“How are you?” Maria patted her back with a smile. Her thoughts drifted back to last night and the way Walter’s mouth felt. She pushed her hand through her hair trying to keep the memory from coming fully to the surface. Damn, he’s getting under my skin already.
“I’m okay.” Amethyst shrugged and looked around the almost empty store.
“How is Walter treating you?” Maria asked. More images flashed through her mind and her wolf wagged her tail.
“We’re good I think. We didn’t complete the bond, there is still so much to talk about but it’s a maybe right now.” Amethyst smiled. A very strong fucking maybe. Part of her just wanted to throw caution to the wind but she also needed to make sure he didn’t start controlling her like her ex.
“It would be nice to have you as a sister and not just a friend.” Maria winked. “But don’t let me persuade you. I’ll leave it to Walter,” Maria giggled, the brown specks in her green eyes twinkled a bit brighter than normal while Amethyst laughed with her. Amethyst had always thought of Maria as the sister she never had, so being closer by mating her brother seemed like a bonus for her.
“Anything I should know about Walter then?” Amethyst grabbed a bag and put it away when her boss walked into the main area. Amethyst wondered if she should be asking Maria, but she wanted to know someone else’s view of the man. Maria tapped on her lower lip with a puzzled look.
“I don’t think so. Personally, I wouldn’t bring up Kerine, the bitch.” Maria puckered her lips before throwing a chip in her mouth. Amethyst kept the name in the back of her mind. “Oh, on the day of the solar eclipse his powers will be stronger.” Maria leaned past her and grabbed a bag of herbs from the box and set it on the counter next to them. Her green eyes sparkled. Amethyst wanted to know about Kerine and what she had to do with Walter but she would wait and get Maria back on that topic later. Is Kerine a bad ex? Amethyst pushed down the thought of Walter being with another. She didn’t like the idea and her wolf growled with frustration.
“What do you mean stronger? He seemed pretty strong with his house building skills.” Amethyst bit at her lip, while she wondered if she should be considering mating with a witch. She wouldn’t get one side without the other. Vivian bounced up to her mother with a sweet smile on her face. Maria dropped the bag of chips to her level.
“Thank you, Momma.” The love in Vivian’s eyes almost made Amethyst’s heart jump, she wanted a child who loved her. Will Walter be ready to have children?
“Yeah, the whole street of witches did it a month back. I’m lucky enough not to have to do it with Derrick’s place. Plenty of space there in the alpha house.” Maria smiled. She pulled out another bag of chips and popped one in her mouth.
“Still didn’t explain.” Amethyst tried to bring her back on topic. When Maria rubbed her swelling belly, Amethyst’s wolf pushed pictures of herself swollen with Walter’s child.
“During certain events, like the Blood Moon, any eclipse or the two solstices, a witch’s powers grow stronger. There’s more of a reserve. Let’s say on a normal day it takes two witches to heal someone but those days it only takes one. See where I’m going with this?” Maria kept her voice low like normal. She popped another chip into her mouth.
“I see.” Amethyst set another bag of herbs in their place. She wished witches were out of the closet so she could read a book and understand more. The need to fully understand Walter rolled under her skin.
“Oh, I need that one for Baven to help him sleep. The little brat is trying to stay up till eleven.” Maria clicked her tongue. “These two sleep like a dream.” Vivian and Owen bounced on the seats up front.
“What’s it like having kids who can shift?” Amethyst glanced at the twins.
“Oh, the little ones can also do magic like me.” Maria pointed her finger like she was trying to make a point. Amethyst blinked a few times as she tried to wrap her mind around raising a little witch with a wolf side. She had a hard enough time daydreaming a little wolf baby.
“Really, so are they like you or do they feel their wolf all the time?” Amethyst whispered. Maria chewed on another chip and shrugged.
“Baven says he feels his wolf at times but not all the time. I’m not sure, he’s not old enough for me to ask but when he gets there, I’ll let you know.” Maria smiled. “How are you adjusting to your new wolf?”
“Haven’t tried to shift again but I think I like having her. The heightened senses are a bit much at times but I think I’m okay.” Amethyst was still pissed at Collin for changing her but she liked the new addition in her head. Her wolf wagged her tail in agreement.
“Well, I need to get home and cook lunch. I’ll see you later.” Maria grabbed her wallet and paid for the herbs before walking out. The little ones followed close behind. Her mind wandered back to what it would be like to have her own children. Amethyst returned to stocking the shelves and right as she placed the last bag the door chimed. A woman a few years older than Amethyst headed straight for her. The way her eyes were completely focused on Amethyst made her wolf growl in her mind.
She smiled brightly but Amethyst’s new wolf seemed put off by the female. She stayed at the edge making Amethyst’s stomach tighten.
“How can I help you?” Amethyst gave her the normal customer smile, it never reached her eyes but most didn’t comment on it.
“I’m wonderful. I’m here to pick up a few things. Would you help me find them?” Her singsong voice filled half the store.
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Well, I have a list.” The woman dug into her purse, the sound of glass clinked inside. After digging around, she pulled out a piece of paper. She handed her the list, and an odd mixture soaked into her hands. That’s a funny lotion. Amethyst read the list and pulled off the three herbs she needed.
“Anything else?” Amethyst returned the list and tried to rub the excess lotion onto her jeans as nonchalantly as possible.
“Yes,” she said and moved closer to the herb selection. “Where is the ginger?” Her eyes narrowed, and she roamed over to the first row where the bag for ginger sat.
“Right here.” Amethyst grabbed the bag.
“Oh, thank you.” The woman rubbed Amethyst’s back making her uneasy. “I need to get glasses someday but just don’t have the money.” The woman shrugged with a smile. Amethyst grinned again, her wolf growled in her head. She motioned toward the counter to ring the woman up. Amethyst collected the money from her and the woman walked out.
“Hey, you can go early today, but I need you here longer tomorrow for inventory,” Mark, her boss, called out through the store.
“So, an hour?” Amethyst called back. He nodded, and she pulled out her phone to text Walter about the slight change in her schedule. Before she hit send the door chimed. Walter walked in with a bunch of lilac flowers in his hand.
“Are your ears burning?” Amethyst asked with a smile. The lilac scent filled her lungs.
“What do you mean?” Confusion filled his blue eyes.
“I was just about to text you. I’m getting off early.” Amethyst shook her phone and Walter shrugged.
“Well, it looks like I have good timing.” Walter handed her the flowers, their fingers grazing which made him smile. “I’ll just look for the present Maria said I should get myself.”
“When is your birthday again?” Amethyst placed the flowers on the counter. She had never been given flowers, but she liked it.
“In two days.” Walter shrugged and walked around the store. Every time he reached the edges of the building, Amethyst felt an odd pulling sensation in the pit of her stomach like someone grabbed her behind the bellybutton and yanked but she ignored it as she wrapped up her to do list before she clocked out.
“I’m ready to go. Did you find something you like?” Amethyst walked up behind Walter who leaned next to a coffee table.
“I’m not sure. There’s something I want but can’t have.” He turned toward her and a strange scent filled her n
ose.
“Why can’t you have it?” Amethyst tried to remember the last time she caught the heady scent.
“Because she’s fighting the connection.” Walter raised one of his eyebrows. Amethyst figured out where he was headed with this and played along. Arousal is the scent.
“Well, flowers are always a good go to. Women also love to come home to a good dinner.” Amethyst nodded and smiled.
Walter winked. “Let’s go. I need to start cooking then.”
CHAPTER NINE
Walter
WALTER OFFERED AMETHYST a lilac bunch when they arrived home, she kept eyeing them like it might grow legs and run away. He used magic to pull out the pie from the oven and set it on the kitchen table then waved his hands again to set the table.
“So, your birthday is on the solar eclipse or the day after?” Amethyst walked into the dining room. Her hips swayed and images of bringing her home every night filtered into his mind.
“On, actually.”
“Any special plans like curing global warming with the rest of the coven?” Amethyst grabbed a plate and Walter couldn’t stop the laughter from leaving his lips.
“Just a nice family dinner with my brother, my sister, and our parents. Oh, and you if you want to.” Walter made sure to include her. He hoped she would accept.
“Why do you want me so bad?” Amethyst tilted her head to the side her curtain of brown and purple locks fell to the right.
“I’ve liked you for a long time, Amethyst, I just never fucking acted on it. You’re Maria’s freaking friend, and I wasn’t going to get between you two.” Walter shoved his hand through his hair, his magic grew inside of him, wanting to get out, but he pushed it down. He imagined his wolf pacing deep below the surface.
“Do you like me, Walter, or is it just your new wolf driving you to be with me?” Amethyst rose one of her plucked eyebrows.
“Would you believe the truth?” Walter growled past his teeth. He wanted Amethyst to believe him but he’d learned most didn’t trust him after Kerine.
“I don’t... I barely know you and what I’ve heard is all from Maria.” Amethyst folded her arms in front of her chest. After everything he had done for his family, it would bite him in the ass. His sacrifice hadn’t been seen as such, instead, they viewed it as a betrayal.
“Not a great point of view right there is it?” Walter slammed his hands on the table. His little sister had no clue what he had done for her safety. And now it might send his mate running away from him.
“She didn’t say much. Oh, who’s Kerine?” Amethyst placed her hand over her mouth. Walter pointed toward her but he stopped himself from explaining. He shouldn’t have to clarify how he protected his family. Who would believe me? So far, things weren’t going in his favor.
“She’s a woman who taught me magic,” Walter gave a short answer. He didn’t want to discuss the bitch, especially with Amethyst.
“That’s it?” Her lips parted slightly while her lake-blue gaze studied him. It seemed like she could see right fucking through him which only put him on the defensive. For so long, he had been defending his actions instead of just telling them what he knew.
“She’s not well liked and did questionable things,” Walter added, hoping she would give it up. To his disappointment, she tilted her head to the side.
“So why on earth did you stay with her? The way Maria’s face turned all sour when she mentioned her was odd. Where you having sex with her or just doing her bidding?” Amethyst raised an eyebrow.
“You have no fucking clue what I went through up there. Both of you are judging me for something I had no choice in.” He pointed at her for a second before letting his hand drop in a fist at his side.
“You always have a choice.” Amethyst narrowed her eyes on him. Walter turned and walked away. Once he reached his backyard, he let his wolf out. A growl left his lips before he moved toward the edge of the yard but something stopped him. An invisible barrier pressed against his body making it impossible to keep moving away from the house.
The memory of a needle plunging into his neck slammed into his mind. “Don’t fight it this time.” Kerine’s voice filled his mind as his body numbed up. The memory faded bringing him back to his current predicament. His mind scrambled to figure out what had happened.
What the fuck? Who the hell put a spell on me? Walter shifted out of his wolf and tried to walk forward but no luck. Instead of gaining much-needed space from Amethyst, he stormed back into the house.
“What the hell did you do?” Walter yelled, making Amethyst jump from her seat, her mouth full of food. She swallowed and raised her eyebrow. His lower back tensed up as blood pounded in his ears.
“What do you mean?” Shock widened her blue eyes. He snapped his fingers and pants covered his bottom half. She set down the rest of her pizza and scrambled to her feet.
“I can’t leave my yard. Did you and my sister make some kind of plan to get me to talk or something?” Walter paced the length of the dining room. Magic simmered under his fingers, he needed to calm down so he didn’t hurt Amethyst.
“Um, no. I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Amethyst blocked his path. “I don’t understand what’s going on.” Amethyst looked at him, her eyes spoke volumes of confusion, which he wasn’t expecting. His mind scrambled to find a logical explanation for their new magical bond.
“Try to walk out of the backyard.” Walter moved to the front door, the farthest point of his home then waved for her to move to the back door. She slid the door open and took a step away but stopped. Walter felt a pull to move closer to her but kept his place. His stomach tightened each time he attempted to leave the house.
“No flipping way.” Amethyst turned and stormed over to Walter. “What did you do to me?” Amethyst pushed her finger into his chest. Red covered her cheeks as she glared at him.
“Me?” Walter ground his teeth together as the magic pulsed under his fingertips.
“You’re a strong witch, you want me to cave on this imprint bond. I don’t know who’d benefit from this other than you.” Anger flared in her eyes. “I don’t want to be with someone who wants to control me like fucking Collin!”
“I wouldn’t stoop so low as to bind us together without your fucking permission. I want to keep my wolf but I wouldn’t fucking magically bind us. If that were the case I would have fucked you the night we met and told you about the imprint after.” Walter gritted his teeth, trying to think of a fucking way to fix this.
“Well, I don’t know magic.” Amethyst threw up her hands and walked toward the couch.
“Walk me through your day.” Walter’s mind turned over different ideas.
“What?” Amethyst raised her eyebrow. Walter growled low, and she glared at him. “Your sister came over and we talked when she was picking up a few herbs. A few other customers and then you came by early.”
"Did Maria touch you at all?" Walter snapped his fingers and a shirt covered his chest.
"We hugged like we always do. What does it matter? Do you really think your sister would bind us together?" Amethyst glared at him again.
"Let's go find out." Walter grabbed her hand, stormed out of the house, and helped her into his truck. Anger still pulsed under his skin from their argument and now being bound together. Maybe I can use this to my advantage and have more time to convince her I'm a good guy. The idea played in his head while he drove to his sister's house.
Amethyst turned to him when they climbed out of the truck. "Sounds like they are having fun. Are you sure you want to ruin it?" Walter nodded and walked into the house. Derrick was a freaking alpha wolf, he already knew they were on his property so he didn’t bother knocking.
When Amethyst closed the door everyone at the table looked up at them.
"I need to talk to my sister." Walter stood tall trying to keep his anger under control.
"Amethyst, you look good today." Alia smiled and stood. Carmen’s laughter stopped as her hand sat over her swollen
belly. Aiden eyed Walter suspiciously.
"What do you need, Walter? We’re in the middle of a game." Maria pointed to the cards on the table but Walter didn't care.
"Did you bind Amethyst and me?" Walter studied his sister closely. Her eyes widened, and she stood and walked over to them.
"Why would I bind you? Amethyst will make her own choice. I wouldn't force her to spend time with you." Maria clicked her tongue.
"Amethyst, who else touched you today?" Alia turned to her.
"A woman at the shop." Amethyst lifted her hands like she had no clue what was going on. Alia raised her hand and hovered it an inch above Amethyst’s arm while she whispered something. A light string pulsed from Amethyst’s chest right into Walter’s heart.
"Only a witch could do this.” Alia rubbed Amethyst’s arm and the light between them faded. “Walk with me and describe her as best as you possibly can" Alia lead Amethyst away, leaving Walter with his sister. He felt the pull to follow Amethyst but stayed with his sister.
"You swear you didn't bind us," Walter hissed.
"I swear on anything you want. I didn't do this." They matched each other’s glares for a short time.
"We will search for the witch who did this. But till then, you two are on house arrest." Derrick stood finally and moved to Walter.
"You've got to be joking." Walter shoved his hands through his hair.
"Nope." Derrick’s lips shut with an air of finality, making Walter uneasy.
CHAPTER TEN
Amethyst
TWO DAYS BOUND TO WALTER with no flipping way out. This is just wonderful.
She wanted to get to know him but not this way. Amethyst looked up at him through her eyelashes while they sat on the couch.
"If I had known the woman was going to do this I wouldn't have been so close." She pushed a purple strand of hair back away from her face. After an hour of describing the woman to Alia, Walter drove them back to his house. Her new alpha ordered a house arrest so tomorrow she would have to call in sick.
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