Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1)

by Barb Shuler

  Once I’d showered and had on clean, dry clothes I padded out to the living room. As expected, Mia was asleep on the couch. I leaned against the doorframe and watched her—something in me easing even more. Her legs were pulled up, a blanket haphazardly draping over her. She was a beautiful sight to behold. I needed to move her to her bed, though. If she stayed the way she was all night, her neck would kill her tomorrow.

  I turned the TV off, pulled the blanket off, folded it back up and laid it across the back of the couch, and gently scooped her up.

  Her warmth filled my arms and a chill ran through me. She truly had no idea what she meant to me. The instant contact sent me and my wolf into a state of calm unlike any other. I nuzzled her temple and brushed my lips softly against her forehead.

  Letting her go was hard. I just wanted to hold her all night, but that might have weirded her out. I didn’t want that. I tugged her covers down and settled her into bed, brushing her hair from her face and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead again.

  “Sleep well, love,” I whispered as I pulled the sheets up over her. I wasn’t ready to leave her, so I moved to the chair in the corner of her room and sat. I’d watch her for a little bit, then I’d go back to my room and try my best to sleep. Knowing she was right here, so close, made it hard to think of anything but crawling in bed with her and holding her while she slept.

  One day that would be a reality for us both. I’d see to it. I just had to make my move at the right time. I didn’t want to scare her off. I couldn’t survive without her; that I was sure of.

  4

  Mia

  A couple of days later, I walked into the bar and moved quickly out of the way as Angus came rushing past me.

  “Do something about her, will you?! She is fucking crazy!”

  Holding my hands up, I called after him, “If you’re stupid enough to go behind the bar while she’s setting up, then that’s on you!” He cursed and I turned to look at Jayden. She shrugged. I shook my head. “Scaring them again?” She just laughed.

  “Hey, he came back here and tried to touch shit. You warned them, they didn’t listen, so he got a glass thrown at his head!” I grabbed the broom and swept up the broken glass before taking the dustpan and picking it up. I dumped it in the broken glass bin, knowing every night we were gonna have more.

  “Just give me a heads up if I need to restock the bar with glasses, okay?” I nudged her shoulder as she gave me a mock salute.

  “Yes, boss.” My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Sy’s number on the screen. Jayden made a face. “You’re on your own with that one.” I don’t know why, but Jayden couldn’t stand him. I wondered if there was something there that I didn’t know about, but decided it was best not to go there. Swiping my thumb over the screen, I walked out of the bar.

  “Hey, stranger!”

  “Oh, come on! It hasn’t been that long since we’ve spoken!”

  “No, you’re right. You doing okay?” Heading into my office, I closed the door behind me and moved to sit at my desk.

  “I am! It’s quiet here without you, though. Starting to miss you.”

  “Aww, I’m sure there’s plenty to keep you busy. Any word on your transfer yet?”

  “Nah, just gotta wait for a position to open up there first. You know how it is.”

  “We could help with that. Say the word and you will have one missing Chief of Police!”

  He chuckled. “Thanks, doll, but it would be a little suspicious, don’t you think?”

  I shrugged my shoulders with a grin. “Hey, it was worth a try!”

  We spoke for a little bit longer. I heard a knock, then looked up and saw Dalton standing in the door. He let out a growl and my brows knitted together in confusion. I mouthed the word “what,” but he turned and left, leaving me confused. I didn’t want to cut my phone call short, but I wanted to make sure everything was okay. I looked over at the computer screen. Had he seen something and was going to sort it? I looked over to the monitors and watched him move through the hall and into the bar. When Jay put a glass in front of him and poured him a drink, my confusion grew. What the fuck was going on?

  “Doll, is everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure, Sy, can I call you tomorrow? I need to go and check on things in my bar.”

  “Sure, no problem. Call me whenever you can.”

  “Thanks! Have a good night!”

  “You too!”

  I placed my phone down on the desk, pushed myself back, and stood up. Closing the door behind me, I headed for the bar. I reached it just in time for Dalton to walk out the back door. I crossed my arms over my chest. What the fuck was his problem today? I looked over at Jay, who just shook her head. When I got closer to the bar, I went to open my mouth, but she cut me off before I could.

  “You two both need to sort your shit out.”

  “Me? What the hell did I do?”

  “Who were you just on the phone with?”

  “How did you know?”

  “How do you think?”

  Great, so he won’t speak to me, but he’ll talk to Jayden? She was right. She pointed to where he had just disappeared. We had been dancing around each other for too long now. We had known each other for three and a half years, and it only took about six of those months for me to fall in love with him. I had let this go on too long. I should have spoken up sooner, but I didn’t. I pushed open the back door and saw him pacing.

  “Oh, good…you’re still here.”

  Dalton

  Parking my truck in the employee parking lot behind the bar saved me from being bombarded by the line of craziness that was waiting to get inside. I was not a fan of women climbing all over me, whispering in my ears that they wore no panties… It was disturbing. I know some women thrive with that kind of action. Some men like it, I don’t.

  The only one I wanted climbing in my lap, kissing on my neck, and whispering she wasn’t wearing panties was my girl.

  I groaned at the thought. “Not the thought to have right now, asshole.” I adjusted and let out a long breath before shaking like my wolf would. A full body shake, one that probably had me looking like someone who had just escaped an asylum and was having an episode. I needed to clear out my thoughts before I went inside. This would help. Or I hoped it would at least.

  I needed a few minutes to get the growing bulge in my pants to take a chill pill. Focus on something other than Mia. I could do that, right? Yes. I could.

  I walked the perimeter of the parking lot and then the building, my nose wrinkling as I made my way down the small alley where the trash bins were. That was not a smell I needed to get up close and personal with. I could smell it a mile away. They really needed to have the city pick this up more often. It was beyond disgusting.

  My eyes roamed the building, looking for anything out of the ordinary. I jumped up, pulled on the ladder that would allow us to crawl up to the roof. The safety latch was still engaged, so I jumped back down, wiping my hands on my jeans.

  I moved to the back door, turned the handle, and tugged. Locked. Good, the security team seemed to still be on the up and up. Meant I didn’t have to kill anyone tonight. That would make Mia happy. I moved my hand to the keypad, pressed in my code, and when it beeped, I pulled the door open.

  The music in the bar was loud to my ears, but at a normal volume for the humans to enjoy. I made my way through the back halls, nodding when I saw one of the bouncers coming out of the locker room.

  “How’s it been tonight?” I asked.

  “Normal. A crowd in, a few out, vice-versa. If you’re going out in the bar, watch yourself. The slutty Barbie squad is pushing it hard tonight.”

  I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck.

  “Stay strong, man, stay strong.”

  “Later.”

  I looked at my watch before making my way to the hall where Mia’s office was. This old warehouse had been a great find for her. The previous owner was a jackhole. He charged too m
uch to get in the door, had crappy music and even crappier booze. It wasn’t the easiest acquisition and takeover because she had to get rid of a lot of the previous employees for varying reasons.

  Some should have never been working in a bar to start with. If you don’t know the difference between whiskey and vodka, you won’t have happy patrons. Some were doing nothing but stealing alcohol, and I’m sure some stole from the cash box before Mia took over. Mia didn’t have to worry about that kind of malarkey with Jayden back behind the bar.

  Jayden was Mia’s best friend. They were as close as sisters and they were good for each other. I had to admit I didn’t know much about Jay except she was Mia’s friend and she would kill anyone that dared cross her girl. That’s really all I needed. I trusted my girl. If she was attached to you, then you were okay in my book.

  Unless you were Sylvester Kolter. I’m still not convinced that he’s not trying to get into Mia’s pants. She likes him as a friend, and he’s been there to help with issues a normal cop wouldn’t know how to handle, but…still. He’s not winning any favors from me. I’d just like to punch him in his face, with a brick.

  The other day I came in and she was on the phone with him. I have good hearing. The grubby bastard was flirting. Flirting. With. My. Girl! If I could have pulled him to North Carolina across that phone line, I would have beat the ever-loving crap out of him. Or I’d have tried. I’m sure Mia would have stopped me.

  With a grunt, I moved to her office. The door was open slightly so I knocked with a knuckle and stepped inside. She was on the phone so I was going to just wave and move to the bar until she was done…but then I heard his voice.

  A growl built in my chest and escaped my lips before I could stop it. Mia met my gaze and shook her head, mouthing “what” with her brows knitting together.

  I couldn’t tell her what my problem was. I glanced at the monitors, as if I were watching something, then walked out of the office. I scrubbed a hand over my face, pushed the door open, and made my into the bar. My gaze scanned the area. Everything seemed to be running smoothly. No one seemed out of control. Too bad. I wanted to hit someone.

  With a thought to my inner beast, I slowed my stride and let myself calm down before I went to the bar. I didn’t want to scare Jayden or the other girls. I couldn’t have anyone seeing my eyes glowing either.

  “Jay, Wild Turkey, straight. Make it a double.” I laid a hundred dollar bill on the bar and took the glass when she handed it to me. “Leave the bottle.”

  “You alright?” she asked, her hands squeezing the towel gripped in them.

  “Peachy.”

  I didn’t want to be short with her, but I needed to wallow in my own misery for a while. Jay shifted on her feet. The last thing I wanted to do was make her upset. Mia has always warned me that if I or my wolf scared her, she would set us on fire. I wasn’t willing to test whether that was true or just a warning.

  “I’m good, Jay. I’m taking this bottle and drowning my…” I cut myself off before I said more than I wanted to.

  “Do you want me to get Mia for you?” she asked, looking around the bar.

  I shook my head.

  She managed to get two drink orders done while I guzzled Wild Turkey. Then she was before me again, taking the bottle back.

  “You’re cut off.”

  I tossed back the last of what was in my glass and stared at the empty.

  “She’s on the phone with that asshole.”

  Jay tilted her head to the side. Her lip curled in a silent snarl. “Sy?!” she guessed.

  “Yep.”

  “You know there is nothing there…right?”

  I shook my head and stood, pushing the glass back toward her. “No, I’m just going to head home. It’s been a long day. If she needs me, she’ll find me there.”

  But I didn’t go home. I made it as far as the back lot before I started pacing. I just needed to tell her already and stop being a chicken shit. If she didn’t love me, I’d deal with that. I could. The unknown was what was getting to me.

  Right?!

  Jesus, take the wheel. I just don’t know what to do anymore. Some days I don’t know if I’m scratching my watch or winding my butt. This love thing… Okay, this mate thing was slowly making me and my wolf crazy.

  5

  Mia

  Dalton turned to look at me. I crossed my arms over my chest and moved toward him. I was trying to make sure this came out right. The last thing I wanted was to fight with him, but I had a feeling that one was coming anyway.

  “Want to tell me what that was all about? You come into my office, growl, then stomp around here like a toddler having a tantrum? Is there a problem I should know about?”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Clearly. Want to try that again to something more believable, Dalton, because you are wound tighter than a rubber band and I would rather you didn’t snap at my bar where people could see you.” I could see the vein in his neck popping out. Then it hit me. “Oh my God. Are you jealous of Sy?” He turned his back and answered with a growl.

  “No, why would I be jealous of Sylvester?”

  “I don’t know, that’s what I am trying to work out. I don’t know why Jayden doesn’t like him, but one day I will ask the question. Maybe it’s a shifter thing that I don’t understand and never will, being just a witch and all, but he’s been nothing but helpful. He does shit without asking questions despite the fact that it could cost him his job.”

  “Only because he wants to sleep with you. Do you really think he would do it out of the goodness of his own heart?”

  “I don’t care why he does it. He knows how I feel about him. I don’t flirt back and he doesn’t cross the line.” Dalton snorted and rolled his eyes. Shaking my head, I moved over to him. “Got something to say, Dalton? Because now is your chance. Better yet, let me. He is and always will be like a big brother to me. I have no romantic feelings for Sy and I am putting money on the fact that Jay just told you the same thing while you were drowning your sorrows at the bar. Do you want to know how she knows there is nothing between him and I?”

  “No.”

  “Well, tough shit, Dalton because I’m going to tell you anyway. Then I’m going to turn around and walk back into my bar to finish working and I’ll meet you at home. Jayden knows there is nothing between Sy and me because she knows that I love you, jackass! I have loved you for three years. I am here because of you! If I really wanted to be with him, then I would have stayed in Wyoming!”

  I turned around and walked back into the staff entrance, leaving Dalton to digest my words. I didn’t want to deal with him right now. I couldn’t. I had to keep my mind on my job and get to the end of the night. Then I could go home and take a nice long bath to relax. Do I wish that I was going home and doing that with him? Yes. Every night I wished I was doing that then climbing into bed with him. I had put myself out there, now it was time for him to do it. If he didn’t feel the same then he needed to say so now or he could go and sleep on Tyson’s couch because I was tired of this.

  Placing my thumb on the finger scanner, I typed in the code and walked back inside the bar. Angus stood looking over the bar and gave me a nod.

  “Everything okay in here?”

  “Yeah, boss. You okay?”

  “I’m fine. Keep an eye on the girls?”

  “You got it!”

  I squeezed his arm and moved to the bar.

  “Bottle of water, please?”

  Melody passed me a bottle from the fridge. Jayden moved over to me.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  I shook my head and took a drink. “I’m okay, I just want to get through the rest of the night then go home. If he’s lucky he won’t be sleeping at one of his mate’s houses tonight.”

  Jayden chuckled and squeezed my hand.

  “I’ll be your man for tonight, gorgeous.”

  I turned my head and saw some creep sitting down at the bar, smirking with a drink in his hand.
>
  “I’ll pass, thanks.” I stepped away from the bar to go see how the front was doing. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him.

  “Oh, come on now, don’t play hard to get. We both know where this will end up.”

  “I think we have our wires crossed there. I see you kicked out by security. Still want to continue down this path?” I jerked my arm, trying to get it out of his grasp. I looked up at Angus, who was already moving toward us. The guy saw Angus from the corner of his eye and grabbed me around the arm, pulling me to stand in front of him. I saw Angus’s lips move and he glanced at the door. Josh walked in and they both headed toward us.

  “Tell them not to move or you will get hurt.” I went to open my mouth but before I could, I felt the tip of a knife pressed to my throat. Well, that escalated quickly.

  Dalton

  I hated the fact that we were fighting. Hated it. I never wanted to upset her, but dammit, she saw her relationship with Sy as a friendship, like he was an older brother to her. His flirting and playfulness with her showed me he didn’t see things the same way.

  Why was she not seeing this? Or did she truly not see it? I watched her face from the corner of my eye. When she said she loved me, something inside of me did a one-eighty. My heart raced, my wolf clawed to get free and claim his mate, but I couldn’t…process this.

  She. Loved. Me.

  Had I heard her correctly? More than likely, I’d heard what I wanted to hear.

  I stood there with my hands balled into fists to keep myself from moving to her, lifting her up and kissing the fight right out of her. I wanted to do it so bad. It physically hurt restraining myself from acting on that impulse.

  Letting her walk away from me was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. And, I had to do it. We both needed to calm down. When tempers flare, things are said that you may not want to say. When the back door clicked shut, I moved to my truck and climbed inside. I took in a deep, calming breath and let it out. My wolf, on the other hand, was pacing and clawing to get free. He wanted to go back to his mate.