Page 54 of Rising Reign

Puck pushed to his feet and kissed me so softly it made my heart ache. “Ready to fly, Birdie?”

“I’m ready,” I whispered.

He stepped back, and Kingston stepped in. He let out a low, rumbling sound, almost like a purr, a call from his wolf to mine. “I’m assuring her that I’ll be here waiting.”

That made the ache intensify but in the best way. “Okay,” I whispered.

Slowly, the men around me shifted. Brix changed to his hauntingly beautiful, jet-black counterpart. Puck called on his golden god. Locke brought forth his hypnotizing, reddish-brown half. And King presented his silver-gray, almost magical beast.

They were all stunning, and they were all mine. Just seeing them that way had my wolf launching to the surface. She came on faster this time, still not quite as quick as my mates but better than I’d managed to achieve all day.

But it was more. The shift felt as easy as breathing. No pain. Only sweet relief at being free.

I shook out my fur as I stood on four paws.

Puck padded up to me and licked the side of my muzzle. I returned the favor, wanting him to carry my scent markers, too.

Brix nipped my shoulder like only the master of pleasure and pain would. I turned and quickly bit his hindquarter, and he let out a playful growl.

Locke brushed against me, his whole body greeting mine with the sweetest embrace. I let out a sound of pure pleasure at the contact.

Kingston tipped his head back and let out an alpha howl. The sound shot through the air and sent vibrations through everything it encountered—even me. The feeling was like thousands of King’s fingers brushing through my fur at once.

He lowered his head, then circled me and nudged my side as if to say, “Let’s go.” And we did.

We raced through the stream and into the mountains. We ran up trails in a game of tag before racing back down again. There were no battles for dominance or need to prove one’s strength. There was simply fun and togetherness.

It was so unlike my father’s pack. So much more like a true family. One born of choosing one another instead of the link blood could force on you. And knowing that I got to choose these men over and over again for the rest of my days was the best gift I could imagine.

We all slowed to a walk as we reached the clearing where we’d stashed our clothes, but not before taking a dip in the creek to wash off the effects of the run. The cold water felt like heaven on my fur.

One by one, we shifted back, and that came easier for me now, too. My bones cracked and reformed into my human half, and I stretched, working out the kinks.

Puck tossed me my clothes and then grabbed his, but stilled as he looked down at the phone in his hand, his expression unreadable.

“What is it?” I asked, instantly moving to his side.

His throat worked as he swallowed. “My sister. She’s here.”

33

PUCK

All the peace I’d gained from our pack run vanished in a second at the text on the screen.

Clara

I’m here. Unlock this ridiculous gate.

The text was so Clara. The fact that our family was considered royalty on the other side of the world had given her an affinity for history. She wouldn’t care for the modern style of our gates or house.

Me

I’m surprised you even figured out how to text.

Clara answered with two middle finger emojis, and I barked out a laugh.

“That’s good, right?” Wren asked tentatively as she pulled on her clothes.