Page 2 of Blue Moon Mistress

A little of that smile forces through. “I’m too old to be selling girl scout cookies, and I have no intention of trying to convert you to paganism. The conversation we need to have, concerns the full moon, and how I can help you.”

He studies me for a long moment… my breasts are no longer his main focus. When I think he may be considering trying to turn me away again, I hold out my card, meeting his eyes, waiting with every confidence he’ll take it.

He does.

“Scarlette Mathis: Witch?” He looks up at me after he’s read it, and this time, he’s the one who smiles. “I imagine this is going to be a good story. Come on in. I’m interested to hear what you think you know.”

I step inside, a little surprised that the space doesn’t look like a frat house.

Everything is dark wood and leather. The walls are an interesting shade of taupe.

If only it had plants… I could feel at home in the small sitting room he leads me to.

It’s directly to the left of the front door, so there’s not much else for me to see. But I’m certain the rest of his pack is close, listening.

He motions for the couch and takes a seat in a modern leather chair on the other side of the coffee table. The cantilever style chair lets out a tiny squeak as it adjusts to his deceptive weight. And the way he sits, as though he’s ready to spring to his feet at any moment…

If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was afraid of me.

Setting my purse beside my feet, I sit back, cross my legs.

Show no fear.

With a deep breath, and forcing a smile, I start my pitch. “As you know, the full moon is two nights away, so we don’t have time to beat around the bush. You, are in charge of the local werewolf pack, Mr. Dean. And I am here, to make you an offer.”

His brows raise in amusement. “Werewolves? That’s an interesting theory. But I think you’ve read too many books.”

“You and the other three men in the house right now tear yourself apart and change into wolves when the moon is full. It’s a painful transformation that leaves you ravenous and lusting for meat. I don’t know how long it has been since you were turned, so I don’t know if you’ve managed to completely curb your appetite for humans. But I suspect—given the lack of disappearances and gruesome murders—that you’re old enough to know better.”

His face blanked about half way through my “theory.”

“Let me ask you a question, Mr. Dean. What would you give, if I could offer you a way to mute the change. You would still be a servant of the moon, but you’d no longer be its slave. When you turned, it would be into a creature that was still more man than wolf. The majority of your bones wouldn’t rearrange themselves. Your body wouldn’t require the same amount of nourishment afterward.”

His gaze shifts to the side, and I know the other three arerightthere.

“What I’m offering you, is the opportunity for more control. To retain your minds, even if you can’t retain all of your bodies. It’s a byproduct of a spell I need to perform. A spell that requires something ofyouin exchange.”

Movement draws my attention back to the door to the room. Where the other three stand, shifting in various states of agitation.

“What do you need from us?” Thomas asks, arms folded over his chest, his jaw set, his feet planted.

It’s almost as if he’s protecting the others—which doesn’t surprise me.

I’ve done my homework on all of them.

Thomas, the beautiful blond man who was a high school quarterback and prom king in the heartland, moved west and was similarly employed in his college social life. Not a blemish on his record or problematic post on his social media. He’s the one I initially assumed would be a jerk, but in actuality, he’s more likely to call them out.

In our small town, he teaches gym at the high school and coaches the district champion football team.

“I’ll give you a potion to drink before the moon takes you. It will give you the ability to retain your mind,” I hold up my hand because they look too hopeful. “Butonlyfor the night. Though, I warn you, the urges of the wolf won’t go away with that simple potion.”

I pause as they look at each other. I know what they’re thinking, I can imagine how much they want that potion. “Which impulses you give into will depend on your will power, and how much help your pack mates give you. That potion, however is not the one that will truly change you. If you take the potion, and donot help me with the actual spell, you’ll be right back where you were last month.”

“You know my name.” Joshua says, and I nod as I turn back to him, just a dip of my head. “So I assume you’ve been watching us for a while.”

“You’ve covered your tracks well. I thought I’d have to go to the Portland area to perform the spell until I saw one of you four months ago.”

“How do you know it wasn’t a normal wolf?” This time it’s Chase, the smaller man, standing at the back.

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