.

A muscle in Brix’s cheek twitched. “This could get bloody.”

“And you’d love that, Mr. Bonfire of Heads,” Puck tossed back.

Brix shrugged. “A little blood never hurt anyone.”

I just shook my head and crossed to the island. “Egg and cheese sandwiches?” I asked hopefully.

“I know you love them,” Puck said, moving to plate one for me.

I bit into it, moaning as the flaky biscuit, gooey cheese, crispy bacon, and egg all melted in my mouth. “I would marry this sammie,” I mumbled, my mouth still full.

Heat lit at my back as Puck’s big body dwarfed mine from behind. “Would you now?”

I nodded and took another bite.

Puck’s lips skimmed the column of my neck. “It’s good to know you’re open to bribery.”

“I need to get good at cooking,” Locke muttered, pouring me a glass of orange juice.

I smiled at him. “You’re good at other things.”

A slight blush hit Locke’s cheeks. “I got us new locks for your next tutorial.”

My smile widened at that. So far, I’d mastered combination locks and simple key locks. But I wanted to get into the deadbolt and safe arenas. “Tonight?” I asked.

“You could do it now if you skipped work,” Brix offered innocently.

I pulled myself out of Puck’s distracting hold and scowled at the lot of them. “You’re trying to bribe me into staying home, aren’t you?”

None of them would meet my gaze.

“I’m going back to work,” I ground out.

Puck sent me a pleading look. “You don’t need to. We’ve got plenty of money. I can hold down the bar today. You’re still recovering.”

I pinned him with a hard look. “I put you on your ass in the fight ring last night.”

“She’s not wrong there,” Brix muttered.

Puck sent him a glare. “You’re not helping.”

“No one’s going to help because I’m going to work. I’ll walk if I have to.”

That had Locke moving closer to me. “No walking needed. I’ll drive you. We just…we want you to be careful and not overdo it.”

I saw it then, the genuine worry. A little of my frustration eased. “I’ll be fine. Sticking close to you guys. Taking it easy. I promise.”

Brix had hunted down all the Death Walkers except the second-in-command, Dent, and two or three others.

It wasn’t as if they could fight us with those numbers.

But I was still on edge about my father.

There was no way to know if word had somehow made it back to him that I was alive and living in Crescent Creek.

Puck let out a grumbling sound. “Finish your breakfast, and then we’ll go.”

I hurriedly downed the rest of the sandwich and chugged my OJ before they changed their minds.

Loading into the SUV, Puck lifted me onto his lap in the back seat, nuzzling my neck.

“Shouldn’t I be wearing a seat belt?” I asked, laughter in my voice.

“I’ll be your seat belt,” he grumbled. “I haven’t had enough time with you lately.”

I slid my hands into his hair, giving him the contact he needed. “Sorry, buddy.”

He growled.

Locke let out a huff as he guided the SUV toward town. “You hogged Wren last night. I barely got to cuddle her.”

“Puck is a fucking bed hog,” Brix muttered.

“I am not. We just need a bigger bed,” he groused.

They bickered back and forth all the way to town, but it was good-natured, and our bond deepening had warmth spreading through me. But with that came fear because I wanted it far too much.

I barely made it through the door because I was being engulfed in a hug. “Missed you,” Dina whispered, hugging me tightly before releasing me and doing a head-to-toe sweep. Her gaze stilled on my neck, where one of the new scars lived.

She swallowed hard before forcing her gaze to my face. “Are you sure you’re ready to be back?”

“I’m more than ready,” I said, forcing a smile. “If I have to be stuck in a house with these three any longer, I will lose my mind.”

“I don’t blame ya, girlie. They’re the worst.” Clyde strode over to me, Juan and Franco on his heels. He pulled me into him and lifted me off the floor with the force of his hug.

“They’re way too ugly to be in your company for that long,” Juan said with a wink. “You need someone who matches your beauty.”

Franco rolled his eyes. “What? Like you?”

“Damn straight,” Juan said, puffing up his chest.

“Keep dreaming,” Franco muttered, giving me a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks. I hope you haven’t been slacking on your training since we haven’t been able to spar.”

“Never,” Franco assured me.

“Hey,” Juan complained. “Where’s my hug?”

Puck shoved him backward. “Oh, hell no. I don’t trust you within twenty feet of my girl.”

Juan’s eyes danced. “Your girl, huh?”

“Our girl,” Brix growled.

Juan let out a little hoot. “I knew it!” He held out a fist for me to bump. “Get it, girl.”

Franco just laughed. “Now, he’s a thirteen-year-old at a slumber party.”

Everyone descended into a round of shit-talking. It felt…normal. And it was just what I needed. But I couldn’t help feeling on edge. As I scanned the bar, I caught unfamiliar eyes on me.

The moment my gaze collided with the man’s, he ducked his head. My wolf instantly went on alert. I breathed deeply, trying to catch his scent and bracing for the aroma of wolf.

Everything eased when I identified him as human. As I studied him longer, I put together the pieces. A fly-fishing vest. Hat on with lures on the table. Travel book beside his plate.

A tourist.

Nothing more than a man curious about the scene I was making with my friends and mates. But it didn’t ease me completely. I wasn’t sure I’d find true peace until one thing happened.

Bastian Boudreaux was dead.