Page 30 of Heron's Flame

Still, I appreciated that he didn’t try to hide it.

“We’re in Henderson. Our entire club came. Where are your friends? We’d like to meet them. Any friend of Heron’s is a friend of ours. This is my woman, Callie,” Hawk introduced, indicating his ol’ lady as she smiled.

Callie nodded to Cerys and Brax. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Hawk, I don’t think that—” I began when Rebel spoke up and cut me off.

“You didn’t say exactly how you know Heron.” Her voice held an edge.

Shit.

Cerys hesitated a few seconds before answering. When she did, her back straightened, and she looked right in Rebel’s eyes. “Heron and I dated my first year of nursing school. He was my first boyfriend.”

Well, fuck. Rebel narrowed her eyes as her gaze shot to mine.

A growl left Brax’s chest, alerting everyone that his wolf was pissed. Rebel jolted. Cerys gave him a wary look. I stiffened, and so did Hawk. Brax needed to get his beast under control.

And that was when the crows decided to make themselves known, circling above our heads and cawing. Several dropped close and belted out loud kraas.

“There you are. We’ve been looking for you.” A stranger had joined us just as the crows began making noise.

Fucking hell. More odd smells. Not wolf, but definitely not human.

The crows flew up in a murder, squawking and chittering, cawing as they called to more of their brethren.

Callie tried to ease the tension around us. “So you and Heron were boyfriend and girlfriend. Wow, what a small world! You said you were in nursing school when you were together? Are you a nurse?” Her sweet voice didn’t cut the tension but was a valiant effort.

“I am. I work in the ER in Needles,” Cerys replied.

“Mind if I ask what you do?” Hawk asked, ticking his chin at Brax.

Yeah, I’d like to fucking know too.

“Not at all. I’m a San Bernadino County Deputy Sheriff. I patrol and live in Needles,” Brax announced with a smug look in my direction.

“A cop. You know, I can see it,” Hawk deadpanned.

Jesus Christ. This was going to shit fast.

“You gonna introduce us to your new . . .friends?” one of the guys behind Brax asked, the same one who spoke when the group arrived.

Brax didn’t seem to want to do it, but he did. Talon, Gail, Crow, Bella, Raven, and Bree joined us. The conversation grew stilted. Emotions ran wild.

Cerys kept glancing at me, then looking away. I wished I could talk to her without a crowd. There was shit left unspoken between us. It didn’t occur to me until now that she deserved answers to the questions I sensed she had.

“I hate to break things up,” Brax began.

I bet.

“We’ve got plans. I hope you enjoy the rally. Maybe we’ll see you later.”

“It was good seeing you, Cerys.” I meant that. “I’m glad you’re settled.”

“The same, Heron.” She looked to Brax. “Honey, I’m ready.”

Brax hugged her against his side, gave us a chin lift, and walked away with their group.

Beside me, a curvy blonde’s emotions hit a feverish pitch.

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