Page 4 of Bewitchingly Hers (Witches of Pleasant Grove #3)

CHAPTER TWO

barrett

M y mate’s hand was pressed against my face, and I was keenly aware that nothing had ever felt as right as her touch. How was that possible? I’d always heard of what it felt like, but never imagined…

Pain radiated through me as I tried to move, despite every fiber of my being telling me not to. Everything was agony.

But I wanted to see my mate. My body was on fire, a relentless wave of torture that crashed over me again and again.

It was hard to focus as she fretted over me, dressing my wounds, pressing poultices to my body and brushing my fur.

The witch was healing me, mending each broken bone and gash slowly.

And she was a witch. However that was possible, I didn’t understand. Wolves always mated wolves. But I could see the gold, faint thread between us, could feel her at the other end of the bond. And she smelled like… she smelled like mine.

I wanted to tell her, but I couldn’t shift.

Everything hurt . Everything except for where she was touching my coat. She was so careful. From the moment she’d found me, her voice had soothed me. Calmed me.

The beast was letting her do it all willingly, because she was our mate.

How was this possible?

Maybe I was just delirious. Maybe none of this was real, and I was still lying in that dirty alleyway. The fates couldn’t have been so kind to me as to let me see my mate before I died, could they?

That was probably what it was. I was in the afterlife, and this was my penance, and my torture. Getting to see my mate but never touch her, speak to her. To never really know her.

This didn’t make any sense. Neither had the attack. I hadn’t seen it coming, and the pain made it too hard to think about it too clearly. I’d been looking for something, but what?

My head ached, my wounds throbbing as she ran her hands over my body.

I closed my eyes, everything fading back to black as sleep took me under once again.

The next thing I remembered was her sweet voice murmuring to herself as she checked my bandages, warmth radiating over my skin.

But not the same burning pain as before.

This was a soothing warmth. Like lying in the sun or cuddling under a blanket.

A comforting warmth. I let it ripple through my body, easing aches as it went.

I didn’t know how much time had passed—I was in and out of consciousness—but she was always there. Stroking my muzzle, taking care of me. Checking on me, all while she babbled away. It amused me that she was constantly talking to herself. Cute, even.

She might have been a witch, but she was nothing like I’d imagined.

“Are you feeling better?” Her voice was soft as she ran her fingers up my muzzle. “Does it still hurt?”

I lifted my head—surprised that the pain had ebbed—and took her in.

She was pretty, my mate. Her hair was red, cut into a short bob with bangs, and she was wearing a cozy sweater and leggings. I was laying in the middle of a plush bed, the remnants of her healing scattered around the bedside table.

I still wasn’t sure how she’d gotten me into her house by herself, considering my weight.

Alpha wolf shifters tended to be larger than even the biggest of regular wolves—part of why I was so good at my job.

At least, normally. Unfortunately, every once in awhile, something got the better of me. Though not normally like that .

The attack… I winced. The wounds would have been fatal on a human. I was lucky.

Even luckier, considering it had somehow brought me to my mate.

I couldn’t figure out how my wolf had known to find her, but I was glad he had.

I wished I could speak to her, but it was clear I was not going to get my body back.

So as much as I wanted to talk to her, for her to know my name, I was stuck like this for now.

“You’ve been a little touch and go,” she said as I turned my head back to look at my fur.

It had been shaved in spots, though I was sure it looked better than it had before she found me.

“You were so hot, and shaking. I was worried an infection was going to take root.” She let out a breath.

“I had to go into town, and thankfully Sophie’s shop was open, but I felt horrible leaving you.

” Listening to her sweet voice was a welcome distraction from the discomfort that still itched at my skin.

I sniffed at it, wondering what she had applied.

“It’s a combination of healing herbs I got from one of the other witches.

” She seemed to realize my uncertainty, and rubbed between my ears, like I was some sort of house pet.

“Sophie’s a friend,” she clarified, still petting me.

“She had some poultices and salves made from the best ingredients. I’m a healer, but I’m not an herbalist. Willow would have been a good option too, but she’s not making potions right now.

Still, it had been two days, and I was worried?—”

Two days? I had been out two whole days? I tried to sit up, but the movement pulled a cry from my wolf. Fuck .

She winced. “Don’t move. You’re still not fully healed yet.”

I shut my eyes. Clearly . This was fucking awful. I let out a puff of air through my nose.

It had never taken me this long to heal before. Wolf shifters had accelerated healing, and I should have been right as rain within twenty-four hours. Whatever had attacked me was clearly not a monster I’d ever dealt with before. But for the life of me, I couldn’t remember any of it.

Like it had stolen my magic, my memories.

Once I was better, I would have to call Ezra and warn him. Maybe he’d been right, that I shouldn’t have gone out on this job alone. But what was the alternative? Putting others into danger?

I was a lone, alpha wolf. I didn’t have anyone depending on me—no mate or wife at home, no pups to care for. My family and friends didn’t even know about my job, or the risks I took on a daily basis. It was the only way I could leave them without having them worry about me all of the time.

But I did have a mate now. The room smelled like her. Like apples with a hint of cinnamon and something sweet. My wolf decided it was his new favorite scent, and I knew if he was feeling better, he would be trying to get it directly from the source.

I winced as I shifted, trying to roll onto my stomach so I could lay my head on my paws and continue to stare at her.

“Oh—” my mate said, sounding surprised. “Hi.” She gave me a small smile, and then shook her head. “I cannot believe I’m actually talking to a wolf. But… You can understand me, can’t you?”

My eyes met hers, and I nodded my head. Her eyes widened as she scratched at my ears. “I thought so. You’re a very smart wolf.”

If only she knew that I wasn’t just a wolf at all.