Redamancy (Monachopsis Book 2)

by Lyra Winters

  I grabbed the handle and stormed into the room, the door slamming behind me with a loud bang.

  Fear coiled through me when that door shut because on the other side was a bloodthirsty witch who had heard everything.

  NINETEEN

  Harlow

  I was livid. How did people like that even exist? I’d met women in this pack that made Mean Girls seem like kittens. How did anyone let them get away with talking to others like that? Was it because of the isolation and their higher ranking?

  At least Ivy wasn’t interested in my mate though. Caroline was a different story, especially since now I knew they’d slept together.

  I’d cast a spell on the door to eavesdrop because the thought of leaving her alone with Xavier made my skin crawl.

  Truthfully, I was sick and tired of being around people. My energy was non-existent with dealing with this crazy pack’s whiplash of emotions on top of not sleeping during our travel.

  Xavier had a frown settled on his lips. “I’m so fucking sorry. To be honest, they weren’t all always so…”

  “Annoying and rude?”

  “Yeah.” He rubbed the scruff on his face. “I can’t believe they’re bringing up Olivia so often. Her name never used to be spoken around me when I still lived here.”

  I huffed, sprawling out on the bed and kicking my shoes off. “Caroline has feelings for you, and I don’t like her.”

  An amused smirk played on his lips as he made his way over and laid down beside me. “I have to say, I love it when you get jealous. It’s really sexy.”

  I gave him a flat look.

  His hands went up in defense. “But you have every right to be pissed off about it.”

  “I don’t think you’ve ever really seen me angry,” I mused, flicking my wrists and pinning him to the bed with gravity.

  His eyes glazed over with lust. “I didn’t know you were so kinky, little witch.”

  I crawled up and straddled him, leaning down and placing my lips beside his ear. “You’re mine, Xav. But more importantly, I’m yours. Consider me begging.”

  It took a lot to pocket my pride and be vulnerable. But with Xavier, I knew I could. I retracted the spell, and he had me under him in a second flat.

  My body was acutely aware of the weight of his on mine, and sparks lit up my very soul. “Beg for it,” he growled out. “I want to hear you say the words.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut to avoid the intensity in his. “I’m begging you, Xav. Mark me. Bite me. Do whatever you have to do to make me yours. I want everyone to know I’m your mate.”

  It was a primal desire. One I never expected to have but each day that passed with him by my side, it grew stronger. It was a surprise I’d lasted as long as I did, honestly.

  His warm breath fanned over my neck before he pressed a kiss to the base of it. “I’d be fucking thrilled to.”

  A small moan escaped me before he captured my lips with his. The kiss was fast and hard and knocked the breath out of my lungs.

  He hardened between my legs underneath the clothing, and I wound my legs around his waist and moved against him to build the friction I craved.

  He broke the kiss with a low rumble in his throat before he pulled back and elongated his canines. I hesitated before tilting my head to the side and exposing my neck to him. I was trembling but ready to be marked as his.

  “Mine.” The word came out half-human as he clamped down on my neck, teeth piercing through my soft flesh with ease.

  Sizzling pain erupted from the bite, paralyzing me, but after a few seconds, the heat wasn’t bad anymore. The pain turned to pleasure, and in moments I had my hands tangled in his hair while crying out his name. His body’s weight held mine down as I convulsed. It was pure electricity circulating from him to me, and I couldn't get enough of it.

  His canines retreated into his gums as he moved his face in front of mine. My blood smeared his lips. “You’re mine, Harlow. Forever.”

  It was the highest climax I’d experienced, and my body was weak from it. “How fast does it heal? Do I need to—”

  “No. It’ll heal by morning. It’s something in our saliva when we mark our mates that make it heal at a speeded rate.”

  “Can I… mark you too?”

  His arms shook from holding up his weight above me so he dropped to his side next to me. “How?”

  “With my magic. Kind of like how I have my moon tattoo.” I needed to place my own mark on him so people knew he was mine too.

  “I’d love to wear your mark.” He didn’t even have to think about it but gave immediate permission.

  I smiled, placing my hands over his chest and closing my eyes. My hand burned with an electric static that seemed to shoot from my hand to his chest as I focused on the type of image I wanted to imprint into his skin.

  My hands tingled as I pulled them away, and I gasped. It was beautiful. There was color within it, unlike the one Grandma gave me. A full, white glowing moon took up the majority of his left peck, and a brown wolf that looked just like him had its head back howling at it. Purple essence surrounded the wolf, representing me. It was the epitome of our bond, and I adored it.

  Xavier glanced down and gave me a tired grin as I collapsed in his arms. “It looks perfect. I will inspect it more in the morning.”

  “It is perfect.” I yawned, nuzzling my face into his neck and breathing his woodsy scent in. “I am so tired.”

  “Marking is a draining process.” He kissed my forehead. “And we were exhausted before. Get some sleep.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” I mumbled before drifting off into a peaceful sleep. I hadn’t fallen asleep so aimlessly in my life, but being in Xavier’s arms was my own slice of heaven.

  TWENTY

  Xavier

  The morning sun poured through the cracks in the blinds and woke me. I rubbed my eyes to remove the lingering sleep.

  Harlow was tangled in my arms, and I brushed her hair out of her face before kissing her head. I traced the outline of my bite mark on the base of her small, pale neck. It was indented into her skin with dried blood around it and had already healed up. Her smell had changed slightly as well. She still had sunflowers and soil, but mixed in it was a woodsy scent that belonged to me.

  Her eyes fluttered open and bright eyes stared at me in awe. “It’s even more perfect than last night.” She reached out and brushed her fingertips over my chest.

  “I was just thinking the same about yours.”

  “It feels crusty.” She brushed some of the blood flakes off as she rubbed it and sat up.

  I chuckled as we left the bed and made our way toward the en-suite bathroom. It was the same as the rest of the bathrooms in the house. Stained wood floors, white walls, a glass shower, a toilet, and a double vanity with a huge mirror hung across it.

  I went to the mirror and froze. The tattoo she had magically infused into my skin was so fucking perfect. The moon was full and my wolf form howled at it with a purple magical glow around him. The glow looked just like Harlow did when she teleported. It was perfect, she was perfect.

  I turned toward her as she inspected my mark on her neck. “You outdid yourself.”

  Her cheeks tinged pink. “So did you.”

  “It’s not as pretty as yours, but it means the fucking world to me that you bear my mark.”

  “Xav, it’s perfect. I’m glad we did this. I love being marked as yours.” She rubbed at the mark again or rather the blood that had dried on her neck and inside the mark.

  “Take a quick shower before we go to Riley’s office and see when the meeting is.”

  She groaned. “Fine. Get out, and I’ll shower.”

  “I’ve seen you naked already. When I had my face buried between your legs and made you come with my fingers, remember?”

  “Xav!” She clenched her legs together and her arousal hit the air.

  I needed her more than I needed anything, marking her last night amplified that. I prowled toward her and backed
her into the wall, planting my hand beside her head. “When will you want me the way I want you?”

  She gulped. “I already do. But now isn’t a good time.”

  Damn. She was right. I bent down and kissed her roughly. She responded, pulling my body against her as she kissed the living hell out of me. I hoisted her up and slammed her back into the wall as she grounded into my stomach.

  Arousal was so thick in the air, and I was so hard I thought I’d break as I broke the kiss and put her back on the ground, stepping back. “You’re mine later.”

  It was a warning, and the look in her eyes told me she was excited. I left the bathroom and threw some spare clothes on.

  All the guest rooms had full closets of men and women’s clothing because of the commonality of us wolves being naked. Harlow probably would appreciate it if I wore clothes for once.

  She didn’t seem to like the pack. Riley and Gabe weren’t that bad. Riley had a spiky personality, sure, but she was a good person. Gabe was always a bit bland to me so I didn’t have any strong feelings one way or the other. Ivy and Nolan were dumbasses, so I knew why she didn’t care for them. Caroline was a bitch yesterday, so I knew why she didn’t like her.

  I don’t know. After getting out of the pack for a while and coming back, it was a toxic fucking community. Alpha Shawn and Luna Sage, Riley, Sophia, and Ivy’s parents, did not discipline Ivy at all. Sophia went through hell with Ivy, and Riley tried standing up for her but nothing ever worked with Ivy. She was the definition of a spoiled brat. Harlow was the first person I’d seen stand up to her and literally not let her get a sentence out. I guess that was where the toxicity began.

  The door creaked open and Harlow came out in a towel. “Are you trying to kill me?” I burnt the image of her wet body in that small, white towel into my memory. She was sexy as hell, and didn’t even realize it—or care.

  “I was wondering if they had any clothes here. Being as you’re wearing some, I’m assuming they do?” She held the towel tighter.

  I nodded toward the wardrobe and tucked my dick into the waistband of my pants, a motion I’d done a lot since meeting her. The woman had me hard twenty-four-seven. It was borderline torture.

  She dropped the towel and slipped on a white cotton strappy dress, completely naked underneath. She swiveled around with the dress twirling up higher up her thighs, and her nipples pebbled under the fabric.

  Scratch that, it was worse than torture.

  “Ready to go?” She pulled her wet hair into a knot on the top of her head. She was gorgeous. I’d never seen her put a lick of makeup on her face, and I was glad. Her skin was flawless as it was. Her bare face was the prettiest fucking thing I’d ever seen.

  “Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “But you’re in for it later.”

  Her eyes widened as a fake-innocent smile spread across her lips. “I don’t have any idea why.”

  She teased me with small brushes against my hand and the way she swayed her hips as she walked all the way to the damn office. Harlow knew exactly what she did to me.

  When we got there, I didn’t have a chance to knock before the door flung open and Sophia stood there with a big grin on her face. “Xavier! Is it true?”

  I blinked. “What’re you doing here?”

  How did she get here so damn fast? She was running a decent-size pack. Surely she couldn’t just up and leave because I came back.

  She rolled her big blue eyes before they settled on Harlow. “I heard you were back with a second chance mate, and I told Blaine I had to come to meet her and see how you were doing. I never expected this.”

  “Why? Is there something wrong with it?” Harlow leveled her eyes with hers and touched her new mark on her neck that was on display with her hair pulled up. Hot as fuck.

  Sophia beamed at her before stepping forward and hugging her, surprising us both. I knew Sophia would love Harlow, but I thought it would at least take a few minutes.

  “There is everything right with it. Xavier deserves someone like you. You bear his mark, and you are incredibly strong. Not to mention gorgeous. Your eyes are beautiful,” she said, unwrapping herself from a frozen and suspicious Harlow.

  I chuckled as Harlow answered, “Um, thank you. You’re Xav’s childhood friend right?”

  She smiled and nodded. “Yes, and I have always wanted the best for him. You seem to be it. I heard about what you did to my sister.”

  Harlow sucked air in through her toothy smile. “Oh, yeah. I’d say sorry, but I’m not. She needs to learn to keep her mouth shut.”

  Blaine walked into view and wrapped an arm around Sophia. “Hell yes. I agree with that.”

  Sophia giggled. “Yeah, and I wouldn’t expect you to put up with her cattiness. It’s nice to meet you, Harlow.”

  Harlow eyed her up and down before a genuine smile blessed her features. “It’s nice to meet you too, Sophia.”

  I blew out a breath of relief. Sophia was important to me. The woman had been there through the thick of it when Olivia had died, and I was with her through all the shit with Nolan. Minus the whole sleeping with her thing. That was water under the bridge between us once our mates showed.

  Harlow was my everything now, and I wanted them to get to know each other. Harlow didn’t have friends, and Sophia could be that for her.

  “Xavier, you hit the jackpot with this one!” Sophia punched my shoulder, and I winced. I forgot how strong she was.

  “I sure did.” I slipped my hand in Harlow’s. “It’s been what, over a year since I’ve seen you all?”

  “And over three years since I left this pack.” She leaned into Blaine. “Sometimes you have to leave to get your happy ending.”

  “I get that.” I squeezed Harlow’s hand. “So, where’s Shiloh?” I asked about their son. He must’ve been two by now. I glanced down and noticed her swollen stomach. “Shit, how’d I miss that? You’re pregnant again? Congratulations guys.”

  She laughed. “I was waiting until you noticed!”

  Blaine placed a hand on her belly. “It’s a girl. Her name is Blair, and she’s due any day now.” Love was as clear in his eyes as it was the day they found each other.

  “Shiloh is with my parents,” Sophia told us, and Blaine grunted. “Blaine’s not fond of anyone but me watching him, but they don’t get to see him often and Shiloh asked, so.”

  “I figured Sophia and Harlow could get to know each other while we went to the meeting and devise a plan.” Blaine smirked at me.

  Thank fuck for that too. I loved Soph, but she wasn’t fond of war—and we needed to take them down. Harlow could keep her occupied.

  Harlow and Sophia opened their mouths to protest, but I cut them off. “We will run the plan by you, and if you don’t like something, we’ll talk about it. Why don’t you both just go enjoy the day?”

  “Xav, I need to be a part of it.” Harlow’s lips thinned into a line.

  “You will be. I promise. You will be by my side during the war, and we won’t be working separately.” I raised her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

  “Fine,” she said. “But remember all my magical usefulness.”

  “Wouldn’t forget it.”

  “Okay, but why don’t you want us to come?” Sophia glared at Blaine.

  “You’re pregnant, Darlin’.” He cupped her face and kissed her pouty lips, and seconds later she melted into him.

  We parted ways, and Sophia and Harlow left us to ourselves. Watching Harlow leave, even knowing she was still on pack territory was painful—something I’d never experienced with Liv.

  “We’ve been mates for three years, but every time she leaves my side a piece of me goes with her,” Blaine said.

  “I was just thinking the same.” I ran a hand down my face as he came out of the office and we headed toward the meeting room.

  Blaine hesitated before opening his mouth. “Just for the record, I think it’s damn time to give Lockhart what he deserves.”

  We were never close,
but I respected the hell out of the guy. He was strong and ruthless as fuck when he needed to be. He was an Alpha I was thankful to have had on my side.

  Harlow and I would get our vengeance.

  TWENTY ONE

  Harlow

  The walk out of the packhouse was silent but not awkward. Sophia’s energy was calming and put me at ease as we walked among the curious eyes of wolves.

  “Can I take you somewhere?” she asked.

  I shouldn’t be so trusting of another, but Xavier trusted her. I’d be cautious, but I couldn’t see a reason not to go with her.

  I nodded, and she whisked us through the woods and to the cutest cottage nestled in beside a waterfall. The white water cascaded down a series of rocky outcrops that flowed on its way down the wide river.

  “There is a power in the tranquility. This is a place of stillness even with the roar of the water. I could watch the streaming water in my sleep, a beautiful infinite dream. This is where I came to live after my rejection. Away from the packhouse.” Sophia stared at the water in a deep trance as we stood on the back deck of the structure.

  “I can relate.” Being isolated in the forest in my own little home had the same effect on me. I was banished, rejected from my own coven in the worst way I could’ve fathomed. I’d empathized with her without my powers to aid me.

  “Congratulations on bearing Xavier’s mark.” Her eyes left the water and settled on my neck where Xavier’s mark was on display.

  I reached up and glided my fingertips over the tender bite. “Thank you.”

  “You know, I always thought it was weird that Xavier never mated with Liv, but he never even marked her.” She reached back and tied her long black hair into a ponytail. “I’m glad to see that’s not the case with you.”

  Butterflies went wild in my stomach, but I pushed them away. “He mentioned she had trauma and didn’t want to be intimate or be bitten due to that.”

  She snorted, and my brows raised. “Oops, sorry. I don’t mean to speak ill of the dead. And I know she was important to him. I should hold my tongue, but I never liked her.”