“Is it cliché if I say I was born ready?” I stand tall.

“I’d say it’s quite fitting.” He nods, a hint of a grin on his face. “Is there anything you want to go over beforehand? Anything I should know first?”

“What if I told you I was winging it?”

A chuckle flies from him and his eyes widen slightly. “Well then, I’d say I expected as much.”

Suddenly, the door is thrown open, and Royce jerks to a stop.

“Hoo, hooo, baby girl!” Royce’s head pulls back slightly, as he bites his lip. “Just... yes.” He slaps his chest dramatically.

I roll my eyes, reaching for the handle but he swiftly steps in, slamming it behind him.

“I told you to stay outside!” Chloe snaps.

My glare flies to her, but Royce speaks before I can.

“Sorry, wannabe Raven, but I’ll hang my dick to dry the day I listen to you, now back to the important stuff.” Royce steps in front of me, eyeing me up and down before hitting my grey eyes with his deep brown ones. “You done, done it, RaeRae.”

“Done what?”

“Morphed into the perfect Jill to my Jack.”

“Oh my god,” Victoria grumbles behind me.

I start busting up laughing, though, and Royce laughs with me. He’s kidding, but maybe I’m the only one who gets it, and honestly, I like it like that.

He grins, stepping in to hug me, whispering, “I dig it, RaeRae. It’s you.”

“Son, if you don’t go, they’re all gonna come in and we’ll never get out.”

“Oh, I know.” Royce steps back with a grin, smoothing his hands down the black dress shirt he’s wearing. “But I’m the troublemaker, never listen to shit. Gotta keep up the rep.” He shrugs, grins, and runs back out the door.

With a shake of her head and wide, confused eyes, Chloe reaches for the handle, but yelps when Royce shoves his head back in quickly.

“Might wanna wait like three minutes before you come out. These fuckers are slow to slide in.” His eyes move to Chloe playfully. “I’m in quick but stay long, and I’m not just talkin’ time, I’d say ask VicVee over there but she’s being stingy.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Victoria mumbles, burying 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 it.

My eyes lock on the smoothness of the leather there, and I search for sight of her truth beneath it.

When she plants her left foot a space away from her right, my eyes drop to her shoes. Black boots, not unlike the ones she already owns, they cuff her at the ankles, the laces left untied, but they’re new and give some added height.

I must have stepped forward because when my eyes lift, they’re not far from her lips.