Page 32 of Wishing for a Werewolf

“I thought you might. Now sign.”

Autumn signs first, and then me.

When we’re done, Severin gives Autumn one of the human phones. “You’ll need to carry this with you at alltimes. I’ll distribute your number to all the fae living in Ferndale Falls. If anyone has a problem, they’ll call.”

“My associate is going to be the one on call.” She hands the phone to me.

I scowl down at the human language covering the screen. “I can’t read this.”

Severin flicks his fingers, and the words become legible. “I’ve put a permanent translation spell on it for you.”

He steps out into the hall, and the last thing he does before he leaves is to paint a sign on the office door’s glass pane: a silhouette of a howling wolf head circled by the words Wild Wolf Security.

“We did it! We got you your wish to have your own security business.” Autumn beams up at me.

A swirl of magic surrounds us, racing through me and easing a pressure I hadn’t realized I carried.

“Did you feel that?” Autumn’s wide green eyes find mine. “I think that was the first piece of the wish swap spell releasing us now that it’s satisfied.”

I nod. “I felt it too.”

“This is amazing. I think it means we really are under a spell, like you said.”

“About that…” I frown. “I saw Lukendevener this morning. He didn’t know anything about wish swaps and will have to do research that might take some time, but he was able to confirm that there’s a spell on me.”

“Sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” Her lips pull into a little grimace. “And I’m sorry I doubted you when you told me what happened. I can be a little impetuous sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” I cock an eyebrow.

“Did you make a joke? I’m so proud of you!” Her green eyes glitter with mischief as she grins at me. Then her phone chimes. “I’ve got to run. I’m meeting the girls for lunch.”

I follow her out onto the street, a feeling of pride filling me as I glance around downtown. With my new business established, Ferndale Falls is indeed now home, and I will make a place for my pack here.

Autumn’s laugh rings through the air as she races across the green to meet Skye on the steps of the library. The sound pulls me toward her and the bright flag of her flame hair.

My fire.

Mine.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Autumn

“Waffles or pastries?” I ask as I meet Skye in front of the library. “You choose.”

“Do I have to?” Skye pouts a little. “You know I like both.”

“Yep, you have to.” I bump my hip with hers. My bestie is one of the sweetest people I know, but that also means she can be a little too sweet. Since I can be a bit forceful, I try to be careful to make sure Skye gets a say in what we do. “After all the work you’ve done for me, we’re totally eating what you want.”

“But I didn’t find you any answers.” A gust of wind brings the crisp cool of fall racing over us, and she pulls on a cute shrug cardigan to cover her arms and shoulders. She’s rocking a 50s-style pinup dress in fire-engine red decorated with white polka dots. Her heels and lipstick match thecolor.

“You found lots.” I push a lock of hair off my face, the skirt of my dark-cranberry dress fluttering in the breeze. “Way more than I would have if I’d tried to search on my own.”

“I found myths and old-wives’ tales. All about how to wish for things.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “Nothing about wishes being swapped.”

“Come on.” My bracelets chime gently as I hook an arm through hers and head towards Town Hall. “It’s not like this is thefirsttime I’ve done something unique.”

She laughs. “Too true. Remember that time in high school you dared Matt to be the first person to jump off the top of the waterfall to show everyone what a blowhard he was?”