The Witch Who Cried Wolf

by Sarah Makela

  Chapter Six

  Mia

  I closed the door behind me, partly wishing Ethan had said sorry too. What could I do about it? Nothing. At least we’d ended the evening acting civil toward each other. The same couldn’t be said of Greg.

  Relief lightened the load on my shoulders. I’d been so scared Ethan wouldn’t forgive me for the insult. If I had it to do all over again, I’d try to keep my mouth shut. Those were the absolute worst words to say, but he’d been so frustrated with me about what I’d spilled into the healing salve...something I hadn’t wanted to confess: the love potion. Though it wasn’t as if I’d snuck it in.

  However, the love potion hadn’t seemed to even have had any effect on him. Me, on the other hand.... I wanted him more than I cared to admit. It heightened my desire to have him in my life.

  Besides, I would have thought that the healing aspect of the potion would mellow out the love potion part. I’d learned something new. Even though I had pictured him falling in love with me and declaring his feelings, I hadn’t planned on slipping him the love potion.

  What kind of relationship would we have if he had his free will ripped away? While I wanted him to like me, I didn’t want him to be my puppet.

  I wanted him to like him for who I was. That dream looked less and less likely, now that he knew my secret.

  However, the way Ethan had acted with Greg had surprised me. Part of me was horrified that they’d nearly gotten into a fight, but the other part was glad he’d stood up for me when Greg had been so mean.

  I rubbed my arms. Pain still ached in my bones from the way Greg had held me so tightly. I’d seen a side of him tonight I hadn’t seen before, and it was one I was not happy about. If he continued to act that way, then I’d have no problem with letting him go before Christmas, regardless of his feelings. The fact he’d been so cold to my emotions when I’d been upset boggled my mind. Why push me to go out after we’d been ‘mugged’, as Ethan had put it? That really didn’t sit well with me.

  Peeking through the blinds, I saw Ethan walk by Greg’s car. He leaned down, saying something with his face screwed up with anger, then he jabbed a finger toward my house. I shrunk back, trying not to get spotted, but neither man even looked in my direction.

  Greg’s features were tight and his eyes were narrowed at Ethan. He said a few things, and Ethan shot back at a volume I could almost hear, but not quite.

  Damn it, Ethan. Don’t start a fight.

  Instead of that, Greg pulled out of the driveway and put the pedal to the metal, absurdly revving his engine.

  Ethan glanced back at the house and waved, then he walked off toward the direction of his home.

  I wiped my hands over my face, feeling the pull of the love potion. The desire to go to him, tell him how I felt, and ask him to not leave, was almost too much. However, the potion wasn’t strong enough for me to take those actions. I didn’t have to obey it because I was more in control than my feelings at the moment, even if those feelings were pretty darn convincing.

  What was I going to do? It was one thing for us having this situation in private. It would be another entirely for me to have to sit through a family dinner while he was there.

  I knew I’d have to face Christmas Eve dinner with both Greg and Ethan. Unless Ethan learned about Greg’s presence and decided to skip it. After the way my parents had treated Ethan as one of their own since his own folks had died, I couldn’t imagine Ethan skipping Christmas Eve dinner with people he considered as much his family as I did, if not more so.

  I slumped on the couch then ran my hands through my hair, brushing the red strands from my face. None of this even took into account the werewolves, who obviously wanted me dead. If I didn’t boost my magic, and soon, then I might as well plan my funeral, rather than what to wear for Christmas Eve dinner.

  The small Christmas tree sitting on the coffee table didn’t do much to revitalize my festive spirit. In fact, it made things worse, because now was the time of year when I felt the most alone. When I’d hooked up together with Greg, I thought he’d make things better, but actually he’d only made them worse. Whether on a date or spending time at his house, I felt lonelier with him.

  Shaking my head, I pulled the blanket down from the back of the couch, wrapping it around myself. The home phone rang, and I jumped, nearly bouncing off the sofa.

  “Hello?”

  “Mia, why haven’t you been answering your cell phone? What’s up with Ethan? Did he arrive on time?” Nolan’s usually happy-go-lucky voice sounded worried.

  Damn, I hadn’t heard my phone. Maybe I didn’t take it off vibrate. “He arrived on time and should be home soon. Why?”

  “Your phone went straight to voice mail. Mom and Dad are worried. Why didn’t you answer?” He refused to let up. Another pushy guy was the last thing I needed right now.

  I sighed. “My phone must’ve run out of juice. I’ve had a long day. Call Ethan. I’m sure he wants to talk to you, especially after what you did.” From what I’d heard at the airport, I was sure there would be a long discussion between the two.

  “What? I’m innocent, I swear.” Nolan sounded mischievous, not innocent. Bastard! But I did love my brother.

  “Right, right. Well, we both know that’s not true. Why didn’t you take time off to pick up Ethan? I don’t get it.” I wanted an answer. His boss not letting him off work was a lame excuse—since his boss had let him off for less. It just seemed sneaky, as if he was hiding something, and when Nolan was like this, it meant trouble.

  “What can I say?”

  Anger at his vague response shoved me over the edge. “Stop with the bullshit, Nolan. I want to know why. What came up that you—”

  “Sorry, sis. I’m getting a call on the other line. It might be Ethan. Thanks for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The dial tone cut off any protests.

  I would be seeing him tomorrow night, and when I did, I’d strangle the jerk. If he wanted to play hard to get, then he had another thing coming to him. I’d find out what he was up to, whether he liked it or not.

  Uneasiness tightened my chest. The similarities of Nolan’s reluctance to answer a few simple questions mirrored my own. However, my answers would reveal earthshaking revelations about the supernatural community existing, as opposed to whatever Nolan hid.

  Ethan deserved the truth. He was already wrapped up in situation with me. I could use his help, and it was better for me to keep an eye on him. If he displayed any lunar tendencies, I needed to act before anyone else found out.

  I tossed the phone on the couch, not bothering to put it back on the cradle. If my purse hadn’t been in the entryway, I would’ve gone to check my cell phone to see how many messages had been left for me. Knowing my parents and brother, there would be plenty.

  The most memorable event of the day was Ethan kissing me. Feeling his lips on my skin had been like a caress from heaven. Errr.... Maybe the love potion had been stronger when mixed with the healing salve than I realized.