Chapter 30

I t’s Trunk or Treat for the businesses on Main Street. It’s not really Trunk or Treat. I guess they don’t know how to advertise that it’s trick or treating from business to business.

I help Iris every year alongside Ember, who already used paint to make the storefront design. It’s a mixture of black cats and orange pumpkins. We even splurged for full size candy bars this year.

The only problem is the property is now owned by Walker Industries, which means Silas is currently across the street at Howl at the Moon, which has always been a dive bar. It’s just under a new name and management now. The shifter presence in town has increased exponentially and everyone’s noticed.

I curse as my grand-mère approaches us, glaring across the street at the walk-through haunted house the bar has.

“This is just ridiculous,” my grand-mère says.

“It hasn’t changed business. If anything, I’ve sold more this month,” Iris says, tilting her witch’s hat back.

“It’s because it’s October. Main Street used to be our territory. A wolf wouldn’t dare to come here. Now they’re everywhere,” she complains, crossing her arms.

“They’re just people, grand-mère.”

“Tell that to your dead coven members,” she snaps back.

I’m not sure why I grow a spine at that moment. Maybe it’s because I know she’s lying, or Silas’ words from last night.

“You know, I can’t find anything about coven members being attacked in the archives. Nor can I find any reason why we’ve been feuding with the wolves for so long.”

“You know our records are mostly verbally based to protect the sanctity of the coven.”

“I also note that every single Celestial Coven owned business on Main Street has done better since Walker Industries took over, and they haven’t raised any of their rents.”

“Yet, he hasn’t raised it yet.”

I cross my arms, realizing that my witch outfit is a little too tits out for this argument, but I don’t care.

“He offered peace. You didn’t take it. Maybe the coven is the problem here.”

My grand-mère’s clear blue eyes flash and she rests her hand on the table in front of us, pushing aside the Kit-Kats and Sour Patch Kids.

“Do you need a reminder of why and who we are? All the witches who died at the stake so that you could sit out here dressed like a stereotype and live amongst the greedy, stupid humans? Or must you be reminded of your conditions prior to this coven? I am your blood, the reason you get to practice magic and flitter around that decrepitate disaster of a purple monstrosity every day. Perhaps you don’t have what it takes to lead the coven one day. Perhaps I made an error in my judgment. Surely Iris is more cunning, Ember more relatable and good with the soil. There’s also Hazel and Rosalee. Their devotion to the coven has never come into question. Act like a respectable witch or I shall show you nothing but the harsh realities of what it is to be on my wrong side.”

I swallow, my confidence leaving me immediately.

“Yes, grand-mère, I understand.”

She lifts her hands off the table, straightening her dress and looking across the street.

“I’m going to retire for the evening. Do make sure the patrons of Goddess Apothecary know we are the best and only place to get their beauty and health needs,” she says, glaring one more time across the street.

Where Silas is staring at us, no doubt listening in. Can wolves hear that far?

My grandmother walks away, and Ember has a hand on my back.

“Are you okay? That was a bit of a reaction,” Ember asks.

“Do you think she’s onto us?” Iris asks.

“I don’t think so. I’m just going to get some fresh air,” I say.

“Violet, we’re outside,” Ember says and I wave her off as I walk a block down and slip through the alleyway.

The cool, rough brick presses against my back as I wrap my arms around myself.

I realize I can’t live this way. I can’t live a lie.

Not only the lie of who I really am, but I can’t blindly follow my grand-mère anymore. The wolves’ distrust of witches is just as backward as ours of the wolves. But with Silas at the helm of the pack? With the coven discovering that the modern world is beyond ourselves? Real change feels possible.

Change doesn’t happen in a day, far from it.

I need a plan, a real plan on how we can make the coven see the light and how the hell I’m going to come out with my own secret.

Something tells me that my mother is the key to solving all of this, and that’s where I’ll have to start. Along with dissolving this hex with Silas, even if I’ve made my choice, I need to know that what’s between us is real and not the magic I unknowingly cast as a teenager.

“Are you alright?” his familiar voice says, startling and comforting me at the same time.

“How much of that did you hear?”

“All of it,” he says.

“I think you’re right,” I tell him as he comes next to me, leaning against the brick, his side briefly touching mine.

“I’m right about most things.”

“Doesn’t mean you need to be an ass about it,” I say, bumping his hip.

“That’s exactly what it means. But, really, are you okay?”

“I think she’s on to me,” I sigh and look up at Silas, who is undoubtedly staring down my dress right now. “My face is up here, Alpha,” I say.

The sound that ripples through him is purely masculine and borderline animalistic, as he spins, putting a hand above my head and another on my hip as he looks me in the eyes and down at my breasts again.

“Did you wear this so I would stare at you all Halloween, Vi?”

“Is it working?”

“I wanted to smack the teenager dressed as the Joker that was staring down your dress,” he says, his fingertip touching my collarbone and ever so slightly trailing my skin to the top of my breast. “I hope you have a decision soon.”

“I have a decision,” I tell him breathlessly. His hand slides up to delicately rest against my collarbone.

“Is your decision for me to finger fuck you in this alleyway? I can scent your arousal, you know?” I gasp and blink at him while he smiles. “Should I go chop some wood to get you in the mood, wife?”

I wrap my hand around his wrist and lick my lips. I should let him, no, I definitely shouldn’t let him. Anyone could see us together and report back to my grand-mère.

“Only if we still feel this way when the hex is lifted,” I say, trying to be strong and not admitting to the other parts.

He leans in, his nose trailing my jaw, like he’s scenting me.

“I’m patient. Very patient,” he says, kissing the side of my throat, before adjusting his very large cock in his jeans, winking at me, and walking away.

I slump against the brick wall and take a few breaths.

He’s going to come to my house tonight and I’ll only be able to think about his hands on me, how he wants me. This is bad, I need to keep my wits about me.

I pass all the other Halloween tables. Kids are meddling about dressed as their favorite characters and supernatural beings. If only they knew we were right in front of their faces.

As soon as I’m back at Iris’ table, she knows something’s up.

“Why are you flushed?” she asks.

No point in lying now. “I need something to curb my libido,” I say.

Ember looks like I’m delusional, and Iris just laughs.

“Hate to break it to you, but no one comes shopping for a dry snatch. The only thing I have are some oils to help things run smoother.”

I plop into my chair and rub my face. “I fear I want to fuck my husband,” I say on a sigh.

“Pft. Do it, it’s not like you haven’t done it before,” Ember says and my cheeks heat even redder. “Wait. Violet. No. Seriously?” Ember asks, going through all the emotions. She grabs at my skirt. “Have you checked for cobwebs?”

I smack her hand away. “Stop it. The opportunity never came around and then time just went by and it felt like I didn’t need it. This is the first time I’ve actually wanted to.”

“You should check with your great aunt Daisy, I’m sure she can give you a ritual or something so you won’t throw yourself at the man,” Iris suggests as a group of girls dressed like princesses grab some candy with their sweet rounds of ‘trick or treat.’

“Grand-mère is probably out praying to Hecate for my obedience. She probably isn’t home. I’ll give that a try,” I say.

Iris clicks her tongue. “Or, you could give into something you want for the first time in forever.”

I give her a small smile. “I can’t. Not until I know it isn’t the hex.”

“If that’s what you need,” Iris says.

“Do you two have everything handled here?” I ask and they both nod.

“Just to put my two cents in, I think you should ride that ride and then come back and tell me what wolf dick is like,” Ember says and I toss a bag of M&M’s at her, before I pay my great aunt Daisy a visit.

When I enter the home, she’s where she always is, at the window reading a book. I grab one of the red velvet chairs with gold filigree decor and slide it next to her. She pauses on her page, touching my face gently with a smile.

“Hey, Aunt Daisy,” I tell her and she smiles.

Her face is wrinkled with time, but her pale blue eyes are always expressive.

“I’m hoping you have a particular spell. One that would… um… make someone…” I didn’t think about how exactly I was going to ask her for a spell or ritual on how to not be horny before I got here.

She taps my hand twice, and two books come flying at her small oak table at once. They both look ancient as the top one opens, the cover slapping as the pages turn on their own accord.

I read the pages it lands on.

The Ritual of Virtue.

I skim the pages, not really liking the solution, but it’s better than nothing.

“How did you know?” I ask her in embarrassment.

She cups my face and for the first time it looks like she wants to talk, but can’t. My great aunt sighs, and just taps on the page twice. I collect the book, but she smacks her cane twice against the wooden floor. I glance back at her and she holds the second book.

I don’t know why she wants me to have it, but I take it, placing a kiss against her white, thinning hair. She touches my face one more time as I leave the house.

As soon as I’m out of her wards I teleport home, working on everything I need to build a fire. Thankfully, my dear husband chopped me plenty of wood.

Tonight is not going to be fun.