Page 34 of Unhinged Magic (Cutters Cove Witches #2)

Wesley

I cursed under my breath as Ty appeared out of nowhere, stalking toward where I sat on the outside deck of the man cave. Fury-filled boots pounded closer with every footstep, the shadow on his jawline giving the already dark look directed at me more menace than I was used to.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he growled, his acidic tone tearing shreds off me.

A ring of amber circled his irises, meaning hellfire was about to rain down. I had seen Ty like this only once before, when he found his ex-girlfriend dead. When he wanted vengeance.

I was so fucked.

Rising to my feet, I prepared myself for what was to come, what I probably deserved.

But what I expected and what happened next were worlds apart.

As if I were nothing more than a twig, Ty’s hands gripped the front of my jacket, lifting me off the ground in an effortless second before shoving me hard against the side of the house.

A crack ripped through my torso at the contact, pain searing through my limbs, shock muting my thoughts momentarily.

“Fuck,” I croaked, wincing as pain clawed at my chest.

Stars buzzed behind my eyelids, and I blinked repeatedly, fighting for my sight to return.

How fucking ironic.

Ever-so-slowly it refocused, and fuck if it wasn’t the most terrifying thing to witness.

Ty’s eyes had changed, blinking slower with a burning intensity that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Black wings cast a dark shadow over us, hiding our altercation from the outside world, yet risked exposing us in a way Ty would never forgive himself for if anyone saw him like this .

“What the fuck are you?” I rushed out. I had seen him in this form for a fleeting moment at the church with Helena. When I’d bolted right before he almost blew me a new arsehole, or worse. I never imagined this could be more than some freakish magic, let alone some permanent thing.

“Don’t fucking speak,” he spat, somehow keeping me suspended in the air.

“Put. Me. Down,” I gritted out, glaring back at him.

He had every right to be pissed at me. Everyone did. But they didn’t get it. I fucked up, yes. But fuck, I was protecting his sister, the love of my life. That had to stand for something.

Morgan’s voice came from somewhere nearby. “Ty!”

He shoved me again, only to slam a fist into my stomach as air released from my lungs in a hurried oof . Releasing me just as quickly, I hit the deck with a thump . Rolling onto my side, I clutched my stomach, desperate for air to return to my chest. Bones aching, head pounding. Fuck. Me.

“Ty, stop!” Morgan’s voice cried out again, closer this time, urgency lacing her tone now. “Put them away.”

Daylight enveloped me once again, a rush of feet and hands grappling at my torso.

“Wesley, are you ok?” Soft skin landed on my cheeks, flitting over my ribs, a tenderness in her inspection.

“Fine,” I wheezed, pulling myself upright into a sitting position. “I deserved that.”

Ty huffed from behind her before she shot him a dark look.

“Consider yourself lucky you can still fucking walk,” he snapped pointedly at me. “You’re not welcome here.”

Well, that saved an awkward conversation.

“I’ll pack a bag and leave,” I grunted.

Lifting to my feet, Morgan eyed me cautiously. “No, you’re not going anywhere. Not until we sort this.”

“Morgs.” Tyler gritted through clenched teeth, shifting his attention from me to her.

She held a hand between us. “Ty, you stay with me the next week. Wesley, stay put.”

I shook my head. “No, really, it’s…”

“It’s happening,” she interrupted. “No questions.”

I didn’t understand her reasons for this, but if it meant I had any chance of repairing some sort of relationship with Ty, I would do it.

He ground his jaw, fists clenching then opening again.

Morgan’s hands settled on her hips. “There’s too much at stake here.

Your friendship,” she motioned between us before directing a finger at me, “your fated mate,” then turned to Ty, “and your sister. No, it’s not ideal, and this is something that won’t mend overnight.

But there is too much to lose, to just walk away from…

” She drew a circle in the air between us, “this.”

Ty’s glare didn’t waver or soften. Running his hand over his unshaven jaw and into his hair, he finally shifted his gaze to Morgan, a moment of something I didn’t understand passing between them.

“Fine,” he eventually ground out. “But we are not okay,” he added sharply.

I nodded once before he turned his back and headed toward Morgan’s house.

When he was out of earshot, she turned to me, running a hand over her gold chain. “Give him time,” she said warily.

I clenched my hands behind my neck, knowing her conception of 'time needed for him to be okay with this' and Ty’s were very fucking different.

I would be lucky if he ever got over this. And, in his defense, if I was in his shoes, I probably wouldn’t forgive me either. I had violated bro code in every way possible and deserved everything that came my way.

“I need to talk to Skye,” I mumbled, swinging my gaze to Morgan again.

She arched a brow, arms folded to her front. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea right now.” She scuffed her shoes against the deck, leaning against the wall of the house. “I tried to call her when I ran over here. She said she needed time and hung up.”

Pacing the deck, I fought the urge to crack my knuckles.

“I don’t have time . The longer we leave this, the more time that passes.

..” I stared up at the clouds threatening to expel yet another onslaught of rain on us.

Their dark, lingering fists teased us from above, and I imagined at any minute they would unclench and let go.

“I fucked up, Morgan. I need to fix this.”

She pursed her lips, a small nod. “I get it, really, I do. But turning up at Skye’s house demanding you speak with her is not the way to go about it. Not right now.”

I kicked a stray stone off the side of the deck, watching it land in the grass.

Fuck, I would need to move that before it rooted the lawnmower.

I let out a strangled groan, frustration curling my hands into my hair.

I wanted her to hear me out, to give me a chance to explain.

That I did this to keep her safe, for us .

“I never had a choice. My hand was forced. I only did what I did because Skye’s life was threatened.

” A knowing look passed between us, the kind that told me somehow in the fucked-up universe that Morgan was on my side.

That she understood. “I’m sorry for what I did to you, and I hate I screwed up my friendship with Ty.

But he has to understand it was for his sister. I love her.”

Morgan’s brown eyes glazed over, a tight smile pulling at her lips. She moved toward me, stopping at arm’s length and shoving her hands into her jeans. “Tyler will get past this. I know he will. Just don’t expect it to be overnight is all.”

I hoped she was right, that someday this would all be a distant memory. “Yeah, ok. I’m not giving up, though. I’ll sit outside her house every night until she speaks to me. Can you tell her that?”

Morgan’s brows raised, rippling her forehead. “Are you sure?” She stared at the clouds still looming overhead. “You might want to rethink that.”

I nodded firmly. “Tell her. Please .”

“Okay,” she murmured, although I wasn’t sure she believed me.

“I’m serious. I’ll be there.” I meant every word.

Our fated bond tugged at my heart, considering the possibility of being near Skye again, of holding her in my arms.

Morgan nodded. “Yeah, okay, I’ll make sure she knows.”

“Thank you.”

She made to head home, jumping down off the end of the deck. Slowing, she turned back to face me. “Good luck.”