Page 61 of Wishing for a Werewolf
“Anything you want,” I say, meaning the words with all my being. “Anything at all.” And indeed, I agree to everything, liking her suggestion.
“I’ll see you Thursday. If you come over to the farm in the morning, we can make sure we’ve got plenty of time to get everything ready.”
I almost protest that Thursday is three days away. I don’t want to go that long without seeing her. But she has her work, and I have my family. “Until Thursday.”
Back at the fence, I distract the whining pups with a game of chase, racing them all the way to my house.
My niece and nephew tumble through the door, dashing around and competing to be the first to see each room. They sniff at the toys Autumn picked out for them and leap onto their beds, amazed at how soft the mattresses are.
Riselda calls them to her and shifts all the way to fae, trying to set an example. She’s tall and well-muscled, with tan skin and dark brown hair like mine. My sister’s features are strong, and her smile is wide as she rubs at the pups’ tummies. “You’re so soft.” She stares at her hand, fascinated.
“Skin is very sensitive. That might be part of why humans have such odd nudity taboos.” I hand her a set of the clothes Autumn helped me pick out, sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt, everything big and stretchy since I didn’t know sizes. I have some for the pups as well, so we’ll be ready when they finally shift.
In the kitchen, I show off my rudimentary cooking skills, making instant oatmeal with sliced banana and frying bacon, which the pups fall on hungrily, enjoying the crunch and salt.
As soon as everyone’s eaten, I take them into the living room and turn on the television, setting it to one of the children’s cartoon channels.
The pups go wild, yipping with excitement and asking all about how it works. Unable to explain, I call it human magic. And it does indeed seem like magic, as they fall silent and settle onto the couch, wolf eyes latched onto the screen.When one of the characters does a complicated trick using their hands, the pups cheer. Television might end up doing more than entertaining them and showing them how humans live—it might also make them more willing to shift once they see more of what hands can do.
Riselda pulls me into the hall. “Thank you again for doing this. I know I asked a lot of you to isolate yourself from the pack for so long.”
“The pups will live as cu sith were always meant to, knowing all of their shifted forms,” I say. “It will be worth it.”
I don’t admit I’ve found a more selfish reason to be on Earth, that I may never go back to Faerie.
Not if I get my third wish, and find my fated mate.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Autumn
I didn’t lie to Rune. The next few days are nothing but soap, soap, and yep, you got it, more soap.
By the time Thursday morning arrives, I’m back to dreaming about pours and molds and cutters, which makes horny Autumn stomp around my mind in chunky boots, pouting as if she’s going through another emo phase, like I did at sixteen. She’s especially frustrated, since I fall into bed each night too tired to even try for a BOO.
But what I crave isn’t a BOO… or at least not a solo one, not after Rune.
“Rune ruined me.” I whisper to my reflection on Thursday morning as I pull my hair up into a messy bun. “I’m completely ruined for any other man.”
My heart skips. I’m going to see him today. I know I’m supposed to hold off on our relationship until I’m sure hisfeelings aren’t magically induced, but I miss him. Even with how busy I’ve been, it’s been so hard not to see him every day.
I hurry through the rest of my morning routine. My YouTube video guest starring Babybelle is getting good views and clicks, and I’ve sold almost an entire batch of pumpkin spice latte soap. Humming as I work, I pack my PSL soaps in the pretty little recycled-material boxes I buy for my specialty bars.
Mom walks in to find me smoothing on the last of the shipping labels, her mouth pinched at the corners. “Did you finish yesterday’s peppermint?”
“Sure did.” I point to the drying racks. “They should be ready to cut.”
“You’ll be fooling with Halloween stuff this week and the hay maze all next week.”
“I will.” I keep my tone neutral. It’s worry making her like this, and I hate that it hangs over her like a storm cloud, darkening her outlook.
Yet I also wish she’d trust me more, trust my judgment. Take the time to listen to my ideas instead of dismissing them immediately. But that’s okay. I’ll prove my theories for how to improve business are good. The pumpkin carving and hay maze are going to remind people that Ferndale Falls Goat Farm is a local business with a great product. It’s going to help—I know it will.
Rune’s voice calls from outside, and I hurry out to meet him and his sister.
“Where are the pups?”
“They’re waiting in the woods.” He points to the edge of the farm.
