SPENCER
The thoughts about my future chased me for several hours after we returned to the house.
Did I have one?
I was worried about Mom. She has been living in fear since the day I was born. What would happen if werewolves found me? Would they kill her? Would they kill us both?
And what about witches? Would they punish us too if they found out that Mom broke their law? It was clear now why Mom never wanted to join a coven, and why every time she met witches, she ran in the opposite direction.
I knew it wasn’t my fault I was born. But the fact that I didn’t have a say in the matter didn’t make me feel better. I was the reason her life was so miserable and that she was in danger.
And now, I was putting Finn in danger too.
Finn.
My feelings for him weren't only some attraction to a handsome and sexy-as-hell guy. I liked everything about him. He was smart, funny, kind, devoted, and many other things. And he was strong.
I can’t help it. I love sexy, smart, and strong.
And above all I just mentioned, we had so much in common. He was right about that special connection. That’s why I knew I could trust him from the moment he spoke to me. At least in my heart. Though, it might have taken some time for my brain to catch up. But Finn—he knew it from the moment he saw me. Even before he learned that, just like him, I was born from a wolf and a witch.
* * *
I helped Finn to make dinner.
When I told Mom, she raised a brow with a smile.
“What? I did. I helped put tomatoes on the plate.”
It turned her smile into laughter.
After we ate, Mom and Finn went to have a glass of wine on the patio, and I went upstairs. I put on a bit of makeup, gathered up my hair, and pinned it with a wooden hairpin that looked like a little wand. Still wearing my sand-colored dress, I headed outside.
It was dark now. I glanced at the patio, and in the lamp lights, I saw Finn, who was now sitting alone, waiting for me.
I looked back at the house. “I’ll go tell Mom that we—”
“I already did.” Finn walked to me, threw his arm around my back, and pulled me to his side.
“What did you say to her? You didn’t tell her I wanted to see you turn, did you? Because I’m pretty sure she’s seen that process before, and she knows how it works.”
“No, not turn. I only said you wanted to see my wolf.”
“Did you say it with your eyes glowing like that? Because she’s not stupid, you know.”
“Oh, believe me, I know. Let’s go.” Pulling me along, he started toward the woods.
* * *
FINN
I didn’t want Spencer to talk to her mother right now. Clare was upset, and even though she held it together during the dinner, the moment Spencer went upstairs, she let out her frustration and disappointment at once.
“There’s only one day left, and we’re back to nothing. We need a plan B.”
She found what she was looking for in my great-grandmother’s grimoire. There was a drawing of the bracelet, the symbols, and the spell to connect those symbols and empower the object. The only problem was that the spell should be cast during the full moon, and since it would be the night when Spencer would be turning, there wouldn’t be enough time to prepare the necklace so that option was now off the list.
Clare was on the verge of tears, and she went back to the library so that Spencer wouldn’t see her when she came back.
As angry and as devastated as I was, sitting alone with my heavy thoughts and with my blood boiling in my veins, the moment I saw Spencer coming out of the house, the storm in my head, the panic—everything stopped. My wolf surfaced and both of us glowed as if we saw a sun that came out to chase away the dark, menacing clouds.
All I needed was the look of her blue eyes to make me whole and strong again.
I took her down to the river. We crossed the bridge, and from the darkness of the woods, we came out to the meadow drenched in moonlight.
I took off my shirt, pulled her to my chest, and bowed my head, waiting for her lips to reach out. They did and slightly brushed against mine.
“Don’t get distracted.” Smiling, she gently touched my chest, then slid her hands to my belt. “Turn,” she unbuckled it, looking deep into my eyes, “be a good wolf,” she undid the button on my pants, “and you’ll be rewarded.”
My hands crawled up her back, and my lips sank onto hers. She drew closer, but then stepped back again.
“I think I’m the one who’s distracted. The night, the moon, and you half-naked—”
I pulled her in and kissed her again.
“Okay,” I heaved a breath and let go of her. “Here we go.”
“It’s not painful for you, is it?”
“No. It’s only hard the first time when the process is new, foreign to your body. The second time, it still feels a bit rusty, but it doesn’t hurt as much anymore. And after that, it gets easier and takes no effort at all.” I took off my pants. “Look.” She did. “Spencer, not there. Or I wouldn’t get to the shifting part until dawn.”
“Sorry.” She bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing. “I’m ready,” she said, now looking at my upper body.
My wolf surfaced and pushed himself forward, and the next moment, he released a soft growl.
Spencer shrieked. “That’s it?” I moved closer and, fascinated, she buried her fingers into the fur behind my ears. “That was so quick.” She looked into my wolf’s eyes, then pressed her cheek to my furry face. “Would I be this big too?” she asked, forgetting that I couldn’t reply to her. “Your silver fur is glowing under the moonlight. It’s so beautiful.”
My smug wolf reacted to her words at once. I could almost hear him saying, See? I’m so much better looking than you. She never called you beautiful.
“Okay. You can go for a run now. I’ll wait here.” Spencer dropped her hands.
And she cares about me. My wolf released a satisfied growl at this thought.
But I didn’t move. Forget about it. We’re not going anywhere.
I shifted back, and she shrieked again.
“Now,” I brushed her cheek with the back of my fingers, then pulled the hairpin out of her hair, letting it fall down her shoulders. “Where were we?”
I put my hands on her back and moved them down, feeling every curve of her inviting body, and the lower they got, the tighter I pressed her to me. Her hands slid up my torso, then up my neck. Her fingers dove into my hair, and she stretched up with her lips parted. The moment my lips touched hers, her body fluttered under my hands. Gliding down her thighs, my hands reached the hem of her short dress. I hooked its edge with the tips of my fingers and pulled it off.
I ran my fingers down her abdomen, feeling her warm, tender skin as I gently lowered her onto the soft grass. My lips traveled all over her body, exploring every inch of it, and as she arched from the pleasure, I laid on top of her. Our naked bodies crashed into each other. Her heart beat rapidly against my chest, and with a quiet moan, her eyelids slid closed.
I’d never had a night like this, with someone who I felt like I belonged to, and who I believed wanted to belong to me. She didn’t want me to let go of her, even when I thought she might want an extra breath.
The blood swirled in my veins, and I wanted so badly to tell her about my feelings, to say the words I was afraid to voice all this time. But I was glad that my lips didn’t part from hers to do so. I shouldn’t say those words now and make her think they weren’t real, that all I felt was the result of passion alone.
Nearly one hour later, when she sat up, she looked down at me with her glowing, dreamy blue eyes. I rested my head in her lap and stared at the almost full moon in the inky sky bathing us in its silver light.
I liked a good, long run on a full moon night, and I always appreciated its beauty. But right now, there was nothing in the world I dreaded more.
Are you sure she’s not our mate? I asked my wolf with longing. I just couldn’t imagine having stronger feelings for someone else. She feels like it, doesn’t she? My wolf surfaced, releasing a sad and quiet short howl. And I know you want nothing more than to help me save her, and we will fight for her life any way we can. I would kill and die for her if I have to.
We put on our clothes and lay next to each other.
“It’s getting chilly.” I reached for her and pulled her closer. “Come here. I don’t want you to get cold.”
She rested her head on my chest, spreading her soft hair over my shoulder.
“I’m never cold when I’m with you,” she murmured.
I pressed my lips to her hair.
“Finn?”
“Hm?”
“I can’t wait to go for a run with you.”
My eyes burned, and the next moment, they were wet. Something that hadn’t happened to me for many years, and I was glad she couldn’t see me. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Me too,” I replied quietly.
By the time we returned to the house, Clare was already in her room. A couple of grimoires were missing from the library, and I knew she wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight.
I didn’t want her to overhear us again, and I didn’t want to spend the night away from Spencer either, so when we climbed upstairs and Spencer was about to open her bedroom door, I shook my head and dragged her to my room.
Once inside, she stopped and eyed it in the dim light of the lamp.
“I can tell that this is a lone man’s bedroom who likes spaciousness.”
“Do you like it?”
“Dark wood bed, dark chocolate bed sheets, and all the mysterious paintings of nature. I love it.”
She smiled, crossed to the arch that led to the bathroom, and peeked inside.
“I think I still have grass on my back. Can I take a quick shower?”
“There’s no rush. Let me help you.” I turned on the tap and then gently pulled off her dress. “And I think I have grass on my back too.”
* * *
Holding her in my arms, I watched her fall asleep. For the next couple of hours, I laid my eyes wide open, thinking, remembering everything I’d learned from my research in the last month, trying to find a solution, the answer to one single question—how to save Spencer?
And, of course, I wasn’t the only one still awake.
I heard Clare’s door open, and then her footsteps as she descended the stairs.
I carefully got out of bed, put some clothes on, and followed her.