Page 55 of Rising Reign (The Wolves of Crescent Creek #3)

WREN

FIVE YEARS LATER

The warm spring wind lifted my hair as I looked out from the stage to the crowd below.

So many happy faces framed by the stunning landscape of the Colorado campus.

Almost everyone was in attendance, and that was the greatest gift of all.

The only thing that would’ve made it better was if Rhys had been here, too.

It had been a hard five years of accelerated coursework and in-practice training, but it had all been worth it because I had found my calling. The place where my supernatural and human halves could come together in service of others.

And I’d made it through the long hours of studying, my internship, and endless tests because of all the amazing people in the audience today. My gaze tracked over the three rows they took up close to the front .

Clyde and Dina sat together, their hands clasped, smiles beaming.

They’d finally gotten married last year, and we’d had the party of all parties to celebrate.

Next to them was Franco and his wife, Marilee.

He bounced their two-year-old boy on his knee as he giggled.

Juan was next to them, his hand in Mei’s.

Not long after the battle, the two of them had realized they were mates, and his inappropriate jokes were now cast only in her direction.

In the row behind them was the one friend I’d managed to make before coming to Crescent Creek, Hayden.

She beamed up at me with such pride and happiness.

When her eyes began to fill, one of her mates, Cillian, pulled her against him and kissed her hair.

Hayden’s four other mates looked on in a mix of worry and thinking she was adorable.

And, gods, it was good to have my friend fully back in my life.

In the third row of family was Hera, who cuddled a baby girl to her chest as Clara kissed her temple.

Their other mates hadn’t been able to make the trek from the UK, but Puck’s parents had.

All of them looked on with such joy in their faces.

Helping Puck find his family again was just another gift in my embarrassment of riches.

And finally, my men. They looked devastating in their suits, wearing their pride like accessories. Kingston’s ice-blue eyes shone, picking up the undertones of his shirt. “Love you,” he spoke into my mind.

Puck shot me a grin that had my belly warming. “What do you have on under that robe, Birdie?”

It took everything in me not to laugh.

“You would make things dirty,” Locke said exasperatedly.

I fingered the lock necklace at my throat, feeling the bond between us all.

“Kitten can take it. Can’t you, Dr. Arcane?” Ender challenged.

When we’d had our mating ceremony a few months after the battle, we’d all chosen our pack name as our last name, truly binding us together as one.

“You make us so proud, Little Warrior.” Brix’s eyes glittered like gemstones. “You’re going to help so many people find their way through the dark.”

Those words coming from Brix meant something more, knowing the darkness he and I had weathered together. “Don’t you dare make me cry.”

“Show-off,” Puck muttered.

The rest of the guys just laughed.

The names continued to be called out as they worked through our small class in reverse alphabetical order.

The dean turned her gaze to me, a smile on her lips.

“Our last graduate is incredibly special. She’s not only graduating at the top of her class, but she also created a mental health clinic to serve her community, free of charge.

She’s someone who never gives up the fight when it comes to her patients, and our world is a better place because she’s in it. Wren Arcane.”

As I stood, I heard my mother’s voice in my head. “So proud of you, my little Wren.”

My eyes filled with the happiest of tears as I crossed the stage and shook the dean’s hand. She gave me a hug and my diploma, and I kept right on moving. As my classmates threw their caps into the air, I only had eyes for my mates.

I hurried down the stairs and through the throng of people that had erupted, but my men were already on their feet and on their way to me. Just like always.

Puck hoisted me into the air, spinning me around. “My beautiful Birdie.”

As he lowered me, Brix kissed one temple and Locke the other.

King took my mouth, and Ender wrapped his arms around me from behind.

I was sure there were people in the audience who thought it odd, but I didn’t give a damn.

Because I was happy. And now, I was going to give my mates the same happiness.

“There’s something I want to tell you,” I croaked.

All my mates stilled, waiting.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I let my scent shields drop. The same ones that had hidden my shifter and caster natures had been hiding something else.

King’s nostrils flared as he scented. “Pregnant?”

Ender’s hand palmed my belly. “Pups?”

“Yes,” I breathed, my eyes going to Brix to read his reaction.

His fingers slid through mine, squeezing. “Never been happier.”

Locke’s lips brushed across mine. “Best gift we’ve ever received.”

A grin split Puck’s face as he turned to his family and shouted, “I’m gonna be a dad!”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter as happy tears streamed down my face. Because we truly had everything. And that would never end.