Chapter 14 - Winter

The full moon rode high in the sky as the Nightstar pack gathered on the lawn outside the manor. Feeling more than a little out of place, surrounded by werewolves, Winter focused on her breathing.

This was it. This was the moment she had been trying to avoid for what felt like an age, and yet, it had come upon them in the blink of an eye.

Standing at the center of the crowd, facing Eddie, she couldn't help but think of the dreams that had been plaguing her every time she slept. Sex dreams, dreams of being chased, dreams that always ended with him.

Was this really where she was meant to be? Was she truly meant to do this?

If so, she would do it without hesitation, just like Eddie would, for the sake of the town. And yet, she couldn't help but wish there was something more to it. If only she had managed to talk to Eddie properly about it. If only she hadn't been so damn defensive. But it was too late now.

“Winter, would you mind my saying a few words before we begin?” Jack asked, stepping into the circle.

She would rather he didn’t. She just wanted to get this over with so she could go home and hide under her favorite fleecy blanket for the rest of her life.

But instead of admitting that, she nodded and gave the floor over to him.

“Tonight, beneath the light of the full moon, with the wolf gods bearing witness, we finally put an end to the torment that has been plaguing this town,” Jack said, speaking loud and confident as he gazed around at all his packmates. “But what we must remember is that without the bravery of Winter and Eddie, this would not have been made possible. I would like us to take a moment to show them our true appreciation for the sacrifice they make here today.”

With that, Jack threw back his head and began to howl. In an instant, the rest of the pack began to do the same.

It was a wondrous noise, one filled with elation and gratitude, and yet it still made Winter's skin crawl.

She had hoped that perhaps even one member of her coven might turn up in support of this spell, a spell that was going to protect them as much as the wolves, but it seemed there was not a single familiar face among the crowd.

What if my mom shows up late and tries to stop it? Winter thought. Her heart raced as she realized she actually didn't want that to happen.

As the noise of their howling died down, Jack turned to Winter and said, “I shall hand this back over to you with my sincerest gratitude.”

He bowed his head to Winter before doing the same to Eddie, and finally, he returned to stand beside Bonnie.

He wrapped his arm lovingly around his mate, who held their toddler son affectionately to her chest.

Could that be us one day? Winter wondered, looking at them before looking back at Eddie. She shoved the thought away. That didn't matter right now. What mattered in this moment was performing the spell to protect the town.

And so, without explaining herself, Winter began to light the candles that were set in a circle around her and Eddie, calling the elements of air, fire, earth, water and spirit to protect them while she worked the spell.

All eyes were on her, watching carefully. Some murmured as if uncertain of what she was doing and if it was really such a good idea.

Winter had expected it. After all, magic users weren't exactly understood by those who didn't use it.

What she hadn’t expected was the admiring look upon Eddie's face as she returned to join him at the center of the circle.

“You've got this,” he whispered encouragingly, as if he sensed her nerves.

“Thanks,” Winter responded, smiling. Her cheeks were warm with embarrassment, and she hoped that in the light of the full moon he wouldn't be able to see it. “Let's just get this over with, shall we?” she suggested.

Gesturing to the book at her feet, she started to get down onto the ground, kneeling to look at the open pages before her. Silently, Eddie dropped down opposite her, looking down at the book, though she was certain he couldn't read Latin, let alone upside down.

Taking the goblet from beside the book, she added salt for protection and an amulet of acacia wood for love and purity before she placed it before Eddie and said, “Give me your hand.”

Eddie raised a brow at her. “Why?”

Winter held out her own and snapped, “Just do it.”

She was in no mood for questions right now.

Eddie, still looking hesitant, laid his hand in hers, palm up.

Swiftly, Winter produced the athame dagger she kept in her boot, and before he could react, she sliced down his palm. Wrapping his fingers around the cut, she tilted his hand to drip a few drops into the goblet.

“You could have warned me about that,” Eddie snapped when she released his hand and proceeded to cut her own palm.

Adding her own blood to the goblet, she closed her eyes, turned her head up to the moon, and started to chant the words she had memorized from the book.

She didn't have time to baby a werewolf right now. She simply wanted this over with as quickly as possible.

And soon it would be.

Opening her eyes the moment the chanting was complete, Winter dipped her finger in the bloody concoction and leaned over to smear it over Eddie's lips.

“What the fuck?” he demanded, trying to avoid it, but with her free hand, she grabbed him by the back of the head.

She felt how tense he was, knowing if he really wanted to, he could break free of her grip. Yet, he didn't. And once his lips were smeared, she smeared her own.

“Kiss me.”

Eddie stared at her, open-mouthed. “Excuse me?”

“Kiss me,” she ground out through gritted teeth. Rolling her eyes, she added, “It's the final step of the spell. Just damn well kiss me.”

Eddie glanced around them then, as if looking for someone to step in so he wouldn't have to finish this damn thing.

But then, he surprised her when he darted forward and gripped hold of her cheeks, kissing her so passionately that she felt as if her lips might bruise.

That's when it happened.

It started as a spark between their lips, thrilling out through Winter's body. And by the gasp from Eddie's lips, she guessed he felt it too.

When she heard the exclamations from those around them, she knew it hadn't ended there. And as she opened her eyes, she was just in time to see the spell she had cast taking effect. It shot out from their circle like a giant ball of light, growing and doming as it started to surround the entire town. It spread far and wide, lighting up the sky, settling into place at the boundaries of Nightstar.

“What the hell was that?” one wolf whispered.

“Is it over?” another asked.

“Are we protected?” a third questioned.

Their questions told Winter one thing—they couldn't see the dome anymore. And if she tried not to look, she couldn't, either. But when she looked close enough, using her witch's senses, she could see the faintest glimmer of the spell still set at the boundaries.

“It is complete,” Winter said, looking to Jack, but deep down she knew it wasn't entirely. There was still technically one final step left, but she wasn't about to tell every wolf in the pack that she and Eddie needed to consummate things for the spell to be set in stone.

Jack threw his arms wide and declared, “Then it is time to celebrate!”

As if given some unspoken order, all the wolves around Winter began to strip off their clothes. The howling began moments later, and she watched in awkward fascination as they all began to shift, racing off into the woods with cries of elation.

It was only when Eddie spoke that she realized he was still crouched right where he had been before. “Are you alright?”

“Why wouldn't I be?” Winter asked, more than a little defensively.

“You're shaking.”

Winter looked down at her hands in her lap. She was, indeed, shaking.

“I’m fine.”

She tightened her hands into fists in an attempt to hide it.

“Shouldn't you be going with them?” she asked, gesturing towards the final wolves disappearing into the woods.

Eddie shrugged. “I'd rather not.”

Winter was about to ask him why when he rose to his feet and said, “Come on. Let me take you home.”

He held out his hand, looking down at her expectantly.

“I can make my own way.”

“I know you can, but what kind of man would I be if I let you walk home alone after all we've been through tonight?” Eddie asked, cocking his head. Before she could say another word, he reached down and plucked her up, placing her on her feet.

“Let me look at that,” he insisted, gripping hold of the wrist of the hand she had cut so that he could examine her palm.

Winter gasped in shock at almost the same moment as Eddie when they both saw that though there was blood smeared on her palm, her skin was unbroken.

“How?” Eddie asked, looking her in the eye.

Winter shrugged. “It must be part of the spell. Yours has healed.”

“I'm a werewolf,” Eddie pointed out, “and you didn't cut that deep.”

Bile rose in the back of Winter's throat. She wasn't about to tell Eddie that she was in fact half werewolf. Especially as she wasn't sure, that was the reason she had healed so quickly. It had to be the spell.

“I'm not going to knock it,” Winter said, slipping her hand from his. “That damn wound would have sucked for days.”

Eddie's lips twitched upwards in a half-smile. “I guess so.”

“If you're walking me back, let's get going. It's turning chilly.”

Still feeling more than a little awkward, Winter turned and started across the lawn, headed for the dirt track that led down the hill and back into town.

Eddie kept pace with her easily, and she was actually surprised by how it felt simply to walk side by side.

There was no talking. In fact, there didn't seem to be any need to talk. At least, not until they were halfway down the hill and Eddie said, “Stop a second.”

“What for?” Winter asked, turning to find Eddie shrugging off his leather jacket.

She was surprised when he wrapped it firmly around her shoulders. “You're shivering.”

“You didn't need to do that,” Winter insisted. “It's only a slight chill.”

“What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you walk home shivering when I don't even really need a jacket?” Eddie asked, his brow furrowing.

Winter gulped at the fluttering in her chest.

“You know, I've never known a werewolf to be a gentleman before.”

Eddie shrugged. “We're out there. Unfortunately, ninety percent of our race let down the team.”

Winter bit her lip but she couldn't stop from asking the question that lingered on her tongue. “Witches and werewolves have been enemies for centuries. Why are you being so kind to me?”

Eddie met her gaze, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Then, again, he shrugged. “How can you possibly be my enemy when you are my mate?”

Winter's insides quivered at that. It felt good to hear him say it. Why did it feel so damn good to hear him say it?

“We aren't technically mates yet,” she pointed out, her cheeks growing hot with embarrassment.

She thought she saw his own cheeks growing red as he cocked his head and said, “There’ll be plenty of time to correct that in the future now that we don’t have to constantly worry about being attacked. Come on, let's get you home before you catch your death.”

Winter nodded, though in truth, with his jacket on and his body close, she no longer felt the cold at all.

What surprised her even more was that when Eddie silently offered her his hand, she actually took it.

It was sweet, and it felt nice not to be so isolated after days sitting alone in the back room of the Green Cauldron, looking for a way out.

Why was I even looking for one? she thought, glancing at Eddie.

Even in the moonlight, he was handsome as hell, his masculine features brought out by the shadows cast by the moon.

“What are you staring at?” Eddie asked, eyebrow raised.

Clearing her throat, Winter looked away. “Nothing. This just feels so—”

“Surreal?” Eddie asked when she couldn’t quite find the right word.

“Something like that,” Winter said, lifting a shoulder nonchalantly.

They were almost at the shop when Eddie suddenly stopped, pulling her back to him gently with his fingers still entwined in hers.

For a second, she stood close, her chest pressed to his, their eyes locked. And for just that one second, she imagined what it would be like if he kissed her.

Then she noticed the way his nostrils were flaring, and if she had been a full-blooded werewolf, she was certain that her hackles would have risen.

“What is it? What's the matter?”

Eddie didn't answer. Instead, he pressed his index finger to his lips, releasing her hand, before he whispered, “Stay here.”