Page 44 of Wishing for a Werewolf (Ferndale Falls Forever #2)

As Mrs. Greely continues down Main Street, a clatter of hooves makes me spin around as Babybelle darts out of an alleyway and onto the sidewalk.

“Babybelle! What are you doing here?” I lean over and pick her up. “You’re supposed to be at the farm.” I don’t even mention the goat-proof fence. Why bother? It’s never going to live up to its name where my mischievous familiar is concerned.

“I missed you!” She gives my chin a lick.

“I missed you, too.” I rub her little forehead. “Want to come to work with me tomorrow? You’ll have to promise not to chew anything.”

“I promise.”

Rune chuckles, and I give him a wry smile over my familiar’s head. Babybelle always means her promises when she gives them, but she still finds it really hard to stick to them for long. I’ll bring along blueberry dental chews and one of my sacrificed slippers and hope like hell they’re enough.

We amble up the sidewalk, headed toward the town green. Streetlights and shop windows add a warm glow to the low evening light, and happy shoppers fill downtown with a pleasant buzz.

The walking tulips dash across the green, the rolling pumpkins following behind, and Babybelle squirms in my arms and points toward them with both front hooves. “I want to play!”

“Okay, but only for a little bit. There’s a big batch of slow-cooker chili waiting at home.”

“With melted cheddar?” Rune asks, sounding downright perky for him.

“Of course.”

“On the bread or on the chili?”

“You can have both,” I say with a laugh. I’ve created a cheese monster—he might even like it more than I do. No regrets.

“Do I get chili?” Babybelle turns big pitiful eyes on me.

“You can’t have chili, sweetie. But I made you butternut goat cookies.” I set her down, and she races off after her friends, baaing in agreement when I call out, “No chewing the tulips!”

Rune and I stand with our arms around each other, watching them play.

I give him an extra squeeze, wondering if he’s thinking of who’s missing from this familiar picture. “You doing okay?”

“Of course.” He glances down at me, a frown pinching his brow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you might miss the twins.” A new batch of werewolves showed up at his house yesterday, ready for their turn to learn about Earth and living in their fae forms, but it’s not the same as having his niece and nephew around.

“I do miss them, but it’s fine. They’ll visit soon.”

“Oh, yeah. They were so excited when I explained about Christmas presents.” I laugh, remembering their babbling voices and bright eyes.

“Yet another thing you’ll need to teach me about.”

“No worries. I’m a gift-shopper extraordinaire.” Finding the perfect present for a loved one is the best feeling in the world.

The little ones run past us, heading in the other direction, the pumpkins in the lead this time.

“Will you want pups of your own, some day?” His voice drops to a deep rumble as he pulls me closer. “My pups?”

Emotion fills my chest, bubbling over until I feel like I’ll explode. “Of course I want to have your pups! Once we get a bit more settled, I can make an appointment to have my implant removed, and we can start trying.” I can only imagine his knot means we won’t have to try for long.

Delight shines from his golden eyes. “There’s something you should know. Twins seem to run in my family.”

“Oh.” I suck in a surprised breath. Somehow, I hadn’t quite put that together.

“Is that okay?”

“More than okay.” I throw my arms around him. “I always wanted a brother or sister. After seeing how you are with your sister and how your niece and nephew are together, twins sounds perfect.”

A group of gnomes tumbles out of Cake My Day and across the green. Diamond does a front flip that deposits her right in front of us, her arms thrown wide like a gymnast sticking the landing. She dips her head to Rune, her moss cap staying magically in place. “Protector.”

I can feel his quiet pride. Ending the wish swap spell means townspeople finally recognize his role in the community, and it’s been good for him.

“What can I do for you?” he asks.

“I think the question might be what can I do for you?” She breaks into laughter at his puzzled look and waves a hand toward Bling It On.

“Come and see me when you figure it out.” With one last wink at me, she does a series of long front rolls to catch up with the rest of the group, and they pour through the door of the jewelry store.

His gaze goes thoughtful as he stares after the gnomes, and he lets out a little grunt.

Diamond’s hint makes me realize there’s a part of me that would like a wedding. I’ve always wanted an outdoors one, and I can’t picture Rune having any other kind. I imagine walking to him barefoot across a forest glen, wearing a flowing cream-colored dress, a crown of flowers woven into my hair.

But from all of our talks, it’s clear that being fated mates is far stronger and longer lasting than any human marriage.

And I can feel it. The mate bond thrums in my chest, Rune’s love and desire vibrating through my entire being, filling me with certainty of our eternal connection.

It’s more than I could ever have wished for.

“Whatever are you thinking, my fire?” His fingers coil in my hair, his hand cupping the back of my neck to get me to look up at him.

“Of us, of our future,” I say.

“We are forever, my mate.” His words ring with conviction. “I will love you until the sun shines its last light, until the great forests of Faerie have grown anew a million times. You are my Autumn, my fire, lighting and warming my entire life.”

“Oh, Rune.” I sway toward him. “I love you, too.”

Ferndale Falls surrounds us with laughter and people and all the beautiful chaos of life, but it all fades to only the two of us as Rune kisses me until I swoon in his strong arms, my heart wish made true.

Thank you for reading Wishing for a Werewolf. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Want more Autumn and Rune? Read on for a special bonus story!

Ready for more cozy spicy grumpy-sunshine romance? Want to know what happens when Luke finally talks to Skye? Ready to see the big grump participate in a dance competition? Dive into Dancing with the Dragon, book three of Ferndale Falls Forever!

My magic trapped me in a spicy romance book with my grumpy dragon boss, and we have to act out the plot!

It’s a good news, bad news situation. Good news, I now know what kind of witch I am.

Bad news, Luke, my new boss, is furious that I sucked us into a book.

And not just any book—a spicy romance featuring a dance competition!

Now the powerful dragon is stuck playing my lovestruck boyfriend until we finish the book and win the competition.

The growly dragon doesn’t need to rustle his wings or thrash his tail—I know I messed up. I’ve gone from competent librarian to mistress of magical mayhem with my very first spell. So much for impressing the new boss!

The fact that he’s so gorgeous makes it downright unbearable.

Because when the book’s plot takes over and Luke sweeps me into his strong arms, I crave the heat sizzling between us.

Even worse? The romantic in me wants all his sweet worlds of love to be true, which has got to be my biggest mistake of all.

DANCING WITH THE DRAGON

Ready for more Autumn and Rune? I’ve got a special bonus story of them at Christmas! Want to enjoy the werepuppies’ first Christmas? Ready to see if there’s a very special present for Autumn under the tree? Sign up for my newsletter to receive your free copy of this and all my extra bonuses!

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Want more spicy grumpy sunshine romances set in this same world?

Eager to find out what happened when human witches like Naomi met their orc husbands in Faerie?

Dive into a completed series packed with spicy romance, humor, adventure, found family, magic, talking animal friends, and a cozy orc village: Brides of the Moon Blade Clan!

Or read on for a sneak peek from book one, Bound to the Orc Warlord:

“Shit. Shit. Shit!”

I careen into a treetop, the pine needles scraping across bare skin. The thin trunk hits me in the chest, and I wrap my arms and legs around it instinctively, holding on for dear life as it whips back and forth under the force of my impact.

Finally, it comes to a stop, and I let out a relieved sigh. I’m no longer stuck in the middle of the air.

Nope. Now I’m stuck like a cat up a tree.

The clearing’s really far below. I’m still weightless, but if I hold on to the branches, can I climb down to the ground? And then what—cling to this tree trunk for the rest of my life?

I push myself down, my front sliding along the trunk.

Thank god I wore my cute low-top sneakers instead of sandals to sneak around the boss’ office.

They didn’t do me any good there, but they’re sure helping now.

My favorite green dress is a bit more of a problem.

I love the flowy skirt that flares out when I spin, but it’s flowing a little too much right now, sliding up to my waist and flashing my butt. At least there’s no one around to see.

Before I get very far, a small black bird lands on a tuft of needles beside me, its head tilting until it pins me with one startling red eye. It opens an equally red beak and stares at me for several seconds.

I’m an animal lover, but a shiver of unease trickles down my spine.

“Stop being silly, Ashley,” I whisper and wave at the bird to scare it away.

A sharp beak peck like a needle of pain makes me yank my arm back. A drop of blood wells from the top of my hand. A matching glisten of liquid gleams on its beak. Then a thick black tongue licks at the blood.

It’s creepy as fuck.

“Nope. No. Just all the no.” I shake a fist at it, moving as fast as I can so it can’t land another hit. “Shoo! Get out of here.”

Instead of flying off, it lets out a loud croak. A chorus of answering calls comes from the sky, and a black cloud of flapping wings block out the sunlight. These birds radiate malice.

I wrap my legs more tightly around the trunk so I can let go with my arms. My torso floats out from the tree as I flap both hands wildly around my head, terrified these vicious things will attack my face. They dive in, and jabs of pain lance my arms wherever their beaks strike.

An angry shriek rings out, and an emerald-green shape arrows through the flock, scattering it in every direction.

Three-foot long wings snap open with a whomp, pulling the creature to an abrupt and graceful halt.

A mini-dragon hangs in the air beside me, wings spread a good five-foot wide.

A crest of long, feather-like scales stands straight up on its forehead as it lets out a hiss and darts its snapping mouth toward the first bird.

The black bird leaps away with an angry squawk, wings beating wildly as it falls for a few seconds before regaining height. It circles up into the sky, croaking all the while, almost as if it hurls insults at me.

Or at the dragon, who calls after the bird, its voice a fluting series of notes that sound more pointed than song. Is it talking? Can it do that?

A bemused giggle bubbles up. Why the hell not? It’s a dragon!

Things only get wilder from there, because a black unicorn gallops into the clearing, a huge monster of a man on its back. He leans forward to swing a leg over and drop to the ground. Brown leather pants cling to muscular thighs, and his blue-green shirt matches the color of the forest’s pines.

The unicorn neighs, and the man tips his head back to yell up at me, his deep voice booming with words I can’t understand.

The movement shows his face, and I suck in a shocked breath. Rich green skin stretches over high cheekbones, and ivory tusks bracket a strong mouth. A trimmed beard covers his square jaw, as black as the long braid dangling down his back. His green ears come to sharp points at the top.

He’s huge and strange and gorgeous, and his intense gaze eats me up with a force I can feel.

Oh, god. Flames burst across my cheeks. My skirt’s hiked up around my waist, my butt and thighs hanging out there for the entire freaking world to see.

Thank god I wore my prettiest pink panties, because he’s sure getting an eyeful.