BeWolfed (Midnight Creek #1)

5. Elowen

Elowen

S hadow Valley existed in perpetual twilight. As we crossed the boundary from Midnight Creek, the world shifted around us. The crisp clarity of my hometown's wards gave way to a hazy purple-tinged reality where shadows stretched impossibly long. The degraded magical barriers created a liminal space where supernatural elements bled through even to human perception.

I shivered as the strange pressure pressed against my witch senses. "The ward degradation is worse than I remembered."

Rudy walked close beside me, his presence solid and reassuring. "Shadow Valley's always operated on different principles. The supernatural community here prefers the ambiguity."

"You mean they prefer not having to follow rules." I scanned the neon-lit establishments with their gaudy displays promising supernatural pleasures—so different from Midnight Creek's quaint storefronts.

My mind kept circling back to Rose. Was she here somewhere in this perpetual dusk? Being held against her will? The longer she remained missing, the more desperate I felt. Three days until the full moon ritual. Time was running out.

The strange energy of this town seemed to loosen thoughts I'd normally keep contained. "Have you ever heard of cross-species mate bonds?" I asked.

Rudy's stride faltered slightly. "Rare but powerful. My father spoke of them once—connections that transcend species barriers, merging magical signatures into something stronger than either alone."

"Rose mentioned them in her research," I added. "Said they were once revered as sacred bridges between supernatural communities before the divisions grew so rigid."

"Now they're mostly seen as political liabilities," he finished. "Dating is fine, well used to be, but mates – that’s a complication in a world that prefers clear boundaries."

Something unspoken passed between us — an awareness I wasn't ready to acknowledge. My magic responded to his proximity differently than with any other werewolf, reaching outward rather than drawing in.

The Glitter & Stone loomed ahead, its purple neon sign casting eerie light across the dusk. The building seemed to absorb shadows, its stone facade embedded with crystals pulsing with faint magical energy. Two imposing bouncers flanked the front entrance.

The bouncers recognized Rudy, exchanging knowing glances when he mentioned tracking Rose. "Mr. Cash might know something," one offered. "He remembers everyone."

Inside, the strip club was a contradiction of luxury and decay—plush velvet booths, enchanted poles stretching impossibly high, supernatural dancers performing with magically enhanced movements. The air carried a faint metallic tang beneath the expensive liquor and cheap perfume—blood magic.

"Mr. Cash sees everything that happens in Shadow Valley," Rudy murmured, guiding me through the crowd. His body subtly shielded me from predatory gazes.

"Who exactly is Mr. Cash?" I asked, acutely aware of the enhanced senses surrounding us.

"Some kind of crossbreed with connections everywhere. His only loyalty is to profit."

Verne, the gargoyle bartender, nodded us toward a door behind the bar. "He's expecting you," he said, concern flickering in his eyes as they lingered on me. "Be careful what you ask for."

The warning settled uneasily as we followed a fairy hostess to a door marked simply "Management."

Mr. Cash sat behind an ornate desk that dominated the small office. He was unlike any supernatural being I'd ever encountered—impossibly short and wide, with multiple chins, too many teeth, and golden eyes that blinked rapidly in quick succession.

"Well, well," his voice was surprisingly melodious. "The lone wolf and Rose's niece. How very... unexpected."

The way he said "unexpected" made it clear it was anything but. My witch senses prickled with warning. And how did he even know who I was? I’d certainly never been to the strip club before.

"We're looking for Rose," I said directly, refusing to be intimidated by his unnerving stare.

"So many people looking for so many things." Mr. Cash's fingers—short, pudgy, with too many joints—steepled under his multiple chins. "Information is valuable in Shadow Valley."

"Name your price," Rudy's voice was tight with barely restrained impatience.

Cash's gaze shifted between us, calculating. "A favor. Unspecified. To be called in when needed."

"No deal," Rudy said immediately. "Open-ended favors are too dangerous."

Cash leaned forward, his chair groaning under his weight. "Then perhaps a more immediate arrangement. I have a... situation requiring resolution."

"What situation?" Rudy's suspicion was evident.

"The fairy dancer, Elspeth, spoke to your aunt last." Cash's multiple chins quivered as he frowned. "She's been living in my protected quarters since. Pack enforcers have been watching my establishment continuously, waiting for her to leave."

I studied his expression. "You've been protecting her?"

"Protection costs," Cash said bluntly. "Rooms that could generate income, security resources diverted, potential business lost from wolves who disapprove. She knows too much about pack and witch business, and keeping her safe has become... unprofitable."

"So you want us to what—extract her?" Rudy asked.

"I want this situation resolved." Cash's golden eyes blinked rapidly. "Take her with you, convince the wolves to leave my establishment alone, I don't care which. But my business suffers while she remains, and the pack grows more aggressive by the day."

Now his offer made sense—pure self-interest. "You're not concerned about stopping the ritual."

"I'm concerned about my profit margins," Cash corrected. "Blood magic rituals, supernatural politics—none of my concern as long as business flows. But recently, business has not been flowing."

Cash pressed a button, and the fairy hostess appeared with a tray bearing three crystal glasses filled with glowing blue liquid.

"What's this?" I asked, my witch senses instantly alert.

"Twilight Spirit. A specialty of mine." Cash's smile widened unnaturally. "Someone very interested in you two specifically requested I offer it. Paid handsomely for the privilege."

Rudy stiffened. "Who?"

"Client confidentiality," Cash demurred, though his eyes gleamed with amusement. "Let's just say there are... factions... who find the idea of a witch-wolf alliance intriguing."

"You're working for someone else," I realized. "Someone who wants to influence us."

"I work for profit," Cash corrected. "Sometimes that means negotiating between multiple interested parties." He gestured to the drinks. "The Twilight Spirit is harmless—it simply enhances natural connections. Makes what's already present... clearer. My benefactor believes you two might benefit from seeing certain... possibilities more clearly."

"And why would we drink something offered under such suspicious circumstances?" Rudy challenged.

Cash shrugged his impossibly wide shoulders. "Because I won't let you talk to Elspeth unless you do." His smile turned sly. "Besides, I will drink first."

He lifted his glass and took a substantial swallow, making a show of it. "Perfectly safe. Just illuminating."

I exchanged glances with Rudy.

"Who exactly is your client?" I pressed.

“Some think the old boundaries between species need to be broken. Some think new ones should be made. Me?” He shrugged. “I just sell information.”

Reluctantly, I took the smallest possible sip of the glowing liquid. It tasted of blueberries and starlight, with an underlying wildness that warmed as it went down.

My magic responded immediately, becoming more vibrant, more present—but not out of control. Instead, it felt like a veil had been lifted, allowing me to perceive magical energies more clearly.

Including the energy between Rudy and me.

I glanced at him, startled to see golden threads of magic stretching between us, visible only to my enhanced perception. His eyes widened slightly as he took a small sip from his own glass, suggesting he could see it too—the way our magical signatures reached for each other, intertwining in the space between us.

Cash watched our reactions with unmistakable satisfaction. "Fascinating, isn't it? How certain energies naturally complement each other?"

"The fairy dancer," Rudy prompted, clearly trying to refocus the conversation despite the new awareness humming between us.

"Third stage, far left," Cash directed, waving a pudgy hand in dismissal. "Our business is concluded. Enjoy your drinks."

The abrupt dismissal felt calculated, but I was too distracted by the new magical awareness to protest. As we left the office, I caught Mr. Cash's reflection in a mirror—his expression no longer bored but intensely focused, watching us with something that looked disturbingly like anticipation.

The club seemed more crowded when we re-emerged, the music pulsing with a hypnotic beat that made my skin tingle. The Twilight Spirit's effects continued to build, not overwhelming my senses but enhancing them, making the magical currents throughout the club visible as flowing streams of colored light.

We made our way toward the stage Cash had indicated.

Rudy glanced at me, his eyes briefly flaring gold. "I can see your magic. Actually see it."

"I can see yours too," I admitted. "Like golden threads reaching out."

His expression grew troubled. "And connecting with yours. That's not normal, Elowen."

Before I could respond, we reached the third stage where a fairy dancer with translucent wings performed. Elspeth—it had to be. Unlike the other dancers whose movements were sensual but practiced, hers carried a desperate energy, her wings occasionally fluttering with what looked like fear rather than performance. When our eyes met, recognition flashed across her features, followed immediately by panic.

She finished her dance quickly, disappearing backstage before we could approach. Rudy nodded toward a side corridor. "Service area. She'll have to pass through there to reach the dressing rooms."

We positioned ourselves in the shadows of the corridor, waiting. Minutes later, Elspeth appeared, moving hurriedly with her head down. When she spotted us, she froze like a cornered animal.

"We're not here to hurt you," I said quickly. "We're looking for Rose Montgomery. I'm her niece."

The fairy's eyes widened. "You shouldn't be here," she whispered, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "They watch me. All the time."

"We can help you," I assured her. "Cash told us you've been staying in his protected quarters. You don't have to remain here."

Elspeth's wings fluttered with nervous energy. "You don't understand. There's nowhere safe for me now. The pack has marked me—they can track my fairy signature anywhere I go."

"Then come with us," I suggested. "To Midnight Creek. The wards there are stronger."

"No," she said firmly. “It wouldn’t be safe.”

"Is there somewhere else you could go?” Rudy asked. “Someone who could protect you after we leave?"

"There's a fae sanctuary in the outer reaches of Shadow Valley," she admitted. "Cash has been... negotiating my passage. For a substantial fee, of course."

"We'll cover it," I said without hesitation. "Consider it payment for information about Rose."

Relief flickered across her features before worry returned. "The pack. The corrupted ones," she explained, wings trembling visibly. "They took Rose after she spoke to me. They'll take you too if they see us talking."

"Please," I moved closer, letting my witch signature become perceivable to her. "Rose is my only family. We need to find her before the full moon ritual."

Elspeth's fear warred with compassion. Finally, she nodded sharply. "The old quarries east of town. They're keeping the witches there—seven of them, including your aunt. For the doorway ritual."

"Doorway?" Rudy pressed. "What doorway?"

"I don’t know what it means," Elspeth whispered, her voice trembling. "The alpha isn't himself anymore. Something else looks through his eyes. Something wrong ."

The revelation sent a chill down my spine. "And the witches?"

"Power sources. Their natural magic channeled through blood magic corruption." Her eyes fixed on mine, suddenly intense. "Your aunt is still fighting them. She's weakened their hold somehow, disrupted the preparation rituals. That's why they've kept her isolated from the others."

My heart clenched. "Is she hurt?"

"Weakened, but alive." Elspeth's wings fluttered nervously. "They need her conscious and her will intact for the ritual to work. But after..." She didn't finish the sentence.

"The witches are at the southern quarry now?" Rudy asked, his body tense with urgent energy.

"Not all of them. They're gathering them for a preparation ritual tonight, but the main ceremony is at the full moon." Elspeth's gaze darted toward the main club area. "I have to go. If they see us talking—"

"One last thing," I interrupted. "Do you know who's really behind this? Is it just the alpha?"

“I don’t know,” she said and then she was gone.

"We need to leave," Rudy said, his hand finding mine with unexpected urgency. "If they're gathering witches tonight for a preparation ritual, the pack will be on high alert."

I nodded, but as we turned to go, I caught sight of a wolf I recognized from the Silver Flask—one of the enforcers who had confronted us there. He was speaking with Mr. Cash near the bar, his gaze scanning the crowd with predatory focus.

"Too late," I murmured. "We've been made."

Rudy followed my gaze, his body shifting subtly into a protective stance. "Back exit. Through the service corridor. Now."

We moved quickly, slipping through the crowd toward the service area Elspeth had used. The effects of the Twilight Spirit continued to intensify, making the magical connections throughout the club visible as a complex web of energies. Most concerning were the threads connecting several patrons to the pack enforcer—tainted, sickly bonds that pulsed with corrupted magic.

We reached the back exit and emerged into the perpetual twilight of Shadow Valley's alleyways. The cool night air should have cleared my head, but instead, it intensified the magical awareness. Every sense felt heightened—the textures of brick against my fingertips, the subtle shifts in magical currents around us, and most of all, the golden threads connecting me to Rudy, growing stronger with each passing moment.

"We should get back to Midnight Creek," I said.“They’re watching the car,” he said, peeking around the side of the building. “We should lay low for a bit.”

But when he turned, his eyes met mine, the gold in them brightening.I stepped closer to him. "Elowen." My name was a warning and a plea combined. "This isn't—"

"I know." I reached up, my fingertips brushing his jaw. "The Twilight Spirit is enhancing what's already between us. Making it impossible to ignore." I could see our magics intertwining more visibly now, witch-violet and wolf-gold creating patterns that danced in the space between us.

"I've wanted you since you threatened me with that book," he admitted, voice dropping to a growl that sent heat pooling low in my belly.

"I've wanted you since you shifted from wolf to man and glared at me like I was the intruder." The confession fell from my lips with surprising ease, walls lowering that I normally kept firmly in place.

We moved at the same moment, meeting halfway in a kiss that felt like inevitability. His mouth claimed mine with hunger that matched my own, his arms pulling me against him with desperate strength. I gasped against his lips, my magic surging in response, reaching for his power with joyful recognition.

We stumbled backward until my back hit the wall of the alley, hidden in shadow from the main street. Some distant part of my mind recognized the danger, the vulnerability, but it was drowned out by the overwhelming need to be closer to him, to feel our magics merge completely.

"This isn't how I wanted this," Rudy murmured against my neck, his lips trailing fire across my skin. "Not because of some supernatural cocktail."

"It's not the drink," I insisted, fingers tangling in his hair. "It's just... lowering our barriers. This was always going to happen."

A growl rumbled low in his chest, vibrating against me as his hands slid beneath my shirt, rough palms gliding over my bare skin. Our magics flared together, creating a cocoon of power around us that shimmered with mingled violet and gold.

The contrast between his callused touch and my softness sent shockwaves of heat straight to my core. My magic crackled in response, violet sparks flickering along my fingertips before dissolving into the air. For once, it wasn't wild or erratic—it flowed in perfect synchrony with the desire pounding through my veins.

"Tell me to stop," he growled, his restraint hanging by a thread. "If there's any part of you that doesn't want this—"

"I want this," I breathed, meeting his gaze directly. "I want you. Whatever happens next."

Something primal flashed in his eyes, and then his control snapped. He claimed my mouth in a kiss that stole the breath from my lungs, his body pressing me hard against the wall. His hands roamed lower, lifting my skirt and yanking down my underwear. It dropped to my feet, and I stepped out of it.

He gave a sharp inhale, then his fingers were between my legs, parting me, stroking through the slickness pooling there. A satisfied growl vibrated through his chest.

"Fuck, Elowen," he groaned, his forehead pressing against mine for a brief, trembling second. "You're already so wet for me."

I whimpered as he teased my clit, slow circles that sent lightning straight to my core. My hips jerked forward instinctively, chasing more, but he held me firm, keeping me pinned against the rough brick.

"Patience," he murmured, voice thick with dark amusement. "I want to feel you unravel first."

His fingers delved deeper, sliding between my folds, coaxing more moans from my lips. I braced my hands against his chest, fingers digging into the hard muscle beneath his shirt, barely able to think past the sensation of his touch. His rhythm quickened, pressing, stroking, every movement designed to push me higher. My magic surged in response, a wild, shimmering pulse between us, feeding into the storm of pleasure building inside me.

"Rudy—" I gasped, my body tightening, pleasure cresting too fast, too sharp.

He pulled his fingers away just as I teetered on the edge, making me cry out in frustration. His hands gripped my waist, spinning me effortlessly to face the wall. I barely had time to process the shift before his palm slid down my spine, urging me to arch for him.

"Stay just like that," he ordered, his voice rough with command. "I want to feel you like this."

The sound of his zipper, the sharp intake of breath as he freed himself—then the blunt, thick head of his cock pressed against my entrance. He didn't tease this time, didn't make me wait. He thrust forward, seating himself deep with one hard stroke, stretching me, filling me until I had no choice but to take him completely.

A broken moan tore from my lips, my fingers splayed against the brick. He was so big, so deep, the fullness almost unbearable. But instead of giving me time to adjust, he reached around, fingers finding my clit again, rubbing in tight, deliberate circles.

"Rudy!" My voice was high, desperate, the pleasure overwhelming.

"That's it, little witch," he growled against my ear, his breath hot on my skin. "Take me. Feel how perfectly you fit around me."

He set a relentless pace, thrusting deep and slow, each movement perfectly timed with the strokes of his fingers against my clit. My body clenched around him, caught between the pleasure of his cock stretching me and the devastating friction at my core.

The alley faded, the world narrowing to nothing but the sensation of him inside me, surrounding me, owning me.

"Mine," he growled against my neck, his hips snapping harder, deeper. "Say it."

"Yours," I gasped, no hesitation, no doubt.

"Fuck, Elowen—" His rhythm faltered, his body shuddering against mine. "Come for me. Now."

His fingers pressed just right, his cock hitting that perfect spot inside me, and I shattered. My orgasm ripped through me, pleasure so intense it blurred into magic, spilling outward in a violet surge of power. Rudy groaned, his grip tightening as he thrust deep one last time.

His release spilling into me as he bit into my shoulder. I didn’t even feel the pain of the bite, but with it, the mate bond locked into place with a pulse of raw, electric energy.

We stayed like that, bodies shaking, magic settling around us in shimmering waves. My cheek rested against the cool brick, his weight solid and grounding behind me. His fingers traced the new mark forming on my shoulder—his mark. His claim.

A claim I hadn't expected.

Rudy’s breath was warm against my skin, but his body was tense, his hands hesitant now where they'd been so sure just moments before. "Elowen." His voice was rough, strained. "I didn’t know—"

"I didn't either," I admitted, my own voice barely above a whisper. My heart pounded, but not from fear. From uncertainty. From the weight of what had just happened. "But... you want to undo it?" The words were quiet, but saying them hurt more than I'd anticipated. The thought that he might regret this, might see it as a mistake—it made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

His fingers tightened on my skin, and I felt the sharp spike of his emotions through the bond—shock, a flash of fear, then something deeper. Fierce. Protective. "No. Never." He spun me around, his grip strong but not forceful, his golden eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "You're mine now." The words were nearly a growl, but beneath them, I felt the raw edge of vulnerability. "And I’ve never wanted anyone more."

Relief flooded through me so fast I nearly laughed, but I swallowed it back, searching his face for any sign of hesitation. There was none. Only the same uncertainty I felt. The same unspoken fear— Did I want this? Did he? Would we be enough?

I let out a slow breath, pressing my palm against his chest, right over the steady beat of his heart. "Good," I said, voice steadier than I felt. "Because you’re mine now too."

Something in him eased at that, tension unraveling from his frame as if he'd been bracing for something painful. A slow, wicked grin ghosted across his lips, but his hands trembled slightly where they held me. I realized then—he’d been afraid of my answer just as much as I’d been afraid of his.

Later, as we stood trembling in the aftermath, our bodies still pressed together and the mate bond humming with new life between us, reality began to reassert itself. The magical mark on my shoulder—his mark—tingled with residual power. Through our new connection, I could feel him.

Not just his presence, but his emotions. The way they swirled in an intricate storm—satisfaction, concern, and beneath it all, a fierce joy he couldn't entirely suppress. But there was something else, too. A lingering shadow of doubt, not in me, but in himself.

"I can feel you," I whispered, still adjusting to the strange dual awareness. "Your emotions. Your magic."

His thumb brushed my cheek with surprising tenderness. "And I can feel yours." His voice was softer now, the rough edges worn down by exhaustion and the strange, undeniable rightness between us. "Are you really okay with this? With being permanently connected to someone you've known for days?"

The question contained worlds. Was I okay with the loss of independence I'd always guarded so fiercely? With being bound to a lone wolf in the middle of supernatural tensions? With the politics that would inevitably follow?

But deeper than that was the fear that made my throat tighten—that he might not be okay with it. That maybe I wasn’t what he wanted after all.

I swallowed hard, choosing honesty. "I don’t know."

His expression flickered, something unreadable crossing his face before he carefully masked it. I felt the way his heart clenched, the way he tried to shield the pang of uncertainty from me, but the bond didn’t lie. He was afraid I’d reject this. Reject him.

I reached up, tracing my fingers along his jaw, grounding myself in the warmth of his skin. "But I don’t regret it."

Surprise flashed through the bond, and then his shoulders sagged slightly, relief rolling off him in waves. "You mean that?"

"I do." I touched the mate mark on my shoulder, still tingling with magical energy. "We were manipulated into the timing, but not into the connection itself. That was already forming. We both felt it. This just... forced us to acknowledge it sooner."

His relief was palpable now, a quiet storm settling inside him. "We'll figure out the rest together."

A beat of silence stretched between us, something unspoken lingering in the air. Then Rudy exhaled, his hand sliding down to lace his fingers with mine.

"He knew," Rudy said after a moment, anger threading through his voice. "Cash manipulated us into forming the mate bond."

"But he was working for someone else," I added, straightening my clothing with shaking hands. "Some third party who wanted us bonded. But why? What do they gain from it?"

Rudy's expression darkened. "In the current climate, a witch-wolf mating is politically complicated for both of us. It makes us stronger, but also targets from multiple sides."

I considered the possibilities. "Cash mentioned someone who thinks 'freely chosen bonds' might combat the corruption. What if someone is deliberately working against the entity behind the blood magic?"

"Or setting us up to be more valuable sacrifices," Rudy countered grimly. "A mated pair's bond would generate more power in a ritual than two separate individuals."

The implications were troubling. We'd been pawns in some larger game—one where we couldn't even identify all the players. But one thing was certain now.

We weren’t playing alone anymore.

As we made our way back toward the boundary between Shadow Valley and Midnight Creek, I noticed something extraordinary. My magic, so unreliable for years, now hummed with steady purpose, strengthened and focused by its connection to Rudy's power. When I called a small flame to my palm experimentally, it formed instantly—perfect and controlled, without the erratic surges that had plagued me since childhood.

"The bond stabilizes your magic," Rudy observed, watching the flame dance steadily above my hand.

"And what does it do for you?" I asked, curious about the reciprocal effects.

He closed his eyes briefly, seeming to look inward. "Everything's... sharper. Clearer. My wolf senses are enhanced, but there's more control too. Less struggle between man and wolf."

The discovery was unexpected but welcome. Whatever Mr. Cash's motivations for facilitating our bond, it had given us strengths we hadn't possessed separately. Strengths we would need if we were going to save Rose and stop whatever entity was planning to use the full moon ritual as a doorway between worlds.

"We need to check the southern quarry," I said as we crossed back into Midnight Creek's more structured reality. "If they're gathering witches there tonight—"

"We need a plan first," Rudy countered, his strategic mind already working. "Going in unprepared against pack enforcers and blood magic would be suicide."

Through our bond, I felt his protective instincts warring with his respect for my abilities—a complex balance that made me appreciate him even more. He wasn't trying to hold me back. He was thinking tactically.

"Tomorrow then," I agreed. "We map the quarries, gather what information we have from Rose's research, and make a proper plan."

As Midnight Creek came into view, the weight of what had happened—what we'd learned—settled over us. Seven witches, including Rose. A corrupted alpha serving as vessel for an ancient entity. A ritual designed to open a doorway between worlds.

And us, newly bonded, walking into the center of it all.