Page 85 of Bewitchingly Hers
The pull-out for the overlook came up on the road, and I turned off, parking the car and going around to open her door. She placed her hand in mine and I guided her towards the railing.
“Welcome to Walnut Ridge, Eryne,” I said, tugging her into my side. We stood at the overlook, the town expanding below us, nestled between the mountains. It was the perfect place to hide a community of shifters, to assure we’d never be discovered by the humans who once hunted us to near extinction.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, eyes wide as she took in the view.
There was a light layer of snow that had settled over the town—common for November in Vermont—and it looked every bit like a winter wonderland. My wolf ached to run, to jump and leap through the snow, but I wanted to capture every single one of Eryne’s reactions, so I didn’t dare shift.
“It’s even better in the fall,” I told her. “When all the leaves are orange and yellow, the landscape looks like a blanket.”
Eryne let out a happy sigh. “I can’t believe this place is real,” she whispered, her fingers reaching out like she expected it to be a painting.
“I know what you mean,” I said, tugging her to my side.
We were both wearing jeans, though Eryne had pulled on her favorite dark green sweater this morning and a pair of DocMarten boots, while I’d grabbed a waffle knit thermal shirt and my favorite jacket. Pressing my nose to her head, I inhaled her sweet scent. Somehow, she always smelled like apples and cinnamon, though I’d determined part of that was her apple shampoo. Still, she was good enough to eat.
“Ready to meet my family?” I asked, turning to her.
She nodded, twisting her ring around her finger. “Are they going to think this is crazy? That we jumped into this so fast?”
I shook my head. “My mom’s going to love you. And so is Freya. I just know it.”
Besides, wolves moved notoriously fast. Once someone found their mate, it was hard to resist the pull of fate. I should know—I’d tried my hardest for so long to hold back. It had been impossible while being surrounded by her sweet scent and soft smile though.
My wolf let out a grumble of satisfaction as she reached up, running her fingers over my beard. She liked it, so I’d let it grow in, keeping it well-groomed but at the length Eryne seemed to love.
With a deep inhale of breath, she pushed her shoulders back, looking at me then the town nestled between the ridge. “Let’s go.”
We both got out, shutting the door behind us, and I interlaced our fingers as we walked up the path, pressing a kiss to the top of her hand. My mother’s house was just the same as I remembered it—small, cozy and warm, but filled with so much love. It smelled like fresh-baked bread andhome.
Though it wasn’t home anymore—home was the witch beside me, the one who had captured my heart and soul.
“Remember that I love you,” I said, holding her gaze.
“That bad?” She laughed.
It was the opposite. I was pretty sure they were going to shower her with so much affection she wouldn’t know what to do with it. I just smiled. “You’ll see.”
I knocked on the door, finding my mom at the other side, wearing an apron covered in flour, her hair pulled back into a tight braid. She had the same face as Freya and I, the same dark auburn hair we all shared and the same amber eyes as mine. Meanwhile, Freya had gotten my dad’s blue eyes, and both of our parent’s love of reading. She was a librarian, a year younger than Eryne, and my best friend growing up.
“Barrett,” she said, wrapping me up in a bear hug before I could even protest. “My baby boy is finally home.”
“Mom,” I protested, trying not to roll my eyes because I was closer to thirty than ever, and she still treated me like I was the toddler who didn’t know how to shift yet and was scared of the dark.
She let go of me, and her eyes drifted over to Eryne, who was standing on the porch awkwardly. “Oh, and you brought someone with you. Hello, sweetheart.”
“Hi,” Eryne murmured, looking bashful.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet someone important to me. Eryne. My mate.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
“After all these years, he finally brought home a nice girl.” Mom gestured inside. “Come on. Let’s get you both inside and then you can tell me the whole story. I’m sure you’re both tired from the long drive.”
I left our bags in the car and headed inside my childhood home.
“You look…” Eryne whispered as we followed my mom into the kitchen. “Wow.”
I laughed, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “I know. We get that a lot.”
“Mom,” came my sister’s voice. “Who was—” Her eyes widened as she saw me. “B.” She grinned.
