4. Rook

Chapter four

Rook

Conversation and a hearty meal are the surefire way to capture a witch's heart. But if you want to truly impress a witch, our culture values the act of courting one another with a magical flower.

-On Love Potions and Romance. (Dating the Modern Witch)

M y heart is racing.

Glancing down, I check my watch for the fifth time before jerking my head back up to the gazebo. It's ten minutes past seven and Autumn isn't there yet. I wait about ten more minutes before that sense of defeat washes over me.

He isn't coming.

Fuck, did I really meet him yesterday? Because now I'm pondering the actual effects that potion may have had on me as I made my way to the bookstore. Did I imagine the whole thing? And what was with that dream? I have never had a dream that felt so… real.

Could it have been a shared dream?

No.

That's impossible. Shared dreams are only experienced between fated mates, and I never heard of a wolf being fated to a witch before. Even though Cass is a demon, I make a mental note to talk to him about his experience of finding his fated, before I continue with my daily tasks.

One of the apothecary's most popular magical plants is the rose, which I carefully prepare. The nice thing about the flower is that there are dozens of ways to prep it, depending on the user's goals. Some roses need to be preserved and whole, while certain potions might only require a few petals. Every part of the rose can be used in many different ways.

First, I focus on making several bottles of rosewater, saving some of the roses for the drying process, and preparing some rosebuds for certain potions. Then I work on clipping and bottling some thorns, because yes, even those can be used for certain spells. I'm halfway through preserving my remaining stock when Cass and Blaze walk through the door.

"Good morning, you two."

"Hey there, boss," Cass greets.

Blaze's eyes widen when he takes in my mess on the counter. "Wow! You've been busy. Did you do all of this today?"

I glance at all the roses and wince. I've easily done three days of work. None of it will go to waste, thank goodness, but yeah, it's a bit much.

I shrug. "I had a lot on my mind."

Cass and Blaze share a look, but I try to ignore it.

"So, how did things go this morning? Did you go visit your witch at the gazebo?" Cass asks.

"No," I grumble. "He didn't show up today."

Blaze walks over to the window and stares at the park across the street. He's so lost in thought that he jumps when Cass approaches and rubs his back. They don't even really know one another yet, but seem to be so in sync with each other's emotions. The power of a fated mate is a beautiful thing to witness, but I don't really think I can handle seeing it today.

"How do you two feel about working together in the forest this morning?" I point between the two of them.

A small smile touches Blaze's lips, and Cass completely lights up, nodding eagerly. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, you can go with Blaze and help him gather some plants. We're running low on lavender. I'm hoping you two can also find some more snapdragon while you're out there."

The demon's tail whips behind him excitedly. "Sure thing. Want me to bring any seeds to plant?"

Just because we gather plants from a magical forest doesn't mean there is an endless supply.

"Good idea. Bring some seeds with you and find the perfect place to plant them. Maybe show Blaze the different paths through the forest and how to seek help in case he gets lost."

Blaze chuckles. "I should be fine. If I get lost, I know a few spells that should be able to help me out of the forest."

I shake my head. "No. It's better to know just in case. The magical trees can confuse anyone, and a witch, no matter how powerful, can't always rely on his magic."

Blaze's eyes widen with shock. I repeat the words in my mind, but I have no idea what I said to make him have that type of reaction.

"What's wrong?" Cass asks, instantly by his side. "I can feel the panic through the bond."

Blaze shakes himself out of his thoughts and lets out a long sigh. "I need to contact my family soon. It's just something Rook said. It reminded me that there are some unresolved issues with my family and I need to figure things out."

Cass nods. "I'll be here when you're ready. You don't have to go alone. Unless you think I would make things worse?"

I scrunch my brows. "How would you make it worse?"

Blaze reaches for Cass's hand.

"Some witch families don't react well to different supernaturals," Cass explains.

Understanding hits me. Growing up in such a prestigious pack means I heard it all. Everything from racist remarks to talking down about the women in the pack. There was no way my old pack would approve of me crushing on a witch. Or befriending dragons and demons either, for that matter.

Blaze glances at Cass before tucking him in against his side. "I don't think you have to worry about my family. I just think they'll just be more upset that I've been missing for so long."

Cass tugs on his mate's hand. "Come on, let's go take a walk in the forest. We can chat about how to approach your family while we gather supplies."

Blaze smiles down at Cass and nods. As they leave the shop, I'm left staring at all the roses I've started working on. Red roses are a symbol of love and romance. I don't want to be jealous of my friend, but I am. Will I ever find anyone who will look at me the way Cass and Blaze look at each other?

The bell chimes and several customers walk in. I guide a sweet pixie with green hair over to our reading nook, where she happily picks up a spell book and begins flipping through the pages for a perfect spell.

At one point, Lyla walks in for her shift and quickly goes about helping people. This shop has been my dream for so long, and as I think about the last several days, I realize I'm happy with what I've created here. Heart's Hollow is a wonderful town. It might take a while for the witches to realize I have a reliable apothecary, but at least the other inhabitants have already grown to trust me.

In the midst of brewing one of my favorite potions, I'm only somewhat aware of someone coming closer until they clear their throat.

Autumn appears by my side. All the air rushes from my lungs. How is it that someone so much smaller than me can have this effect on my body?

He smiles up at me; a light blush dusted across his cheeks, blending in with his freckles. "Hi, Rook."

"Autumn," I breathe, swallowing hard. Gods, he's beautiful. Today he's wearing a navy peacoat and a black scarf. His auburn hair is styled back, and his green eyes look vibrant. He has a big spell book clutched in one hand and a dainty-looking leash wrapped around the other like a bracelet. My gaze follows the leash, only to startle when I see the little red fox from my dream last night.

My heart thrums wildly in my chest. It's pounding so hard that I'm half afraid Autumn can hear it.

"This is Maple. She's my familiar." He scratches behind her pointy ears.

I take a step back, not wanting to frighten the little creature. Usually, other animals are scared of me and my wild appearance, but the familiar doesn't seem to be bothered as she yips and headbutts my leg.

"She likes you," Autumn chuckles. His laughter is smooth and sensual, which causes my groin to pull in tight. Autumn steps forward and traces a finger along the brown fur on my arm. Is Autumn… flirting with me?

Gods, it's been so long since I've done this. Back when I was just a normal shifter that could change forms, I could easily blend in with the humans. I was confident and knew how to flirt.

But now? I'm just shocked. It's been years since anyone hit on me, assuming that's what Autumn is doing. With my luck, I'm thinking maybe I had a dried leaf, or a wayward magical ingredient stuck on my arm from all the work I did earlier.

I crouch down to pet Maple. She jumps up, placing her tiny black front paws on my knees and leaning against me to lick at my face. Glancing up at Autumn, I realize that kneeling this close to the witch I've been crushing on is giving me all kinds of ideas.

I clear my throat. "What brings you in today? I don't think I've ever seen you here before."

Autumn shakes his head. "No, I usually have everything I need at home, or know how to search for any missing ingredients. Although—" he taps his chin playfully. "This shop is really impressive. It's only my first time visiting you, but I can tell I'll be here more often."

His words of praise send a little thrill of excitement through me. My tail begins wagging, and I can't even hide the damn thing.

"I'm looking for something specific, though. I think I'll take a quick look around."

Maple continues to jump on me. The little fox is melting my heart. "Such a good little familiar, protecting your witch." I haven't had affection from anyone other than my sister and her hugs for longer than I care to admit. "Mind if I carry her?"

His lips twitch. "Go ahead."

When I scoop Maple into my arms, she curls against me and coos. She leans into my touch as much as I lean into hers, cradling this precious animal to my chest. Autumn casually walks forward, dainty leash still in hand, as he leads us through my shop. He browses the shelves, occasionally pausing to run a slender finger across a glass bottle or a book spine, murmuring more praise as he strolls.

The whole time, I'm cursing my body's strange reaction to the beautiful witch. I'm half hard following him around. That damn leash might as well be looped around my neck.

"Is keeping Maple on a leash necessary? I thought familiars are well behaved with their witch."

Autumn grins at me from over his shoulder as he waves a hand in the air. "Oh, Maple is very well trained. The leash is mainly for decoration and to assure the town that I don't have a wild magical fox roaming around. She can snap it easily."

I grin. "I can't imagine anyone finding Maple a threat."

Autumn fully turns, facing me now. He props himself against the armrest of the chair in my reading nook. "Trust me, the amount of magic coursing through Maple is extremely dangerous. Don't judge someone by their appearance. There's more under the surface."

I blink, Blaze's words from the other day slamming into me. ‘Don't you think there could be a chance your witch might be tired of being judged for his appearance, too?' Guilt swirls in my stomach. Here I am, checking Autumn out, making assumptions about his familiar, and all while being embarrassed of my own appearance.

"I'm so sorry. I know looks aren't everything," I reply, pouring as much sincerity into my words as possible.

Autumn's bright green gaze travels down my body before slowly climbing back up to my eyes. He offers me a sweet smile. "No. Not everything," he says mysteriously. A blush blooms across his cheeks as he speaks, but despite that, he still looks confident.

My own face heats in response.

Maple squirms in my arms and licks my nose.

Busted.

I chuckle before placing her back on the ground. "You know, you never told me what you were looking for."

Taking a step back, the blush on Autumn's cheeks deepens. His shoulders tense for the first time since I've met him.

Why does he suddenly seem nervous and shy? It's almost as if he's embarrassed to admit what he's looking for. I'm about to tell him he doesn't have to tell me if he's uncomfortable, but his words freeze me in place.

"A love potion."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I'm looking for a love potion." Autumn bites his lip, eyes on the floor.

Something inside me hardens. An image of Lucus, the handsome witch who spoke with Autumn yesterday, flickers in my mind. "Ah, yes. Your friend mentioned you were looking for a witch to marry," I reply, my words sounding distant, almost as if I'm not the one speaking.

Is that his plan? Find some witch and get them to drink a love potion so they fall in love with him? Sadness overwhelms me and I take a step back. My wolf claws clink against the tile floor, a stark reminder that I'm not what Autumn is looking for. I'm no witch, and I'll never fit in with one.

"You don't need a potion to make someone fall in love with you. They just need to meet you," I whisper like a hushed confession. I take another step back.

Autumn's green eyes widen. "No, it's not like that. I mean, it's—I know love potions never existed before. But I read an article earlier this year that there are advanced potions that have made great progress and making a person feel like they are in love—and I wanted one just in case I—"

"No," I interrupt. "There's no such thing. I don't care what the articles say. It's a lie. A person might feel obsession, or maybe happiness, but not love. Not true love. Anything else is fleeting or a lie." My voice is clipped. Cold.

His whole demeanor sags. Even knowing he wants a love potion to give to someone else, it hurts me to know my cruel tone and words hurt him. Gods, doesn't he know how amazing he can be? Sure, I might not know him, but for the first time in years, this pretty witch has made me feel seen. I'm scary-looking and abrasive. I'm huge, with werewolf feet and fur in random places. I even have wolf's ears for fuck's sake. And yet… yet , Autumn has made me feel human. In just two chance meetings, he's made me feel worthy.

"Please, you don't need to do this." I make sure my voice sounds confident despite my pounding heart. "If they just took the time to know you, Autumn. To speak with you and see the way you—"

"Excuse me." A handsome blond man in a sharp-looking suit appears by my side. He's staring at Autumn with a twinkle in his eyes. "Did you say a love potion?"

Autumn blinks. "Well, yeah, but I know they aren't real. I just wanted to experience what it was like to—"

"Nonsense." The man strides forward, his strong, flowery cologne swirling around and assaulting my sensitive nose. Damn. Did the man pour the whole bottle on himself? "I have exactly what you're looking for."

Something about this attractive man, with his perfectly styled hair and slimy smile, screams red flags.

"This shop is a complete joke, anyway," the man says, tone growing louder. "The magic shop down the street has affordable ingredients gathered by a real witch. And the potions don't lack luster or look watered down like these." He waves a hand at the shelf right next to me.

I start to growl. Mature, I know. But I can't help it. This man is talking shit, and my shop doesn't deserve it. "My potions aren't watered down. At Rook's Apothecary, we take a lot of pride in using the finest ingredients."

A few of our customers have stopped what they were doing and are now glancing our way, whispering.

"Oh, of course." The man places a hand over his heart and pretends to be sincere. "My deepest apologies. I'm sure for a cursed… creature , subpar magical plants are fine. But only a true witch can find the most potent plants while still growing."

I hate this man, but what I hate even more is that he's right. A witch is the only being who can feel the magic in a plant while it's still growing. I don't know who the fuck he is, or why he's talking like this, but as I continue to growl, I feel like I'm only proving him right. The witches here are never going to take me seriously, and if this asshole keeps talking, I might end up losing my non-witchy customers, too.

"We only provide the best plants and supplies here in my shop, thanks to our numerous tests. But even so, we recently hired a powerful witch to help us seek the best ingredients."

"And where is this wonderful witch you speak of? Who are they? What coven are they from?" The man waves a hand around.

The blood drains from my face. I promised Blaze I would keep his identity a secret, but denying who he is will only hurt my shop at this moment. Still, I made a promise and intend to keep it. I stand up taller and step closer to the man.

He steps back, closer to Autumn. "Sir, you don't need to threaten me. I was just trying to speak with this witch."

My mouth falls open when he flinches back as if I were about to strike him. Murmurs can be heard all around us now. Everyone in the shop is staring. A few have even pulled out their cell phones.

Autumn clears his throat. "Did you say you have a love potion?"

The man turns a dazzling smile toward my pretty witch, and I find myself growling again when Autumn places a hand on the man's forearm. "Let's go then. Mind if I get your name?"

"Ah, yes. How rude of me. My name is Meyer. Meyer Cunningham. I own Witchful Thinking , the magic shop just down the street."

This time I snarl. This is the asshole who's been trying to destroy my shop and boost his?

"Okay," Lyla says, clapping her hands together in one loud, sharp crack. "Show's over. Mr. Cunningham, you need to leave." She walks to my side and arches a brow at the man.

Meyer gives my sister an appreciative look. This time she growls, causing Meyer to throw his hands up in the surrender motion.

"Shall we go?" Meyer turns back to Autumn.

To my dismay, he nods. Meyer leads the way, but Autumn looks back briefly, mouthing an apology before exiting the apothecary, leaving me filled with anger and heartbreak.