“Fine, fine.” she answered annoyed, “Just be back in time for lunch, we have company coming today.”
“I will.” I promised as I skipped out the door hopeful of finding a note from Brandon. It had been over a week since I’d seen him and his notes were the only thing keeping me going. I had my own note for him in my pocket in which I asked him to meet me at the island tomorrow night. I was going to take my place as Amma’s second in command in less than two weeks, and I didn’t have any idea how he was going to take the news. I wanted to deliver it in person, and it had to be soon.
I made my way to the dividing wall and pulled the loose rock from its moorings. My heart leapt when I saw the folded paper inside. I pulled it out and replaced it with my own before pushing the rock firmly back into place until it looked as though the wall was solid once again.
I climbed up the bluff, through the edge of the treeline and into the woods that surrounded our lake in a ring of green. I trekked about a half mile into the woods until I came to a small clearing, featuring a small hillock probably made a millennium ago by some ancient tribe. I shouldered my way through the opening that was nearly invisible and down the path leading underground into the warm womb of Mother Earth. I used this as my sanctuary when things got too overwhelming. I came here when I needed the dark, nurturing security of feminine energy.
This is where I kept my secrets. One of my most prized possessions was here as well; a set of perfectly nestled gemstones, one of black onyx and one of white moonstone that fit together perfectly in the shape of yin and yang. They had belonged to my parents, who died when I was 11 while spending the night at a friend’s. Carbon monoxide poisoning. Our car was found running in the garage and the door securely locked. It was ruled a double suicide. I knew better; my parents would never leave me by choice.
I wiped away the tear that pricked my eyes as I thought of them, and remembered my mother confiding in me that the stones had a special power that could never be dulled. They would always seek each other out; they would always find each other. I planned to give one of these necklaces to Brandon tomorrow night so that he would know I would always seek him out; that I would refuse to be separated from him.
I felt around until I found the candle and lighter I kept on a small recess in the wall and sat down in the small circle of light to read Brandon’s note. It read:
N-
I have to see you as soon as possible! Can you meet me tomorrow night? Let me know where and when.
I miss you.
-B
I held the note against me as though I would feel him through the thin paper. I needed to see him, to touch him, to feel his arms around me again. I imagine that this is what an addict feels like when they can think of nothing else but the unshakable need for their drug.
Well, Brandon was my drug. I thought of him constantly and felt a physical need to be with him. Not just because of the way he had made me feel when we were in bed together, but something even deeper than that.
I moved a large rock from beside the wall revealing a shallow hole and a box. I put the note inside and took my parents’ necklaces out and tucked them into my pocket.
I hurried back to Amma’s cabin hoping to have enough time to change before our guests came. I entered through back door and slipped by the kitchen where I could hear Amma humming to herself. I changed my shirt and ran a comb through my hair before trotting down the stairs and asking if there was anything I could to do help finish getting lunch ready.
“Just in time. You can take these drinks out to our guests.” She handed me a tray of iced tea and added a glass for me. “Be nice.” She said in a warning tone that sent a tiny chill up my spine.
When I entered the living room, I immediately saw the reason for the warning. Drew and his father were our guests. Would they ever stop trying to get us together? I swear, for the past year I felt my grandmother’s hand on my back nudging me toward the great hulk of a man. He wasn’t a bad guy, I just wasn’t into him. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure he was into me.
I screwed on a smile as I stepped over the threshold to the living room to set the tray down on the coffee table. I poured and handed a glass to Drew’s father, Ben, before turning to Drew to do the same. He gave me a broad smile and brushed my fingers as I gave him the glass as though he was confirming my thought of a moment ago.
I sat in the easy chair across from them and noticed again how much alike they were. Both were over six feet tall, barrel-chested with the typical Nordic looks of blond hair and blue eyes. I knew Ben had designs on pairing his son with the future high priestess and leader of this community. The thought made me squeamish.
Thankfully, I only had to make small talk for a short time before Amma called us to the dining room. Lunch was uneventful and it was even somewhat pleasant to watch Amma and Ben shyly flirt with each other. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one that Amma was trying to fix up. Afterwards, they took their mugs of coffee into the living room while Drew and I wandered out onto the deck overlooking the boat dock.
“I brought your canoe back.” Drew said, startling me. “I found it washed up on the shore the morning after the storm.”
“Oh, thank you.” I said, thinking fast. “I must not have tied it up securely.”
“I thought you stayed on the island the night of the storm.” He looked at me quizzically.
“Oh, I did.” I paused again swallowing around my now dry throat. “I must not have tied it up well when I got back in the morning.”
“Oh. I guess that makes sense.” He looked at me as though he were trying to figure something out so I changed the subject.
“What do you think of your Dad and Amma?”
“I don’t know.” He looked through the large glass doors that separated us from them. “I guess it would be ok. Mom’s been gone a long time.” He looked up at me suddenly and asked. “Do you want to go for a walk?”
“Uh...oh...um, not really. I just came back from a walk before lunch. Let’s just sit out here and enjoy the sun.” The last thing I wanted was to be alone with him. We made stilted conversation, but honestly, we had nothing in common. I breathed a sigh of relief when Ben finally came out and told Drew they had to get going. He thanked Amma for having them for lunch and they finally left.
When they’d gone, I helped Amma get the kitchen back in order before returning to my lessons. Now that I had a plan to meet Brandon, I was able to concentrate easily and my spell to call a familiar finally worked. Now all I had to do was wait for it to show up. I hoped that it would be something other than a raven, as I was already compared to Amma in so many ways.
We had a light dinner that night and afterwards, I packed a bag and asked Amma for some extra candles. When she questioned me, I told her I was going to the island for some quiet meditation. That was her favorite thing for me to do; meditate. I always told her the truth; tonight was the first time I’d ever lied.
I hated lying to her, but I didn’t know how I could go another day without seeing Brandon. The need to feel his touch was a physical ache inside me. I had to look into his eyes again and reassure myself that he really was all mine. And give him the necklace. I pulled the set from their protective pouch and held them in my hand. A thick gold rope chain with the moonstone ‘Yin’ half of the circle that belonged to my Dad for Brandon and my mother’s onyx ‘Yang’ suspended from a delicate silver serpent chain for me. They were perfectly nestled together, and even when I pulled them apart they found each other again like magnets.
I left for the island a few hours before dusk, and upon landing, set about making the cabin ready for a romantic night. New sheets, a fire laid in the hearth and candles to fill the air with rose scent. After straightening everything for the third time, I took a walk to the shore and scanned the water. Nothing. I couldn’t pace any longer, if I could just calm my mind until Brandon came, maybe time wouldn’t seem to be passing so slowly.
I was deep in a meditative state when I heard my someone softly say my n
ame. I jumped and looked up to find the setting sun lighting up Brandon’s beautiful face. He helped me up and I fell into his arms needing to taste his lips on mine. I lost myself in the strength of his arms and the purely masculine scent of him. I took his hand and pulled him into the cabin.
“Nicole, wait.” He pulled back on my arm stopping me and made me turn to face him again. “We have to talk”. I pulled my shirt off revealing my bare chest. “Please, it’s important.” I slipped my yoga pants off and stood in front of him completely naked. He blew out a long breath and said, “Yeah, we can talk later.”
“Good.” I said as I pulled him by the hand to the bed but left him standing in front of it. He pulled his shirt off while I undid his jeans and slipped his shoes and socks off. I knelt before him and slid his jeans and boxers down at the same time, and he quickly stepped out of them.
I stood again and motioned for him to move up to the middle of the bed. I climbed onto it and toward him like a cat before straddling him just below his already hard cock. I took it in my hand and marveled at the stiffness of the shaft and the incredibly soft skin that surrounded it. There was a single pearl of moisture balanced on the tip and I swiped my thumb over it making him suck in his breath. I slid my thumb in my mouth and savored the unmatchable taste of it.
I was wet already, just from thinking about him, but now, having him here so ready for me, made me bold. I surprised us both by standing up on my knees and guiding two of his fingers into me. “This is what I’ve been like all day knowing I would see you tonight.” I said in a voice so husky, even I didn’t recognize it. He stroked his fingers in and out of me, and I matched each stroke with one of my own by wrapping my hand tightly around his shaft. His eyes couldn’t decide what to watch, his fingers disappearing inside me or my hand moving up and down on him. I solved the problem for him by moving off his fingers and positioning myself over his engorged shaft. He reached down and held it steady as I rubbed my pussy against him, teasing him, before descending down that long and lovely pole until I was firmly seated with him buried inside me.
I stayed still relishing the feeling of him stretching me, filling me once again. This is what I had been thinking about all day today and the days that had passed since I last saw him. I tightened my muscles around him and earned a long groan. Rocking my hips against his, I enjoyed a delightful friction against my clitoris. I leaned forward to kiss him increasing that friction as I started to slide up and down on him. He caressed my ass then grasped it tightly making me move faster on him.
“Oh Brandon, that feels so good!” I moaned.
His answer was a sliding kiss to my neck to softly nibble and the pulse in my throat. He was bringing me to the edge of ecstasy, and I sat up again as I neared that wonderful release needing to feel the full length of him buried in me. He slid his hands up my thighs and pressed his thumbs gently on either side of my clit massaging it as I rocked against his hips. I arched my back and rested my hands behind me on his legs. I couldn’t hold it back, I came in rolling explosions of liquid heat. I was coming harder than I ever dreamed I could and cried out my pleasure to him as I did.
He sat up, and holding me against him, rolled me under and slipped an arm under each of my legs, spreading them further and allowing him to sink deeper into me. I clutched at him as he pistoned in and out of me, pinning me to the bed with his weight. I was begging him to come, and with a shudder that began at his feet and rippled upward through his body, I felt that familiar heat deep within me. I helplessly came again, my muscles involuntarily clamping down on him capturing him deep within me and milking him dry.
He kissed me passionately as he released my legs and pulled me into his arms. We lay there snuggled together and soon, I heard his breath come in steady, even puffs and I knew he was asleep. I laughed at how wide awake I felt as he passed out from exerting so much energy.
I slipped from the bed and lit the fire before fetching the necklaces from my bag. Pulling his t-shirt on, I made hot tea and waited patiently for him to wake up.
Eventually, he opened his eyes and dragged himself sleepily from the bed. Pulling on his jeans he came to join me at the small table. I poured him a cup of tea and pushed the box toward him.
“What’s this?” He asked raising an eyebrow at me.
“Just open it.”
He did and as he pulled the necklace out it swung slightly toward me. He looked at me as I pulled my necklace out from under his t-shirt, and we watched it swing slightly toward him. Again, he raised his eyebrow at me.
“The stones will always seek each other out. ‘The greater the desire of the wearer of one stone to find the wearer of the other stone, the greater the pull. The attraction grows in direct proportion to the need.’” I said, quoting what I had been told by my mother. “They belonged to my parents.”
He kissed me and fastened it around his neck thanking me. Then he took a deep breath and said, “I have something I have to tell you. No, I have something I have to show you.” He slipped out of his jeans again and once again stood naked.
“I’ve seen that.” I laughed.
“No, not that,” he smiled nervously at me, “this.”
And with that he began to shimmer, and as I watched he began to change in front of me. His nose grew longer, and his forehead flattened. His legs bent as did his back until he was on all fours. Fur sprouted out of every part of him along with sharp teeth and claws. I watched him turn into a…well, a dog. No, a wolf. A werewolf. Oh crap, I was in love with a werewolf. It was the sacred duty of my coven to protect innocent people from werewolves. Oh crap.
I sat there with my mouth gaping open. He put his head and tail down and took a measured step toward me. I didn’t flinch so I guess he thought it was safe to come closer until he was sitting before me with his head tilted to the side looking harmless.
I looked at him for a long time before the strangest thing happened.
I laughed.
I laughed so hard and loud that he finally had to change back and slip his jeans on again. I couldn’t stop. It wasn’t funny really, it was ridiculous. The incongruity of it all was one thing, but the irony. Oh my, the irony. That was the most ridiculous thing of all.
He sat again at the table looking at me with a mixture of concern and confusion. I think he expected anger or disbelief, but not laughter.
“Brandon,” I gasped between breaths trying to regain control of myself, “you have no idea what we are in for.”
“Why aren’t you surprised? Did your dad tell you about this?”
That sobered me as nothing else could. “My dad?” Now I was the one who was confused. “What does my dad have to do with this?”
“Your dad was one of us,” he answered, “he was a werewolf too.”
“I’m half werewolf? How can I be half werewolf? I’ve never even felt remotely...wolfish.”
He half-smiled at that and told me, “Sometimes it doesn’t manifest. I have a sister that has no werewolf traits.” He looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, “I imagine you wouldn’t be living with your grandmother if you had any of the signs.”
“Huh. Probably not.” That thought made me a little sad, because I know Amma loved me. “Here I thought I was going to be the one with the big revelation.”
He looked up at me again and said, “Nicole, I’ve known you were a witch almost from the beginning, I knew where you live.”
“That makes sense, but do you know what I’m to become?
“What, I mean you’re already a witch. What’s left?” He seemed sincere so I continued.
“I’m training to be the next High Priestess. In less than two weeks, I’m the next in line to lead the coven.” I searched his eyes for understanding, but only saw shock and denial there.
“You can’t do that.” He said evenly.
“I have a duty to the coven.” A thought struck me then, and I knew I had to ask him a question and even though I thought I knew the answer, I had to hear it from him. “Wait, how did yo
u know about my dad? I mean, I didn’t even know. That does not seem like public information.”
He hesitated, as if he was trying to choose the answer that would upset me the least. Finally he said, “I asked my mom. She’s the pack’s Record Keeper. She would know about anyone who’s been expelled from the pack.”
“Expelled from the pack?” I repeated. “My dad?”
Brandon nodded, and waited patiently for me to catch up.
“The Record Keeper is mated to the Alpha.” I said in a flat, disbelieving monotone. “You’re the Alpha’s son.” I looked up at him, my eyes pleading with him to deny it.
He squeezed my hands. “Yes.”
“You’re the Alpha’s son,” I repeated slowly, “and you want me to deny my birthright? Are you planning on leaving the pack? You’re the firstborn? You’re the next Alpha?” With each question, my voice kept got louder.
Bewitching Her Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) Page 2