Page 21 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

brIX

I scented sex in the air, and my wolf pressed at my skin. He wanted in on the fun, but he was also…happy. And more than a little relieved, just like my human half. Because Ender and Wren needed this.

There were times you had to let your animal side lead. Move through the world on instinct instead of using reason. And their human halves had been getting in the way far too much.

“Fuck off,” Ender grumbled.

I just grinned wider. “What? I can’t be happy for my best friend and my girl?”

End shook his head. “When did you become some mushy Cupid?”

I shrugged. “Since I found out what it was like to be truly happy.”

Ender and Wren stilled. Wren’s expression went soft as she looked at me—so much tenderness there.

Sadness filled Ender’s gaze, and I knew why.

He was thinking about all we’d lost and everything we’d had to overcome.

But that sadness was equally matched by a beautiful relief.

The kind that saw just how much had been healed in me.

But, of course, he had to cover that. He straightened. “I’m going to kick the crap out of Rhys for a while. This is way too fucking mushy for me.”

He took off toward the house, and Wren started to laugh. She looked at me, the amusement in her eyes deepening and warming. “Is he always this grumpy when he catches feelings?”

I thought about it for a moment. “Honestly, I don’t know. He never has before.”

Wren’s spine straightened, and her jaw went slack. “Seriously?”

I shook my head as I moved to find the rest of her discarded clothes. “Nope. He’s never let anyone close enough for that to happen.”

“It makes me a little sad,” she said softly. “I know I should be all possessive, but I can’t help but feel for how lonely he must’ve been.”

Grabbing Wren’s leggings, top, and shoes, I moved in her direction and dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “My little empath.”

“I guess I’m always going to think about how something like this makes him feel.”

I dropped to my knees and began sliding one of Wren’s legs into the leggings, relishing the feeling of her skin and how the bond between us flared to life at the contact. “What happened when we were young messed with us. We lost everyone we cared about except for each other.”

Wren placed her hands on my shoulders to steady herself. “I’m so sorry, Brix. I?—”

“It wasn’t you.”

She pulled the corner of her lip between her teeth. “I know, but he’s a part of me. And he’s put you all through so much. I know you don’t blame me, but it’s sometimes hard to reconcile it all.”

I gently moved her second foot into the workout pants and slowly began pulling them up.

Something about the act of dressing her felt like caretaking in a way, drawing us closer together and giving me something to do when so much was out of my control.

When her leggings were in place, I lifted Ender’s tee and kissed Wren’s belly.

I kept my lips there, hovering against her skin as I spoke.

“You’ve burned him out of you, Little Warrior.

Through every act of kindness and care. There’s none of him in you anymore. ”

She pulled back, her fingers tightening on my shoulders. “Is that really what you think?”

I looked up into those beautiful, turquoise eyes. “It’s what I know.”

One of Wren’s hands moved from my shoulder to my cheek, her fingers ghosting over it in soothing strokes. “And how are you doing with everything going on?”

My gaze dipped, focusing on a new task. I took my time unlacing one of Wren’s sneakers and slipping it onto her foot. She didn’t rush my answer as if she knew I needed time to find the words. “I’m edgy,” I finally admitted. “My wolf wants you with us at all times.”

“And your human half?”

“I want that, too, but I also recognize that it might not be the healthiest urge.” I tied the laces of the first shoe in a perfect bow and then went to work on the second.

“It’s never good when our wolves are at odds with the rest of us,” Wren said softly.

My jaw worked back and forth as I slid Wren’s second sneaker on. I didn’t want to say the next part because I knew it would hurt her, even if it shouldn’t. But I also knew that holding back wouldn’t get us anywhere. So, I kept focused on the shoe as I spoke. “I’ve been having dreams.”

Wren’s hands sifted into my hair, coaxing my gaze up to her face. There was so much tenderness and understanding there. “Will you tell me?”

My throat worked as I struggled to swallow. “It’s about the attack when I was younger. I’m back there. But, sometimes, instead of my sister…it’s you.”

Wren only stilled for a moment. Then she moved, sinking to her knees so we were face-to-face. She wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled in. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

I breathed her in, reminding myself of exactly what she’d said. She was here. Alive. Heart beating against my chest. And we were doing everything we could to keep her safe.

“What can I do?” she whispered.

It meant something that she asked. She didn’t assume or demand. She wanted to know what I thought I needed.

I pulled back, my hand sliding along her jaw. “Ink me.”