Page 5 of Bewitchingly Hers (Witches of Pleasant Grove #3)

CHAPTER THREE

eryne

T he first few days of having the wolf in my house had felt…

precarious. Like at any moment, I might lose him, succumbing to his wounds.

I couldn’t explain why I cared so much that he survived.

Only that he was connected to me in a way I didn’t understand.

How he seemed to understand me, and those strange eyes that almost felt like I was looking back at a person, and not a wolf.

As much as I would have liked to stay home all day, fretting over my newfound animal companion, I had to work. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay away from the bakery for more than a day or two. Luckily, the wolf seemed to sleep most of the time anyway, so I let him be.

Not even a perfectly cooked apple pastry could distract me right now.

Well, maybe. It was worth a shot, wasn’t it?

It was getting harder and harder to only refer to him as the wolf in my mind, but naming him felt… strange. He wasn’t my pet. And maybe he could understand me, but I knew he was a wild thing.

Once he was healed, he would be gone.

The bell chimed as the door opened, and I looked up, surprised to find Willow Clarke slipping inside, wearing a pumpkin orange sweater dress and a black hat. It looked cozy, and adorably complimented her pregnant belly.

I couldn’t help but grin. “Willow!”

“Hi, Eryne.” She gave me a small smile as she padded towards the counter to meet me.

“What’s up? Is everything okay with the shop?” I asked her.

She was a few years older than me—I was a year younger than her sister, Luna—and had always been nice to me growing up.

Working under her had been a dream. Now, I had the most hands-off bosses I could have asked for.

They practically let me run the shop however I wanted, only popping in to check on the books and how things were going every so often.

Willow laughed. “I should be asking you that. You’ve taken over so many of our responsibilities.”

“I don’t mind,” I said. The shop had never been Willow’s passion, though she’d helped her sister open it, but I loved working here. “Besides, you’ve got more important things going on.” She was due in December, so she still had a few months to go.

She snorted, rubbing her belly. “Yes, and one very overprotective mate. He’s hardly let me out of his sight ever since we found out I was pregnant.

” It sounded sweet to me, though from what I knew about Damien, it probably drove Willow absolutely crazy.

Still, it was obvious they were deeply in love with each other.

“How’d you get him to let you come here?” I asked, leaning against the counter as she flitted about, using the coffee maker to brew something that smelled heavenly.

She winked, a mischievous smile curling on her lips as she handed me a cup, and then took a sip of her own. “It’s decaf,” she said, with a shrug. “And… I didn’t. Thought I’d sneak out while he thought I was napping. I’ve been craving a pumpkin chocolate chip scone so badly.”

Luna used to make them all the time, though she’d just given birth to twins last month.

Her and her husband hadn’t made it back to Pleasant Grove yet, and I wasn’t expecting her anytime soon.

Luckily, we had a stack of her recipe cards, and our new baker had been experimenting with some twists of her own.

“Those always sell out so fast, but I stashed a few in the back.” I’d had a feeling we might need them. Good to know my witchy intuition was still correct. “Come on.”

I waved to the witch running the counter, letting her know we were going into the back.

“Gladly.” She followed me into the kitchen, taking a deep inhale.

It always smelled delicious back here—even when nothing was in the oven—like baked goods and sweet sugar .

Sometimes I wondered if we had the scent pumped in, it smelled that good.

“This baby is always wanting sweets. It drives Damien mad. You know I had to force him to try candy corn last year? I’m pretty sure he only puts up with my obsession because he knows it makes me happy.

” Willow smiled, like she was thinking about the demon she now called her own.

“And it makes the baby kick.” She grabbed a scone from the box, plopping it in her mouth and letting out a moan as she chewed the first bite.

“ So good . I swear, I could eat these all day.”

I took another sip of the coffee she had made me. While I wasn’t a bad barista in any sense of the word, nothing compared to Willow’s coffee. Mostly because of her affinity with making potions, and what was a cup of coffee but a brew of caffeine? They were like magic, pepping you right up.

“I don’t know how you and Luna do it all, honestly,” I admitted.

“Pregnancy?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

I shrugged. “ Everything . Mates and relationships and…” I waved my hand.

Somehow, even though it wasn’t an answer, Willow seemed to know exactly what I meant.

“It’s easier when you have someone you love.

I mean, we weren’t exactly expecting to get pregnant this soon.

Damien and I have only been together a year now, after all.

But I’m almost thirty, and I’m looking forward to meeting our little one and starting our family.

It feels like the rest of our lives are just beginning, you know? ”

Did I know? Not really. I’d never experienced that for myself. My life felt a little stagnant. I gave her a hesitant smile. “I guess I’ve just never met the right person.”

“You will,” she promised. “They’re going to come into the coffee shop and sweep you off your feet, and you won’t even know what hit you.”

I finished the cup of coffee as she scarfed down another scone. “Maybe.”

“Just look at me. I never thought the love of my life was going to be my cat. Sure, it was a little non-conventional, but…” She snorted. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Willow gave me a once over. “Maybe we should call the coven together have a little manifesting circle.”

I rolled my eyes. “We don’t need to try to manifest a love interest into reality. I’ll be just fine. Besides, I have Nutmeg.” And a wolf in my house, who was surprisingly great at keeping my mind off any lack of potential suitors.

“Well, you know the coven invitation is always open. Especially now that Luna is with Zain, we’re down one.”

Thirteen was a lucky number for witches. It was one we associated with powerful energies, which made it the ideal number of members in a coven.

I fidgeted with the ring on my right hand. “I don’t know.” I’d always been a bit of a loner. Being part of a group sounded…

Actually, it sounded pretty great. But I was just scared that I wouldn’t fit in. That something would happen and I’d find myself alone again. Except the second time, it would be even worse, because I would know what it felt like to be a part of something bigger than myself.

“Everyone is in agreement. We’d love to have you join us. Especially Rina and Wendy.” Willow winked, like my friends hadn’t been wearing me down on the same topic for the last few months. I was just being stubborn.

Dammit, she knew my weakness. “Okay,” I whispered out. “I’ll think about it.”

She stood up, stretching her back. “Good. I’ll send you the information for our next meeting. You just missed one last week during the full moon.”

The full moon had been the night I’d found the wolf. I bit my lip. “Speaking of…”

“Hm?” She was busy wrapping up scones into a box to take home.

I pondered what to say, how to ask for what I needed. “Do you have anything that would aid healing?”

Willow raised an eyebrow. “Is something wrong?” She looked me over, like she was searching for any potential injuries.

I shook my head. “Not for me. I just…” Fiddling with my favorite broom earrings, I thought about the best way to phrase my little predicament.

I brought a wolf home. Probably not the best thing to say to my boss, especially considering he’d been inside the bakery.

Sure, I’d cleaned it thoroughly afterwords, but still.

“I’m just helping a friend with some injuries, that’s all.

I’ve used some poultices and salves, but I’m worried about the internal damage, and infection.

There’s only so much my magic can do.” I looked down at my hands. Even I had limits.

No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t bring a creature back from the brink of death in just a few days.

“Well, I think I have something back at the house that could help. But I’ll have to consult my book of potions. It’s been awhile since I brewed a healing one.”

“That would be amazing. I’d really appreciate it.” I felt a bit of relief course through my system. Things were fine, and the wolf would be fine. I’d get him back on his feet, and then the lingering worry would dissipate. All would be right again.

She smiled. “Then consider it done.”

Without warning, Damien entered the back room, his eyes flaring red for a moment before they faded back to brown. “Willow.” He let out a sigh of relief. “There you are.” He wrapped his arms around his mate’s stomach. “I was looking everywhere for you.”

“Damien.” She chuckled. “I’ve only been gone for…” Willow looked over at the clock on the back wall. “An hour.”

He rubbed his nose on the crook of her neck. “Doesn’t matter. You know how much I worry about you and our little witchling.”

Willow blushed, turning to me. “We should go.”

I laughed. “It was really good to see you, Willow. Thank you for the help.” I held up my empty cup. “And the coffee.”

“Any time.” She placed her hands over Damien’s, who seemed content to hold her in his arms. “Thank you for the scones.”

I nodded. “It’s still your shop, you know. You never have to thank me for anything.”

She winked. “I know.” Turning to her mate, she stepped up on her tiptoes—a feat, considering Damien was a foot taller than her—and whispered something in his ear. He scooped up the box on the counter before interlacing his fingers with hers.

“Bye, you two,” I called out.

“Goodbye,” Damien said, not even looking back, like he was too eager to get Willow home.

And yeah—I couldn’t deny that I wanted something like that for myself. A doting husband, someone who loved me and fretted over me.

Maybe one day.

For now, I’d be going home alone.

Or, at the very least, to the wolf in my bed.

He was still sleeping as I entered my bedroom, pulling off the clothes that smelled like stale coffee. I tried not to wear any of my favorite outfits to work, as even with an apron on, I ended up spilling on myself.

Sure, I didn’t have to work the front counter any more as manager, but I still loved the energy of the shop. I wasn’t a witch who was skilled in auras, but there was something about the general cheeriness at the Witches’ Brew that always seemed to energize me.

After quickly changing and pulling on a comfy crewneck plus a pair of leggings, I sat on the edge of my bed to check on the wolf.

He’d clearly changed positions since I left this morning, which was a relief. Though he didn’t seem too apt to walk yet, at least if he could move, the worst of it was over. At least, I hoped. I wasn’t a doctor, nor was I a vet, but his injuries were healing well and seemed less red than before.

Now that I had the potion from Willow—she’d dropped it off before I’d left for the day—I hoped it would help with generating new, healthy tissue and helping him feel less lethargic.

Though the brew was definitely formulated more for a human than a wolf.

I wasn’t sure exactly how I was going to get him to drink it, but that was a different problem.

I smiled, watching him sleep. His russet fur was growing back in from where I’d had to shave it, thank the goddess.

It was soft—and I was honestly obsessed with how cuddly he was.

I’d gotten used to sleeping next to him.

Originally, it had been because I was worried about leaving him alone.

The first few days, it felt like I’d woken up every few hours to heal him.

Now, it was that I liked his body heat—even if his giant form took up most of my queen-sized bed.

One eye blinked open, looking at me as I ran my fingers through his pelt. “Hi,” I said, wishing I could read his mind. It would be nice to understand animals and to know what my wolf was thinking. “I’m home,” I said. “Obviously.”

He perked his ears up, tilting his head to the side as he looked at me.

I ran my finger down his spine. “My friend Willow—she’s my boss, actually—she made you a potion to drink. It should help aid your healing. I know you might not trust me, but I hate seeing you hurting.” I continued petting him, because it seemed like it helped.

And okay, maybe it just helped me.

Here was this big, giant animal that I’d always been told to be afraid of, and he was simply laying on my bed, letting me pet him. Every day, I felt like I was letting down my guard a little bit more.

He wasn’t going to hurt me. Honestly, he felt more like a dog than a wolf right now.

“Will you drink it?” I grabbed the to-go cup.

It just looked like soup, honestly. It didn’t even smell bad.

Witches all over town came to Willow for her potions—for everything from memory potions to sleeping draughts.

“Please?” The wolf’s eyes dragged from the cup up to mine, like he was trying to parse out whatever was inside of it.

“I promise, I wouldn’t have gone through all this work to keep you alive just to poison you. ”

The wolf snorted. Again, I had the distinct feeling that if he’d have been human, he would have just rolled his eyes.

“Please?” He brought his head closer to me, finally, and I set the cup underneath his maw, watching him as he opened his mouth and began to lap up the liquid, that giant tongue sucking it down. He scrunched up his nose at the taste, but didn’t stop drinking.

“That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” I asked, scratching between his ears when he finished.

He gave me a look that said, you’ve got to be kidding me.

I giggled. “I’m sorry. But if it helps, then it’s worth it, right?” Tomorrow, I’d have to see if I could get him outside. He’d been cooped up in my bed for days, and that couldn’t be good for his joints.

His only answer was to lay his head on his paws, curling up next to me.

I yawned. There were a few things I had left to do around the house before bed, but all I wanted was to cuddle with this giant animal and sleep.

All of those things would be a problem for tomorrow.

For now, I just laid my head down on my pillow, content with this giant, wild animal to serve as my cozy blanket.