Brax Chapter 8
Sitting in town with Rebel and the other Crows who came with her and Heron took restraint. I was anxious to get back to Cerys and see if she and I could work out our differences once she was done talking to Heron.
My phone ringing startled me. Taking it out, I checked to see who it was. Noting it was Heron, I fumbled to answer. “You’re done already?” I asked.
I could hear Cerys sobbing in the background.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” I snarled as I came to my feet.
I was headed toward the door as I spoke. I ignored the screech of chair legs on the floor and the rumble of the Crows’ voices asking what was up. I left them and Rebel behind as I raced to my bike. I got on and didn’t bother to put on my helmet before I started it and took off. It wasn’t like anyone would stop me. Poor example? Yeah, but I didn’t care. My only concern was Cerys.
The coffee shop wasn’t far from her house. I roared into the driveway like a maniac. Abruptly stopping, I kicked down my stand and turned it off, all in one motion, then dove off. I ran to the front door. Heron had it open when I got there. I charged him.
“What did you do to her? I’ll kill you,” I shouted.
“Man, fucking chill. I didn’t hurt her. She’s upset, but it’s got more to do with you, I think, than what I told her,” he hastily told me. I was impressed that he didn’t back away. He stood his ground.
“Where is she?”
“In the kitchen. I told her why I acted the way I did back then. That’s all.” His meaning was clear. He hadn’t told her about whatever he was.
I heard the sound of bikes as I ran past him. I’d let him deal with them. I found her by the sink, patting tears off her face. Without a second thought, I swept her into my arms, picked her up, and walked to the living room, where I sat on the couch with her on my lap. I examined her face. Her eyes, cheeks, and nose were red and damp. Her bottom lip trembled.
“ Astéri mou , talk to me. Why are you crying? Do I need to break his neck?” I growled.
She frantically shook her head. “No! No, you don’t need to break his neck. Stop being so surly. I’m crying because everything caught up to me at once. He shouldn’t have called you. I’m a mess,” she mumbled.
“Yes, he should’ve. You’re not a mess. Tell me. What all caught up?”
“What he went through. Not just when he lost his dad but never feeling like he fit in and then finding out he was adopted. He said he felt totally alone even though he loved me. He broke up with me because he was hurting me and knew it would continue and get worse. He was in a dark place. I know, ultimately, it was for the best. He has Rebel now, and she’s the one for him, but I ache for him. And then I thought about what I’d be like if you didn’t end up believing that I have no romantic feelings left for him and you left me. I swear, Brax, I don’t love him anymore, not even a little. He’s a good person, but that’s it. It would be like a hole through me. Please tell me that we can work this out. That you’ll move past whatever caused your outburst in Vegas. I love you,” she moaned.
Utter contentment flooded me at her declaration. I answered her first by taking her mouth in an all-consuming kiss. I didn’t let up until she was whimpering in need. When I heard that familiar sound, I reluctantly lifted my head. I kissed the tip of her nose and both cheeks before I stared hard into her eyes.
“Cerys, nothing will ever make me stop loving you. I know it’s been fast in some ways, but I’ve never been sure of anything as I am us. I’m sorry I was such a prick to you. You didn’t deserve it. I’ll keep making up for it until you forgive me. Losing you would kill me, astéri mou ,” I whispered.
Who knows how long we would’ve kept talking if a throat hadn’t been cleared? I glanced over to find Heron, Claw, Carrion, Falcon, and Rebel all watching us.
“Should we clear out of here and let you two be alone?” Claw asked. I was about to say yes when Cerys dropped a proverbial bomb in the middle of my renewed happiness.
“Not yet. Heron, I forgive you, and this gives me closure. I hope it helps you as well. The only thing I still want to know is what you meant by your club accepting and understanding you. You said it wasn’t because they’re adopted, and it’s kinda wild. What do you mean by that?”
Heron and the others exchanged glances with me. He shifted his eyes to Rebel and then back. I knew if he confessed his secret, I had to. If I didn’t, Cerys might be inclined to get angry and still leave when she found out later. As much as I didn’t want to risk it, it would be better to know if my otherness was too much for her to handle. I gave them a slight chin lift.
“Baby, I think we need to go to my place for this conversation. Twyla might be back any minute, and it’s personal. Just hang on, and he’ll tell you as soon as we get there. I have something I need to tell you, too.”
She looked at me worriedly and sighed. “Okay, but let’s get this done. We have other things to do and talk over.”
This got us moving. She asked for a few minutes to change after I informed her she was going on the bike. As we waited, I kept praying she’d be able to accept all of me.
She will. She’s our mate , Nightstalker said smugly.
I was nervous as fuck when we got to my place. It needed to be out here where no one would accidentally see anything. I was anxious enough that I sent texts to my buddies before we left Cerys’ house.
Me: Heron and other Devil’s Murder members, I mean, Crows, coming to my place. Heron needs to tell Cerys and his woman about what he is. I’m telling Cerys about me. I need you there if any of you are available. Will be there in the next twenty minutes or less.
The first to answer was Gunnar, but the rest quickly followed. They all said they’d meet me there. I felt a bit relieved. I wasn’t sure what Heron and the others were. Their scent wasn’t anything I’d ever smelled before. They had this slightly pungent odor that was different from other shifters.
They were all there when we rolled up to my house. Wanting to get this over with, I took everyone to the backyard. I had a kickass setup. In addition to a pool, there was an outdoor patio, fireplace, and kitchen. There were cold drinks in the fridge. After playing good host, we all took a seat. My stomach felt like it had twenty-pound butterflies in it. Heron gave me a look that told me he knew what I felt. Again, I wondered if he was like Nico. But he didn’t smell the same.
“Alright, you’re scaring me. What’s so secret that we had to be out here? Brax asked his friends to be here, and you guys are acting shifty.” Cerys demanded.
“ Astéri mou , we’re not trying to be scary or shifty. Heron, you should go first,” I told him.
“Gee, thanks,” he said with a smirk. His brothers all chuckled.
“Okay, so there’s a reason I said to you that I feel fully accepted and understood by the club, Cerys. Rebel, have you ever wondered why I chose the Devil’s Murder MC rather than another club?”
“I assumed you knew one of them or something,” Rebel answered.
“I didn’t. It was because of my background. Cerys, did you ever wonder if those paranormal books you used to read and the movies you always loved to watch might be real?”
“Not since I was about ten years old,” she said with a snort.
“What if I were to tell you they are and that I’m one of them? That my whole club is, and we’re all the same kind?” He glanced between both women.
Rebel appeared momentarily surprised. Then she got a duh look on her face. I guess she knew about the other brothers, just not Heron. Cerys was staring at him like he’d lost his mind.
“Heron, are you high?” she asked.
He burst out laughing. “No, Cer, I’m not. I can see you won’t believe it unless I prove it. Okay, here goes.”
He stood up and took off his cut. As soon as he did, I knew I didn’t want my woman to see him naked. Sure, she had in the past, but that was then, and this was now. I was the only man’s body and cock she was allowed to see from now on. I hastily put my hands over her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll put you to shame in the package department?” Heron teased.
“As if,” I growled as I flipped him off. He chuckled, quickly shed the rest, and stood behind his chair, covering the lower half of his body.
“She has to be able to see me to believe it. Uncover her eyes. I covered up the goods.”
I lowered my hand. Cerys was watching him. Her cheeks were pink. I didn’t see any sexual interest, just curiosity and disbelief. And just like that, he shifted. Only he became something I hadn’t ever been exposed to. In his place was a black crow. He hopped on the back of the chair and flapped his wings as he made a cawing sound. From above, more crows answered him. Were they more of his brothers?
“Son of a bitch, he’s a crow. You all are,” Royal muttered.
Cerys sat there speechless.
“Which of your club brothers are flying above us?” I asked.
“Those are actual crows. We’re each soul-bonded, I guess, is the way to put it. We have different powers. Not everyone can transform as Heron can. Others to a certain degree. It has to do with our bloodlines,” Carrion explained.
Heron transformed back. When he did, Rebel tossed him his pants. He put them on before stepping out from behind the high-back chair. I took Cerys’ hand.
“Cerys, baby, are you okay?”
She nodded, then hoarsely answered, “It’s a lot to absorb. I can see why you wanted to do it here. You don’t seem shocked. None of you do,” she said as she scanned me and my friends. “Why?”
My nerves were back in an instant. I placed a kiss on her hand, then her lips, before standing up. I kicked off my boots and socks, then removed my shirt. Cerys’ mouth dropped open. I saw Rebel’s eyes widen. I smirked when Heron put his hand over her eyes.
“What’s wrong, bird boy? Afraid she’ll faint after she sees a real cock?”
He snorted. “You saw what I’m packing. If yours were even a tad bigger than mine, you’d be walking hunched over,” he snarked.
Our friends laughed while giggles escaped the women. Rebel tweaked him by tugging on his hand to lower it.
“I’ll spank your ass if you peek, Spark.”
Holding Cerys’ gaze, I removed my jeans and briefs, then let the transformation take me. Nightstalker was eager to show himself. I had to warn him to stay back at first. I heard Rebel moan. Heron was whispering in her ear and holding her. Cerys sat there, not blinking or moving. I was about to change back when she held out her hand toward me. That was it. Nightstalker happily trotted over to her. He rumbled when she lightly rubbed his head. When she stopped, he licked her hand, then her face. She giggled and hugged him. Thinking I better not push it, I got him to grudgingly move behind my chair so I could change back. When I did, Keir handed me my briefs and jeans.
As I tugged them on, I asked Heron a question first in concern. “Is she alright?” I indicated to Rebel. She was pale.
“She’ll be okay. I should’ve warned her. She was held captive by a bunch of crazy wolves who abused her and others.”
“Shit! Fuck, I’m sorry. If I’d known—” I started to say, but Rebel waved it aside.
“It’s not your fault. I thought I was past it. I’m good.”
Looking at Cerys, I asked tentatively, “ Astéri mou , say something.”
“So I dated a bird, and now I’m with a wolf. Shifters are real. What the hell? Why didn’t you tell me?” she yelled at Heron before swinging back to me. “And you! Were you planning to tell me, or did you just do it because Heron did?”
“I swear to God, I always intended to tell you. I was trying to find the right time. I was scared it would scare you away. There aren’t a lot of humans who know about us. You realize that you can’t tell your friends, Cerys. It’s too dangerous for people to know. Most will be terrified, and some will hunt us,” I warned.
“Brax, I’d never tell anyone, well, other than Twyla. She won’t say anything. Oh my God, so the rest of you are wolves, too,” she stated to my friends.
Slowly, they all shook their heads. Her eyes and Rebel’s widened.
“What are you then?” Rebel asked hesitantly.
“Can we see?” Cerys asked.
“Yes, you can see, but not here and now. Who wants to tell her first?” I asked them. There had been enough nakedness for one day.
“I’ll go. Do you want to guess first?” Keir offered with a smirk. They’d enjoy this.
“A chipmunk,” Cerys teased.
“Like hell, I’m a chipmunk! That’s mean, Cerys. Does it look like I turn into something that tiny? Christ, Brax needs to spank your ass for that,” he grumbled as he flexed his sizable muscles. When she winked at him, he told her, “I’ll have you know, I’m a leopard.”
Her mouth rounded. Keir gave her a satisfied smile. Gunnar went next.
“I’m not asking what you think. After your chipmunk guess, I know you’re tweaked in the head. It’s a good thing Brax is head over heels in love with you, or he might want to run,” Gunnar pretended to grumble.
“Okay, Mr. Smartass, what are you?” she asked.
“I’m a gryphon, a creature that’s part eagle and part lion,” he said proudly.
“I’m a bear,” Fennick said next. They were building up. As each told the women, I saw even the Crows were surprised and impressed.
“I’m a phoenix,” Banner added when it was his turn.
That left Nico and Royal. Nico indicated for Royal to go first. “I’m a dragon,” Royal said proudly.
Cerys let out a squeal of awe. Cerys and Rebel both gave Nico expectant looks. He smiled and let his fangs descend. “I’m a vampire,” he said with a wink. They gasped. I saw the Crows back up a step. Nico chuckled darkly.
“And you all live here? Did you become friends after moving here, or were you born here? Are there more of you?” Falcon asked. I was the one to answer him.
“The seven of us have been friends for a long time. We met by chance a long time ago. When I got stationed here and saw the area, I decided to move and told these guys. There are other shifters in and around the area. It gave us a greater sense of community, which you can relate to from the sounds of it. We all work to protect ourselves and our families if we have them,” I explained.
“We do understand. Okay, so you’re a deputy sheriff. What do the rest of you do for a living?” Claw asked.
“I’m a bounty hunter,” Gunnar said. One by one, the rest sounded off. Fennick told them he was a park ranger. Keir was a game warden, and Banner was a lawyer. Royal was a firefighter, and Nico was a paramedic.
“So you have a fire-breathing dragon fighting fires and a vampire dealing with blood all day. Fucking talk about irony,” Heron muttered.
“Isn’t it?” Nico said with a wink.
We were all talking when Cerys suddenly cracked us up and sent us into gales of laughter.
“Wait! Oh my God! Does this mean I’m into bestiality?” she asked, sounding puzzled and alarmed. She looked appalled. Then she ruined it by cracking a smile. That’s when I knew. Everything would be okay. She’d forgiven me, and I hadn’t lost her for good.
We spent another hour talking and getting to know each other better before the Crows and Rebel said they had to head back to Henderson. They made us promise that we’d all get together soon, whether there or here. Regardless of whether we were the same species of shifter, there weren’t enough of us in the world not to be allies and friends when possible.
After they left, my guys got ready to go. They promised Cerys that one night soon, we’d take her out further into the desert and let her see each of their beasts. She seemed all for it. Nico, of course, the asshole, told her not to fall in love with him when she saw how awesome he was. She shoved him toward his bike. They’d all rode their bikes to my place.
They waved as they left. She smiled and waved back. As they got out of sight, she faced me. “I think you and I have some talking to do. Before we do, I should call Twyla and let her know I’m here and not to worry.”
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Would it be asking too much if you’d stay tonight? I’ve missed you so damn much, baby. I haven’t been sleeping worth a shit without you. I have to hold you,” I confessed. I wanted to make love with her, but I’d settle for holding.
“I think that might be a possibility,” she said as she turned her back to me, and swished that ass that I loved, then sashayed into the house.
I let out a howl and took after her. She had my cock growing hard. Nightstalker weighed in. Mate her. Make her ours for good—our mate .
Yes, she is. And yes, I would.
While she called Twyla, I went to see what I had to fix for dinner. It was getting late. I was hungry, and I knew the longer we waited, the longer it would be before I could see if I could talk her into letting me make love to her. I had a whole week to make up for and spoiling to do. The latter was for accepting me as I was and for forgiving how stupid I behaved in Vegas. My reveal could’ve gone horribly wrong. Hopefully, Twyla wouldn’t freak out when we told her.