Chapter 24
Willow
Our sob story really had business booming.
All day, local busybodies mixed with tourists who had heard about the mayor’s kindness and wanted to see the shop owner who was in desperate need of support.
I tried not to let it go to my head. I’d seen the town rally behind people before, but to be on the receiving end of it was something else.
Every single customer who came in was like one more root growing into the soil beneath me, tethering me to this place and the feeling of belonging.
Eloise ended up having to make two trips to the bakery to keep the case full for the first half of the day. But the madness finally died down by the afternoon.
Jordyn came by to check in during Harlow’s break. The two sat beside Eloise, a plate of finger sandwiches between them.
“Did you hear that Dean not only fought off Wyatt, but the whole pack?” Jordyn relayed the escalating gossip as I shook my head.
“He’s really something, our Dean, isn’t he?” I added robotically as I plopped down in a chair at the end of the table. It was probably the two hundredth time I’d said it over the course of five hours.
Eloise leaned in and lowered her voice. “While everyone is swept up in wild theories, where are we at with the real problem at hand?”
By the third tall tale about Dean that morning, Eloise had donned her noise-cancelling headphones, clearly done listening to any more insinuations that a monster could take on a fully grown alpha werewolf during a full moon.
“There was lycanthropic residual energy on the spell we attempted,” Harlow said. “So we know it’s a wolf.”
“One with enough knowledge of the arcane to block any tracing spells,” Jordyn added. “I wondered if we should ask Diana if any wolves have purchased any books on spell blocking.”
“It would be easier to herd hellcats,” Harlow said. “I got trapped in Bones and Tomes for three hours yesterday while she proselytized the benefits of sunning my hoo-ha.” She shuddered as if she had a sudden chill. “Proceed at your own peril.”
Jordyn chuckled. “Noted.”
“Has anyone talked to Dougall yet?” Eloise asked. She peered through the bay windows and across the square to the police station. “He said he’d call if he found a match on the knife.”
“Not yet,” I answered, checking my phone for notifications but only seeing one text from Wyatt with a heart, moon, and eggplant emoji. My cheeks burned as I sent a winky cat face.
Harlow stuck another sandwich in her mouth. “You don’t think Dougall’s a part of this, do you?”
“Dougall’s more inept than malicious.” Eloise pursed her lips and shook her head. “I don’t think it’s him, but then again, he’s made a career of sweeping supernatural evidence under the rug.”
“There haven’t been any more notes since the full moon,” I said.
“Whoever was trying to get between you and Wyatt, and now that it seems to have worked, they’re not going to make any more moves,” Eloise reasoned, peeling the wax paper from the last cherry almond muffin.
She took a bite and hummed, adding quietly to herself, “I should add an Earl Grey glaze next time.”
“Great,” Harlow grumbled as she rubbed her hand across her head, spiking her hair. “As long as you stay away from Wyatt for the rest of your life, you’ll be fine. Problem solved. That was just a joke, Wills,” she quickly added when I frowned.
“Mates,” Jordyn said with a huff. “So much pining.”
“Oh, please.” I snorted. “The two of you act like the world is ending when you can’t see each other for more than a couple of hours.”
“Yeah,” Eloise chimed in. “Hetero mates are nothing compared to two women dating. Wait until you see two sapphic wolves. Your heads will explode.” She took a large bite into her muffin and washed it down with her tea, comparing the tastes and nodding, pleased with the combination.
“Mated lesbians,” Harlow said mystically. “Now that sounds like a tragedy waiting to happen. Do you think there’s a mate out there for you?” she asked Eloise.
“Goddess, I hope not.” The werewolf’s eyes bulged. “Mates are insufferable. No offense,” she added to me.
“None taken.”
The front door chimed, and the air shifted as something dark and possessive swept in. Eloise spotted who it was before the rest of us and rolled her eyes. “Why does she always do this?” she muttered under her breath.
I gave her a confused look, but she didn’t elaborate.
“Naphula!” Jordyn exclaimed, practically running to the door. “Is it Iris? Is everything okay? Is she—”
“She’s fine,” Naphula said, looking more than a little perturbed. “She’s with Ramona, and if I know my friend, I know she’s providing the perfect distraction.” Her midnight eyes landed on Eloise. “Can I talk to you?”
Eloise bristled. “I am not setting aside a box of donuts for you. I told you, you can wait in line—”
“It’s not about the fucking donuts, wolf girl,” Naphula shot back, thrusting her hands into her silky trouser pockets.
Eloise flopped her hair to the side with a frown. “I’m kind of in the middle of something right now.”
“It won’t take long,” Naphula volleyed, turning toward the door. “Five minutes.”
When Eloise rose to stand, I lifted my brows at her. “You don’t have to listen to her, especially when she’s in a bossy bitch mood.”
“When is she not in a bossy bitch mood?” Eloise argued. “Don’t worry. I’ve got it.” Eloise gave me a wink. “I’ll make her say please and thank you by the end.”
I exchanged silent looks with Jordyn and Harlow.
Eloise had barely shut the door before Harlow sputtered, “Are those two fucking?”
“My money’s on yes,” Jordyn said. “And if not, they should be.”
I snorted. “What was all that stuff about Iris?” The two started to do that silent-conversation thing again, and I snapped my fingers. “Nuh-uh. Tell me.”
Harlow grimaced apologetically.
“With everything going on with Wyatt, we didn’t want to worry you.”
“Well, lucky for you, I bought the platinum worrying plan, so I can focus on more than one thing at a time!” I said with mock cheeriness.
“Ramona has been dealing with a soul snatcher taking all her deals,” Jordyn said. “And we’re worried about Iris being targeted.”
“Wyatt.” My mind reeled. “His sigil was taken.”
Harlow’s eyes lit up as if just connecting the dots.
“Did it ever occur to you two that these problems might be connected?” I pointed an accusatory finger at my little sister. “You need to tell me these things!”
“You didn’t tell me that Wyatt is your mate,” she countered.
“Your witch girlfriend already told you!” I blustered. “You should’ve been the one telling me this! Where’s your sisterly loyalty?”
Harlow’s voice rose to a shout. “I was—”
The door opened, and Eloise looked between us as we froze mid-spat. “Oh, don’t stop on my account,” she said. “This sounds just like family dinner to me.”
“You’re going to tell me everything,” I said to Harlow as I turned toward the kitchen. “I’m going to put the kettle on. We’re going to need more tea.”