Chapter 1

1

SERAPHINA

M y sister looks at me like I just proposed we tell the world we actually have magic, when all I’ve done was suggest a ladies’ night at Vinny’s Bar. No big deal, right?

“Come on, Madeline,” I say as I pick up a brilliant red-orange carnelian flame crystal and touch a finger to its tip. “We’re due a little fun.”

She grunts, unimpressed with me and the crystal. “We just had fun, remember? A whole week in Arizona at the gem and mineral show.”

Talk about heaven. “That was work.”

“It was both,” Madeline says, taking the carnelian from me and wrapping it in bubble wrap. “Look at this.” With a waggle of her brows, she tilts her head toward the order we are packing. “This girl has loving on her mind, for sure. Carnelian flame, four fire agate tumbles, a dozen double term quartz points, shiva lingams, rose quartz…”

She’s right. That’s a spell for love and lust if ever I saw one.

“The girl knows what she wants,” I reply with a shrug. The customer probably doesn’t have a sister nagging at her to button up, rather than let loose.

“Exactly.” Madeline scrunches up her face and pretends to be afraid to touch the order. “Might be contagious.”

I laugh. “If only.”

I love nothing more than teasing Madeline. Her scowl makes every situation that much more fun. She’s always been the responsible one, the one who zaps all of the fun from the room.

I snatch up a bit of bubble wrap and give it a nice pop in her face.

“Sera!” She goes immediately indignant, her pretty face twisting in a scowl.

“What? That’s why we need to go to the bar tonight. So that I won’t be copying this girl’s MO.” But maybe that is what I need, too. Crystals to get the mojo going.Words with intent could change lives, create miracles even, especially from a powerful spellcaster. I’ve seen it done.

I can do it, too, if I want.

Madeline settles serious green eyes on me, eyes we share in color. “You know you really shouldn’t mess with those things. Let Fate have its way.”

“Fate is too slow. Let’s go make our own magic.” I grin. “Besides, blowing off a little steam will be good for you after–”

I quickly cut myself off and hurry to cover up what she probably suspects I’m going to say. “After our trip,” I clarify. “We both worked too hard. What do you say?”

Madeline doesn’t meet my gaze, and I know she heard the unspoken ‘after your breakup’ part of that thought.

She heaves a sigh like she’s about to do me the world’s biggest favor. “Okay, but after we get these orders done.”

I hug her to my side. “You won’t regret it.”

She goes back to wrapping the quartz points. “Should I place my bet now that I will probably regret this or should I wait?”

I laugh, happy she’ll be joining me and taking her mind off things. And thankful I’ll get a chance to put auras and spells and magic aside for one night and just be me.

I let go of my sister with a wink. “We might regret it, but I’ll make sure it’s at least not until morning.”

Kieran

I glance at my watch. Still a few minutes until the first drinks will be poured at Vinny’s.

Friday nights mean a time to enjoy being young and single, when I can cast off the responsibility of being the leader of my pack.My good friend, Quincy, and my younger brother and beta, Rico, are meeting me at the bar tonight to be my wingmen and soak in the night life, away from any worries, at least for a few hours.

I’ll take whatever I can get at this point.

As the three of us stroll down the busy city sidewalk, I slow my steps when we come up to one of the more curious spots in town. I’d never be caught dead in this sort of place, but it still intrigues me. In the window rests a black cat curled up, sleeping next to an array of sparkling crystals and gemstones.

I’ve always loved rocks. Seeing so many polished and perfect specimens in the display window takes me back to when my parents used to bring the family on vacation for rockhounding. It was always a cheap but thrilling trip, especially when mom would challenge us to see who could find the biggest gemstone or mineral deposit. Rico could always sniff out the larger deposits, but I had a thing for finding amethyst. Even now, there is something about that precious purple stone that has me itching to head into the store to buy a piece.

Then again, nothing can replace digging it from the earth myself. Not that I have time for that sort of thing anymore. Not after becoming alpha of the Blood Valley Pack.

With one more quick look at the display, I pick up my pace and head over to Vinny’s. Quincy and Rico stand outside waiting for me.

“It took you long enough,” Rico says, his voice gruff with annoyance. “I’ve been watching all of the single ladies go inside. They’re in there waiting for me to sweep them off their feet.”

“All of them?” Q asks with a shake of his head.

“At least three.” Rico rubs his hands together as his gaze follows a woman in a short pink skirt sauntering by. “The choices are endless tonight.”

When it comes to the opposite sex, Rico isn’t picky. He’s all about playing the field or, in his words, having a taste test before settling down with a real mate. Of course, being the youngest, he has that freedom. He’ll never have the pressures of bonding and having a family like I do. It’s one of the many things expected from the alpha, and according to the elder pack members—like my father—I’ve put it off long enough.

The three of us head inside, Rico crossing the threshold first to assess for danger before I follow him.

In the corner of the busy space, a live musician strums his guitar, creating an ambiance that differs from the usual DJ. Couples slow dance by the pool tables and the buzz of light-hearted conversations rises and falls with the song’s tempo. The three of us make our way to the bar to order drinks. Once I gulp back a few swigs of my beer, I glance around the roomonly to see her .

Seraphina Rose Putnam.

The bottom drops out from under me and my insides go twisted in seconds.

We went to high school together what feels like eons ago. We never ran in the same circles, never associated with each other. She was just someone I saw in passing and always felt drawn to, but couldn’t pursue because of pack laws. Wolves stick with wolves. Not humans, not other supes. Just our kind. She’s definitely not someone I expected to see here.

After graduation, I’ve always wondered what happened to her… And here she is.

I’d never forget that face. Or the way my body reacts whenever she’s around. It’s like a tugging of an invisible string that her soul holds. It’s even stronger now than it was back then—a full on yank of my heart.

She’s just a girl, I tell myself. No, a woman now, but I can’t stop my gaze from taking in all that I can. Her dark hair is pulled into an attractive messy bun, and she is wearing a simple black tank and high-waisted jeans. She might be the most underdressed person in the place, but she’s still making heads turn. Beautiful without even trying.

I down the rest of my beer with my target in mind. No one else will do. I have to have Seraphina. “I’ll be back,” I say to Q and my brother before striding her way.

With her back to me, I draw in a deep breath and say the first thing on my mind. Which I regret instantly. “Let me guess, quick trip to the gem store?”

She spins, looks at me, and her nose crinkles in confusion. “I beg your pardon?”

Smooth, Kieran. Fucking smooth.

She grabs her necklace, an amethyst amulet that glints under the lights. I can’t help but think about how alike she is to that necklace. A hidden treasure.She has a pair of onyx teardrops hanging from her ears and a tiger’s eye bracelet across her wrist.

“What I was trying to say was that you don’t look like you belong here. More like that gemstone shop down the street.” I’m not sure if she recognizes me, but that may be a good thing. I don’t want her to remember the pimple-faced kid I’d been back then. Only the stronger, much more attractive man I am today.

But it’s too late. Recognition settles in her eyes.

“Wait… Kieran Merek?” She cranes in closer. “Is that really you?”

I nod.

There it is again—another hard pull at my heart. Like her very being is teasing me, urging me to get closer.

Maybe it’s just nerves? Anticipation?

Seraphina smiles. “I never thought I’d see you again. But I guess there are worse things to do on a Friday night than catch up with an old school friend.” She gives me the same kind of once-over I’d given her. “I suppose you’re dressed for a good time?”

“I don’t need clothes to have a good time.”

She blushes, and I find myself thinking about how flushed she’d be lying underneath me as I plunge my cock into her tightness. The thought surprises me but has me prickling with heat. It came on me quickly this time, and once the feeling settles in, it digs roots into my psyche until she is the only thing I think about. “How about a drink, Sera?”

She hesitates, and I watch her face go through a whole litany of emotions before she says, “Okay. A drink sounds good.”

I usher her over to the other end of the bar, far enough away from Q and Rico that they can see me but only give me thumbs up and not interfere. I wave a bartender over and growl at another man who gives Sera an assessing glance.

Mine .

You can tell a lot about a woman by her drink order. If she orders a whiskey and coke, she’s ready to listen to anything I have to offer; a fruity drink, then she’ll need some warming up, a bit of attention paid to all the right subjects. But a shot, any sort of shot means one thing—she’s ready to get down to business.It’ll be a night with no rules, no commitments, and fun.

“Shot of whiskey for me,” she tells the man behind the counter, and my head perks up.

Things just got interesting. “Make that two.”

Seraphina slides onto one of the stools and takes the shot glass the moment the bartender puts it down in front of her, waiting for me to lift mine. “Cheers.”

With that, I catch a whiff of magic, a brief tickle under my nose. It makes me pause for a second, but the strange gunpowder and lilac scent is gone before I can be sure it was there to begin with.

Strange. But I guess there might be spellcasters here. There are a few witches in town, a local coven that’s harmless but forbidden for our kind to meddle with. Wolves and witches do not mix. It’s one of the cardinal rules of the pack and a cardinal sin if broken.

As long as they don’t mess with me and my wolves, I don’t need to worry about them. Tonight is all about having fun.

I clink my glass to hers. “Cheers.”

She tosses her drink back as I down mine. The liquor burns a straight trail of fire down my throat. Again her nose crinkles, but this time it’s like the whiskey’s a bit too strong.

“Not a whiskey drinker?” I ask.

“I am tonight. I promised my sister we were here to try new things.”

“Interesting. Me too.”

I half expect her to ask for something to mitigate the whiskey, but she powers through and gestures for the bartender to pour another before turning back to me with a smile.

She raises her glass and my expectations in one smooth move. “Here’s to trying new things.”

I can’t agree with her more.