He smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  The trip back to my place was a blur. We made out all the way up my stairs, only stumbling once. I broke the kiss long enough to get the key in the door, but it took a couple tries because Zeke was behind me, biting at my neck as his hands wandered up from my waist to just below my breasts.

  I finally managed to get the door unlocked, and we practically fell inside as the door swung open. Zeke spun me around and pressed my back against the door as it slammed shut. He turned the dead bolt and claimed my mouth again. I needed him with an urgency I didn’t recognize. My hands slid under his shirt, exploring his chest. I didn’t bother reaching for the light switch. I didn’t think we were going to make it upstairs right now anyway. I had to be closer to him, to lose myself in him.

  He broke the kiss and lifted the long-sleeved Henley over his head. Then mine was next. I unbuttoned his jeans and lowered his zipper. He growled as my fingers slipped under the waistband of his shorts to stroke his length. My thighs pressed together, aching to have him inside me. He reached behind me, unfastening my bra. I let it slide down my arms and moaned into his mouth as my breasts caressed his bare chest.

  More of this. Nothing separating us.

  I pushed his jeans down over his ass. He whispered against my lips, “Please tell me you have a spell to make our fucking pants disappear.”

  I laughed, scraping his lower lip with my teeth. “I wish.”

  “Dammit.” His voice was a husky whisper.

  He took a step back and got out of his while I shimmied out of my leggings and underwear, dragging them both down my legs. He knelt in front of me, and I put my hand on his shoulder for balance as I stepped out of them.

  The second I was free, he hooked both my legs over his shoulders and stood, pushing me up against the door again as he buried his face in my sex. The door was cold against my back, but I barely noticed as I tangled my fingers in his hair, surrendering to the pleasure he offered me.

  I was curvy, but he seemed to have no trouble bearing my weight. Another perk of a werewolf boyfriend. Wait, was he my… I couldn’t complete the thought. His tongue teased my clit until I cried out his name, my inner muscles clenching as my orgasm slammed into me.

  And as good as it was, I wanted more. I wanted him inside me. “I need you,” I gasped.

  He allowed my legs to slide down from his shoulders and caught my thighs. I crossed my ankles around his waist, and he thrust his hips, filling me completely. Exactly what I wanted.

  I moaned as I fused my lips to his. I wanted this to last forever, and at the same time, I wanted us both to surrender. He pinned me to the back of the door with his body, took my arms from around his neck, and put them over my head. Holding my wrists in one hand, he brought the other between us, sliding his fingers down until he found my sweet spot. My breath caught as he teased me higher. I struggled, aching to touch him, but his grip on my wrists was like iron.

  He dragged his lips over to my ear and growled, “Come for me, Ruby.”

  No one had ever made my name sound so sexy. I worked my hips into his thrusts as he dipped his head and kissed my hard nipples. He pulled back, his hot gaze running over my naked body. My breasts shook as our bodies collided, and suddenly my orgasm claimed me. My legs tightened around his waist as I gasped his name.

  He pumped into me one last time and trembled as he erupted deep inside me. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that. It was as if time ceased to exist. He rested his forehead on mine, and we just stared into each other’s eyes. Even without words, I felt the connection, the commitment.

  Zeke finally released my hands, and I kneaded his shoulders, enjoying the deep baritone of his groan as his muscles relaxed. He kissed my lips so tenderly, my heart melted. His arms moved around me, and he carried me over to the sofa. He slid free of my body and put me down, then sat beside me.

  He looked over at the annoyed chihuahua in the chair. “He looks pissed.”

  I chuckled as I pulled the quilt off the back of the couch and covered us up. “He wants a walk.”

  Zeke met my eyes. “Think he’d let me take him out?”

  I smirked. “You don’t have to do that.”

  His hand moved up my thigh under the blanket. “I just don’t want you to put any pants on.”

  I laughed and bumped him with my shoulder. “His leash is hanging by the door.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Zeke

  I looked up at the stars, and the sliver of a moon, while I waited for Nate to finish whizzing on the telephone pole. I was going to be the Alpha of the Salem Pack in a few days, but life was pulling me in two different directions at once.

  Ruby’s bedroom light came on upstairs, and I sighed. I wanted to stay with her again, but I couldn’t keep sleeping over and making excuses to my pack. How could I ask them to trust me if I kept lying to them?

  But I couldn’t tell them my mate was a witch, either.

  Nate jumped on me, looking up, his tongue peeking out the side of his mouth. I chuckled and scooped him up so we were eye to eye. “What do you think I should do?” He offered a quality head tilt. I sighed. “I’m on my own, huh?”

  I carried him back to the house and set him down when we got inside. After putting his leash away and locking the door, I headed upstairs to Ruby’s bedroom.

  She looked up at me from under the quilt. “I was starting to think you got lost.”

  I smiled, but my heart wasn’t in it. “I was just thinking.”

  She nodded. “Me too.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed. “About?”

  She sighed, rolling on her side toward me. “I was so caught up in the moment earlier…we didn’t use any protection.”

  Oh shit. I ran a hand down my face. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I should’ve…”

  “I didn’t think about it, either.” She rubbed my back. “I’m sure it’ll be okay.”

  “At least you’re not bitten, so I shouldn’t be able to get you pregnant anyway.” But I knew we were both thinking the same thing: the banished witch had gotten pregnant without being bitten.

  Ruby turned on her back, staring up at the ceiling. “Do you think we just destroyed everything? Is history repeating itself? Will we be shunned just like they were? Maybe Fate just wanted to remind everyone that werewolves and witches don’t mix.”

  Fate. I took Ruby’s hand. “No.” She met my eyes, and I struggled for the right words. “Fate is the difference. You’re my mate. Even if you do get pregnant, it’s not the same as it was for them. You’re the other half of my soul.” I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to the back. “This is all meant to be. I think to save the pack from being hunted for body parts and the coven from being overpowered by dark magic, maybe we need to bring them together. Maybe that’s why Fate chose you for me.”

  She searched my eyes as her hold on my hand tightened. “You could be right.” She shook her head slowly. “But I’m not sure anyone else would believe us.”

  “Let’s get through the ceremonies, and we’ll worry about the rest later.” I cupped her face. “No matter what happens, you’re my priority, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

  She turned her head and pressed a kiss to my palm. “We’ll figure this out.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. We will.” I lowered my hand. “I better get back to the farm.”

  She arched a brow. “You just said you weren’t going anywhere.”

  “I know.” I chuffed and met her eyes. “But I can’t keep lying to my pack. They ask where I’ve been and I have to lie. Once I’m Alpha, we’ll tell everyone you’re my mate.”

  She sighed, nodding her head slowly. “I know that’s probably the right thing to do, but I still don’t want you to go.”

  “I don’t want to leave. Trust me, there’s nothing in the world I want more right now than to be naked in that bed with you.” I pulled my hair back from my forehead. “I’m kicking myself for ever accepting Mathias’s offer to move into the farmhouse.”

  Her lips quivered as if she might smile. “I didn’t realize you lived there.”

  “My brother and I were roommates, and after he died, Mathias invited me to live at the farm. I already managed the place so it seemed to simplify everything. Plus, he’s getting older, and we all want to protect him. Wes and Wyatt moved in, too, on the other side of the house.”

  She ran her hand up my back. “What about your parents?”

  “My mom has a place down near the Waterfront District off Derby Street.” I rubbed at the pang in my chest. “My dad never recovered from losing Zack.” I stared at the ceiling. Saying the words out loud sucked. “He drank himself to death.”

  The bed squeaked behind me, and the warmth of her body against my back made me want to melt into her. She wrapped her arms around me from behind and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  I covered her hand with mine. “It was a few years ago.” I craned my neck to see her face. “My mom is going to love you, by the way.”

  Ruby smiled, and my damned heart stuttered. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  I patted my pocket for my keys and remembered the howlite wolf. “Oh. I brought you something.” I pulled it out and handed it to her.

  My stomach tied in knots as I second-guessed my choice to give her the trinket. Would she like it? I leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Give this to the high priestess for me?”

  She turned it over in her hand and smiled at me. “I love it.”

  “Good.”

  She blinked, looking almost confused.

  I frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  Her grin widened. “No. In fact…” She looked at the wolf. “I think this is a good omen.”

  “The wolf?”

  “Not exactly.” She chuckled and met my eyes. “I had a vision earlier about you giving me this wolf, but it ended with you saying ‘Let’s go ascend.’”

  My brow furrowed. “And that’s a good thing?”

  “In my vision, you gave this to me right before the ceremony.” She glanced my way. “It means the future isn’t written in stone. We can change it.”

  Now I was following her train of thought. “That vision you had of the wolf and someone slitting your throat…”

  “It doesn’t have to happen like that. We’re already changing the future.”

  “I like the sound of that.” I turned a little so I could see her better. “Can I see you tomorrow?”

  “Dinner?”

  “It’s a date.” I bent to kiss her. “I’ll text you in the morning.”

  She lay back, and I kissed her again, my heart making up a million excuses to give the pack so I could stay here with her, but my mind was made up. If I was going to be the leader the pack deserved, I couldn’t keep feeding them bullshit.

  I stood up and went to the door. “This is going to sound cheesy, but it’s the truth. I miss you already.”

  She smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I went downstairs and turned the lock on the knob before closing the front door behind me. I jogged out to my truck and grinned like an idiot the whole drive back to the farm. I was way past falling for her.

  I loved that woman.

  CHAPTER 19

  Ruby

  Things had gotten more hectic as we approached the new moon, but Zeke and I had still managed to sneak in meetups when we could. I was finally getting confident in my landings of my level-four spell, and Lillian and I had worked out the order for the ceremony. Other than nerves, I was ready for the new moon ritual.

  Lillian and Mathias had planned the joint ceremonies with defense in mind. While Zeke ascended to Alpha, the coven would protect the circle from dark magic and werewolf hunters, and while I performed the ritual to become the high priestess, the pack would guard us in turn. If we’d started working together like this sooner, maybe the werewolf hunters wouldn’t have captured Zeke’s packmates.

  This morning, I woke up as a regular member of the Coven of Light, but tonight, I would go to bed as the high priestess. Part of me still couldn’t believe it.

  Amelia nudged my foot under the worktable in the back of the Crow’s Nest. “Did you hear anything I just said?”

  My attention snapped to her face. “Sorry. Just thinking about tonight.”

  She smiled and shook her head. Her long brown hair was up in a high ponytail that swished behind her. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. You’re going to nail the ritual. Plus, the whole coven will be there to support you.”

  “I hope all the sisters feel that way.”

  She frowned. “Do you think someone’s not in favor of your ascension?”

  “No, but how would I know? Everyone smiles to your face, but what do they believe when no one is around?”

  “They all love you, Ruby.”

  Before I could reply, Lillian came into the room. She had her silver hair up in a bun and was wearing a jade tunic shirt with black pants. “I just locked the door and turned the sign.” Her eyes met mine. “No more worrying. It’s time to get ready.”

  She knew me too well.

  Amelia stood. “I’m going to run home and change. I’ll see you at the farm.”

  Zeke had arranged for tonight’s ceremony to happen on the bluff where he’d taken me to stargaze. It was private, far from any prying eyes, and there was plenty of room for all the wolves and witches.

  I gave Amelia a hug and waited for the back door to close before I looked at Lillian. “Can we talk?”

  Zeke wanted to wait to tell the pack about finding his mate until after he was the Alpha, and it was probably the right decision, but it was killing me to keep this huge secret from Lillian. She was like my second mother, my teacher, and someone I admired, even though I’d discovered a few chinks in her shining armor lately.

  “Of course.” She pulled out a chair and sat.

  And just like that I changed course. I couldn’t tell her about me and Zeke. Not yet. Tonight was too important to risk upsetting her. I cleared my throat. “I told you Zeke had asked one of his packmates to do some digging into Sienna and that law firm in Boston, remember?”

  She nodded. “Is Sienna still alive?”

  “I don’t know.” There wasn’t a simple answer. Last night Jackson had called Zeke, but he didn’t have the information we had expected. My gaze locked on hers. “He couldn’t find any records on her. Not alive or dead. It’s like she never existed.”

  Lillian frowned. “She must’ve changed her identity, but I didn’t realize you could erase your previous one.”

  “The Coven of Shadows has been brewing their magic for something, right? Sienna was an Energy Elemental. Is it that far a stretch that she could manipulate or erase computer files in a database?”

  “You’re right.” Lillian’s lips curved. “It hadn’t even occurred to me.” She patted my hand. “You’re ready. The Coven of Light is in good hands.”

  And for the first time, I believed her. I still hadn’t been able to activate the Earth Elemental magic in my veins, but she and Zeke were no longer the only ones with confidence in my abilities. I didn’t feel badass, but I wasn’t afraid anymore.

  I wasn’t the little girl who had lost her mom anymore, either. I was my mother’s daughter, and she was incredible.

  Before my feelings got the best of me, I stood up and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m going to get my robe. I have the rest of the supplies in my trunk.”

  Lillian’s eyes shone with a pride that made me ache. I pressed my lips together and kept moving. No tears. There was too much work to do.

  CHAPTER 20

  Zeke

  I stood beside Mathias on the bluff with a view of the farm, the lights of Boston in the other direction. The pack was carrying wood for the bonfire at the center of the ceremony space. Since the Coven of Shadows had used the new moon to work their dark magic in the past, Mathias and Lillian thought the pack and the coven should unite tonight to protect each other. Ruby and I decided on concentric circles for the joint ceremony. The coven would be the inner circle closest to the fire, and the pack would surround them on the outer circle. Ruby’s ceremony would take longer.

  Or at least we thought it would. As far as we knew, no living Alpha had ever transferred powers to another. Even General Sloan hadn’t heard of a ceremony like the one we had planned.

  But there was something I wanted to say to my pack before the witches arrived. It wasn’t a secret, but it was pack business.

  We lit the fire, and it popped and sparked as it gained momentum. The pack stayed close, warming their hands by the flames.

  I raised my voice. “Before I become the Alpha, I need to say something.” All eyes turned to me. I cleared my throat. “Like Mathias, I don’t have an heir. At least not yet. So I want to claim my second now so we don’t have any infighting in the future. We’ve got a common enemy, and it sure as fuck isn’t one another.”

  Wes chuckled with a nod. “Damn straight.”

  “Good.” I nodded and scanned the circle. I’d grown up with all these men. They were my brothers. My gaze stopped on Wyatt. “Wyatt will be my second. If something happens to me before I have an heir, Wyatt will become the Alpha of the pack.” Before anyone could respond, I added, “He knows the ins and outs of running the farm, he’s as big as a house, and he’s got enough heart for all of us.” I focused on Wyatt again. “Are you good with that?”

  Wyatt nodded as a slow smile spread across his face. “Won’t ever happen, though. If someone comes for my Alpha, they’ll have to get through me first.”

  The pack broke out in cheers as everyone hugged and slapped Wyatt on the back. Mathias gripped my shoulder, keeping his voice low. “You were the right choice to lead this pack.”

  I pulled him in for a hug and whispered, “I had a good mentor.”

  Engines rumbled in the distance, followed by headlights. Ruby and the coven were here.

  As the women came up to the fire, the pack quieted. I knew Lillian and Ruby, and I’d met Amelia once, but the rest of the coven were strangers. They all wore long ivory robes with fur lining the edges of their hoods. Even with the matching cloaks, I didn’t have to see Ruby’s face to find her. Her scent had my full attention from the second she got out of her ancient Datsun. Two women followed her, carrying a trunk. I hurried over to help, locking eyes with Ruby as I passed. We’d agreed there would be no touching tonight. We wouldn’t have to keep this secret much longer, but for now, we didn’t want to take the focus off the ceremonies.