Page 51 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
Tess stops and turns to face me, her long red hair falling over one shoulder. I want to reach out and pull it all to one side, tilt her head baring her neck to me, and sink my fangs into her soft flesh. Biting is a part of a shifter’s mating habits and to bite a partner and mark her with not only my scent but my literal teeth marks, claims her as mine for all to see. During a mate bonding it’s also a key component in solidifying the bond, a mixing of blood and saliva bringing us closer together and physically bonding a pair for life.
The fact that I feel the need to do so, so strongly is almost enough to make me rescind my offer. Getting her alone is exactly what I want and also not. The line between a rutting fever and professionalism is beginning to blur. No longer do I want to run her out of town or distance myself from her. It seems the more time I spend around her, the less I want her to leave, and the more I want her naked in my bed.
I have no idea how this is all going to play out, but I know how I want it to.
“You would actually answer all my questions?”
“Maybe not all of them, but as many as I’m able. That counts as your question by the way, so if you want to ask more you should come with me.”
She grunts at me in a way that is surprisingly adorable, obviously unhappy about using up her question. She thinks about my offer, looking me over and trying to decide if I have ulterior motives. I do, but maybe just not the ones she thinks. She seems to come to a conclusion and nods at me.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go with you. But know, I still have my knife, and I will still stab you if I have too.”
“Understood.”
I lead Tess back to my truck parked at Town Hall, waving at Dottie through the window of the diner as we pass. After movie night and now this, I’m sure Dottie will have plenty to gossip about with Donna and the others. The two Evan’s brothers finding females at the same time, we must be the talk of the town.
Chapter 28: Tess
Ryder’s cabin is exactly that, a small single story picturesque log cabin set in a cute meadow surrounded by thick dense woods. The road changed from paved to gravel about a mile or so ago and there are no neighbors to be seen. A perfect spot for a killer beast, or a shifter who likes his privacy. So far there’s been no indication that Ryder is a killer, nor his beast form. He could have easily taken me out that night in the forest, but he didn’t. I can only hope the other shifters are like him.
Ryder pulls up and parks not far from the front door to the cabin. We hop out of his pickup and I follow him, checking my surroundings for anything out of place or suspicious. Other than the fact that the front door is unlocked and we walk right in, nothing seems unusual about the cabin.
Inside is just as quaint as outside. Wood paneling and furniture, a soft cushy looking couch and chairs, a wood burning fireplace and paintings of landscapes hanging on the walls. There’s a small kitchen to my right with a dining table and four chairs, while the cozy living room is to my left. A small hallway is straight ahead leading to a few doors. It can’t have more than one bedroom, it’s not big enough.
“Rustic,” I say as we enter the cabin.
Ryder looks around taking in the space as if he hadn’t realized it before. “I guess you could call it that. I prefer comfortable, or lived in. This cabin has been in the family for generations and has been used for many occasions and guests. Lottie was staying here before she moved to the main house with Hunter.”
“You have a main house?”
Is Ryder rich? I hadn’t considered this before, since he’s just the sheriff. I did discover his brother is the mayor though. Maybe it’s Hunter’s house? But then where does Ryder live if this isn’t his home?
“Yeah, me and Hunter live there. It’s about a mile or so north from here. But he and Lottie needed some space, if you know what I mean. I just moved into the cabin today. It’s usually only used for short term stays but if Lottie moves in permanently, I may be staying here longer than expected.”
“Oh? Is she thinking about moving here? I didn’t realize she was considering it, since her life and career are back in Los Angeles. How long has she been in town?”
“About as long as you have,” he says completely casually.
“And she’s already considering relocating and moving in with your brother?”
Ryder just shrugs and leads me into the living room, where I plop down onto the sofa and realize it is as comfortable as it looks. Man, I could spend some afternoons napping on this thing like a cat.
“When shifters find their mates, they’re not likely to be separated from them so easily.”
I shift in my seat, repositioning to face him more fully as he sits on the other end of the couch. He’s already started dropping shifter bombs that I need to dissect.
“Mates? As in fated by the gods, mates? No other shall ever be enough kind of thing?” Ryder stares at me like I’m crazy, which to be fair, this entire situation is a little crazy.
“Something like that. More like they are perfectly matched to one another and no other shall fit as seamlessly. We have no idea if there is a god involved or not.”
“So, you don’t have like, special gods you pray to or something?”
He shakes his head and relaxes back into the sofa, his legs spreading to get more comfortable. I have the strangest urge to crawl across the couch and into his lap. Weird.
“No, we don’t pray to any god or gods, other than the ones humans do.”
“You’re telling me there are Buddhist shifters?” I ask incredulously.
