21. Interrupted
INTERRUPTED
do you feel that?
gus’s whiskers are twitching.
something is wrong…
— gus
All of my new purchases have been tucked away in a closet that is already full to bursting with all of Riordan’s perfectly tailored clothing, and he’s just finished giving me a tour of the cabin.
I’ll be honest. The cabin isn’t what I expected when I first heard wolf territory.
I’m a witch. After what happened with the feral, I kept my distance from wolf shifters.
I knew better than to think that Riordan lived in a nest of rotted furs, old bones, and debris, but cabin…
I don’t know. I guess I imagined something rougher.
Animal skins on the furniture. Maybe antlers mounted on walls, a sign of wild prey that had been hunted and caught.
Lots of wood, and definitely the color brown.
Instead, his house looks exactly like him.
It’s very neat. Super elegant. All of his furniture is fashioned with a dark wood that gleams like it’s been recently polished.
It smells like a mix of lemon and pine, and it’s almost as immaculate as Roxy’s upstairs level.
The kitchen seems suspiciously unused, which makes sense when he says that he goes to the pack’s communal space to eat when he’s at home (and I’ve tried so many different Moonburrow restaurants since he started our dinner ‘dates’ that were actually really dates), and there’s a television in the living room that takes up nearly one whole wall.
Currently, we’re standing in his bedroom—our bedroom, I suppose—while I take in the reality of our situation. I suck in a breath, shudder it out, and realize something.
This is it.
This is my life now.
It doesn’t seem real. I can’t fight this feeling that it’s all a dream, that I’m going to wake up and be on a plane to Salem, hiding from my fear of flying by imagining a gorgeous wolf who loves me so much, he’s willing to spend forever with a wayward witch who might be able to break curses, but that’s about all she can do.
I almost can’t believe this is happening to me because I’ve never been this happy.
My whole life, I’ve either been the screw-up or the one told they have a job to do. I never thought I’d have my very own happy-ever-after, and now that I do… I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It’s going to happen. And it’s not like everything is coming up roses.
As Riordan reminded me, there’s still a murderer on the loose.
Riordan grabbed a can of salt, pouring out as much was in it on his doorstep, but it wasn’t enough.
Add the fact that we left the wormwood behind at Honey’s bakery, and I’m sure Olivia will be bugging me again soon.
I can just imagine what sort of comment she’ll have when she realizes that I mated Riordan after I spent so long pretending that he was just the chief deputy helping me investigate her murder, and while I don’t really give a shit what she’ll say, she’s just another reminder that mating Riordan didn’t really change much about what’s expected of both of us.
Riordan blew off work today. He won’t be able to do that tomorrow, and I’m just waiting for Max to confront his brother. I’m sure he’ll understand that we’re taking the day to soak in our new bond, but after that? Just like I have a job to do, so does my mate.
That why I’m now standing in front of the bed, my head filled with everything I’m worried about.
Riordan stalks over to me, taking one of my hands in his.
My head tilts back as I stare up at him in bewilderment.
He squeezes the fingers. “Talk to me, Pen. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
How to even begin? Once we made it back to the bedroom, I expected Riordan to give in to the attraction humming down the bond between us.
It doesn’t help that he’s still shirtless and has been since he shredded his own shirt off of him to make a point.
I’m sure it pleases him to have me basically drooling over his stunningly gorgeous chest, but instead of pulling the ‘mate’ card and leading me to the bed, he prowled around the space, letting me think until the room was nearly thick with my sudden nerves.
Not because of him. Nope. Once you see how a male is devoted to giving you pleasure and talking you through taking his cock and his bite, how can you be afraid of him?
I stopped shortly after I started spending time with Riordan, and now I barely understand how I was ever nervous around him.
Oh, no. That was straight-up want existing between us, but now that I have him, I’m only worried about one thing.
Losing him.
“I’m afraid.”
A shadow falls over his face. “Penelope…”
I clutch his arm. “Not you. Goddess, Riordan, it’s not you. But I’m scared… what if whoever is doing this kills again?”
His canines punch out while his eyes blaze, his wolf peeking through. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
He doesn’t understand. “What if they hurt you?”
If the topic of conversation wasn’t so serious, I might’ve laughed a little at the shocked look on his face. Instead, I just say, “What?”
“You’re worried about me?”
Um. Why wouldn’t I be? “Of course I am.”
He gestures at his undeniably ripped chest. “Me? The Beta of the Moonshadow Pack? Chief Deputy Lobo? You’ve met my wolf, haven’t you? I’m a big beast of a predator. And you’re worried about me?”
I shrug. “That’s what you do when you love someone, Riordan. You worry about them.” I pause, and then I admit, “I was worried that something might’ve happened to you after you left Moonburrow and I barely knew you then. Now you’re my mate. I’m terrified someone is going to hurt you.”
He swallows roughly. “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to look at me and not be scared.
I finally managed to get you to agree to be my mate, and you’re still frightened.
My sweet witch…” A soft sigh and, almost hesitantly, his free hand settles on my waist. “As long as I have you to come home to, nothing can ever hurt me.”
Releasing his arm, I press my hand between his pecs. “So what do we do now? If we’re not taking up the investigation until tomorrow, and you’ve already shown me around your cabin, what’s next?”
Sue me. Part of me is trying to do my mate-ly duty and distract Riordan; I can see how my confession has unnerved him enough, reminding him of those early days when I couldn’t quite hide my discomfort.
At the same time, I’m pretty sure I heard his stomach growl earlier.
He’s a shifter. Shifters like to eat, and I remember how Honey and Roxy mentioned that the best way to prove to a shifter that you love them is by feeding him.
Riordan might not use the kitchen, but I sure can. However, while he’s gotta be hungry, I’m not so sure it’s food he’s hungering for, especially when his gaze goes heavy-lidded as he says, “I can think of a few things. Even better, we don’t even have to leave the bedroom.”
Heat curls low in my stomach. I grin. “Oh? That so?”
His hand slides beneath the hem of my shirt. He teases my boob, and I flutter out a suddenly aroused breath.
Right. Those sort of things.
Leaning into his touch, I murmur, “That wasn’t what I meant.”
“I know, Pen, but isn’t this better?”
Yes. That’s what I want to say. Yes, it’s so much better—but I never get the chance because, before I do, Riordan freezes.
I go still. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t know if his canines ever shrunk, but they’re back to looking like straight-up fangs as he pulls his hand out from under my shirt. “Someone is on my territory. I don’t know how I missed them, but they’re here. They’re close. They’re—”
Knocking at the door.
Shit. It’s loud enough that I can hear the pounding against the front of it.
Clutching my shoulder, Riordan’s forehead drops against mine. “I want to ignore it. It’s probably just a packmate who sees the car out front and got nosy. I should ignore it—”
“But you won’t,” I say.
Because he’s the pack Beta. He’s also the chief deputy. If the sheriff is downtown, it’s possible that someone nearby needs help and that means they need Riordan.
Thinking along the same lines as me, Riordan tilts his head slightly, tapping into his shifter hearing.
I can tell the exact moment he recognizes whoever is outside because his expression changes.
One part annoyed, one part resigned, I know there’s no way he’s going to stand in the bedroom and hope they go away and all because it’s:
“Delilah,” he huffs out. “It’s Delilah at the door.”
Of course.
Because nothing says welcome to your new home, newly mated witch quite like the local head witch interrupting when your wolf had his hand up your shirt.
Well, if it’s Delilah, it’s a good chance she’s here for me. And if she isn’t? If the head witch has decided to come see Riordan without calling first to let him—to let us—know? I think I should answer the door regardless.
I start toward the bedroom exit, but Riordan catches my hand. “I go first,” he says. “Yeah?”
If it makes him feel better. “Okay.”
I can tell from his expression that he expected a fight.
Not from me. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s when to pick my battles.
Now that I’m mated to Riordan Lobo, that’ll come in handy more than ever.
Besides, I’m not a predator. I’m a witch who might be able to use my backfiring spells to protect myself, but considering I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually worked when I want them to backfire, it’s much smarter to rely on my big, bad wolf to protect me.
Only I’m not afraid of Delilah. While a couple of witches in Moonburrow plotted to frame the outsider so they could get their hands on Morrigaine’s mirror, the head witch came to me personally and said that they’d been scolded, and the Moonburrow coven were in full agreement that Morrigaine’s mirror deserved to stay with the last descendent of her line.
Or, I think with a start, the current last descendent.
When I remember just how many times Riordan and I have gone at it like rabbits since he admitted I was his mate…
who knows? I could be pregnant. I’m not using any birth control because I haven’t been sexually active in a while, and I didn’t trust myself to keep up with the charm in case it made me, like, super fertile.
And while witches have a lower birthrate among supes, certain shifters pop out litters.
I’m pretty sure wolves are one of them.
I blink, stunned. I could be a mom myself one day.
If not now, then in the future, if that’s something Riordan wants.
And considering the concept of fated mates and mating among the beastly supes comes down to their shifter goddess encouraging them to go forth and multiply, I’m thinking that my mate knew what he was getting into when neither one of us even though of grabbing a rubber before he came inside of me.
Did I mention that I’m an overthinker? Mere hours after I accepted his bite, I’m already wondering if we can turn one of the spare rooms in the cabin into a nursery, and even if I don’t blurt that out and scare the crap out of my mate, all it takes is one peek at me and he pauses on his way out of the room.
He tilts his head. “What’s that look for, witch?”
I give him an impish shrug. My hand caresses my lower belly, and all I say is, “Just thinking about you and me having kids one day.”
Riordan jolts, and for a moment, I think I’ve done just enough to make him rethink this mating thing. But then, in the next heartbeat, he’s rushing toward me, taking my elbows in his grip, staring down at me in a mix of lust and wonder.
“Forget Delilah,” he says, his vow deliciously deep and husky. “I want you under me, Pen, accepting every drop of seed I have until it takes and I get to parade you around Moonburrow, belly big with as many pups as you’ll give me.”
Ooh… my normally composed Beta mate has a bit of a breeding kink.
I go up on my tiptoes, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Later, love.”
He growls in frustration, though I know he doesn’t quite mean it. Oh, if I agree to pretend Delilah isn’t knocking at the door, he’ll have me stripped in seconds. But he won’t push it. My predator knows better, and if there’s anyone with the ability to swallow their commands, it’s Riordan.
“Fine,” he concedes. “Let’s go get rid of the witch and get down to business.” His lips curve, flashing a hint of fang. “I’m thinking two pups to start. A rambunctious pair of boys like Max and me. Yeah?’
“Whatever you say.” A beat. “Mate.”
Gripping my chin, he takes a much deeper kiss than I’m expecting. By the time he breaks it, heading out of the room, I’m both breathless and weak in the knees—and wondering if what the coven leader needs is really that important.
You know what else?
This is fun. As the cursebreaker, I have a reputation in my community.
I had to always be on, always be professional, and my own insecurities led me to being both anxious and absent-minded when the stress got to be too much.
Then, after I met Riordan, we didn’t have the greatest start—especially since he seemed to think I murdered Olivia at first, even if he says his wolf knew all along that I was innocent—and then I was so sure he was only sticking around because of my failed locator spell.
Only it didn’t fail, did it? It brought him back to me, and no longer ignoring his wolf’s instincts, he stayed close because I am his mate. And since he’s mine, I heft up my skirt and hurry after him in time to see him open the door and give that familiar closed-off expression to Delilah.
You’d never think he was seconds away from throwing me onto the bed and mounting me, I marvel as I stare at him, distracted from his beauty only when Delilah catches sight of me and calls out my name.
I move so that I’m standing right next to Riordan. “Delilah? So nice to see you.”
A small nervous grin from the head witch as her gaze darts between us. “Penelope. Riordan. I’m sorry. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Riordan looks down at his bare chest. My shirt is a little askew. I’m sure both of our eyes are bright, and I can feel my face get hot. Oh, yes. She was definitely interrupting something and she knows it.
I shrug. Hey. I’m mated and my mate is this hunk of gorgeous wolf. If there’s one thing I don’t have to be ashamed of, it’s my feelings for this male. “Nothing that can’t be continued later. But what about you? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Delilah worries her bottom lip with her teeth. A fleeting glance at Riordan again, then one at me. “I came because I… I need Penelope’s help.”
Of course she does.
Well, look at that.
Shoe? Dropped.