I turned her way, and she leaned in slightly. In the very tight interior of her car, she was only a few inches away from me. The smell of spicy cinnamon and the uncurrent of the rum from her drink earlier tonight filled my nostrils.

  Her dark eyes locked on mine as I whispered, “I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

  She swallowed, and I moved a little closer. Her head tilted slightly, her pulse picking up, and my heart raced to keep time as I closed the distance between us. Her warm breath teased my lips…and suddenly she pulled back and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands.

  “We can’t do this.” She put the car in reverse and backed out of the space, leaving me unsure what the fuck had just happened.

  I did my best to adjust myself in my jeans as I looked out the window. “Just remembered I’m a big, bad wolf?”

  “Sort of.” She drove out of the parking lot, keeping her eyes on the road. “Has Mathias ever told you about the Alpha before him? The one the pack shunned?”

  I blinked. What was she talking about? “No. The Alpha did leave, but I don’t think anyone knows why.”

  “According to Lillian, it was because he fell for a witch from the Coven of Light. She wasn’t his mate and wasn’t a werewolf, so they didn’t think she could get pregnant. But she did.” She finally glanced over at me. “The little boys were shifters with witch blood. Lillian said the pack and the coven both shunned them and made them leave Salem.”

  I wasn’t sure what any of this had to do with us. “Why are you telling me this?”

  She faced forward again. “Because after that, the coven and the pack apparently decided no more witches and wolves mingling romantically. It’s forbidden.”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Calling it forbidden is only making me want to kiss you more.”

  “Right?” She grinned, loosening her grip on the wheel a little. “But just to be on the safe side. We probably shouldn’t kiss.”

  I shrugged. “Guess not.” I looked over at her, imagining the feel of her full lips caressing mine. “But last time I checked, you can’t get pregnant from a kiss.”

  Her breath caught, and her pulse rushed. I was about to be injured by how hard my erection was fighting against my zipper. I wasn’t kidding about the forbidden part making me want her even more.

  She made the final turn onto the uneven cobblestones of Essex Street. The way her breasts bounced on the bumpy road was not helping, either. Now I was imagining their weight in my hands as I kneaded them and ran my tongue across her nipples. Fuck.

  She parked behind the Crow’s Nest and turned off the car. She looked at me, and even in the dim light, the flush in her cheeks was impossible to miss. Her voice was a breathy whisper. “Maybe we should just kiss and get it out of our systems.”

  I was ready to agree to anything if it meant I could taste her lips. “One kiss couldn’t hurt.”

  She nodded slowly, staring right into my soul as I came closer to her. I slid my fingers along her cheek, and somewhere from the depths of my soul, my wolf howled. I fused my mouth to hers, stifling the moan in my throat as I tangled my fingers in her hair and my wolf clawed his way forward.

  We found our mate.

  She was forbidden, but I didn’t give a shit.

  She was mine.

  Fuck all the rules.

  CHAPTER 7

  Ruby

  I tilted my head, eager to deepen the kiss. I could hardly breathe, and I didn’t care. Who needed air when I was wrapped in Zeke’s arms? The way he held me as though he’d never let me go had my entire body on fire in spite of the cold temperature outside. I suddenly had way too many clothes on.

  His fingers tightened in my hair as his other hand wandered up my side and under my sweater. I was going to spontaneously combust. My back arched into his touch as his fingertips explored higher, sliding up the lace of my bra. He cupped my breast and then dipped his finger into the cup, teasing my nipple until heat throbbed between my legs.

  I pressed my thighs together, grateful I hadn’t unbuckled my seat belt yet or I would’ve been trying to climb over the gearshift to straddle him. I didn’t recognize myself. This was our first date. Not that I was a prude, but I didn’t usually make out with a guy I just met. And if we weren’t trapped in my tiny car, I might’ve gone even further.

  He dragged his mouth down to my neck, his teeth grazing my skin as he growled, “I was wrong… I’ll never be able to stop at one kiss.”

  A breathless laugh escaped my lips as I threaded my fingers through the back of his hair. “You…should’ve warned me…your kisses were…addictive.”

  He sucked at my collarbone and then lifted his head, staring into my eyes. “I’m serious, Ruby.”

  And then I realized…he was. There was no smile on his face, and the intensity in his eyes unsettled me.

  I sobered. “What’s wrong?”

  His voice was rough and hot as he brought both hands up to hold my face. “My wolf… It’s you.”

  I struggled to get my brain to work through the haze of desire. “What’s me?”

  “When we touched skin to skin…” His eyes searched mine as if I should understand what he was saying. “My wolf recognized you.” He swallowed, then whispered, “You’re my mate.”

  That pierced right through the passion and had me pushing him away. “What? That’s impossible.”

  A muscle jumped in his cheek. “Apparently, it’s not.”

  “What are we going to do?” I shook my head. “I’m a witch.”

  “And I’m a werewolf.” He frowned. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  I rubbed my temple. “This has to be a mistake. Lillian said witches are forbidden to mingle with werewolves. If we ever had kids, shifters with witch blood are too powerful. It’s dangerous.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you. Fate says Lillian is wrong.” He raked his fingers back through his hair. “This has never happened to me before. It’s not a fucking mistake.” His gaze locked on mine. “You’re the other half of my soul.”

  This was too much. My chest heaved as I struggled to catch my breath. “No one is going to accept our leadership if the first thing we do is break some cardinal rule that was put in place to protect us. The coven and your pack can live in peace because neither of us can overpower the other.”

  “And we won’t.”

  I sighed. “But if we had children, they might.”

  “This is about kids?” He looked up at the roof of the car. “What if Fate paired us together to unite our power?” He focused on me again. “Think about it, Ruby. Maybe Fate chose you for me to help us overcome the Coven of Shadows.”

  Could that be true?

  I felt like he was racing miles ahead of me and I was still stumbling over Fate tying me to a werewolf. I hadn’t even told him what had happened in Boston.

  To be fair, I’d never told anyone.

  I lifted my eyes and studied the hard lines of his face. He was older than I was. I wasn’t sure by how much, though. Werewolves didn’t age like humans. Mathias looked younger than Lillian, but I knew he was in his nineties, at least ten or fifteen years older than she was.

  Zeke’s features were chiseled, but his green eyes were kind—at least they were when he looked at me. I didn’t know him other than our conversations tonight. I hadn’t even learned his last name until he’d introduced himself to Amelia at the hospital. How could I possibly be his mate?

  I squeezed his hand. “I don’t have the instincts you do.”

  My words landed like a water balloon full of swamp water. He slid his hand free of mine and stared out the passenger window. “I get it.”

  I frowned and shook my head. “I don’t think you do.”

  He looked back at me, narrowing his eyes. “You can spare me the whole ‘it’s me, not you’ speech. I’m a werewolf, and you’d rather kiss a frog than break some rule about wolves and witches.”

  My eyes widened as my jaw dropped in disbelief. “Wow. You are miles off base.”

  “Enlighten me.” He narrowed his eyes.

  I crossed my arms. “First, I wasn’t saying I didn’t believe you, and I definitely wasn’t saying I didn’t enjoy every second of that kiss.” I paused, but he didn’t react. Fine. I plowed forward. “What I meant was, I don’t have a wolf inside saying you’re the only person I will ever love. To me, you’re still a guy I just met this morning.”

  “Are you telling me I should buy you flowers and take you on more dates?”

  I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m saying we barely know each other, and we’ve got the added complication right now of our elders pushing us to be leaders.” His expression didn’t lighten. I sighed. “Please don’t make me dig deeper.”

  His brows pinched together. “If this is about the werewolf in Boston, I’ll never hurt you, Ruby.”

  I did love the way my name sounded in his deep raspy voice. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I met his eyes. “I’ve never told anyone about that night.” He put his hand out with his palm up. I stared at it for a moment before tentatively placing mine inside. Our fingers laced together, sending a zing of power through my entire body. I lifted my gaze. “I don’t even know where to start.”

  “How did you know he was a werewolf?”

  “He was too strong to be human, and…he called himself a wolf.”

  Zeke’s calloused thumb was rough as he caressed my knuckles. “So the bastard spoke too?”

  I nodded, trying not to hear the werewolf’s gruff voice in my head. “I’d been out with college friends at a club. He cornered me at the bar and put himself between me and my group.”

  Zeke clenched his jaw, but when he spoke, his voice was calm and even. “Did he have a name?”

  I arched a brow. “I’m not telling you this for you to run to Boston and kick someone’s ass. We have bigger problems.”

  He squeezed my hand. “I’m not leaving Salem to go pick a fight, but should I ever cross paths with this dickhead, I’d be happy to make him wish he’d never laid eyes on my mate.” He cleared his throat. “On you.”

  I just met Zeke today and shouldn’t have enjoyed hearing him call me “his” as if I were something he owned, but…it was sort of nice to feel precious to someone. I didn’t have any siblings, and ever since I’d lost my parents in the fire, I’d been alone.

  I slid my hand free of his. “Somehow, he knew I was a witch. He claimed he’d been looking for me. I hurried onto the crowded dance floor, figuring I’d lose him there, but I didn’t realize I was dealing with a werewolf at that point. He told me his name was Shawn. He seemed to be fishing for mine, but I didn’t take the bait. I just wanted to get back to the safety of my group.”

  Talking about it out loud was making my fingertips tingle. I met his eyes. “He grabbed my wrist and said that hunting turned him on, goading me to run again.” I cleared my throat. “I thought he was going to kill me.”

  Zeke’s entire body tensed. “How did you get away?”

  “I snuck out the back of the club and into the alley. When I started to cast a blur spell, he burst out the door with so much force it almost ripped it off the hinges. He choked me before I could finish the incantation. He slammed me into the wall and said something about needing my blood. I kicked him in the crotch as hard as I could. He let go for a second, and I ran, calling 911 as I went. I found my friends and we left before he could corner me again.” I searched Zeke’s green eyes. “I knew werewolves existed, but I hadn’t realized how strong and…dangerous you were. Your sense of smell and sight and hearing are supercharged.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And you could probably lift this car by yourself if you had to.”

  He rolled his shoulders back. “You might be able to turn me into a toad right now, but I’m still here.” He studied my face. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve never known a werewolf to stalk a human like that. That’s not how we were raised. We use our abilities to protect ourselves, not to harm humans.”

  “Tell that to my anxiety.” I sighed. “I’m asking you to give me time to sit with this whole mate thing. And it really is me, not you.” I managed a half-hearted smile. “If I’m your one true mate, then we have time, right? Neither one of us are going anywhere.”

  He glanced out the window at the darkened Crow’s Nest. “What about the rule about wolves and witches not mixing?”

  “I don’t know.” And I didn’t. All this was too much. But I did like that I could talk to him. I didn’t have to keep supernatural secrets. “For now, we need to keep this mate thing to ourselves. No one can find out.”

  He rubbed his hand down his face and looked over at me. “This was not how I envisioned it would be when I finally found my mate.”

  His words were like a sucker punch to my belly. I frowned. “Did you think you’d tell me I was the one, and then we’d tear off our clothes and make babies?”

  “No.” He blinked. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “You thought your mate would be taller?” Now that I was on the attack, all my pent-up emotions about werewolves came spilling out. “Or maybe you thought I’d be thinner with bigger boobs?” I shook my head. “Maybe less…witchy? Screw you, Zeke.”

  I got out of the car and slammed the door before I realized it was my car. Oh well. I could lock it up later. Gripping my keys in a tight fist, I went to the back door of the store. I’d work on unpacking some inventory until I was sure he was gone.

  Zeke called from behind me. “Ruby, wait.”

  I unlocked the door and looked back over my shoulder. “Sorry Fate disappointed you.” I slipped inside the store and locked the door, pressing my back against it.

  Zeke knocked, calling through the door. “I didn’t mean it like that. Please open the door.”

  “Go home.”

  “I’m sorry.” He pounded on it, but not hard enough to even shake it underneath me. He wasn’t using his full werewolf strength. I counted myself lucky.

  But I didn’t turn around and unlock the door.

  His voice was low and clear. “I’m glad Fate chose you.”

  I held my breath as a tear rolled down my cheek. He didn’t knock or speak again. Finally, his truck roared to life. I closed my eyes and slid down the door until I was sitting on the concrete floor of the store. Pressing my lips together, I stifled a sob.

  This was all too much. Lillian could have died tonight. I wasn’t ready to lead the coven, maybe I never would be. And now a werewolf was telling me I was his mate? Why would Fate tangle him up with a witch?

  How did everything get so damned complicated?

  I wanted to run. But where would I go?

  As tears spilled down my cheeks, a vision took shape in the fog of my mind. I didn’t have the strength to push it away. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. A massive red wolf snarled in the center of a ritual circle. He was chained to a rock table with hooded figures surrounding him. He swung his large head toward me, and his eyes were bright green. My heart raced. Zeke. It had to be. There was a table beside him with a small iron cauldron, a jeweled dagger, and a single black candle.

  My spirit lingered within the vision. Over the years, Lillian had coached me to hold the connection and search for anything that might give me a time frame for the glimpse of the future.

  We were in the woods. No newspapers with dates. There must’ve been a full moon since Zeke was in wolf form, and there was snow on the ground. Maybe this would come to pass during the ice moon later this year. When I shifted my focus to the hooded figures around the circle, they dragged a woman forward.

  I flinched, popping my eyes open as I scrambled to my feet. It was me. They had me. My hands trembled at my sides as I reached up to run my fingertips down my neck. I raced to the cash register and picked up a pen, writing down notes before the vision softened and faded.

  It was the final line I wrote that had my heart racing.

  They slit my throat. My blood filled the cauldron on their table. The witches chanted around the circle over and over. “The blood of fate. The call of destiny.”

  My stomach twisted as I set the pen down.

  I’d just witnessed my death.

  CHAPTER 8

  Zeke

  I put on a pair of sweatpants and stepped into my fleece-lined slippers before leaving my room in search of coffee. It was cold again this morning, making me rethink my choice not to take the time to grab a shirt, too. Werewolves ran at hotter body temperatures than humans. I’d be all right.

  By the time I’d gotten back to Munroe Manor Farms last night, the house had been dark, and I’d been relieved. I hadn’t been in the mood to talk to anyone. I had this huge, life-changing news, and I couldn’t share it. Fucking fate. Why hadn’t Mathias ever mentioned this rule about wolf and witch unions being forbidden? It didn’t make sense.

  It should’ve been the best night of my life, but it had ended with me talking to a door after blurting out something without thinking, which was rare for me.

  I went through the motions, filling the glass pot with water and putting coffee into the filter while I replayed the conversation with Ruby again. I’d mentally replayed it hundreds of times since I’d left Essex Street last night. I’d told her finding my mate hadn’t been what I’d imagined it would be, which was true, but she’d thought I meant she wasn’t what I’d imagined. And by the time I’d realized my fuckup, she had already locked herself inside the Crow’s Nest.

  Ruby had mentioned she was a water witch and that her magic was tied up in her emotions. I was the opposite. And while I usually prided myself on being a thinker, when I was around Ruby, I kept speaking without mulling over possible outcomes first. It was easy to talk to her. Maybe too easy. For some reason my heart was doing the talking, and now I was facing the consequences.

  It had been a relief to head straight to my bedroom last night. The quiet gave me time to piece together how everything had turned to shit. I had a large bedroom on the first floor. It was on the opposite side of the house from the kitchen and gave me some privacy, considering I wasn’t the only werewolf living under this roof.