Page 37 of Wishing for a Werewolf (Ferndale Falls Forever #2)

Rune

Even though she ran the hay maze all weekend, Autumn’s already in the red barn making handmade soap by the time I arrive Monday morning.

My fire hums as she works, her movements fast and precise and filled with purpose. I love seeing her like this.

“Morning!” Her beaming smile stops my breath and makes the center of my chest tingle. There’s never been a more beautiful sight in all the realms.

When she hurries over, I tuck a lock of her flame-colored hair behind her ear, barely stopping myself from freeing the rest of it from its bun, so it will fall around her shoulders in waves of fire. My fire. My temptation. I am the moth ever eager to be burned.

One of my pack calls my name from outside, and I drop my hand. “We’re here to put up the hay.”

“Oh, good. I just…” She flaps a hand back toward her worktable. “I’m right in the middle of a batch. I need to add the spices before it hardens.”

“Finish.”

She wavers, clearly torn between conflicting duties. “But—”

“Finish your soap.” I grip her shoulders and meet her eyes. “The town might riot if they can’t buy more.”

Her cheeks turn red, and she gives a little laugh, half pleased, half embarrassed. Yet I do not lie. Her soap was a big hit with everyone who visited the hay maze. She deserves to capitalize on her success.

“We’ll go ahead and bring the first half of the hay here.”

“I can drive the tractor so they can put away the rest,” her father says, coming up behind me.

“Really, Dad?” Autumn’s eyes go wide, her voice so full of hope it makes my heart pinch.

I want to growl at the older man for making her feel this way, as if she should be grateful for the tiniest scraps of family fealty.

Even though she explained all the worry her parents carry over how the farm’s been doing, it’s difficult for me to fathom why they don’t support her more.

If there’s one surety in my world, it’s that my pack always has my back.

“Really, pumpkin,” he says.

Her mother nods from beside him. “We… might have been wrong about the hay maze. It was good for the farm.”

Autumn darts forward, throwing her arms around both of them. “Thank you.”

Instead of remaining stiff as I expect, her parents hug her back, love shining from their eyes. It mollifies me somewhat. This is the way Autumn deserves to be treated. It’s good to see them finally do so.

When they break apart, her mother says, “Now get back to making your special soap.”

“I have to start a batch of lavender next—”

“I’ve got it.” Her mother shoos her over to her worktable.

When I step outside, I’m immediately surrounded by the new group of pack mates fresh from Faerie.

They’re here to gain experience living in their fae forms, and there’s even one of the pack’s precious pups back at the house with the twins, struggling to shift, just as they did.

But they’ll get it—I no longer have any doubts about my purpose here on Earth. I will aid my pack.

And I will find my own happiness.

Right before I head for the field, I look back to watch Autumn, her lips curled into a smile as she hums a bright tune.

My fire, bringing light and joy into my life.

I want her to be mine forever.

I’m patrolling downtown the next morning, when a shadow fae I don’t know calls to me from outside the bank.

She’s tall and thin, with golden hair and milk-pale skin that’s so perfectly unblemished it only makes me love Autumn’s freckles all the more.

The woman wears a diaphanous gown made of Faerie silk in the palest blush of pink with long sleeves that hide the shadow tattoos on her arms, giving her the appearance of an elf from ages past.

“How can I help?” I ask, assuming this will be something to do with my position as town protector.

“Someone told me you’re the person who made this incredible soap.” She pulls a sliver of Autumn’s pumpkin spice latte soap from her pocket.

I open my mouth, ready to deny it, then stop myself. Protesting will do no good—the wish swap spell will make her think it’s me no matter what I say, so I might as well see where this leads. “Not alone. I have a partner.”

“Well, I have a business proposition for you and your partner. I want to open a shop here in Ferndale Falls, but my king tells me I need non-magical items to help disguise the store’s purpose from regular humans. I’d like to sell your soap in my shop.”

“No.” I shake my head. “That won’t do.” Not when I have a much, much better idea.

“But—”

“Hold a moment.” I lift a finger and step away. Then I pull out my phone and tap the icon I know best. As soon as Autumn answers with a hello, I say, “You need to come downtown. Now. It’s important.”

“On my way.” There’s no doubt or hesitation in her tone, and it warms my chest to think she trusts me so.

I turn back to the shadow fae. “My partner will join us shortly. Autumn lives close.”

She frowns at me. The shadow fae are used to being obeyed in their home realm of Avalon. She’s probably never been told no by another type of fae.

But I’m no one’s toady—I’m cu sith from a long line of proud warriors. I lift my chin and meet her gaze without flinching.

“Fine.”

I gesture to the other side of the street, and we cross to Grounds for Celebration. Several of the human television shows and movies depict people having meetings inside coffee shops, so it seems like a solid choice.

It feels like it takes forever, but in less than ten minutes, I hear the familiar growl of Tank’s engine, and Autumn turns onto Main Street and pulls to a stop in front of us. She jumps out of the car and slams the door shut with the squeal of protesting hinges.

“Rune! What is it? Is everything okay?”

“Better than okay,” I say. “I may have just found a way for you to have your soap shop.”

Her hair’s up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing work clothes of jeans and a plain shirt, yet she’s never looked more beautiful than she does now as her face breaks into a glorious smile.

I bring her over to the shadow fae and say, “This is Autumn, my partner. She’s the one who made the soap.”

“I am Gwenfrie. I would speak to you of business.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Gwenfrie.” Autumn gestures toward Grounds for Celebration. “Let’s go inside and talk.”

Autumn tells Gwenfrie to choose a table, then drags me toward the counter and orders three pumpkin spice lattes from Devina. As soon as the barista starts grinding the beans, Autumn uses the covering sound to whisper, “What’s this about a soap shop?”

“She wants to sell your soap in her shop. She said something about using it to hide what her wares really are. We didn’t get into it. I said no and that we had to talk to you.”

“You said no?”

“No, to her selling your soap.” I squeeze her arm. “I want you to sell it.”

“Operation Wish Swap.” Autumn’s lips twist into a wry grin.

“Yes.” Yet I do not speak the whole truth. This is no longer about the wish swap.

I love this woman. Her hard work, her determination, her willingness to help others. She deserves to have someone help her as well, and I want to be that person.

Everything I’m doing here today is about giving Autumn her dreams.