Page 1 of Forced By the Alpha

Chapter 1 - Sienna

The front door opened with a bang, and I heard the sound of cursing as someone came inside. I didn’t bother turning around, knowing it was only Killian returning from the apothecary. I had been working in the kitchen at Leah’s house for the whole weekend, making potions for the Pinedale werewolf packs, and had sent her mate on a supply run while I was occupied.

“Did they have everything I needed?” I asked.

“I think so,” he mumbled, kicking the door shut behind him. “Next time, I’m staying here to stir your weird soup while you get the stuff, though. Everyone there kept looking at me weirdly.”

I turned around to look and saw him deposit four large paper bags, filled to the brim, onto the kitchen island.

“That’s because wolves smell weird,” I teased, pinching my nose overdramatically. “Like wet dog.”

“Har har,” he said. “Is Leah back yet?”

“No,” I replied.

Killian left the room, and I turned my attention toward unpacking the bags he had brought.

“Pillar candles, slaked lime, crystals, turmeric, ginger root, honey, mugwort, nettle, witch hazel, vetiver, chamomile, mandrake root, moonstone,” I mumbled to myself. “Hey! Where’s the Rose of Jericho I asked for?”

“I thought that was made up!” he shouted back.

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t be able to do my intention ceremony for abundance and revival without the small, spikyplant. I would just have to focus on the healing potions for today and leave any enchantments for another time.

My powers weren’t especially strong, but the one thing I had going for me was knowledge and a willingness to learn more about the mystical processes behind witchcraft. For the past week, I had been in Pinedale, visiting Leah and helping the new town doctor get a better understanding of werewolf health. He was green, to say the least, but I liked to think that my frequent visits from Sparkle Hollow had helped him get better at treating the unique issues that arose within a werewolf pack.

My main goal for this trip was to stock up his office with potions and herbs he could use for the community, so I turned my attention to the jar full of dittany that had been soaking in salt water for the past week. I uncapped another small bottle, poured in a few ounces, and replaced the cap.

“How’s it going in here?” Leah asked as she opened the front door.

“Nearly done with this batch,” I told her. “The protection salve is nearly done, too. Are you able to take it to the doctor when I’m finished with it? I’m not sure I’ll have time to do that today.”

“Of course I can,” Leah said, coming to sit on a kitchen stool. “But you should just stay a few more days. I feel like we haven’t had any time together.”

I turned to look at my friend incredulously. There was nothing I loved more than spending time with her, but we had been attached at the hip ever since I came to town.

“Girl, we’ve spent almost every waking moment together all week. And most of the asleep moments, too,” I pointed out. “I’m pretty sure your mate is ready for me to go home.”

A growl of assent permeated through the house as Killian overheard our conversation.

“See?” I said.

Leah waved her hand in dismissal of her husband’s complaints while I laughed. She and I had been friends since elementary school, and we were as different as could be. While she was petite and brunette, I was tall with red hair. Her quiet resilience and cautious demeanor contrasted with my fierceness and sarcasm. But regardless of our differences, there was nothing that could ever come between us. Our sisterly love for one another had always been more important than our differences.

The one thing I would never interfere with was her mate bond. Even if I didn’t have things I needed to take care of back at home, it was time for me to go.

“Will you at least let me send someone to travel with you back to Sparkle Hollow?” Leah asked as I packed up my supplies and cleaned the kitchen.

“That’s really not necessary,” I pointed out.

“It will make me feel better knowing that you’re safe.”

“I guarantee that I’ll be fine,” I replied. “There haven’t been any threats recently, and the path home is perfectly safe. Besides, have you ever known a time when I wasn’t able to handle myself?”

Leah still looked uneasy but didn’t argue with me anymore about being accompanied back home. I finished up in the kitchen and packed my bags, chatting with her about making plans to visit again soon.

“Don’t wait as long to come back as you did this last time,” she ordered. “I expect to see you in a few weeks!”

“You know I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I replied, giving her a hug before putting my suitcase in the trunk of my car.

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