Chapter Sixteen
Howl You Like My Plan?
Miles
Iwander along the cobblestone streets littered with fallen leaves in oranges, reds, and yellows.
The decorations are going up in every direction I turn as businesses prepare for the Samhain festival coming in four days.
Witches use their magic to lift the big pumpkins, stacking them together in a beautiful display.
People smile as I pass them, each time I dip my head as I continue to stroll.
In many ways, Pumpkinridge is just like Jasper. Small town, quaint businesses with quirky names, and generations of people who have lived here their whole lives. I can’t wait to get to know these people, too. Learning all their stories and quirks.
Walking off the path, I take the dirt path towards the wolf territory. Man, some things really don’t change, because tucked in the Whispering Pines are the wolf lodgings and main Pack House.
Deciding to explore the businesses, I open the door to The Lone Wolf Tavern and find none other than Adren sitting at the wooden bar, sipping from a tankard of beer. Well, time to learn more about this wolf pack.
The bar stool next to him is empty, so I slide onto it and signal to the bartender that I need service. Adren looks at me out of the corner of his eye before setting his tankard down.
“Hello son, how are you liking Pumpkinridge so far?”
“I like it! All the things that I didn’t know existed have blown me away. I saw a selkie carrying her skin in a purse so nobody stole it. I didn’t even know that was a thing either.”
Adren chuckles as he turns in his stool to face me. “Yeah, I guess things are a bit of a change from Jasper. It will take some getting used to, but you will get there.”
“For sure. I’m actually glad I caught you. Bellamy mentioned I need to ask about the wolf traditions for Samhain?”
“Bellamy as in the dark twin? Why in the world are you mingling with the witches?”
I duck my head, embarrassed that I haven’t mentioned to my Alpha that she’s my fated mate and the reason I’m here.
My foot bounces on the spindle of the stool. “That’s actually funny that you ask. The thing is…she’s my fated mate.”
“Oh…ohhhh. So when your old Alpha said that you always felt drawn to somewhere over here and that you finally found us…that’s what was drawing you here?”
“Yeah. I obviously didn’t know what or who until my first day here. She actually was the one who brought me the welcome basket for the town. I knew the second our eyes locked.”
He claps me on the shoulder. “That’s wonderful. How’s the mating been going since then?”
My shoulders droop. “It hasn’t. I’m sure you know she isn’t the most open person.
I don’t even know if she knows that she’s my fated mate, or she is living in an extreme level of denial.
Either way, I’ve spent this entire time trying to win her over.
To say it’s been a challenge is putting it mildly. ”
With his hand gently gripping my shoulder, he assures me, “Son, I’m sure you know that our beautiful Moon Goddess would never pair you with someone who isn’t meant for you in every possible way.
She is diligent and careful in her selections.
Even in selecting someone, Bellamy, that doesn’t seem to be your match in any possible way.
But one day, down this wonderful path of life, you will have your ‘aha’ moment where the pieces fall into the puzzle and you see what she’s seen all along.
You just have to have patience and acceptance. ”
“Yeah, my mom said something along the same lines. I think I’m making progress, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed when she mentioned that there were pack traditions to attend to during Samhain. I was hoping to win her over finally that night.”
Adren smirks before grabbing his tankard and taking a hearty swallow. “You will have to find a way to balance pack responsibilities and mate responsibilities. As we all do. I’m sure you can find a time that night for whatever it is.”
“Yeah,” I say as the bartender walks over, and I order whatever it is Adren is having. Not really sure what there is available, regardless.
“As for our traditions, we have a midnight run. The moment the moon peaks at its highest, we shift and run through the Whispering Pines together. It’s our way of honoring all the wolves that came before us.”
My head bobs as I pick up the tankard full of a deep amber liquid that looks more ale than beer. Taking a swig, I cough as the strong liquid flows down my throat. Adren chuckles as he taps my back.
“It takes a bit to get used to, but Tamos is the best ale maker in all the world.” He takes another swig before “ahh”-ing.
“At the end of the run, all bonded pairs of wolves join in a howl, celebrating our appreciation for everything the Moon Goddess has blessed us with that year. Then, our last thing is sending our wishes up to the Goddess for what we wish to have in the new year.”
“Wow, that is pretty cool. I wish I could bring Bellamy to it, but I understand that it’s reserved for wolves only.”
He nods his head. “We have a time of the night where we all gather to celebrate Samhain as a community. But we break off to each of our territories as the veil thins. Each choosing our own species-specific traditions.”
“That’s understandable.” I sit with that for a little while as we both sip on our ales. Neither of us feels the urge to fill the space with filler conversation.
He places his empty tankard down on the bar top before sliding off the stool. He slaps the wood a few times before waving to the bartender and turning to me.
“I’m glad you are here, Miles, I’m sure you will fit in with us perfectly. Let’s chat about your role in the pack when Samhain is over. Right now, we are all busy with our preparations. I’m sure you would like to know more about pup wrangling and probably why I chose that for you?”
“Yeah…kinda, but sounds good, Alpha.”
He dips his head before leaving. With my tankard in hand, I stare into it as I swirl the deep amber liquid.
I’ve got to figure out a way to meet both my pack needs and my desire to be with Bellamy.
I wonder what time she will do the veil sealing?
What if I use my wish for the new year for my mateship?
Is that allowed? Can I say, “Hey can you help a brother out?” or will that be frowned upon? Probably frowned upon.
Checking the time on my phone, I realize that I’ve only got enough time to make it back to Hex & Harken before Clarissa is off work. Maybe she can help me figure out a way to tie the two together?
I’m winding around the corner toward the cafe right as I see Clarissa walking out the door and searching around for me. Perfect timing. When her eyes lock on mine, a smile spreads across her face.
“There you are.” She beams as she waits for me to walk over.
“I made it just in time it seems.”
“You sure did. First of all, how are we loving Pumpkinridge so far?”
We take a seat in the metal chairs sitting outside the cafe, with one of those small round tables between us. The town is quieter now as people head home for the night or make their way to the taverns.
“I actually love it here. It’s so different from Jasper, where I’m from, but it does have its similarities. We don’t have magic or anything, but we do have a gossip mill that would rival the crows.”
One of the crows swoops down, landing next to my hand on the table. He, at least I think it’s a he, glares at me before ruffling his feathers and taking off to the top of the nearest lamppost.
She smiles affectionately towards the crow, even if he’s doing his best to ignore us. “Yeah, I can’t imagine what our town would seem like to someone new. I grew up here, so for me it’s more along the lines of I can’t imagine what a world would be like without all of this.”
“For sure it’s a lot less entertaining. But I loved Jasper and all its own quirks. Have you ever been outside of here? I know I heard that people do leave, but not often.”
“Not really. I personally haven’t left. Most of the ones that leave are merchants to sell their stuff outside of here and also bring us back things from the human world.”
I can’t help but laugh. Even though I grew up in the “human world”, I never considered it that. Maybe because my town was full of shifters too, but it still throws me off to think of them separated.
“That makes sense. Jasper has humans too, and before you ask, yes they are aware of what we are.”
Her mouth drops open. “Tell me you’re lying. You live with humans and they don’t try to kill you?”
My head shakes slowly back and forth as a smile spreads across my face. “They definitely don’t try to kill us.”
Her mouth is still hanging open. I think I broke her.
“That’s so wild. I’ll have to really think about that and attempt to wrap my head around it.
Alright, so why don’t we start with why this is it so important to you to win over Bellamy?
I know you are a wolf, so my assumption is that she is your fated mate? Is that right?”
I nod my head.
“That makes so much sense.” She claps her hand to her forehead. “Now I understand why none of my advances worked.” She buries her face in her hands.
I reach over and pull her hands down from her face as she peeks up at me through her lashes.
“Don’t beat yourself up. I didn’t exactly announce it to everyone when I came to town. Mostly because I didn’t know until I saw her, but also because I’m not the type to brag or gossip.”
“Fair, I kind of gathered that about you. Alright, so what have you tried so far?”
Now it’s my turn to be embarrassed. “I, uh, tried warm hugs and back pats, being present without being annoying, giving her space when she needs it, bringing her coffee and breakfast every morning. I recently brought her a raccoon because Matilda said that Bellamy has always wanted a pet.”
“Let’s go ahead and agree that we won’t be taking anymore Bellamy advice from Matilda, agreed?”
“Yeah…agreed.”
“Good, I’ve known Bellamy her entire life, and while we aren’t friends, it’s a small town and she’s a one of a kind girl.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, she isn’t the flowers and sonnets, swoony person.
Unless she is planning to use those flowers to poison you, in which case, you’ve already messed up. ”
“Yeah, I learned the hard way that she doesn’t like sonnets. Poor guy is still hiding from her.”
Clarissa just blinks at me, as if I’m the biggest idiot. “Honestly, Matilda doesn’t even know Bellamy or what she would like. She’s just out here throwing around dating advice like unwanted glitter confetti.”
Chuckling, I say, “Fair enough. I’m wanting to win her over during Samhain.
I’m hoping you can help me with that. She said something about sealing the veil and how she’s the only one that can do it.
So, my plan was to be there with her, but I found out that I’ve got to take part in the Midnight Pack Run, and I’m not even sure when she’s doing her thing. ”
“Ah yeah, she does that every year. It’s at the 13th hour, which is one in the morning.
You will have to map out where she will start and where she’ll be, but there’s going to be a point towards the end, of her going around to each ley line, where she will be at her weakest. The amount of magic she has to use is honestly more than any one witch should use on their own.
If you show up, then—no one forgets the person who catches them when they fall. ”
I pull out my phone and open the notes app, quickly typing out everything that she’s mentioned so far. This is all great advice. I’m busy typing out the to-do list when an idea pops into my head.
“Clarissa, is there a way to glamour me to have a glow to my fur? Maybe a trail of stardust?”
She looks offended that I’d even ask, and I almost retract the statement when she says, “Of course we can do that. That is simple magic. If you go on the pack run and run straight to her, we can have you glowing like you are the moon with a trail of stardust streaming behind you. If that doesn’t scream I ran through the night to catch my fated mate, then I don’t know what else will. ”
“Perfect, what do you need from me for that?”
She shoos me with her hand. “Nothing, just come by The Hex Appeal Salon before the run and I’ll be sure to have it ready to go.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“And bonus—Matilda can’t ruin it unless she somehow convinces you to juggle hedgehogs halfway there to show Bellamy you can balance all things in her life.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. I can’t even juggle.”
“Not the point here Miles.” She smirks.
“Well, thank you for all of your help. It’s been amazing, truly.”
“You’re welcome.”
We both stand from the table and I give her a hug before heading off back to my cabin, my mind buzzing with stardust plans and midnight runs. Four days to pull this off. First step? Dig through that welcome basket…
There, wedged between the cinnamon honey and a bag of pumpkin brittle, is a glossy gold-foiled card.
One Free Reading
Elora Grimsbane
My thumb drags across the embossed lettering. Bellamy’s sister. The one person who might have the answers that I seek. The ones that have plagued me since the moment my eyes locked on Bellamy’s.
And for the first time tonight, my heart kicks hard against my chest.