Chapter 33
The bungalow had never looked more charming.
I’d kept just enough decor outside to make sure it didn’t stand out on the street—a little string of orange fairy lights along the porch rail, a hay bale with a scarecrow propped against it, and a cluster of small pumpkins cascading down the steps.
But pride of place went to our two carved pumpkins, glowing side by side in the early evening.
Axel’s masterpiece—Basil and Sage rendered in expert relief, their little faces lit from within—sat beside my grinning jack-o-lantern with his cheerful triangle eyes.
I thought mine held its own, for what it was worth.
Next door, the lights were off. Iris’s porch sat dark and unattended beside mine—jack-o-lanterns unlit, no candy bowl, no one home.
She was staying with Mona, her grandmother, while everything got sorted out.
Bail had been granted. She was getting help, the kind she probably needed long before Ambrose ever walked through The Roost’s door.
I didn’t know what would happen at the trial.
I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to look at her the same way again.
What I did know was that I hoped she found her way through it. There was good in her—so much good.
I pushed those thoughts away. Tonight wasn’t for carrying things that were too heavy.
Beside me in the second Adirondack chair sat a man who was, technically, in costume.
Technically.
“You could have at least worn a cape,” I said, adjusting my pointed hat.
“Wolves don’t wear capes.” Axel reached into the candy bowl between us and extracted a mini Snickers, opening it and popping it into his mouth.
“True.” I reached for a little bag of sour gummy worms. “But it would have added a little…something.”
“I think you’ve got the ‘something’ covered.” He gave me a look that had laughter bursting from my chest.
I couldn’t argue. My witch costume was a bit on the nose.
Perhaps even a little over the top. I had on a pointed hat, all black dress with purple lace spiders overlaying the fabric, and some gaudy bangles and rings.
Striped stockings and Mary Jane’s completed the look.
Not to mention the broom propped against my chair.
The only difference between us was, my costume took effort.
His? He’d merely shifted his hands into pointed claws and allowed his forearms to grow a bit of fur. And given the slightly-too-sharp cast of his features, the dark scruff that had crept past stubble into something more, there was no mistaking the werewolf he was going for.
A high-pitched squeal split the night air.
A few more joined in. Down the street, children were beginning to step out of houses and cars.
Redding’s Main Street was a whole vibe. It was no surprise that the neighborhood association required compulsory participation in Halloween’s trick-or-treating—with the exception of Iris, naturally.
It was such a popular location that residents from all over the community drove in just to walk the streets of the historic district.
Hence, why it was part of my lease agreement.
Not that I was complaining. This was one of my favorite things about Halloween. I couldn’t wait to see all the cute costumes.
The first trick-or-treaters arrived a few minutes later. A little ghost, a princess, and something that might have been…a dragon? I bit my lower lip in delight, taking in the glitter cardboard wings.
The three children were shepherded up to our porch by a tired-looking father. He gave us a little wave before reminding them to behave. They stopped at the porch steps, bags thrust upward.
“Trick-or-treat!” they chorused.
I stood to distribute candy. Axel stayed seated, watching with an amused expression.
“Cool costume, dude!” the little ghost cried, pointing at Axel.
“Thanks.” Axel’s voice came out considerably more growly than necessary as he waved his clawed hand.
“Woah.” The ghost took a step backward. “Sick!”
I pressed my lips together very hard and said nothing.
Another group of kids followed right after. Batman, a robot, and an infant in a frog onesie. I melted at the sight, putting some extra candy in their basket, since I knew it would probably go to the siblings and parents anyway.
The evening settled into a rhythm after that.
Groups of children came and went. Main Street was alive with the sounds of laughter and shouting, rustling costumes, and parents calling after small figures in the dark.
Every few minutes, Axel would acknowledge a child’s enthusiasm for his “costume” with the same minimal response—a nod, a grunt, the occasional rumbled word—and every single time, the children thought it was the greatest thing they had ever seen.
I was having the time of my life.
Around seven, Agnes from the pet store appeared at the foot of the porch steps, a plate covered in wax paper in her hands. “For you two,” she said, lifting it. “Frank and I make them every year. Candy apples.”
I took the plate with both hands. “Agnes, you didn’t have to—“
“Of course we did. You two have fun now!”
She left with a pleased smile. I set the plate between our chairs and peeled back the wax paper, revealing six perfect candy apples, deep red and gleaming.
I took a bite of my candy apple and watched a small vampire trip over his cape on the front walk of the house across the street.
It was a shrill ringtone that broke the quiet a little later. Axel pulled his phone from his pocket. I stiffened when I caught sight of the name. Magnus. “I need to take a call.”
He set his candy apple aside and slipped through the front door, into the house before I could ask questions.
Why would Magnus be calling?
Wasn’t he trying to hide from the alpha?
Had something happened?
He was doing better—I was certain of it. Certain that he hadn’t felt the usual itch he associated with madness, especially now that there was a bond between us. It had healed something in him.
My muscles were tense as I tried to ignore the low murmur of his voice from somewhere inside, too quiet even for me to catch the words. I tended to three small witches while he was gone, which felt appropriate. We complimented each other’s costumes. My voice sounded forced, even to my ears.
He came back five minutes later, settling into his chair with easy movements, picking up his apple again.
“How does Magnus have your number?” The accusatory words were out before I could stop them. “I thought you were hiding from him.”
“Aye.” He took a bite of his apple, chewed, swallowed. “I reached out the other day. Told him about you—about us.”
My heart was somewhere in my throat. “What?! Why?”
There was a long silence. “I think…” His jaw worked. “I think I’m doing—better. Wanted his opinion.”
“On what?”
“Mates. If…”
“If mates help the madness?”
“Aye.”
My heart leapt. Our conversation was briefly interrupted as I passed out a handful of candy to a group of teenagers. Now that the evening was growing late, the ages had crept up. I didn’t mind.
“So…you think…”
He blew out a breath. “I think you might have been right. About you—us. Magnus agrees. Thinks the mate bond helped stabilize me. I haven’t had a single symptom since.”
A grin finally spread across my lips. “Ha! I knew it. I am your cure. And fairytales do exist.”
He shook his head, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I didn’t want to believe it. Hence, Magnus.”
My shoulders finally relaxed. “You’re really doing better? I thought I felt it, but…”
He reached across the distance for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “You complete me. It makes sense. My wolf is calmer than it has ever been.”
Warmth flooded my chest, trickling to my extremities. “That’s…”
I didn’t know what to say. It was too much—too incredible. Everything I had hoped for.
“Anyway, Magnus said he won’t keep looking for me. But he asked that I keep him posted if anything changes.”
“The only changes from here on out will be good ones,” I assured him.
He squeezed my hand. “I believe you, lass.”
We sat like that for a while, not saying anything else, while the activity on the street began to fizzle. The scent of Halloween night settled around us, cool and sweet. I inhaled, trying to memorize these special moments, soak them in for as long as possible.
Axel’s thumb traced a slow circle on the back of my hand.
“Little snacks will be missing us.”
“They will,” I agreed.
Another circle. Slower this time.
“And there’s another important matter that requires attention.”
I glanced over at him. His expression was perfectly neutral, which meant he was absolutely not thinking something neutral. “Oh? What matter?”
His eyes dropped to my witch costume. To the striped stockings. Back up again. “I need to get my little witch home. Been wanting to know what it feels like to fuck a witch in costume.”
“Axel!” I hissed. Heat bloomed low in my belly despite myself. “We’re sitting on a public porch.”
“I’m aware.” He stood, unhurried, and held out his hand. “Which is why I said home.”
I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet. He retrieved the empty candy bowl while I collected the candy apple plate. “What about the decorations?”
“I’ll come back tomorrow and pack everything else up.” He tugged my hand. “Come along.”
We moved down the porch stairs, stopping to put out the candles. I took one last look at the porch. At our pumpkins.
“Think mine held its own,” I said, for the last time.
Axel huffed, getting me settled into his truck before coming around the other side.
The drive back was quiet. Folk music played low through the radio. He held my hand, tracing circles with his thumb.
The cabin was glowing as we pulled up. The sight of it made my throat tight. Home.
I was going to miss the autumn decorations after this. “Do you think we can put Christmas decor up soon?”
“Aye, lass. We’ll make it look like one of those pictures off your Pinboard thing.”
Pinboard thing.
I pressed my lips together. “I would love that.”
“I know. Now stay.”
I frowned as he jumped from the truck and rounded the front. But I understood why a moment later when he opened my door and lifted me out, taking me in his arms. My legs came around his hips, and I crushed my mouth to his. We both groaned.
He walked us up the porch steps and I couldn’t help the way I rubbed up against him. The friction of his cock pressing against my center. My entire body was keyed up. Ready.
Around us, everything glowed with golden light. It felt magical. It just needed—
There.
Axel pulled away as glowing sparkles erupted around us, a mix of orange and purple, like dust swirling in the air, across the porch.
“Little witch,” he growled, his face cast in a strange glow.
“It wouldn’t be Halloween without a little magic, now would it?”
“I’m ready for magic of a different kind.” His lips found mine again, taking me in a crushing kiss. His tongue parted my lips, sweeping through my mouth. I moaned into him.
We didn’t make it to the door. He maneuvered us to the porch swing instead, sitting with me straddling his lap. I took his face in both hands, staring down at him, tracing his scar, his damaged eye. I pressed a gentle kiss there and he hummed.
His hands slipped beneath the hem of my dress. His fingers found the top of my striped stockings and paused there, tracing the edge with his thumb. The porch swing creaked softly beneath us.
“I believe I made you a promise,” he said.
“You did.” My breath caught as his thumb dipped beneath the fabric of my panties. “Are you a man of your word?”
His smile was slow and wolfish. “Always, little witch. Always.”