Page 46 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

WREN

“Nice and easy,” Locke said softly as he helped me prop against the pillows. “Take a sip.”

He held a straw to my lips, and I took a pull. The strawberries-and-cream flavor filled my mouth, and I let my eyes close. “You make the best tonics. Thank you.”

He brushed a hand over my hair. “How do you feel?”

I opened my eyes and took in the room. The windows were open, letting in the fresh air, and Brix had changed the sheets while Kingston helped me shower. Everything was clearer now that the heat had passed. But I was exhausted.

“My muscles are a little sore, and I’m tired. But other than that, I’m fine.”

Brix lifted one of my socked feet into his lap and began massaging. “You’ll need to take it easy for a couple of days. You’re recovering your strength. ”

I made a face, but Kingston slid his fingers through mine from his spot on the side of the bed. “He’s right. You don’t want to push.”

“I’ve been cooped up for days,” I argued.

Locke lifted the straw to my lips again. “This is your first heat as a mated wolf. It’ll take more out of you. You don’t want to injure yourself because you didn’t get your rest.”

The sound of bickering came from the hallway, and the door flew open.

“If you didn’t make so much food, you wouldn’t have needed help carrying it,” Ender sniped.

Puck scowled at him. “Well, you ate a shit ton of that food this morning, so you could at least say thank you and help me carry the trays.”

Ender glared back. “I needed energy after a seventy-two-hour fuck fest.”

My lips twitched. “Fuck fest?”

Ender turned to me, a wry grin on his face. “I mean that respectfully, of course.”

“Of course,” I echoed.

“How do you feel after your shower, Birdie?” Puck crossed to the bed, lowering a tray full of eggs, biscuits, fruit, and juice.

“Good. It’s nice to have clean hair.”

Ender lowered a second tray onto the bed, this one ladened with pancakes, homemade donuts, and a glass of milk. Then he dropped a kiss to my head. “Smells good. New shampoo?”

“Hera mixed up some heat recovery beauty products for her,” Locke explained.

I sniffed the ends of my strands. “She could seriously start a business. This stuff is amazing.”

“What do you want to eat first?” Puck asked. “You need a little of everything. Carbs, fats, protein. They’ll all help you recover.”

I leaned forward and brushed my lips across his. “Thank you for always feeding me. ”

He grinned against my lips. “It’s selfish. I love the sounds you make when you eat.”

“Gods, please, no moans. I don’t think my dick can take any more,” Ender muttered as he climbed onto the bed next to me. “I’m pretty sure you broke it.”

I choked on a laugh and felt my cheeks heat. “Sorry?”

Ender leaned in, kissing me soft and slow. “Kitten, it would be my favorite way to die.”

“Less kissing, more eating,” Puck ordered.

Ender scowled at him. “Easy for you to say. You already got your kiss.”

“You snooze, you lose.” Puck piled a few different things onto a plate and handed it to me. “Eat.”

“Bossy much?” I asked, but my stomach rumbled as if to argue with my protest.

“He’s right,” Kingston said. “You need to eat.”

I took a bite of the eggs along with a piece of biscuit. It was heavenly, but I managed to hold back my moan in respect of all the dicks around me. “Are there any updates on the dark mages or Bastian?”

King shook his head. “Nothing. Clara led the charge of putting in some more traps while we were…occupied.”

My cheeks flushed as I took a sip of what I now realized was watermelon juice. “How are Clyde, Franco, and Juan doing?”

Ender’s face twisted. “They’re far too comfortable. They’re playing some card game downstairs, and Clyde moved Dina in, too.”

I sent him a warning look. “They’re all welcome here. And it’s probably safer this way.”

“You know she’s right,” Brix said, his thumbs digging into the arch of my foot.

“If you’re feeling up to it, we can take a walk around the property and see everything they’ve done,” Locke offered.

I nodded as I swallowed a bite of pancake. “I need to stretch my muscles. ”

“Are you sure you’re up for that?” Kingston pressed.

I sent him a look. “It was a heat, not a mortal injury.”

His expression went soft as he moved closer and slid a hand over my belly. “I can’t wait until this swells one day with our pups.”

My heart did a stutter step at the image. For the first time in my life, I could see it. Building a family with these men. Pups running around, creating all sorts of havoc. My eyes misted over.

“You made her cry,” Puck accused.

“It’s the hormones,” I said, waving a hand in front of my face.

King left his hand on my belly, his eyes searching. “Good tears?”

I nodded. “I never thought I’d have this. A real family. I thought I’d have to hide who I was forever.”

“Kitten,” Ender rasped, leaning his head against my temple.

“You all gave me what I never thought I’d be able to have.

” I remembered when my friend Hayden had found her mates when we were in college.

She’d had no idea what had hit her. But I knew the preciousness of what she’d received.

But, as happy as I’d been for her, I couldn’t help the niggle of envy I’d felt along with it—and the despair at thinking I’d never find it.

“Love you, Wren,” Locke whispered.

“I love you, too. All of you. You’re going to make the best dads one day.”

Brix’s hold on my foot loosened, and he pushed to standing. “I need to go check on something.”

He was gone before I could get another word out, and I was left wondering what the hell I’d said.