"It's a beautiful night, Hannah," Eliza said before she walked over and kissed her daughter on the cheek.
"You seem even happier than usual."
"I asked Knox to move in, and he said yes! I'm so excited. I feel like a kid again."
"That's great, Mom! I'm happy for you," Hannah said. "But I guess if Knox is going to move in, then maybe I should move out and give you two some privacy."
"You're barely home anymore as it is. Not that I don't understand of course. I'm just saying that you don't need to move out. Besides, he's your dad. Don't you want to get to know him?"
"I have plenty of time to get to know him, but I'm an adult. I don't need a dad I've never had. Right now I think it's more important that you two have some alone time together. You know, make up for lost time. Besides, with my job and Caleb, maybe I should look for something closer to town."
"How is that going? I'm sure the kids love you."
Hannah had been working for the Rowan pack as a child counselor for the past couple of weeks. After growing up feeling awkward and insecure about being a witch and recently going through the transformation into werewolf herself, Caleb told her she would be perfect to talk to the kids and help them deal with bullies and learn how to accept themselves. He was right.
"And I love them. It's really great! I never thought my growing up differently would help in any way, but the kids and I can really relate to each other."
"That's great, hon. I'm so proud of you. Are you staying over tonight?"
"Actually, I want to see if I can summon Rebekah by her grave."
"You're not going to the clearing?" Eliza asked.
"No, I feel like Pea is waiting to see me and I'm just not ready yet," Hannah said. "I know she was just trying to protect us, but I'm really having a hard time dealing with her keeping Knox from us for all those years. I grew up without a father because of her. Okay, I didn't need one, but what about you? You lost the love of your life for all those years. Pea was always so sweet and loving to me, I'm having a hard time reconciling it. I'll talk to her eventually. I have to. And I do miss her. I have to see what she'll say for herself. But right now, I just need some space."
"That's fine, whatever you feel is best."
Hannah pulled on a heavy sweatshirt and stepped out into the backyard. The moon was high in the clear winter sky and as she breathed in the cold air, she could taste snow in the air and wondered how many inches they would get later. Snaking through Pea's old gardens, she yanked the wrought iron door to the small graveyard open.
Picking up a long stick, she drew a circle in the dirt around her and focused on Rebekah's gravestone until she appeared, smiling and clasping her hands together happily.
"I've been waiting for you!" Rebekah said. "I didn't want to leave without thanking you."
"Leave? Where are you going?"
"You did it! Just like I knew you would. You freed me!"
"But I didn't do anything," Hannah said.
Rebekah sighed. "I couldn't tell you exactly or the curse wouldn't lift. When Jacob cursed me to be earthbound and alone, he said only when the thirteenth witch of my clan charmed a wolf of her own could I be freed. He was sure it would never happen, and he chose thirteenth to remind me of my lost child with Luke."
"But you're wrong, I didn't charm Caleb at all. I don't know how to even if I wanted to."
"You don't need to, my dear. The strongest of all magic is love. No one can teach you how to love, it just happens. When you and Caleb finally accepted that you were made for each other and that nothing should keep you apart, my curse was lifted."
"Then what about Luke? Have you been able to see him?" Hannah asked.
"Every day. He's been waiting for me all this time. And for you, too," Rebekah said as she smiled at something in the distance.
A dark haired man appeared next to Rebekah and slipped his arm around her waist. His body was strong like a werewolf's, but he glowed like the halo around a full moon. Hannah had never seen anything like it. Slowly, Luke took his eyes off Rebekah and faced Hannah. She was surprised to see emerald green eyes exactly like her own staring back at her.
"Thank you, Hannah," he said. "Thank you for opening your heart to one of my kind. And please thank him for me, too. Because of you, I'm able to spend eternity with the woman I've always loved. Never take a moment with each other for granted."
He leaned towards Rebekah and kissed her forehead. Rebekah blew a kiss at Hannah, then waved before she and Luke turned and walked away, slowly disappearing into the moonlight. Hannah smiled, waving at them, happy everything worked out.
In the distance, she heard Caleb's motorcycle approaching. She left the graveyard and walked through the cottage to look out the oval window facing the street. Caleb had just pulled up and as she watched him, she wondered how she could've gotten so lucky to stumble upon such a hot wolf that night in the woods. Catching her at the window, he waved and she came out to greet him.
"I heard Knox is moving in," he said before pulling her close against him and kissing her lips. "What are you going to do? I know you, you'll think you're intruding on them."
From the moment Hannah felt the first rush of his touch, she worried about losing that feeling. She didn't have to. The thrill of him and her desire for him grew stronger daily. That was the real reason she was moving out. If her mother felt half as strongly about Knox as she did about Caleb, then she didn't want to disturb that.
"I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll get an apartment closer to town."
"I want to show you something. Come with me," he said.
He undressed then shifted into wolf form. She climbed onto his back, holding onto his jeans and t-shirt for after he changed back. Wrapping her fingers into the coarse fur around his thick neck, she held on as he bolted into the forest.
Following the path, Hannah knew they were heading towards the clearing. Sighing, she got annoyed but knew she never told Caleb how she was still feeling about what Pea did to her and her mother.
Caleb slowed down before reaching the clearing and shifted back into his human form. Curious about what he was up to but not wanting to spoil whatever surprise he had planned, Hannah handed him his clothes.
Dressing quickly, they entered the clearing and Celeb flicked the switch on a generator, turning on the small white lights he hung in the trees surrounding the area. The clearing looked magical, like something out of a fairy tale. It took Hannah's breath away.
"What's going on?" Hannah asked.
He slipped his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her closer then kissed her forehead, then her lips. Taking her hand, he kissed her fingers and smiled.
"I know you haven't been here in a while because you're upset with Pea, but you've always loved this place so I couldn't think of a better place," he said as he looked into her eyes. "I also know how you find some traditions silly, like getting down on one knee."
"What are you talking about?"
He pulled something out of his pocket and held it between them. It was a beautiful antique diamond ring with a glittering diamond surrounded by smaller ones set along the intricate, hand-crafted band.
"Since the moment I met you, I knew you were the woman for me. It wasn't just that you were my fated mate, but you're strong, sweet, and not afraid to talk back to me," he said, laughing. "I love you, Hannah Crane. I love everything about you and I can't imagine another moment without being able to tell the world that not only are you my mate, but my wife as well. Move in with me. Spend the rest of your life with me. Marry me."
Hannah's heart thumped in her chest and she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Of course she'd marry him, but she couldn't help but notice he didn't ask. She wanted to remind the Alpha who was the boss.
"Is that a question?" Hannah asked, giggling.
"And you said you weren't a wolf charmer," he said with a laugh before he kissed her. "Miss Hannah Crane, will you do me the honor of being my bride?"
"Well, since you asked...yes
!"
Caleb hugged her tight and Hannah held him, wondering how every time she thought she was the happiest she had ever been, she got happier. She wasn't in a rush to get married, she was just starting to figure out her life, but she knew Caleb was who she wanted to be with for the rest of her life and if she was lucky like Rebekah, for an eternity after that.
Epilogue
One Month Ago
Abel
Everything was going exactly as planned until Caleb showed up, Abel thought. Wanting the comfort of his fur, Abel Barlow shifted into coyote form as he escaped from the main room. Since he let his coyote spirit rule him, he had achieved a freedom and heightened awareness he had never thought possible.
No wonder the elders frowned upon it. If shifters knew how powerful they could become by giving in to their animal spirit, none of them would retain control. It would destroy the hierarchy of shifter councils since those in power would lose it.
Granted, he saw the affects the coyote was having on his human appearance, but that was a price he was willing to pay for power. Especially if he got what he wanted–access to the dimensional portal that was the truth behind the Crane Curse.
Abel knew Hannah Crane believed she figured it out. He found her ridiculous and naive, but what she discovered was only the tip of the iceberg. The Crane women had the ability to control the gateway between the human and spirit worlds, of that he was certain. Abel had been dreaming about that ability and what he would do once the portal was open.
Hannah would never find out about the portal because that piece of the puzzle was buried in a place she would never have access to. The only thing Abel couldn't figure out was why the curse was linked to a charmer when it didn't seem like any of the Cranes had the ability.
It didn't matter that the Cranes couldn't charm. That was the problem with doing research in a town as old as Leeds Point–it was hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Even the tale of the Jersey Devil had some fact to it, but who knew what was true and what was merely vicious gossip?
Regardless, Abel always had a back up plan, and this time it was his witch, Faith Galloway. Faith was a powerful witch and charmer. If he could get the portal open, he could summon the Alpha spirits of the past and have Faith charm them, giving him control.
He didn't care so much about charming wolves. They were simple-minded creatures anyway. With enough training, he thought Faith was capable of anything and planned to use her magic to make him more powerful.
Abel planned to build a pack of Alphas who only responded to his command. The experiments on his prisoners were just distractions while he waited to capture Hannah. He was sure she was the key. Once he had his spirit army, Abel would take over everything the Council controlled. Nothing and no one could stop him.
As he ran down the corridor away from the fighting, the tapping of Erich's bear nails on the cement floor chased him. That dimwitted bear was too afraid of losing his position on the Council to admit what he really wanted. But Abel was sure Erich was keeping something from him. There was something else motivating him to help Abel.
Abel had caught Erich staring longingly at his witch too many times. Faith, with her long blonde hair, green witch eyes, and lustful curves had been Abel's mate for well over a decade. What was left of the human within him loved her and remembered that feeling of serenity he got from just being near her. But the coyote could care less. The coyote only cared about what she could do for him.
Faith was a powerful witch and charmer. She was also much more talented than she realized. There was something about how vulnerable she was that still drew Abel to her after all these years. His human side wanted to care and protect her at all costs, but his coyote side left her out there with only a bow and arrows to defend herself. Abel knew she wouldn't use witchcraft against Hannah and Caleb unless she had no choice.
She came in handy and had her purpose, but he still didn't like the way Erich looked at her. Erich should know better than to mess with another Alpha's mate. Abel didn't care that Erich was stronger or bigger than him, he would fight Erich to the death for Faith's love.
Or would he? he thought as the coyote took over his thoughts again. The coyote didn't care about her and would be happier if she was gone. She couldn't be trusted and the coyote believed the portal was connected to Hannah, that only she could open it and give him access to the spirit world. Faith was expendable.
But it was the human Abel who kept her around. It was his one small grasp at the man he once was. Abel had seen how Faith's eyes roamed over Erich's physique. It was sickening to think she found that brawny muscular oaf enticing, but what was left of his human self railed inside him at the thought of her loving someone else.
Abel pushed the coyote out of his mind as he easily maneuvered a sharp turn and stopped. They were far enough away for Erich to speak freely. As much as it pained him, Abel had to rely on Erich for a place to hide.
Abel wasn't prepared for Hannah to be Caleb's mate. Had he realized such a thing was possible, he would have been more careful. He didn't expect to lose everything at the hands of a wolf, and now most of his pack had been captured.
Abel needed the protection of his pack while creating the spirit one. The thought of everything he had been working towards being ruined by some ridiculous group of shifters was enough to make his body shake with anger. He needed another plan.
As he shifted back into human form, Abel's snout shortened, his ears pulled down to his balding head, and his shoulders hunched forward, revealing Abel as the ghost of the man he once was. Coming around the corner, his large bear feet unable to gain traction on the wet cement, the grizzly slid into Abel and knocked the naked and frail-appearing man over.
"Get off me, you oaf!" Abel said, annoyed, his voice echoing into the darkened corridor ahead of them.
Erich shifted back into his human form and stood to his full height. He narrowed his eyes at Abel before extending his hand to help him up.
Maybe Erich isn't as dumb as he looks, Abel thought as he stood then turned to grab some clothing he had hidden earlier.
"Caleb and Joaquin are here. You know they can't find me talking to you," Erich grumbled.
"Yes, your beloved Shifter Council. A bunch of do-good Cub Scouts if you ask me. I know the real reason you're here with me. You know I'll rule them all very soon. You want a place beside me. Must be hard always living in that wolf's shadow," Abel said.
Abel couldn't help but press Erich's buttons. He knew Erich was lying when he told him he wanted power. The truth was Erich would do anything to make sure Faith was safe. Shifters were pitiful with their emotions and could rarely hide them, himself included. When he recognized Erich's feelings for Faith, Abel knew he needed to use it to his advantage. As if on cue, Erich spoke again.
"There's an empty cabin in the woods, in neutral territory," Erich said. "Go there and take the witch with you. I'll do what I can to free her and give you two time to get away."
Abel nodded, happy to have a safe place to regroup, then tossed a pair of jeans to Erich. As he pulled the jeans on, a woman's scream echoed down the hall. Faith was in trouble. But before Abel had a chance to react, Erich was already sprinting down the long corridor towards her.
Abel stroked his chin as he watched the large man disappear. He might have lost his pack, but he had gained an Alpha. Erich would do anything to protect Faith, and Abel planned to use that to his advantage.
The End
Resisting the Alpha
The Crane Curse, Part 2
by
Liliana Rhodes
Chapter One
"I'm doing the right thing," Faith said under her breath. "I have to do this, someone has to stop him."
Faith Galloway looked at herself in the full-length mirror before tugging at the hem of her black silk blouse with trembling fingers as she tried to get it to lay flat over her hips. When she gave up on that, she pulled her long blonde hair back into a loose ponytail, the best she could do with
her hands having a mind of their own.
Being in her thirties, she didn't normally pay attention to her usual nervous habits, but tonight was different. With her palms overly moist, she washed them again then clutched at the towel as she tried to stop their shaking. Her heart raced and she tried to slow her breathing down from the short quick breaths she was taking, but her anxiety was easily getting the better of her. Sighing deeply, she gave herself another quick look in the mirror.
The blouse was new, and it complemented the long black skirt she almost always wore. She loved the feel of a flowing skirt against her bare legs and the richness of the silk blouse was something she bought for herself as a treat, but clothing was the last thing on her mind right now.
"I have to do this," she reminded herself.
Things had gone from bad to worse in a matter of days. She had to get away but couldn't. It wasn't just their history together, there was much more. Her heart wouldn't let her leave.
As she came down the curved staircase, she already knew he was alone. The more he let the coyote take over, the less he wanted anyone around. Except for her. She was the only person he trusted, or so he said.
Faith stepped onto the marble floors of the entryway, her ballet shoes clicking softly as she walked towards the living room. She didn't need to see Abel to know exactly where he was sitting or what he was doing.
Abel sat on an old, dark stained oak chair with thick round armrests and a high back resembling a throne. Deep green cushions made the chair as comfortable as it could be, which wasn't much. Abel seemed to think differently though as he always chose that chair.
The large chair was centered along the longest wall of the living room, away from the windows on the other walls. Abel kept it this way so no one could see him from the street. Covering the floor was ivory plush carpeting, and on the wall across from him hung a plasma TV he never watched anymore.
Faith eyed him suspiciously, unsure not only what to expect, but who. His eyes had begun to hollow and his once thick dark blond hair had been reduced to strands. She hated the coyote for doing that to him, but even more for what it turned Abel into. The more control Abel gave his coyote spirit, the less human he became.
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