Page 20 of Rising Reign

“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.”

13

KINGSTON