Wolf Tainted Union: The Complete Collection - 6-Book Bundle (Books 1-6) - A Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance

by Hart, Melissa F.

  Wolf Tainted Union: The Complete Collection – 6-Book Bundle (Books 1-6)

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2014 by Melissa F. Hart. All rights reserved worldwide.

  No part of this book may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written consent of the author/publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  http://www.melissafhart.com/

  Books in the series

  Bewitched - Volume 1

  By the Light of the Moon - Volume 2

  The Witching Hour - Volume 3

  A Brewing Storm - Volume 4

  Forgotten Faces Ignite New Places - Volume 5

  The Battle for Blood - Volume 6

  ***

  Table of Contents

  Bewitched

  By the Light of the Moon

  The Witching Hour

  A Brewing Storm

  Forgotten Faces Ignite New Places

  The Battle for Blood

  ***

  Bewitched

  ***

  Synopsis

  Allegra is a young witch living in the Vale of Glendora with her coven. One day she meets a handsome, alluring young man named Caspian. Their flirtation quickly leads to something more but, like all young witches, Allegra is forbidden from dating. Her mate must be chosen for her by the witch elders.

  If Allegra chooses to follow her heart and be with the man she loves, she risks inciting the fury of her community and being cast out forever.

  ***

  The sun was weak over the Vale, bringing a coolness to the air that caused Allegra to pull her shawl tightly around her as she headed out that morning. She walked purposely toward the well in the center of town. Her mother needed fresh water for her spells that morning. She was brewing a potion to heal some of their cattle that had been blighted by sickness.

  Allegra was a witch. She lived among other witches in a coven in the Vale of Glendora, a green, pastoral place where they survived off the land and used their magic only to aid in their co-existence with nature.

  Most witches lived in covens dotted throughout the vale. A select few broke free from the traditions of the community and turned to dark magic. Dark magic offered the user great power but at a great price. Allegra’s own sister, Uma, had turned to dark magic three winters ago, casting the family in shame.

  Away from the coven, Uma, created spells to manipulate men to her own ends. She could hex people, resurrect the dead and alter the turning of the tide. But the cost had been great; it had blackened her soul, and she had been banished from the coven and the protection that living with them offered. For within the Vale, even witches practicing dark magic were in danger. All manner of magic creatures resided in Glendora, and maintaining the balance between them was what kept everyone safe. It was such a delicate balance that even the slightest disturbance could tip it and send the world into chaos.

  “Hurry with that water!” Allegra’s mother shouted after her. Allegra rolled her eyes and maintained her pace as she headed toward the well. She was often pushed too hard by her mother and other witch elders. Many feared she’d go the same way as Uma and so they worked relentlessly to keep her pure, to keep her on the right path.

  “If she wants it so bad, she can conjure some,” Allegra muttered angrily to herself. But to conjure any of the elements for selfish reasons was to practice dark magic. The witches in her coven were selfless, casting spells only to assist others. It was what kept their souls pure.

  “Morning, sunshine.” Allegra’s best friend, Iris, was already at the well, pulling out a full pail.

  Iris was as blonde and delicate as the weak sun in the sky. Her skin was almost translucent. Many of the witches had this pale, ethereal appearance. Not Allegra. Allegra had fiery red hair that wove itself in a tangle of curls down her back and sharp green eyes. She stood out against the other blonde witches, as had Uma. Uma’s hair had been black as night but her eyes the same sharp emerald green. There was nothing pure about how they looked. Both sisters could get men to do their bidding without the aid of magic.

  Despite the striking appearance of her daughters, Allegra’s mother was blonde and pale. Clearly, they’d inherited their looks from their father, but he had always been an enigma in their lives, long gone before they could form any memories of him.

  “Morning, Iris.” Allegra smiled fondly at her friend before wrapping her shawl more tightly around her. “Isn’t it supposed to be summer? I swear everyday it gets colder.”

  “Mother says there has been an unbalance in the seasons,” Iris said, her tone gossipy. Then she looked up and connected with Allegra’s green eyes and shook her head apologetically. “I mean, that’s what she guesses.”

  An unbalance in the seasons meant that someone close by in the Vale had been practicing dark magic. Chances were it was Uma.

  “I just hope it warms up soon.” Allegra shrugged casually. She’d made peace with the fact that her sister had been cast out of the community, even if those around her still handled her with care over the subject.

  “I’m sure it will,” Iris chirped brightly. “Not long now until choosing.”

  “Mmm.” Allegra rolled her eyes and sent her own pail down toward the precious water at the base of the well.

  “Are you not excited?” Iris asked, leaning against the stone.

  “Not particularly,” Allegra sighed.

  Choosing was when the coven rounded up girls of a certain age and selected partners for them from within the community. They would be bound eternally with their chosen mate. Pairings were non-negotiable.

  Most girls lived for choosing. They couldn’t wait to be united with the man they were destined to be with for the rest of their lives. But Allegra could wait. The men within the coven were as pale and translucent as the women. None of them made Allegra’s heart skip a beat or her hands turn clammy. She wanted to find a man who made her pulse race and butterflies dance in her stomach. She didn’t want to end up with some boring warlock from the coven. It felt too predictable, too safe.

  “Choosing is the most important night of our lives!” Iris insisted, subtly casting her eyes across the village square, seeking out any nearby males who might soon become her husband.

  “Is it?” Allegra queried. Her own mother had raised her two daughters alone. She failed to see the importance of a male presence in building a family. But then Uma had turned to dark magic. No other family in their coven had known such shame, so her mother felt it was imperative that Allegra settle and find her chosen partner as quickly as possible.

  Uma fled from the coven shortly before her own choosing. Allegra hadn’t understood her sister’s actions at the time, but with each year that passed she grew closer to realizing why Uma had felt that she just couldn’t stay any longer.

  “You know it is.” Iris playfully nudged her friend. “Don’t tell me you’re not excited!”

  A few loitering males cast hopeful glances over at the pair. Iris failed to notice that their glances were always directed at Allegra, not her, each of them hoping to be coupled with the tempestuous redhead.

  “What spell is your mother working on?” Allegra tactfully changed the subject.

&n
bsp; “My father is sick with flu,” Iris explained. “She’s trying to cure him but nothing has worked so far.”

  “Has she tried a cauldron call yet?” Allegra asked. A cauldron call was when numerous powerful witches came together and united their magic to create more powerful spells.

  “Not yet, but she probably will end up doing one.”

  Neither Iris nor Allegra had yet had the chance to practice magic. All they could do was watch their mothers perform it and then talk about it amongst themselves. Witches were not permitted to practice magic until after their choosing. It wasn’t that they couldn’t—they were all born with the magic within them—it was just a rule in place within their coven, a rule that supposedly existed to keep them safe.

  If a witch practiced magic too young, when she was inexperienced, there was a greater risk that she’d eventually turn to dark magic. Allegra found the rule archaic and pointless. How could she ever become a great witch if she didn’t get to practice?

  But she’d found ways to practice. In secret, she’d head out to the woods beyond the coven and practice simple spells she’d seen her mother conduct. She’d talk with the animals, revive wilting flowers and listen to the voices carried on the wind, the voices that spoke the secrets of her ancestors. Allegra did all this hidden away from the anxious witch elders. She yearned to learn all she could about magic and her witch heritage.

  “Will you come to lunch today?” Iris asked hopefully. Most of the girls ate lunch together in a central building where they were taught how to be prim and proper. Magic was off the agenda until after the choosing. In Allegra’s eyes, the addition of magic to their teachings was the only good thing to come out of the choosing.

  “I can’t.” Allegra shook her red curls. “I’m supposed to be out collecting firewood.”

  “Again?” Iris was audibly disappointed.

  “It’s been so cold.” Allegra shivered to further legitimize her claim. “And when mother is casting, she needs more wood for the fire.”

  “Shame, but I’ll see you tonight, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Most nights there was a cauldron call, which the younger girls got to witness.

  Waving goodbye to her friend, Allegra carried her full pail of water back to her modest home, where her mother was already busily preparing her spell. She dropped various herbs into a great cast iron pot whilst reciting an ancient incantation.

  Allegra knew better than to disturb her mother whilst she was casting. Carefully, she placed the water down close by her and edged away. She had an excuse to return to the seclusion of the woods and there she could practice magic to her heart’s content.

  As Allegra headed away from the village, she thought as she often did of Uma. A reason she liked to be alone in the woods was that she hoped it would offer her sister an opportunity to reach out to her. She missed Uma terribly. She felt like her sister was the only person who understood her and now she was gone.

  After a brisk thirty minute walk,

  Allegra was satisfied that she was far enough away from the village. She found a large rock to sit upon and looked up the sun, which refused to offer her any further warmth. There was definitely an unbalance in the seasons, but she couldn’t believe that it was all Uma’s fault. Her sister wasn’t the only dark witch out there, nor the only magical creature capable of shifting the balance.

  Allegra practiced a few small spells as inquisitive animals gathered around her to watch. She made a tiny tornado, which danced around on the ground before her. Then she made parts of the earth rise and fall before replenishing a wilted flower. The spells were fun but they were mundane and didn’t challenge her.

  On the wind, she could hear the soft lullaby of her ancestors singing. She had yet to decipher the words to the song but the fact that she could hear it at all meant that her powers were growing stronger.

  Humming along, Allegra continued to occupy herself with small, insignificant spells, when suddenly she heard a twig snap close by as someone stepped on it. Her heart froze in her chest.

  “Uma?” she called out with nervous hope, wishing that whoever was lurking in the trees close by was her sister, finally called out of hiding to pay her a long overdue visit.

  “Uma, is that you?” Allegra called again, straining her ears to listen for another sound. Inhaling the air around her, she tried to discern some familiar scent, but there was none. The air smelt of damp earth and nothing else. At least from the direction it was currently blowing.

  A twig snapped again, and Allegra stood up on the rock in terror.

  “Don’t come any closer!” she called out to the shadows. “I’m a witch!”

  “Well, well, I’m terrified,” a confident male voice declared as a handsome, chiseled guy stepped into the clearing. He had black hair and deep dark eyes that regarded Allegra with humor as a smirk pulled at his lips.

  “Sorry.” He raised his big, strong hands apologetically. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “You didn’t.” Allegra pouted, folding her arms across her chest.

  “You sounded pretty scared to me,” the stranger declared cockily, still smiling at her.

  “Who are you anyway?” Allegra demanded, eyeing him with suspicion. “I’ve not seen you before in the vale.”

  “Why don’t you jump down from that rock and I’ll tell you?”

  Allegra hesitated. Being on the rock gave her leverage over this handsome stranger. She wanted to remain beyond his reach but something drew her to him. After a few moments’ deliberation, she jumped down and landed gracefully on the forest floor.

  “That’s better.” He took a confident step toward Allegra, and her heart began to race. Just as he was almost upon her, he stopped and courteously extended his hand.

  “I’m Caspian,” he said softly. His voice was as deep and smooth as the most intense chocolate, and Allegra’s body quivered with delight upon hearing it.

  Allegra looked at his hand. It such was such a gentlemanly gesture that it took her by surprise.

  “And you are?” He gazed expectantly at her.

  “Allegra,” she said and shook his hand. Caspian was exceedingly hot to the touch. His skin radiated heat, which spread across to Allegra, making her whole body start to tingle.

  “Allegra.” Caspian tried her name on for size. “I like that name. It’s pretty.”

  “Thanks.” Allegra blushed girlishly at the compliment.

  “So how come you’re out in the woods alone, Allegra?” Caspian released her hand but kept his gaze fixed firmly upon her.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Allegra noted, jutting out her chin.

  “But I’m not a beautiful girl,” Caspian replied coolly. “I’m a guy. I can take care of myself.”

  “I can take care of myself!” Allegra told him haughtily, ignoring the compliment he’d paid her.

  “Yeah, I know, you’re a witch.” Caspian smiled wryly. “You did warn me, remember?”

  “Well then, there you go. I’m a witch, so I can take care of myself.”

  “But there’s things to fear in these woods,” Caspian told her ominously, the smile falling from his lips.

  “Like what?” Allegra asked, placing her hands on her hips. She was certain that she could take on anything. She had magic on her side.

  “Like me.” Caspian flashed her a devilish grin.

  “Yeah, and you’re such a monster.” Allegra rolled her eyes.

  Caspian took a step toward her, trying to scare her.

  “You should be running.” He was standing directly in front of her. Allegra’s heart was racing madly but not through fear. Caspian was so close she could smell him. He smelt of freshly disturbed earth and sweat. He smelt as she’d always felt a man should smell. Not of soap and freshly washed linen. He smelt rugged and alive and it made her quake with desire.

  “I wouldn’t run from you.” Allegra looked deep into his eyes and said the words with complete sincerity. Caspian was a stranger, yet she felt
like she knew him.

  This made Caspian smile, and he dared to reach out and touch one of her loose curls, which danced idly in the breeze.

  “You have hair like fire, Allegra the witch,” he commented. “That means you’re dangerous.”

  “Then maybe you should be running from me,” Allegra breathed. Her eyes drifted down to Caspian’s sumptuous lips. She desperately wanted him to kiss her.

  She’d never felt like this before. Most men bored her. The warlocks within her coven were dull and predictable and, when interested in a witch, they followed strict rules of courtship. It was obvious that Caspian followed his own set of rules, which made him spontaneous, exciting and irresistible.

  “Maybe I’ll run,” Caspian teased, still playing with her hair, winding it around his fingers and admiring the deep redness of it.

  “You never did say why you were in this part of the forest.”

  Caspian released her hair and took a step back, running a hand through his thick dark hair.

  “I was hunting,” he explained casually, shrugging.

  “Hunting here?” Allegra glanced around. “But this is witch territory.”

  “Is it?” Caspian asked. “Looks like a forest to me. A big, empty forest.”

  “Trust me, it’s witch territory.”

  “So says you.” Caspian smiled cheekily at her. “But to me, it’s a forest like any other, good for hunting.”

  “Which village are you from?” Allegra wondered aloud. The villages of men were located on the other side of the vale, beyond the reaches of the witches and their spells. Most men who dared to wander too closely to the coven would become bewitched by the first witch they saw and never return home. Those who did make it back would warn others never to return. The forest was ripe with magic. Mortals were in danger there.