Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High) - Meagan Brandy Page 0,104

her face in her hands.

“Wow.” Chloe purses her lips.

Royce winks.

“Jesus.”

The three of us look to Rolland who tries to hide his blush with a frown, making us laugh.

I slap my hand on his shoulder and his eyes slide to mine. “Get used to it. It literally only gets worse.”

“And yet you’re smiling as you say it.” He tilts his head slightly.

I clear my throat and look to Royce who reaches out to squeeze my hand.

He’s acting like himself today, smiling, teasing. It’s a good thing.

“Why is everyone just laughing and joking and carrying on like normal?” Chloe asks. “Are you not walking into a pack of ruthless beings?”

“We are.” I look to her. “But we have wolves.” I grin at Royce, holding my hand out for Victoria.

She slaps her palm in mine, a smile pulling at her lips. “And a Raven.”

Royce’s eyes widen, snapping to Maybell.

Curiously, mine slide between them, catching the small wink she gives.

Royce sighs, giving a small nod, his eyes brightening before us all as he barely whispers, “And so, the Raven led her wolves...” His smile is slow. “It all makes sense now. There was no other ending after the way it started.”

My confusion can’t be missed, but Royce only offers a wink, slams the door and it’s just the five of us.

“I so don’t get this family and their riddles sometimes.” Chloe shakes her head and tugs the door open.

Like fuel to the flame, Maddoc’s stare burns into mine.

With the car door open, one foot already in, he freezes.

Tension radiates off him, hitting me like a shockwave.

Before either of us can move, Captain blocks him from my view. Royce meets his back, Mac a few feet back, while Bass leans against the bumper, taking it all in.

“What the hell are they doing?” Victoria asks, not quite yet on our wavelength, if she ever gets there.

Chloe sighs, smirking at the scene as if she knows. “Taming the beast.”

“Nah, they know better than that.”

I don’t want him tame.

I like him wild.

I need him defiant.

I love him limitless.

Both their heads snap toward me, but I don’t look away.

The shift in their stances, the change in their energy. The flick of the fire as it sets beneath their bones.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A slow grin splits my lips as I step farther out on the porch, a calm settling over me.

There they are.

My boys.

Captain blocks my view as Royce shifts behind me, and my brows snap together.

She’s not fifteen feet away. It would take less than ten seconds to reach her.

They really think they could keep me from her if I went for it?

I’ve been forcing my feet still all afternoon. Never have I ever possessed so much restraint in my life, and I’m about to say fuck it, fuck them, fuck everyone until I get what I want straight from my baby’s lips.

Slowly, I put my foot back on the ground, spinning to face my brothers, both who step closer, but the anger slowly washes from both their faces. Simultaneously, they look to the town car waiting for the girls and our dad, then back to me.

Tell me you feel it, brother.

“Not right,” Royce voices first, scratching the back of his head.

“No,” Cap adds with a slight nod. “Three legs are sturdy.”

I eye him, standing taller. “But four’s solid.”

One step out of time and without even realizing it, our circle becomes a solid line.

All our eyes lock on her.

A slow grin splits her lips as she steps farther out on the porch, and her chest rises, creating a chain reaction across us.

There she is.

My baby.

With her head held as high as ever, Raven passes the town car moving right for us, and finally, I let my eyes leave hers.

I was with Chloe, waiting to talk to her dad, when she got the call from ours, and I was the farthest fucking thing from down with Raven’s choice on the revamp.

She doesn’t need to change how she looks, not for anyone, no matter the fucking reason, but looking at her now, my chest walls tighten. Never has she looked more like my Raven.

Angry and unwavering, sass and strength.

Her long black hair shines like silk, sleek straight and flat down her back. The white long-sleeved top fits her like a glove and runs all the way up, wrapping around her throat, a silver necklace hanging from around it. The black leather skirt comes up high, stopping just below her ribs and hides her shirt beneath