Page 12 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

WREN

I felt like the President of the United States.

Or maybe the Queen of England. The guys surrounded me like bodyguards, their heads on a swivel as we walked from the SUV to the gym.

Since I’d arrived in Colorado, Crescent Kingdom had been my safe space, but it lost a little of its sheen when it seemed like the guys could pull a weapon at any moment.

I tried not to let my annoyance flare. I knew they were doing it out of protection and care, but I couldn’t help feeling stifled. I closed my eyes briefly, breathing in the pine air and remembering that I was free, even if it didn’t feel that way at the moment.

Fingers slid through mine, and my eyes opened to find Brix at my side. “It won’t be forever,” he whispered. “I promise.”

Something about the simple touch, reassurance, and understanding soothed my raw edges. “Thank you.” I leaned into him, soaking up the connection as our bond hummed .

Ender strode forward and into the gym. I began to follow, but Kingston held up a hand. “Wait. Just a moment.”

My fingers tightened around Brix’s because I knew why King was having me wait. Ender was sweeping the building. An extra measure of security.

A few moments later, Ender reemerged. “We’re good.”

The air left my lungs with a whoosh. The idea of Bastian making my friends at the gym a target again reminded me just how much was at stake. A hell of a lot more than just me was at risk.

As we moved into the gym, all eyes came to us. Clyde froze, his eyes getting glassy as they locked on me. A second later, he was striding across the room in that lumbering gait. Before I could get a word out, he’d hauled me into his arms. “Girlie,” he choked out.

“Hey, Gramps,” I rasped.

“You’re okay? You’re really okay?”

I knew King had called him to tell him they had me and that we were on our way home, but it obviously wasn’t enough for Clyde. I understood that because I felt the same way about him.

“I’m fine. What about you?” I asked, pulling myself out of his hold and doing a sweep.

“You know no fire’s gonna take me out.” But the rattling cough he let out said he was still experiencing some aftereffects.

“Wren, girl, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Juan said, making his way over. He had a slight limp from the beam that had landed on him, but he looked mostly okay.

And Franco was right behind him, looking healthy and whole. “Damn good to see you,” he said.

“You guys, too,” I answered, suddenly feeling awkward with all that lay between us.

Clyde’s jaw hardened. “Everyone out,” he barked. “Emergency gym meeting.”

The two guys sparring looked at Clyde as if he were a bit unhinged, and the woman working a heavy bag appeared more than a little annoyed .

“I’ll stay open an hour later to make up for it,” he called.

“Clyde,” Kingston began, his voice low.

“Don’t you start with me, boy. We have a conversation that needs having. It’s been a long time coming.”

A tingling sensation lit across my skin as my nerves ramped up. I sent Brix a slightly panicked look as he took in Clyde, assessing.

We waited silently while the three other patrons got their gear and headed for the parking lot. Clyde followed as they exited, locking the gym door behind them and then turning to face us. “What the hell were those things in the fire because they sure as hell weren’t human?”

Panic raced through me as I tried to come up with a plausible excuse. What had Bastian done when he grabbed Clyde? How had he exposed himself? Us?

It went against the supernatural code to reveal our alternate forms or gifts. And it could get you in serious trouble.

“We’ve known forever,” Franco said, crossing his arms. “Too many things don’t add up.”

Juan grinned. “I still think it’s radioactive spider bites.”

“Could be aliens,” Franco argued. “That makes the most sense statistically.”

Kingston scrubbed a hand over his face. “You’re right.”

“You’re fucking aliens?” Juan shrieked.

“Don’t,” I whispered to King. It was too great a risk. If any of them talked, it could put us on Incantare’s radar. Incantare was the law enforcement body of the supernatural world and not an organization you wanted to be in opposition with.

“They already know more than they should,” Kingston said. “It’s not fair.”

“Incantare,” Ender growled, voicing my fears.

“We’re bound by those laws, but we’re also bound by the laws of family,” King argued.

He made a damn good point there.

His gaze swept the room, landing on Franco, then Juan, and finally Clyde. “If you reveal this to a single soul, you’ll be putting our lives at risk.”

“We ain’t snitches, and we ain’t traitors,” Clyde rumbled. “You saved all our lives. We owe you. But more than that. We love you. So, tell us what’s going on.”

Kingston sighed. “We’re shifters. Wolf shifters.”

The three humans stared at him.

“I’m sorry…what?” Franco asked.

“Half our nature is human, half is wolf,” Kingston explained.

Juan gaped at him. “You’re werewolves?”

Growls lit the air, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t use that term.”

His brow furrowed. “Why not?”

Locke began listing off points on his fingers. “We’re not forced to change on a full moon. Our bites don’t turn someone.”

“They do kill, though,” Ender warned.

“There’s no way,” Franco protested.

Puck toed off his shoes and then began pulling off his shirt.

“Dude,” Juan muttered. “You’re ripped, but I don’t swing that way. A striptease isn’t going to distract me.”

But I knew exactly what he was doing. Puck slid off his joggers so he wore only his boxer briefs.

Juan started backing away. “Okay, this is a little too weird, even for me.”

Suddenly, Puck’s form began to vibrate. The sound of bones cracking filled the air. And then the human Puck was gone, replaced by a stunning golden wolf with piercing green eyes.

Juan’s face went stark white. “Holy fuck.”