NaomiI nod and smile at Bernard as we drive down the winding road towards the bay. I shift in my seat uncomfortably as he continues to stretch his weathered hand over to pat my knee. “Is it okay if I drop you here, Neave?” Bernard the old man asks me as I smile and nod. It’s not near the Mermaid Inn, but I didn’t want him to know where I was heading. He seems like a nice enough man. I’m grateful that I had given him a fake name when we met, not wanting to reveal my true destination - the Mermaid Inn.“Thank you, Bernard for all of your kindness,” I tell him, opening the car door. I can feel his lingering gaze on my backside. I roll my eyes and step out of the car. “Anytime Neave … if you need a friend in the city, let me know,” I slam the car door shut behind me, giving him a little wave as I start walking down through the bustling streets of Bloodmoon Bay. It’s early morning here, which means the streets are mostly safe. There is a mix of species that live in the bay. For all its bea
NaomiAfter the first decent night's sleep in too long, I dragged myself downstairs packing what little I had left here. I would miss the Mermaid Inn. It had been my refuge in a time when I felt I had less than nothing. Now with my few meager possessions, the crisp salty air seeing the waves crash out the window. I finally felt ready for my next stop.I waited in the bar for Jasper. I wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me. No one had shown me this kind of kindness when I had nothing to offer in return. I had no money or status here, like back home. Just me and even then I brought more trouble than I was worth. I heard his heavy footsteps creak against the ground as he rushed down the stairs.“Naomi,” he seemed surprised to see me. Did he think I would fight him on this and beg to stay? I’ll admit it had crossed my mind, but when I really thought about it … I couldn’t refuse. “I wanted to say goodbye before I left and thank you for everything you have done for me. I know
NaomiI stared a little unsure, as Hilda told me some far-fetched tale. Still, I listened, not wanting to be rude. I was certain if I cut her off, then she would refuse my request. “What does this have to do with … me?” she smiled shrewdly, tilting her head to the side as I light breeze flittered through the porch. I eyed my lemonade, my throat feeling dry, before I decided to be brave enough to take a sip. After the way she frightened me to death, I was certain if she wanted to do something to me, she wouldn’t simply poison me with lemonade.I took a sip; the bubbles tingling my tongue as the sweet cloudy drink trickled down my throat. It was surprisingly good. “There is a rumour of a coven having been marked for darkness. The only way to cure a rogue bite is to kill the rogue whose venom runs in their veins. What makes this tricky is … you need to know what the wolf looks like in human form. But all rogues have a scent.” She wrinkled my nose at me as I shuffled in my seat. I wasn’t
NaomiMy heart thundered. He had found me, but I’m certain it had been more than 24 hours. I had been counting the time as it went back as I had left Hilda. His strong hands encircled me as I looked up into those dark, deep eyes. Every time I saw Cal, I would be reminded of how handsome he was. It wasn’t fair his good looks were already a spell that pulled me under. He didn’t need magic to entice me. His intoxicating, musky scent wrapped around me like an erotic shroud. Every note bearing the weight of pure male dominance was enough to have me struggling to form a coherent thought.“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you sneaking out?” His words, so rich and rough, seemed to find a straight path between my thighs, sending ripples of uncontrolled desire throughout my body. I swallowed, pulling out of his hold, his tattooed arms flexing under my touch as he looked at me with raven-dark hair slicked back over his forehead. The intricate moving images on his skin were a tantalising sight, dr
NaomiGoddess, this was a dangerous game. I was certain the spell had gone as I felt more control in my actions rather than feeling as if Cal was the one pulling the strings, but that didn’t stop my body from hungering for the same result. We wanted Cal, and we wanted him badly.My head swam with all the questions I wanted answers to. I needed to word them carefully, but so far my plan to use Cal’s spell against his was working. I squirmed against him, making sure I rubbed against his cock just right. His eyes heated men could be so predictable I should have tried this from the start. I suppressed the smirk threatening to show on my face. I was sure he would catch on to what I was doing in that case and I needed his guard still lowered. I let out a soft moan, not entirely forced, but it seemed to do the trick.“What exactly is this favour?” I asked softly, whilst stroking one finger up and down his chest. He pushed me back into the wall, caging me in his need for me growing. I could s
NaomiCalyx’s grip tightens on my arm as he pulled me into the rundown tavern, ignoring my protests. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows on the stained walls, the flickering lanterns barely illuminating the faces of the rough-looking patrons. The pungent stench of stale beer and sweat hung heavy in the air, mixed with the sharp tang of cigarette smoke that curled around trembling fingers. In one corner, a group of men sat huddled together, puffing on their pipes and filling the room with the sweet aroma of tobacco.Cal’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking around the half-light lit bar. He ordered two beers and led me to a secluded booth in the back. I could feel the weight of gazes on us as we walked by, mostly directed at Cal. My stomach churned with unease as we sat down on the coarse leather seats. I took a hesitant sip of my beer, feeling the bitterness of hops and malt on my tongue. It wasn’t my preferred drink, but I needed something to calm my nerves in this strained situation. As
NaomiI didn’t know what to make of the ritual. After what Hilda and Cal had told me, I know something wasn’t adding up. I knew I had to make a decision soon - stay here with them or leave with only a handful of cash to my name. The thought of having nowhere else to go filled me with dread and desperation. My hand shook as I counted the crumpled bills in my pocket, realising it would only cover a night or two of shelter at best. After that, I had no idea where I would go. But for now; it was my only option.I weighed my options, tapping my foot nervously as I looked between Cal and the bustling tavern. If I accepted his offer to complete the ritual, I would regain my wolf. But that also meant trusting his coven, a group of powerful witches and warlocks who held their own secrets and motivations. And even with my wolf back, I would still be a rogue without a pack or territory to call home. As I considered my next move, a plan forms in my mind - one that could buy me some time before ma
CalyxI don’t know why I even suggested doing a binding spell. I just didn’t want her to try to leave me again. Desperation clawed at my chest as I felt my magic hum through my body, the sickly darkness closing in on me. She was the one thing that seemed to stop those dark whispers, binding her to me … would it save me? Save us? I don’t know, but I also couldn’t risk another failed attempt at the ritual. The second she agreed, I lifted the spell drowning out our voices as I grabbed her wrist leading her out of the noisy tavern. The sounds of chatter and music filled our ears, almost deafening from the silence.As we stepped onto the busy street, I searched frantically for a secluded spot where we could perform the ritual. My hands trembled with anticipation and anger as I thought about what she had done. It was just a simple spell, requiring only a cut on our palms and a few words, but I wanted to make her work for it. Make her prove her devotion to getting her wolf back. I had given