Page 35 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

Thirteen

Karl

After all the excitement, we settled into a steady peace at the cottage. I helped Aggie garden and make her potions, and Luka would … well, play in the garden in wolf form. The more time we spent around each other, the more I could tell she was warming up to the idea of us. Most women would probably feel the need to choose one or the other, but I hadn’t gotten that impression from her yet. Then again, we weren’t exactly forcing the issue either. Why bother when what we had—whatever it was—seemed to be working just fine?

It didn’t matter either way. I would be near her however she wished, whether as a companion, or something more.

And if she didn’t want me around anymore?

Well, I would deal with that when and if it became an issue. Much like the impending return of the witches (who would be looking to ensure Luka and I had moved on). I made a mental note to brainstorm about it later.

If Aggie was worried about the coven that was sniffing around, she didn’t say anything about it. I wondered if on one level, she simply trusted the wolf and I to handle it. That was a comforting thought, however unlikely. Aggie had been on her own too long to just suddenly hand over responsibility to us, and I understood that.

“Hey … uh … you got a second?” Luka asked.

Aggie was away delivering to customers, so the wolf and I were alone in the small cottage. I blinked, wondering if he wanted to discuss the witches while Aggie was away. I’d be secretly impressed to see him show such initiative.

“So … the full moon is tonight.”

I glanced at him sharply, inwardly cursing for not realizing it sooner. “Is that why you’ve been away so much the last day or so?” I asked.

The wolf put a hand behind his head, embarrassed.

“Yeah. It’s hard to control the transformation the closer I get, and tonight I’ll need to be in the forest somewhere.”

I nodded, wondering why on earth he was telling me this. As if he could read my inscrutable expression, he blushed further.

“The thing is … well … my wolf is pretty convinced Aggie is our mate. And I’m not disagreeing.”

I still failed to see what that had to do with me.

“The point is … we’re … you see—”

I sighed in frustration. “For crying out loud, spit it out.”

“My wolf is going to try and mate with her, and I want you to protect her tonight.”

Silence rang loudly in the aftermath of his declaration, and I took a moment to process what he’d said. Then I took another moment to make sure I arranged my face in the appropriate expression.

“Let me get this straight. You will become a raging, out of control beast who will attempt to mount Aggie? Is that what the fuck you’re telling me?”

He shrunk in front of me, his shoulders hunched.

“Yeah…something like that.”

I leaned back in my chair, wishing for a stiff drink. Protecting Aggie would be no problem for me, but it was clear we wouldn’t be able to stay at the cottage. The wolf was likely to destroy it.

Our ears pricked as we both heard Aggie rounding the corner a half block away, the cadence of her steps as recognizable to my ears as my own. I sighed and shot the wolf a glance.

“Just tell her. You don’t want her pissed again, do you?”

The wolf grumbled. “She doesn’t kiss me when she’s pissed.”

I rolled my eyes. “Case in point, then.”

I set the last plate back in the cabinet and surveyed my work. I didn’t mind tidying up things while Aggie was away; it filled me with a sense of purpose to assist her in caring for her home.

“You’re…you’re ok with all of this?”

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