Page 36 of Spellbound & Speechless (Witches of Starbrook #2)

Mac

Days ago, waking up with Aspen in my arms felt like a treat, and knowing she would be there for the rest of our lives was the icing on the cake.

It’s still a blessing and not one I take lightly.

We wake up on the chilly autumn morning, and the sun shines on her sweet face.

She pushes closer to me like I’m the only thing that exists, like I didn’t fail her.

But I did. I haven’t been doing enough to keep her safe.

I’ve been distracted, and I can’t keep that up. Not until I kill the corrupt witch. That’s my focus now.

Aspen is kind enough to get me some clothes before we walk home hand-in-hand.

My heart grows heavier with each step.

“I think…” I stop when we’re a few feet from the house. “I need to focus on being your protector for now. Just until we take care of the witch.”

No distractions. I won’t lose her. I won’t lose anyone.

“You’ve always been my protector,” she says, frowning. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not doing a good job at protecting you anymore.” I fight the fear of losing her, squeezing her fingers tighter. “I just… need to lock in, if that makes sense. Not just for you—for everyone. For your family.”

Her lower lip trembles. “But we’re mates. We just had a party yesterday, and I want to keep celebrating. I want to go to that motel and make love.”

“I know. I do, too.” I roll my eyes, knowing how ridiculous I sound. “But look at how our celebration turned out. Your sister got hurt. That’s on me.”

“It’s not . I already told you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t let anything like that happen again.”

Aspen is the best distraction I could ask for, but she’s still a distraction. I let my guard down once at the party and again last night. Sleeping out here was a bad idea, even though I won’t say it aloud.

We should have checked on Juniper. We should have slept in the warded house. What the hell was I thinking?

Aspen and I wanted to be alone last night, but we needed to be safe. Now, I have to get my mind straight, and I hope she knows I’m doing it for her—for us.

“You’re not breaking up with me,” she says. “I won’t allow it.”

“Aspen!” I laugh and stop walking, pressing my lips to her forehead. “Don’t be silly. No. I’m not. Never that.” I hold her shoulders and squeeze.

“Then what ?” She glares and pulls out of my embrace. “You’re taking a vow of celibacy until the witch is gone? Do you hear how that sounds?”

My chest feels empty the second she’s away from me. It’s only a few inches of space, and it should be fine, but I need her close.

This is why we’re fucked. I want her to distract me, don’t I ?

“I don’t know.” I run my fingers through my hair, which is already standing up in all directions. “You make it sound ridiculous. Would that be so crazy?”

“Yes!” She laughs, but somehow, there’s no humor in it. “Considering that you couldn’t keep your hands off me days ago, yes. It’s strange for us. Like, are you okay?”

The question breaks me.

I shake my head, pressing my lips together. “No. I’m not okay. Seeing my mom there, and her almost getting hurt. And then, Juniper, who has always been so kind to me… and you. The witch wanted you .”

“She didn’t. It’s a ruse. No one wants my magic.”

“That’s not what she said.” I cross my arms. Aspen still isn’t taking this seriously enough.

“I’m fine, but you’re right about one thing. I need to check on Juniper.” Aspen’s face falls, and she glances warily at the house. “I guess there’s a lot for both of us to focus on.”

“There is. We’ve both been distracted.”

She flinches and says nothing, staring at the red door. “Last night… I know it was hard for you. I’m so sorry.”

It was, but I can’t keep dwelling on it.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “I don’t want to keep repeating the past—my mother’s past. My past. We need to change our circumstances to have a better future, and for that to happen…”

Her lower lip trembles. “We need to get rid of the witch. Together .”

“We’re mates. Taking some time to focus on this won’t keep us apart. Nothing will. Nothing can.”

“We’re stronger together. You know that.”

I exhale shakily and nod. “I know.”

“My heart belongs to you. You can’t push me away again.”

“That’s not what I’m doing here. I’m just letting you know where my priorities are.”

“It feels like you are.”

A tear falls down her cheek, and I swipe it away with my thumb, holding her face in my hands.

“I’m not. I promise I’m not,” I murmur. “I don’t want to push you away. I’m letting you know where my focus is.”

“And it’s not on me? I’m not a priority anymore?”

“It is. It’s on keeping you safe . That’s all.”

“What does that entail?”

“It entails…” I walk forward, wearing a somber expression. “Talking to the Crivello pack again. That’s where I’ll start.”

She can’t say I didn’t tell her about it this time.

This isn’t usually what newlyweds are getting up to. We should be somewhere tropical, where we can drink unlimited cocktails and she can work on her tan.

I shouldn’t have to worry about her dying, but all I can think of is Aspen bleeding out in my arms.

Fuck. It’s not fair. The only thing I should be focused on right now is how many times I can make her come on my face before she taps out.

Of course, nothing in my life works out like it should. I’m back to feeling like her bodyguard and groveling to a wolf pack just to keep her safe. It’s pathetic.

My mom will convince me not to join the pack, so I spend the morning avoiding her questions. She finds other things to focus on around the house, like the witch wards—which she seems interested in—and coming up with a plan.

Not that there’s a plan to come up with, really. None of us knows what we’re doing. Even my mom doesn’t know, and she spent decades chasing the corrupt witch around. We know how to find her, but what do we do then?

Will our claws and canines be enough to stop her?

The pack may not be able to help with the corrupt witch, but they can keep the Hawthorne sisters safe. That’s what I’m counting on.

Finding Antoni is always easy. He’s a social man, and after asking around, I catch him walking through the park with his dog. The animal perks up, wagging his tail as I approach.

“Mac.” Antoni usually greets me with an affable smile, but today, his face is stiff. “Hey, man. I hope everything is all right.”

Fuck, this is going to be embarrassing. Antoni was there to see what happened, and he either expects me to bring him bad news… or he knows I’m here to grovel.

The latter is technically better, but it doesn’t feel great.

“You, uh… probably saw most of what happened,” I say. “It’s still that. Whatever that was.”

His brows climb higher. “Juniper is?—”

“She’s fine,” I say.

I don’t technically know if it’s true, but if something were wrong, we would have heard about it. Aspen would know. Juniper must be okay.

He shakes his head. “I have to say, this is my first time meeting one of the corrupt witches, and I don’t envy the Hawthornes. Not one bit. The smell alone was foul.”

“Trust me, I know. At least it makes them easy to track.”

He squints. “Is that what you’re doing here? Tracking them down?”

“You could say that. ”

“Huh. So…” He lifts a brow. “You and Aspen? I didn’t see it coming. I thought you weren’t looking to date.”

I run a hand through my hair, smiling wryly. “I really wasn’t. I wasn’t making excuses when I shot you down.”

“No, no. It’s not that. I’m kind of surprised she…” He trails off, lifting a shoulder.

“That she would end up with a guy like me?” I snort. “Yeah. It took me by surprise, too.”

He holds up his hands defensively. “I didn’t say all that. You know that I think you’re a catch.”

But I’m sure he’s thinking it. The whole damn town is, but I don’t care. As long as Aspen wants me, I’ll be there. As soon as I get rid of this corrupt witch, I can really be there for her. I don’t think I can rest easily until my father’s killer is in the ground.

One way or another, I have to be the one who ends this.

“I’m not exactly here on a social visit,” I say.

“I figured.” He takes the ball from his dog and throws it, sending the animal running through the park. “You’re asking for pack help again? Is that it?”

I wince. “Well… yeah. I guess I am.”

“You know I want to help,” he says. “And I will, as much as I can. The Hawthornes are great, and we all love them, but convincing the other guys will be the hard part. People outside the pack have betrayed them before?—”

I shake my head. “I get it.” With a slow exhale, I collect myself. “I’m here because I want to be a part of the pack. I’ve had enough time to think about it, and I’m sticking around in Starbrook now. I’m ready.”

His lips part. “No shit?”

“No shit.”

If his senses are anything like mine, he can hear my racing heart. It doesn’t matter. This is for Aspen. The wolf in me is clawing at me, begging for a way to keep her safe…

And he finds comfort in the idea of a community, too. I can admit that now.

My mother’s voice in my head says that no pack will ever keep her safe, but I can’t keep listening to that voice. I’m on a different path than hers now, and I’m accepting it.

“Well, then…” A smile creeps onto Antoni’s face. “Now we can get down to negotiations. Our leader will be happy to take you in.”

“Good to hear it.”

“Let’s go find him now. He should be at work—he’s a mechanic.”