Page 50 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
For a while I don’t think Ginger is going to answer. She’s pulled the silent treatment before. Which if we’re being honest, with Ginger, is not so much of a punishment and a reprieve. Eventually she huffs and does answer though.
“It’s not TesspersonallyI don’t like, it’s people like her. Ones that think werewolves are real mindless beasts that like to attack and eat people. All those stupid stories and myths are the reason we had to go into hiding in the first place. Did anyone ever stop to thinkwhyshifters were attacking humans? Maybe, because they attacked us first and threatened our pups and forced us outof our homes and called us monsters?” Her voice goes a little shrill and she gets winded from her impassioned speech.
She’s not wrong, that did happen. But that’s not Tess. That’s not why she is so obsessed with finding shifters and proving their existence. I don’t know all the specific details, but I do know she witnessed something as a child that stuck with her and all she wants is the truth. Once I show it to her, she’ll no longer be a threat.
“Tess isn’t like that Ginger. You’ll see. She already knows shifters are real and hasn’t told anyone yet. That has to be worth something.” Uncrossing my arms I step close to Ginger and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She sighs dramatically. “The real threat is the person who told her about Snowberry. Find that person and we can take out all your wrath on them.”
She grins wide and a bit sadistically at that. “Oh, I plan on it.”
With renewed fervor her fingers fly over her keyboard and the data on her screens shifts faster than before. I don’t interrupt her as I leave and let her hunt down her prey. I have my own prey to catch.
Chapter 27: Ryder
Last night was torture. I had to listen to Hunter and Lottie fucking. Not that I’m a prude and against fucking, quite the opposite actually. It was torture because all I could think of was Tess and me partaking in such activities. At first, I forced myself to think of Tess so I wouldn’t think about my brother naked and having sex, gross. And since there was no way for me to not hear what they were doing without leaving, I figured I’d distract myself with thoughts of Tess.
Imagining her spicy apple cider scent and strands of her silky red hair wrapped around my fingers, led to images of her bare creamy skin bent over in front of me on all fours. Which inevitably ended with my jerking off while my brother fucked his mate in the room down the hall. It was weird and I do not want it to happen again. Therefor, I’m moving to the cabin Lottie just vacated. Since it appears she won’t be returning there, I’ll gladly take it as my own to avoid any more awkward mornings around the coffee pot where we all know I heard them fucking the night before.
Packing a bag, I drive to the little log cabin we used to bring girls to in high school to make out and round second base with. Pretty sure we both got our first blow jobs in this cabin too. Good memories.
When I enter the cabin, looking forward to a little bit of quiet and privacy, my senses are instantly bombarded with Hunter and Lottie’s scents. Back at the main house they’d kept all their sexual activities contained to the bedroom. Here, apparently, they had free reign over the place. It smells like them and sex, everywhere.
In the bedroom it’s even worse. I immediately strip the bedding and put it in the washer, then I get to wiping down every surface with bleach, vacuuming, opening all the windows, and spraying pet odor neutralizer everywhere. We discovered years ago that shit worked pretty well covering up our scents and evidence of what we may have done that we didn’t want our parents to know about.
Hours pass and the space is finally clean and put back together. The scent of my brother is gone or at least normal enough that I’m used to it. Lottie’s scent, however, is newer and more fragrant, a floral perfume lingering in the back of my nose making it itch. Nothing like Tess’s warm smooth apple scent. Just thinking about it has my heart slowing and my breathing regulating. Until a hint of that gardenia invades my senses again, just enough to remind me Tess’s scent isn’t really here.
She’s never been here and if I want this place to smell like her, I’ll need to bring her here. The thought is thrilling. Would she come with me if I asked her? I know she’s attracted to me, that I turn her on. Her scent told me as much if her behavior hadn’t already.
Can I risk such a thing right now? I know I’m trying to convince her to keep my secret, and I know she’s not completely on board with it yet. Would it muddy the waters to get closer to her? To get more personally involved? Is it even a good idea?
I want nothing more than to get more involved with Tess, every molecule in my body screams at me to do so. Would she see it as manipulation though? A way to control her actions?She may push my buttons to irritation, but I would never try to control her actions and choices. That doesn’t mean I can’t express my desires.
At this point, I’m nearly beyond my capability of restraining myself with her. I want her. To touch her, kiss her, explore every inch of her body and worship it. I think she’d let me too.
Bringing her here would be a good opportunity to talk as well. The more she gets to know me, and the people of Snowberry, the better. She’ll see the truth of who we are. If things evolve past talking, even better. The need swelling inside me to have her is almost unbearable. I’ve never felt such a pull to another before. It tugs at every part of me relentlessly, demanding I go to her.
I’m done circling the bush and waiting around. Theresa Rowland is about to learn what a male at the end of his rope looks like.
It doesn’t take long to find her. She hasn’t masked her scent since I mentioned it to her. I can smell her trail all the way through town. The weaker the scent the longer ago she was there, the stronger the sooner. Luckily, I catch her on the street. This way I don’t have to make up an excuse to get her away from others to talk.
“Sheriff,” Tess says in greeting.
“Red,” I mimic her casual tone, stepping up to her side and matching her pace as she walks down the sidewalk.
“Surprised I didn’t see you yesterday.”
A smirk pulls at my lips, and I slip my hands loosely into my pockets. Very few people manage to put me at ease as quickly as Tess does. The effect is almost instantaneous. My shoulders drop, my muscles unclench, and my stride shortens and slows.
“I do have a job you know?”
“Really? Could have fooled me. I thought your job was stalking lone females until they succumb to your small-towncharms and completely forget you can shift into a giant hairy beast.”
She really does have a mouth on her. The words just roll right off her tongue. I watch that tongue and her mouth and momentarily forget her sassing to imagine it doing other things that don’t irritate me.
“That’s only for you, Red.” Tess purses her lips, and it doesn’t help the visual in my head. Clearing my throat, I refocus my attention on the street ahead of us. “I was wondering if I could ask you something?”
“Only if I get to ask you something,” she instantly retorts. Since what I have planned includes her asking questions already, it’s easy to give in to her demand this time.
“Fair enough. Would you come to my cabin with me? I’d like to explain a little more about shifters and Snowberry. You can ask me your many questions and maybe I can answer them privately. Without interruption or distraction.”
