Page 86 of Wishing for a Werewolf

Her cries tear at my heart. Think, Autumn, effing think!

My nerves burn as I hold the magic inside me while it battles to be let out. Sweat beads my skin, and my whole body shakes, every muscle trembling.

Could I give the little boy Mozzarella instead? Losing the regular baby goat is better than losing my bonded familiar, but it’s not fair to put any animal into a home not suited to them.

Then it comes to me. Oh! That’s perfect! A sob of relief escapes me as I create a clear image of what I want in my mind. Then I free my magic. It rushes out of me like floodwaters released from a dam, flowing out into the world.

There’s a pop, and a little goat stuffie appears in the boy’s arms. It’s mine from when I was a child, packed away in the farmhouse attic somewhere.

“Where did that come from?” the father asks.

“Autumn had it,” Rune growls, his worried eyes locked on me.

“That makes sense.” The man’s expression goes a bit dazed, and a tickle of magic hums through the air as Severin’s protection spell for Ferndale Falls goes to work on the normal humans, making them forget anything magical just occurred.

They wander back around the maze, and Rune wraps an arm around me when I try to follow and stumble a little bit. “Are you all right?”

“Not gonna lie. I’m a little fried.” Then I smile. “But I did it! I controlled my wish magic!”

“That’s wonderful.” His hand tightens on my waist. “You’rewonderful.”

We round the corner of the maze in time to wave goodbye to everyone as the hayride heads back down the driveway.

As soon as it’s out of sight, I slump against Rune. “We did it! We put on the best damned hay maze this town has seen in years.” I feel so proud to have brought back this family tradition and to have honored the memory of Nana and Pop while also helping the farm.

The air surrounding us swirls with magic, and a weight lifts, leaving me feeling lighter.

“Another piece of the wish swap spell has been satisfied,” Rune says. “Only one more wish to go.”

“Yep, only one,” I lie, having zero idea how the hell to break my heart wish and actually free us from the spell.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

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.