1. Rook

Chapter one

Rook

Wolf shifters possess the magical power to shift into their wolf's form whenever they desire. On the other hand, werecreatures are doomed to transform every month when the full moon rises. Werecreatures are commonly known as Moon Cursed.

-From the Encyclopedia of Otherworldly Creatures

T he musical chime of the grandfather clock strikes right at seven. Two hours until I have to open the apothecary. Every morning I wake up at six, shift, go on a quick run through the forest before heading back home, shower, and eat breakfast. It's a simple routine I've done for years.

Then, a little over a year ago, I noticed a gorgeous auburn-haired man—no, witch—making his way to the park's gazebo. Every morning since, he's gone to that same gazebo, sparking beautiful purple magic into the vines and helping the magical plant grow.

Rain or shine, it doesn't matter. Every morning, the beautiful witch starts his morning in that same gazebo. And every day, my morning won't start until I see my crush using his magic to help the wisteria grow.

A smile threatens to break across my lips as I make my way across my shop. I practically lean against the window like an eager puppy.

"Seriously?" I grumble to myself as my wolfy tail begins to wag. Just because I'm a wolf shifter doesn't mean I have to act like a dog. Still, I wait by the glass, enraptured.

Today, the witch is wearing a royal green peacoat that falls to mid-thigh, and black jeans tucked into a pair of scuffed black boots.

Fuck.

He's gorgeous. But what intrigues me even more than his beauty is the kindness I see when he smiles at the flowers. Witches, especially powerful ones, can communicate with plants. I'm not exactly sure how, but they can sense the plant's emotions and the magic within.

What's the story with this witch? Why does he visit it every morning? I've wasted an absurd amount of time weaving whimsical stories about why he could be found beneath this particular gazebo tending to those particular flowers.

Is he nourishing all those flowers in order to make the perfect potion that will put me and any other nearby magic shop out of business?

Did he lose his familiar, and this just happens to be the last place he saw it?

Or maybe he's there waiting for his long-lost love? Then again, is he even old enough to have a lost lover? The stunning witch looks like he could be twenty-two to my thirty-five.

As usual, the witch walks past my shop, crosses the street, and makes his way to the park. This morning he takes his time caressing the vines under his fingertips, and I swear I've never been more jealous of a freaking plant before.

The back door of my shop slams, causing me to jump. I jerk my head back and scowl playfully at my sister.

"Oh gods, please don't tell me you're staring at that witch again." Lyla chuckles, placing a new shipment of glass bottles on the counter. Her chocolate-brown eyes, which look so similar to mine, sparkle.

I shrug, ignoring her question and distracting myself by pulling the colorful bottles out of the box.

"Why don't you just go out there and talk to him?"

My head jerks up. "What? No. Are you crazy?" I couldn't. Not when I look like—what could he possibly see in a huge, cursed wolf like me? I shake my head. "Uh-uhh. No way. He would run screaming."

Lyla frowns. "I don't get you, ya know? Just because you're a wolf shifter doesn't mean—"

"That's the thing, Lyla. I'm not just a wolf shifter. A shifter can change at will. A shifter can pass as a human or a witch. They can live anywhere in the world. I'm not like you. Not anymore ."

She sighs. It's a conversation we've had many times. My sister and I come from a strong line of wolf shifters. A proud pack that is so pure, they don't even entertain the idea of mating outside of the wolf community. About eight years ago, my sister and I went running in a nearby forest. She'd received some bad news from our father and needed to relieve some stress. Unfortunately, neither of us paid attention to the moon cycles. Why would we?

It was a full moon—something that doesn't normally affect shifters. But werewolves? That's a different story. A newly turned werewolf attacked Lyla during our run. I was able to save her in time, but I was scratched and bitten numerous times.

Usually, lycanthropy isn't something a shifter needs to worry about, but apparently, I have a dormant gene that was magically activated under a full moon. Activate said gene, throw in some moonlight, bite me a few times, and… voilà. You have me; a cursed wolf hybrid who can't hide his appearance.

"Rook…" My sister's tone is soft. Hushed.

No, no, no. I can't take it when my little sister gives me that tone. I'm her protector, not the other way around. "Lyla. I don't want your pity."

"It isn't pity," she snaps. "Wake up, Rook. It's why we're here." She waves a hand around at my shop. "That's why we left our pack and came to Heart's Hollow. Everyone in this town is accepted for who they are. No one even bats an eye at someone's appearance. That's why it's called a sanctuary town."

No one bats an eye at her. But I see the way the witches avoid our shop. I see the extra stares and feel their judgment. I don't have the heart to fully explain that to Lyla. She's biased, and we're family. She has to defend me.

"There is a vast variety of paranormal creatures that live here," she says. "All of which can't hide their appearance, either. You don't see Zero complaining about the amethyst scales that adorn his skin. Or his translucent wings."

I scoff. Zero is handsome and charming. Sure, he's a dragon shifter, but my bestie has no problem flirting with anyone. Not with his good looks.

Lyla continues, trying to make her point. "You don't hear Cass whining about his demon tail, or the pixies crying about their sharp teeth. Or—"

"Okay, I get it." I hold a hand up to stop her from listing every damn creature in town. "It's just hard. I wasn't always like this." I scratch at the fur that trails up my arms before waving one toward the window and in the direction of the auburn-haired witch still sitting at the gazebo. "Someone as pretty as that witch can have anyone. Anyone. I doubt he'd look twice at a cursed wolf."

She sighs. "You're handsome, Rook, and you're very lucky, considering everything you went through. You still look human enough. You aren't stuck in some full werewolf form. Sure you have wolf ears, a tail, and some fur—"

I cock a thick brow.

She laughs. "Alright…a lot of fur. But you have all those man muscles and whatnot. People go crazy for that shit. If I was attracted to men, I'm sure I would be going crazy for that stuff, too."

I roll my eyes. "Ew, don't even say that."

"Not attracted to you!" she screeches. "I meant attracted to big muscles, in general. Jeez." Lyla hits me playfully.

She stands there for a minute, and I see the change come over her slowly. Her lips tip down and her shoulders slump. "It's my fault," she whispers. "If I just listened to Father and mated with the pack leader, we'd still be there. You'd still be just a shifter."

That's when the guilt kicks in. How long has she felt this way? I pull her into a tight hug. "Don't say that, Lyla. None of this is your fault. We both went running. Seriously, I thank all the gods I was there that night. I can't even imagine what I'd do if I lost you."

"But—"

I squeeze my sister tighter. "No buts. I'm sorry for being so emotional about my appearance. The important thing is you're alive. I'm alive. We are together in a town that seems to be quite…wonderful."

She nods against my chest.

"Plus," I say. "You were the one who picked Heart's Hollow. You're the one who encouraged me to go after my dream and finally open up my shop. Rook's Apothecary wouldn't exist without you. You pushed me toward my dream. If I was back home with the pack, I'd be bored doing the alpha's dirty work."

"You're more than just muscles. They wasted your talent back home."

"This is our home now."

"True," she replies, squeezing me one last time before pulling out of my embrace. "Come on. Help me unpack the rest of this box. I need to go to the next town over for our new shipment of candles. And you have a new employee coming in soon."

I check my watch. "Yeah, he should be here in twenty minutes. The guy's tall for a witch. Close to my six-foot-five. Thank the gods I'm not the only tall guy here. Maybe hiring an elemental witch will encourage other witches to grace my doorstep finally."

"Gods, let's hope so."

We walk back over to the counter and put the rest of the bottles away. My sister knows me well. I love a well-organized shop. I can't stand clutter and have this crazy need to put things away immediately.

Once we're finished, I walk Lyla out back to her car. "Take your time. I saw you flirting with Ruby the last time we visited her candle shop." I wink.

Lyla blushes and ignores my words as she leans against the driver's door. "Cass told me the new guy is his fated? Is that true?"

I nod, thinking about the way Cass reacted when I told him I hired Blaze. "Yup. If it's the right guy. Cass hasn't even seen him yet, but he said Blaze is his mate. I didn't even realize a demon could be fated to a witch."

"Hmm," she hums. "Me either. Okay. Keep me updated if anything crazy happens. And text me if you need me back here sooner."

"Yeah, yeah. Have fun with Ruby," I tease, as she unlocks her car and hops in.

One of us deserves to find love.

Ten minutes later, I hear the bell at the front door chime.

"Hello?" a gruff voice calls out.

"Hey, Blaze. Come on in. I'm back here sorting the magical herbs and flowers you found yesterday."

Blaze ducks his head as he walks into the back room. His dark red shaggy hair falls into his face. Like me, he's tall and muscular and honestly looks more like a bear shifter rather than a witch. When he stopped by yesterday to interview for the elemental witch position, I was shocked.

Not only did he seem friendly and approachable, he was smart. Quick. I decided to extend the interview and see if he could find me some magical herbs or flowers for the shop.

Since elemental witches can sense the magic growing within the plants, they are able to tell which plants and herbs will be the best to harvest for spells. I might have a passion for spellwork, but I can't sense just how powerful the magic within a plant actually is. Not until I brew the potions and test their potency.

Blaze smiles when he sees which herbs I'm handling. "Ah. Thyme is great for healing potions. Can I help you with that?"

"Sure." I grin. "Let's finish this up in here, then I can show you where I store everything. I need to make a few potions today so we can go over my process. Afterward, I can give you a tour of the shop. How does that sound?"

"Great."

Over the next two hours, we effortlessly establish a pleasant rhythm. We sift through mystical flora, handpicking the most powerful herbs for crafting potions. Together, we brew a few simple spells that always sell out and work together to bottle them.

We multitask by chatting and working simultaneously. Blaze has a knack for learning things quickly and comes across as genuinely sincere. I have no doubt that he'll quickly become friends with Lyla and Zero. And if he really is fated to Cass, then all of us will definitely become close friends.

"That's the last of it," I say, placing the poppies into a vase. "If you're unfamiliar with Heart's Hollow, you'll learn that the town has special protection wards surrounding the forest. So, as long as the plants are still growing, they will be in season all year long. The rest of the town might experience the seasons, but we don't have to worry about the flowers in the forest dying in the winter or drying up in the summer."

Blaze chuckles. "I'm familiar with Heart's Hollow. I know I just moved into my new place, but I actually grew up here."

"That's great. I'm hoping that since you're a witch, it might work in our favor. The other witches tend to avoid my shop."

"Wait, what? Why would they avoid the apothecary? You clearly have a passion for potions and spellwork. You're probably the best in town, if I'm being honest."

My tail wags at the compliment, and I duck behind the counter, not wanting Blaze to see. "Let's just say I'm tired of people judging me based on my appearance. I'd rather they look past my wolf features."

"Seriously? People shouldn't be judging you for your appearance. They're idiots." Blaze shakes his head. "I'm serious, Rook. We only just met, but you've shown more love for the craft than anyone I've seen. And you aren't even a witch. It's really impressive."

"Thank you. Since we're talking about it, I'm hoping you might be able to tell your old friends or family to stop by?" I pose it as a question, looking at him hopefully.

Blaze's lips twist. "About that. I was hoping we could keep it a secret that I'm working here. I have some things I need to sort through first."

I scrunch my forehead. "I don't know, Blaze. I don't feel comfortable lying to people."

"No, not a lie. Just give me some time to get settled. I promise. Just three weeks? Maybe less?"

I nod slowly, studying him. "Are you safe? Is anyone going to come searching for you, or anything like that?" I think about my pack that rejected me but continued to search for my sister until she gave them the middle finger. The nice thing about living in a sanctuary town is that I know the magic would kick Blaze out if he was thinking about hurting anyone who lived here. But just because I feel relatively safe around him doesn't mean I wouldn't want him to feel safe too.

"I'm safe. You and your shop are safe. It's just…personal. I promise I'll explain when I'm settled."

"Alright. Just let me know if you need anything. I'll give you three weeks to get settled. If you need more time, let me know. And if you need someone to talk to, my wolf ears are great for listening." I clap him on the back and nod.

Blaze relaxes, sighing in relief. "Thank you."

"Come on, let's put the remaining supplies away. I prefer keeping a few plants in their natural state. Instead of using up all my stock for potions, I sell some ingredients whole too. This allows the townsfolk to have ingredients for their own spells if they ever need them."

"So," Blaze says when we finish. "Tell me more about yourself. Are you mated? Married?"

For some reason, an image of the auburn-haired witch flashes in my mind, causing my cheeks to heat. "Uh, no. Not married and definitely not mated."

"Anyone special?" Blaze grins. "You're blushing."

As I examine Blaze more closely, I notice that his hair is nearly the exact same rare shade of red. Could they be related? Is my beautiful witch one of the ‘ personal things ' that Blaze needs to deal with?

"It's not a big deal," I say, waving my clawed hand in the air.

Blaze grins again and nudges me. "Oh, come on. Tell me."

"I don't even know his name." My blush travels down my neck. Gods, I'm so embarrassed. "We've never actually met."

Blaze's eyes sparkle. "Okay, and what makes him so special?"

"He's a witch. He walks by the apothecary every morning. It's kind of the highlight of my day." Ah, shit. Did I really just say that out loud?

Blaze chuckles. "Okay, go on."

"It's the way he pays particular attention to the wisteria in that gazebo." I point across the street toward the park. "There's something enduring about it. About him."

"Your witch takes care of the wisteria?" Blaze asks in a far-off tone. He's staring out the window at the gazebo, but it's almost as if he's lost in thought.

"Yeah. See how the trees surrounding the gazebo are starting to change colors? The leaves are turning yellow and orange, but the wisteria is still that stunning shade of purple. It's because he uses his magic to nourish the plants. It might even be similar magic that's used to protect the forest from the weather."

Blaze continues to stare at the gazebo, lips parted with shock. Finally, he shakes his head, as if waking from a dream.

His hazel eyes meet mine. "I think you should go for it. Introduce yourself."

"Fuck, you sound like my sister."

"She must be a smart lady."

"Gods, don't let her hear you say that. You'll meet her soon enough. But really, I can't just introduce myself, Blaze. This witch…he's the most beautiful person I've ever seen." Exhaustion hits me. I don't really want to repeat everything I said to my sister.

Blaze nods. "You mentioned earlier that you don't like it when people judge you for your appearance. That you want people to see past your wolf. Don't you think there might be a chance your witch might be tired of being judged for his appearance, too?"