Page 34 of Wishing for a Werewolf (Ferndale Falls Forever #2)

Rune

Astrid and Agnar come racing over and jump up to plant their paws on my thighs. “Is it done?” “Can we play?”

Babybelle bounces around in front of Autumn, baaing repeatedly.

“No, I didn’t forget about you,” the redheaded witch grins down at her familiar with fond affection. “You can all do the maze. Run around to the entrance and see if you can find your way here!”

They take off, and I smile to see the pups so excited to try this human game.

“I like this new you,” Autumn says. When I shoot her a questioning look, she adds, “You’re happier with your family here. You look like you can smile without breaking something.” She pulls her lips down in an exaggerated frown.

I grunt and fight down a laugh. “Do I really look like that?”

“Oh, I’m sure I can’t match your level of grumpy,” she teases, her freckled nose scrunching in delight. “You usually look much, much worse.”

Riselda laughs as she comes around the corner. “Oh, I like you.” She looks at me while pointing at Autumn. “I like her.”

I snort with amusement. “Noted.”

“I sent the rest of our pack mates back to Alarria,” my sister says. “With instructions to send a new group in four days.”

I grunt and look at Autumn. “Will that work?”

“It should. As long as it doesn’t rain, it won’t take more than two people to watch over the maze while it’s open.”

“And if it rains?” I ask.

“Then we put your super speed to work spreading tarps and hope it clears soon. But not to worry—the weather forecast is perfect for the next few days. We’re having an amazingly mild fall this year.”

“Severin’s doing. He’s babying his plants,” I say. “I imagine every fall will be like this from now on.”

“No complaints here.”

Babybelle comes barreling out of the maze, bleating in triumph.

“You sure did!” Autumn leans over to pick up the mini-goat, and Babybelle bumps her head against the redhead’s chin, squirming with excitement. “She wants me to tell everyone she won.”

The pups tumble from the exit, yipping with excitement. “Babybelle, you were so fast!” “You beat us!”

More happy bleats come from the mini-goat, and she wiggles until Autumn sets her down.

“Let’s try it backward!” The pups spin back toward the maze.

When they finish playing in the maze, they beg for Autumn to take us all to town again.

“Well, sure, if it’s okay with your mom and uncle,” she says. “I thought building the hay maze would take a lot longer than this. I’ve got some free time.”

I share a look with my sister, who gives a pleased nod.

This trip should be a repeat of the one from last week, only it feels completely different.

My niece and nephew walk down the sidewalk in their upright werewolf forms, free from any leash or need to pretend to be quiet.

Every second brings a new question as they hang from Autumn’s hands and ask her what everything is, little voices chattering and bright.

The redheaded witch answers every query, never tiring of their constant demands.

“She’s good with them,” Riselda murmurs.

“She is.”

“You should do something about that.” She pokes my arm. “Don’t be all stoic like you usually are.”

I grunt.

“Come on. What is it?” My sister’s sharp eyes narrow. “What’s holding you back?”

“All of the wishes I made at the Wishing Well have come true.” I pause. “All but one.”

She makes circles with her finger in a get-on-with-it gesture.

“I wished to find my fated mate,” I say.

“Your fated mate?” My sister’s eyes widen.

She mated with the strongest non-related male in the pack.

There wasn’t any love between them at first, yet they’re happy and both very dedicated to the pups.

“I didn’t think of it, but now that the doors of Faerie are open, it is possible you could find yours. ”

“But what if it’s not Autumn?”

Riselda narrows her eyes and immediately shoots back, “What if it is? Don’t let her get away.” That’s my sister, the alpha, always ready to cut to the heart of the matter.

The excited voices of my niece and nephew reach a fever pitch, pulling our attention back to them as we come to Cake My Day.

Finally able to enter in their upright forms, they race inside, leaving a despondent Babybelle behind.

Autumn hovers in the doorway, clearly torn as the twins yell at her to come and explain all the different chocolate treats.

“Go and help them decide,” I say. “I’ll stay with Babybelle.”

“How very noble of you.” She grins up at me.

“It’s not noble.” I snort. “If you don’t help, we’ll be here all day, and I want to eat pie.”

She laughs and tucks a lock of red hair behind her ear. “Which kind? Apple or pumpkin?”

“Both.” My lips twitch. “I want to eat all the pie.”

“Every pie, coming up!” She disappears into the bakery.

We picnic on the green again, and the twins do indeed love all things chocolate, with chocolate chip cookies being their favorite.

“That’s good news.” Autumn leans toward me. “We can buy you premade cookies. All you have to do it slice them up and pop them in the oven, and ten minutes later you’ve got warm chocolate chip cookies.”

“Is that how you make them?”

“No, I bake them from scratch.”

“Perhaps you can show me how to do that someday.”

Her smile wavers for a split second, then reappears. “Sure.”

The rolling pumpkins bounce across the green, the tulips running after. Babybelle gives a happy bleat and races over to them, the pups following. They yell for Autumn to join them, and she leaps up, ready to play.

They go whizzing past, my fire’s hair streaming out behind her like a glorious flag of flame, the twins darting in to tickle her hands, making her laugh even harder. Autumn gives her whole being over to the delight of making the pups happy.

Seeing it makes my heart skip.

And right then and there, fated mate or not, I know I love her.