Page 15 of Bewitched by the Werewolf (The Bewitching Hour #5)

I spent all night coming up with a plan to track and monitor Tess.

It’s not the most elaborate plan and involves a lot of me stalking her.

There’s not much more I can do. There’s also very little chance she’ll admit why she’s really here on her own.

I’ll probably have to confront her about it.

Which might not come as much of a surprise to her now that she’s given me her name.

Her website is publicly accessible, it’s completely plausible that I found it on my own with a basic google search.

Armed with new purpose and an irritated determination, I set out in search of Tess and where she might be snooping today.

It doesn’t take long. I catch sight of her in The Ugly Mug first. Watching from across the street I see Tobias smile and chat easily with her.

He must not see anything unscrupulous in the colors of her aura if he’s acting so casual and calm.

I’m pretty sure he spots me watching through the window but doesn’t call attention to me.

Tobias is a very, very old fairy and there’s very little anyone can get by him.

Which, again, speaks volumes about Tess if he likes her.

Tess sips at her to-go coffee cup and exits the shop.

I follow at a safe distance behind. It appears like she’s making rounds through town.

Stopping in at The Market and picking up a local newspaper, popping into Snap Shot and purchasing something small enough to fit in the interior pocket of her leather jacket.

It’s like she’s making up reasons to enter these stores and be seen and talk with people.

With the newspaper folded under her arm she strolls down the street, as casual as a local sipping at her coffee, making herself right at home.

On the way down the street past Dottie’s and towards the other end of town, she stops on the sidewalk to talk with Larken.

Which means she’s probably already been in the Closet Carousel and befriended the moon fairy.

Tess is just making all kinds of friends in town, and she’s only been here a few days. Impressive and highly suspicious.

I watch in objectionable interest as Becca, another fairy in town, joins their conversation. If Tess only knew she were speaking with two fairies, she would give up her obsession with werewolves. But that would just open an entirely new can of worms. One that I very much want to remain sealed.

The three females chat like old friends and I’m at least grateful Tess isn’t being rude and inconsiderate to the locals. As a matter of fact, it seems like she’s going out of her way to be polite and friendly. Tactical ploy or sincere actions? Still unknown.

Slinking between buildings I remain—hopefully—hidden in the shadows and out of Tess’s line of site.

She’s not looking over her shoulder or searching the surrounding area like she’s surveying.

To anyone watching her they would just think she’s going about her day drinking coffee and catching up with friends.

I know better. She wears dark reflective sunglasses so I can’t see where her eyes are looking and probably uses the reflections to see around her better. She’s sly, but I’m still on to her.

Tess is still chatting with the others, so I take a moment to check any messages on my phone in case a call came in that I need to take care of.

There’s a message from my dad that we’re going to have an additional guest at family dinner tonight.

He doesn’t elaborate on who and I don’t ask.

With the human female renting our cabin, Roman poking his nose where it doesn’t belong, and Tess wandering around town making best friends with the locals I have more than enough to worry about.

An additional dinner guest is lowest on my priority list.

I’m just thankful I don’t have to deal with the female staying in the cabin.

Lottie, I believe Hunter said was her name.

Some human Ginger had the bright idea to rent the cabin to without asking us.

Hunter says he’ll keep an eye on her and deal with any issues that arise because of her staying there, which I’m grateful for.

But that also means there’s another area shifters will have to avoid being seen in.

Why the fuck are there so many unknown humans in town? This eclipse is going to be a shit show; I can already tell. I’m going to try my hardest to ensure it isn’t, and to do that I need to make sure my redheaded prey doesn’t see anything she isn’t supposed to.

I shove my phone back in my pocket and peer around the side of the building looking for my prey.

She’s no longer talking to Larken and Becca but is crossing the street near to where I am currently lurking.

Pulling back into the shadow of the building, I hold still and listen for her footsteps, trying to hear if they’re moving toward me or away from me.

There are small noises that could be her steps getting quieter and farther away.

I wait a few seconds before peeking out around the brick wall of the building.

She’s not there. She’s not anywhere. Not down the street or across the street. Just gone. Shit.

Striding out from my hiding place I take a few long paces in the direction I thought she was going, looking in through the window of Another Man’s Junk .

Not spotting her inside I turn around and head back in the direction I came.

Maybe I missed her passing me? Highly unlikely but where else could she have gone?

When I stride past the alley I was lurking in before none other than Tess steps out in front of me, causing me to bump into her and almost knock her to the ground.

I grip her shoulders to hold her up and steady us both before releasing her.

Once again, I couldn’t hear or smell her.

I should have known exactly where she was just from her scent, but I smell nothing but earth.

Dry old dirt. It’s not very appealing, yet there’s that faint hint of apples again.

Drifting on the wind, there one second and gone the next.

It’s infuriating that I can’t get a lock on this female’s scent.

“Sorry about that. Didn’t see you there.”

“Really? Cause it seems like you’ve seen plenty of me this morning,” she retorts with a snarky grin.

I knew she was smart, but I didn’t realize she had spotted me. Keeping my expression flat and unaffected by her calling me out on stalking her, I put my hands on my hips thumbing at my badge for emphasis.

“I’m sheriff in town. It’s my job to keep an eye on everyone in Snowberry. I’ve seen a lot of people today. You just happen to be one of them.”

Tess shakes her head of red and scoffs at me, not convinced. “You’re a bad liar.”

~Tess~

“I wasn’t lying,” Sheriff Evans disputes.

He may not have been lying about all of it, he is the sheriff, and he has seen many people today, but he was definitely lying about not following me.

I clocked him outside the market first and when he remained in my general vicinity after Snap Shot, around the corner and down the street, I knew he was following me specifically.

“And yet you’re posturing to make yourself more imposing and commanding. What are you hiding Sheriff Evans?”

“What are you hiding Red?”

Red? Now he thinks he can call me nicknames while I still don’t know his first name?

He may be cute and smell like crisp tangy oranges and something woodsy like sandalwood, but that doesn’t mean we’re pals.

But seriously, why does he smell so good?

It’s making my mouth water and again I’m hit with that awareness of him.

Ignoring his weirdly alluring scent I place a hand on my cocked hip and mirror his defiant stance just as I did before. I may not be as tall or broad, but I can be just as imposing. And I’m not going to let his man smell entice me one little bit.

“Red? Wow I’ve never heard that one before. You’re so original and witty to come up with such a clever nickname. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so shrewd. You must put all the other deputies to shame with your wit. Have them rolling in their dungarees with laughter.”

My sarcastic rant pulls a smirk from the stoic giant.

“I have my moments.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little presumptuous of you to give me a nickname when I don’t even know your first name?”

His silver eyes track over my face, pausing on my mouth before circling back up to my eyes. At least he didn’t stare at my boobs. He does however continue his perusal of my hair that produced the oh so original nickname.

“Ryder.”

“Ride who?”

He chuffs a single deep laugh and his eyes shine with amusement. “Rye-der,” he annunciates.

“Sheriff Ryder Evans. Now that’s a stimulating name.”

“What exactly is it stimulating?” he asks, his expression remaining passive, but his eyes are more expressive than he knows. I can see the blossoming intrigue and appeal in those silver-grey orbs.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I give him a cheshire grin and add a wink as the cherry on top.

I think I rather like arguing with Ryder, it’s fun.

I don’t have to hold back my sarcastic snark and act all innocent and na?ve like I usually do.

Not to mention he’s not half bad to look at.

No one in town is, but Ryder has a certain appeal and a scent that makes me salivate a little.

I give him a deliberate once over, checking him out without hesitation or shame.

I want him to know what I’m doing and that I can give as good as I get.

For a small town sheriff he’s dressed well, minimally and casually, but well.

Tailored dark jeans hug thick strong thighs, his black crew neck t-shirt is tucked into his waistband beneath the utility belt he’s wearing.

Part of the reason I bumped into him. He carries the typical police tools, gun, cuffs, badge.

Then there’s the small leather pouch that is out of place.

It’s too small for a taser or pepper spray, and his cell phone is obvious in his back pocket.

Which is why I couldn’t help myself. I had to know what was inside it.

Now that thing rests waiting in my jacket pocket.

I may have put my pick pocketing skills to use when I “accidentally” bumped into him.

It’s a small fabric pouch that feels like it’s filled with sand. Strange item for a cop to carry.

“What I would like to know, is why you’re in town,” Ryder says, drawing my attention away from checking out his physique.

“I told you I—”

“Am here for the eclipse. I don’t believe you.”

Of course he doesn’t, he’s apparently the only observant small-town sheriff in the US. Because he couldn’t just be the indifferent lazy kind like the rest of them and make my life easier. No, he has to be the vigorous and handsome kind that pays close attention to everything and everyone.

I tip my head and straighten my spine, which has the added effect of pushing my boobs out. They have the desired effect and Ryder’s eyes drop instinctually before lifting back up.

“And what exactly do you think I’m doing here then? Is there a hidden amusement park I missed on my way in? Please point it out to me. I’m a fan of the tilt-a-whirl.”

The slight amusement that’s been present throughout our banter in Ryders face fades away and stern law man takes its place. Shame, I was having such fun with him.

“No amusement park. But there’s something you’re not telling me. I can be patient, for a while. One way or another I’ll find out the truth.”

“Whatever you say Ryder. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more of your wonderful town to explore.”

Making a U-turn I stride toward the bookstore just behind me and reach for the door handle, looking back over at Ryder before entering.

“I’ll be seeing you around, Red. ” He emphasizes the nickname knowing it’s now going to irk me.

“Until next time, Officer .”

He strides past me, and I pretend to enter the bookstore but step back around into the alley to inspect my new acquisition.

I pull out the little cloth satchel from my pocket and inspect it.

It’s about the size of my palm and it does feel like sand when I shift it around in my hand.

Why does a cop need a bag of sand? Is it some organic form of pepper spray?

Just toss a handful of sand in someone’s eyes to blind them? Weird, but to each their own.

The bag is black and soft and tied with a drawstring at the top.

I loosen the knot and pull open the bag peeking inside.

It is freaking sand. Glittery white sand that sparkles in the sunlight, but still sand .

I pinch a little and let the fine grains run through my fingers, then I sniff my fingers thinking maybe it’s a spice of some kind.

It doesn’t smell but does leave behind a slight shimmer on my fingertips.

This town is just getting weirder and weirder.

I tie the little bag shut and shove it into my interior pocket, so I won’t lose it. I’ll have to do some research to see if anyone knows what the substance might be. Hopefully it’s not something kinky like stripper glitter or something. That would be awkward.

Before stepping back out onto the sidewalk I check that Ryder is gone. I don’t spot him on the street anywhere, so he either left and went back to doing his job or went inside one of the stores. Either way, the coast is clear enough for me to head back to my tailer.