Page 5 of Bewitchingly Hers
“We’d never know,” Rina finished my statement. “I know. That’s what has me so uneasy. If they’ve known all this time,whydid they choose to keep it from us? We have no idea what’s out there. Our whole lives, we were taught Pleasant Grove was safeguarded, warded, to keep humans out. To keepussafe. But maybe there’s more to it than that?”
Wendy was ghostly white now, all blood having drained from her face. “Like what?”
“You’re the one who sees ghosts, babe. I feel like you should be the expert.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Enough, you two. We can ponder this later. I need to get him home.”
They both blinked. “You’re taking a wild animal to yourhouse?”
“What else am I going to do with him?” I looked at the wolf.Goddess, I could only imagine how beautiful he was running through the woods. “I can’t leave him here. He needs to heal, and I can help him.”
Rina bit her thumbnail. “True. Okay, well, I guess we’re doing this.” She approached the wolf, who let out a low growl. “Um, Eryne?” Her head turned back to look at me. “Are you sure he’s not going to bite us?”
I frowned, stepping up close to him. “That’s weird. He was fine earlier.” I reached out, stroking my hand down his muzzle. The rumble in his chest immediately stopped.
Rina tried to touch him again, and he bared his teeth. But whenever I did…
Somehow, with my hand on his head, petting between his ears, he stayed calm enough to let the girls approach him.
“This is freaky.” She looked between the wolf and I, shaking her head. “Alright. You stay there in his line of sight. Wendy and I will lift from back here.”
I nodded, and we each grabbed different corners of the blanket, heaving him up before heading out to the parking lot, where my small car waited. It was much easier with three of us, but he was still heavy. Opening the back, I was suddenly grateful my seats were still down after transporting decorations to the Witches’ Brew earlier this week.
“Thank you both,” I said, looking at my friends. “I seriously owe you one.” He took up most of the back of my car, but luckily, we got him in. Which meant now, I just needed to get him home.
“I’m happy to take payment in pastries,” Rina said, grinning as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans.
They were always happy to be fed.
Wendy rolled her eyes. “We’re always happy to help, girl. Don’t listen to her.” She straightened her red dress. “But Iwouldhappily take some cinnamon twists if you have any left over.”
I laughed. “It’s on me next time. Promise.”
Waiving goodbye as they both set off, I got in the front seat of my car, turning over my shoulder to look at the wolf. He raised his head, blinked at me, and then laid it back down. I let out a breath. “Well, you’re not out of the woods yet, but hopefully the hardest part is over.”
I had to hope. Because I really didn’t know what to do if he took a turn for the worst and those wounds got infected?
All I could do was pray to the goddesses that my healing magic would be enough.
CHAPTER TWO
barrett
My mate’s hand was pressed against my face, and I was keenly aware that nothing had ever felt as right as her touch.How was that possible?I’d always heard of what it felt like, but never imagined…
Pain radiated through me as I tried to move, despite every fiber of my being telling me not to. Everything was agony.
But I wanted to see my mate. My body was on fire, a relentless wave of torture that crashed over me again and again.
It was hard to focus as she fretted over me, dressing my wounds, pressing poultices to my body and brushing my fur.
The witch was healing me, mending each broken bone and gash slowly.
And she was a witch. However that was possible, I didn’t understand. Wolves always mated wolves. But I could see the gold, faint thread between us, could feel her at the other end of the bond. And she smelled like… she smelled like mine.
I wanted to tell her, but I couldn’t shift.
Everythinghurt. Everything except for where she was touching my coat. She was so careful. From the moment she’d found me, her voice had soothed me.Calmedme.
