Page 70 of Wishing for a Werewolf
Riselda matches our pace for a moment instead of hurrying past. “Thank you, brother. This visit has been good for the pups, and when they return home, their stories are going to make everyone in the pack eager to visit you to learn how to live in our shifted forms. You’ve succeeded far beyond anything I could have imagined.”
Pride fills me at her words, adding to the pleasure of seeing the pups thrive in their werewolf forms, already enjoying what their hands can do. It will only get better oncethey can access their fae forms as well.
Autumn beams up at me, and the warmth of her approval makes my chest tingle.
I wrap an arm around her and pull her close. “My success is all because of you, my fire.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Autumn
Rune presses me to his hard body, and heat flickers through me as I gaze up at him. He’s so handsome in his fae form that I never imagined I’d be equally attracted to the werewolf.
But I am. I really,reallyeffing am.
My thighs clench, my panties dampening as my hand latches onto his forearm—his fur-covered forearm, which feels sinfully soft against my skin.
He takes an audible breath, and his gaze sharpens, his tail swishing from side to side. Oh, god, can he smell that I’m turned on? Desire shivers through me at the thought.
The town green is full of light and life on this gorgeous fall evening, but his eyes hold me mesmerized. We might as well be the only two people in the whole world.
I promised I’d stay away from him until I know if what he’s feeling is real, but tonight that’s impossible. Every timehe plays with the twins, it makes my heart melt. Then there’s the way he keeps reaching for my elbow to steady me whenever a group of excited kids pushes past us. Or there’s the heated looks he gives me, his eyes drawn to my corset-lifted breasts, my thigh-high clad legs, which he keeps brushing with his tail, over and over until I shiver. And dear god, the way he keeps teasing me with the word BOO. I’m no saint. How’s a girl supposed to resist? And one more time would be okay, right? Since he clearly wants it too.
Little hands tug at our clothes, snapping us out of our daze, and Astrid and Agnar’s voices tumble over each other: “Uncle Rune!” “Autumn!” “You’re missing it!” “Come on!”
We break apart to get pulled toward the center of the green. I come to a stop beside Skye, who’s wearing a golden Belle ball gown that looks amazing with her generous curves.
In the middle of the grassy area, Severin stands with Hannah, ready to preside over the costume competition.
“Oh. My. Effing. God.” My eyes almost pop out of my head. “Did Hannah get Severin to wear a Loki costume?”
“She sure did,” Skye chirps. “Thank you, Hannah.”
I nod. It’s the Loki outfit from the earlier movies with the horn-crown and body-fitting armor, and Severin looks even better than Hiddles, which should be impossible—or at least illegal. Beside him, Hannah rocks a Black Widow costume, her long hair temporarily turned a red that matches mine.
Shadow strolls up in his werepanther form. Instead of wearing normal clothes like Rune and his family, the big cat sports a finely tailored three-piece suit, the waistcoat a green that matches his eyes. Only his furry head and handsshow, but the contrast between the animal features and the bespoke suit is striking. He catches us looking and spreads his hands wide. “Yes, I do indeed look magnificent.”
Luke stomps over to us, his horns, tail, and wings on full display.
He’s trailed by a child dressed as a cowboy, who says, “No, you’re a demon!”
“I’m a dragon.” A swirl of smoke curls from Luke’s nostrils, and his red wings snap wide.
Everyone gasps, especially Skye, who clings to my arm to keep herself upright. “Oh, my, they’re so big.”
“I’m sure they are.” I try to bite back my laugh, but a muffled snicker escapes. When my friend turns her wide eyes on me, I hold up two fingers and wiggle my eyebrows, reminding her of how uniquely endowed the weredragon’s supposed to be.
Skye turns bright red, but her smile is radiant.
“Thank you, everyone, for making this year’s Ferndale Falls Halloween Celebration such a success,” Hannah calls out, using her mayoral voice. “Let’s give a big round of applause to all our downtown businesses, who went out of their way to offer us such a fun and safe trick or treat experience this year!” She makes a production of clapping, and the crowd joins her, their reaction enthusiastic.
“Now for the costume contest! Would all of the adults who want to participate, please come up here.”
Several people step forward, including a couple of Mandos and Kayla, Violetta, and Jasmine, who’re dressed as theKPop Demon Hunterstrio. Skye tries to get me and Rune to enter as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf,but I shake my head and lean over to whisper, “I want to enter the werepuppies. I’d rather the focus be on them.”
Rune’s tail brushes against me, and I glance up to find him looking at me. “Is that okay?” I whisper.
“It’s perfect.” His tail wraps around my leg in a caress that makes my heart race.
