Page 3 of Spellbound & Speechless (Witches of Starbrook #2)

Mac

If my wolf brought me to Starbrook, there must be something here worth finding, but I still don’t know what it is.

I’ve been on the road for years. I gave up any chance at a normal life for… this. Standing aimlessly in the middle of a small town in Maine.

Starbrook is all right, as far as small towns go.

It has a grocery shop and a couple of locally owned businesses.

That’s it. Other than a few friendly faces, there’s nothing to write home about.

The weather is dogshit, but at least I’m here before winter—just in time to watch the leaves change color.

I’ll be gone before the first snowflake falls.

I’ve been to dozens of small towns across America and found a few threads to pull, but I’ve never seen a reason to stay long. The person I’m tracking doesn’t sit still. I never find the answers I’m looking for.

They escape before I can find them. Every. Damn. Time.

This will be different .

I stand outside the only bar in town, with my hands shoved deep in my pockets. For the second time since arriving, my wolf perks up its ears. It’s more than the usual fleeting curiosity. There’s something worth noting around here; I can smell it.

The faintest, rotten smell. What I’ve been looking for.

It’s only noon. The bar looks quiet inside, with a few workers wandering around.

I sniff once, twice, unsure where the smell is coming from… until a werewolf passes by.

The scent is strong enough to cover up the rotten smell around the building. I wasn’t raised in a pack, not really—not how most wolves are—but I still know their scent. It smells like home.

The stranger seems to recognize me as a wolf, too.

He stops and greets me with a big smile, lifting his brows. “There’s a new wolf in town? Are you here for the Hawthorne bar?”

I glance inside, spotting a witch with pitch-black hair. She’s been bustling around all morning, cleaning and brewing potions. Must be one of the Hawthornes. “Sure am. I’ve heard a lot about it.”

“Not surprised. It’s the talk of the town right now—hell, the talk of Maine.”

It seems my wolf was right to lead me here.

There has to be a reason the town is talking about the bar.

There’s nothing special about the place as far as I can see.

Sure, it’s the only place to get a drink in town…

but what about the rest of Maine? I’ve passed through enough places to know there are more.

Portland, the first city I stopped in, had a lot more to offer.

What’s so special about Starbrook ?

“I’ve only heard good things.” I say no more, hoping the stranger will spill something without me confronting him.

He smiles big enough that you would think the bar belongs to him rather than the woman inside. “This is the only potion bar in all of Maine, you know.”

I guess that answers one of my questions.

“Oh, I know.” I had no clue until this conversation, but at least the strange wolf isn’t holding back. Typical small-town gossip. “I’m looking forward to giving it a try. Any clue when this place comes to life?”

“They open at noon,” he says. “The lunch menu is good, but the tavern really fills up once the sun sets.”

“Cool.” I run my fingers through my curls. “Thanks for the information, man. I’ll see you around.”

“I’ll be seeing you tonight, hopefully.” He takes a step closer, his eyes sparkling. “I’d love to buy you a drink.”

Great. Now, he’s hitting on me. I expect my wolf to roar to life from the attention, but he stays quiet. Weird. Not his type, I guess. Wasn’t aware my wolf had a type.

I force a tight smile. “You haven’t even told me your name.”

He’s a good-looking man with chestnut brown hair and eyes. Any other time, I would have taken up the offer without hesitation. Not now. I don’t have time for distractions right now, and this stranger is certainly offering one.

“Antoni,” he says. “Part of the Crivello pack.”

“Mac.” I tilt my head to the side. “Are you coming on to me, Antoni?”

“Maybe.” He flashes a flirtatious smile. “Only if you want me to. Otherwise… no. Not me. I would never.”

Again, I wait for my wolf to do something. Perk up its ears, take control, something . Nothing. He must not be into this guy. Usually, I’m the picky one. I guess this works in my favor.

I chuckle. “Look, I’m flattered, but I’m not looking for something like that right now. Sorry.”

“No worries. I get it.” That should be the end, but he lingers, sizing me up. “What about a pack?”

I take a step back. My heart races. “What?”

“Are you looking for a pack?”

No . Never. The answer sits on the tip of my tongue. It should come without a second thought. I’m not looking for a pack, and I never will. My mother taught me all about them. Packs teach you to rely on others, but you can’t rely on anyone, no matter what they say.

The problem is that… well, lone wolves have a particular scent. Other wolves can sniff us out in a second. This isn’t the first time someone has asked me to join their pack, but they usually take their time. They wine and dine me first. Antoni doesn’t beat around the bush.

In my mind, my wolf growls, even as the stranger smiles.

Antoni holds up his hands and laughs. “No harm and no pressure! I just wanted to check. We’re recruiting, you know.”

“Thank you for the offer.” I nod curtly. “I’m not looking for that either, but I’ll keep you in mind if anything changes.”

My opinion won’t change, and I won’t keep him in mind. The thought alone makes my wolf growl louder, snapping and biting. I rub my chest.

“I get it,” Antoni says. “You’re visiting a new town, and now you’re meeting a new pack. It’s a lot.”

This guy doesn’t know me. Who does he think he is? My smile shifts into something sour. My nose curls, and my gaze casts off to the side. “It’s fine. ”

“You know, we rent this place out on Wednesdays, if you want to stop by for a meeting. No pressure, just an open bar and free food.”

“Thanks for the invitation.” My mother also taught me manners, and I’ll use them, even though I have no plan to attend their meeting. “I’ll consider it.”

“Wednesday.” He points at me. “Four o’clock. We’ll be in the back, in their private room. Ask for the Crivello pack.”

Gathering information about the pack is a smart idea, even if I’m not joining them. The more I know about this town, the better. One of them may be able to lead me to what I’m looking for.

“Are you the only pack in town?” I ask.

“Mhm. We haven’t had a rival pack since the 80s, and if the elder’s stories are anything to go by… well, that wasn’t such a pretty time.”

“I’m guessing your pack is a big one.”

“Oh, yeah. Most wolves in Starbrook are part of the pack.”

Packs come in all sizes. Some are smaller, more like families.

Others are large, like his, and take over an entire region.

If they’re a territorial pack, I’ll need to be on my best behavior.

A lone, rogue wolf who misbehaves is even worse than a rival pack, but I don’t intend to be that.

I come, get what I need, and leave without a trace.

That’s how it always goes.

I smile through my growling, tense wolf. “You’ll be seeing me in no time. I’ll stop by.”

It’s a lie, and I have a feeling he knows it—my beating heart gives me away. If I don’t have time to date, I definitely don’t have time for a pack .

Figuring out why my wolf brought me to this town has to come first. It starts tonight at the Moonlit Tavern.