“That’s kind of sweet.”
I sigh. “Yes, she’s a sweet girl, but the prophecy says I need to be the person who helps her push her shifter abilities even further. I am supposed to find her a teacher.”
His face turns serious as thoughts run through his brain. “I’ve met a few vampires and werewolves, but no one else that can shift into objects like your friend. It’s actually quite a unique skill. The Order might be interested in her.”
The last thing I need is for the Order to home in on Jennifer. But he’s right. I was impressed as well when I read her aura and discovered her skill was to turn into inanimate objects. “Yes, she is unique, and I have a feeling she can do far more interesting things if she is shown the way.”
Derrick’s brow furrows forming a V shape over his long Romanesque nose. “Is something up? I haven’t heard anything about a pending battle or catastrophe on the horizon. The Twelfth Order stays on top of things worldwide.” He sucks in a breath. “Actually, I heard something about a vampire in London causing a bit of havoc…Murdock was his name I believe. But a witch from Scotland imprisoned him, so things have been quiet in London since then.”
Part of me wishes I could be a wizard of the Twelfth Order. They truly are the masterminds behind everything worldwide. The power they wield is unimaginable. “Well, that’s the thing about witch prophecies. They are specific and vague at the same time. All I know is that it is my destiny to help her.”
Derricks eyes narrow. “Is that the only reason why you befriended her?”
Ouch. Yet I can see why he thought that. “Not at all. I really like Jen. Even if she wasn’t part of my destiny, I would take her under my wing.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I will put some feelers out and see if I can find another shifter who has similar abilities. The Twelfth Order has a vast network, as you know. But may I suggest for now, you look a little closer to home.”
“I’ll never be that desperate.”
Derrick laughs as he gets up off the couch. “I have to run. If I don’t get back to my assignment, I will literally be toast.”
I don’t laugh in case he’s serious. “Thanks for coming. Let me know if you hear of anyone who might make a good teacher.” I open the door for him, but then I have a light bulb moment and close it. “I have a brilliant idea. It might be better if you met her yourself. That way you will have a better understanding of which teacher would be a good match for her.”
He glances at his watch. “That isn’t a bad idea. Just text me when you have it set up. Just make sure it’s in the afternoon.”
“Right. I won’t ask you to ditch another assignment.” The second I say the word ditch, I know exactly what to do with Jennifer tomorrow.
“Good,” Derrick says as he strides through the door. Then turns back toward me. “I’ll ask around at the Order for shifter references, but you really should look closer to home first. Jerome is a shifter after all.”
“He is so aggressive, and his testosterone is through the roof.”
Derrick gives me a knowing smile only a wizard could possess. “Destiny has given you a task, Brooklyn. Sometimes you must make sacrifices for your goals.”
I know I’m going to regret that I listened to Derrick for the rest of my life. A dull ache runs through my hand from forcing my fingers to text Jerome to meet up. I look up at my mother who is busily making notes in her book of shadows. “Mom, can a witch be physically repelled by a werewolf?”
She looks up from her book. “Not that I know of. Why?”
“Well, I just texted Jerome to ask him if he had time to talk about Jennifer, and I had to literally force my hand to type the words.”
My mother smiles. “It’s because you are fighting your attraction to him. I could see it when you first met. He is quite handsome in a rugged he-man kind of way.”
I scoot off the sofa as if she poured a bucket of cold water all over me. “You have to be kidding. Jerome is as far from my dream guy as you can get. You know I prefer the Nordic type. Strong and silent.”
My mother stands next to me and takes my hand in hers. “Sometimes the body picks for us, Brook.”
She is, of course, referring to her choice of my father. I dare not bring up how badly that turned out. “I know he is your friend and a good ally, but something about him gives me the creeps.”
“Are you showing prejudice against werewolves? They are quite misunderstood.”
Great. How did the conversation go this far south? “You’re right. I only spoke to him once. I’ll give Jerome a chance.”
My mom dons a victorious smile reserved only for parents. “You won’t regret it. Jerome is a really nice man when you get to know him. I would never let anyone into my inner circle I did not respect. You like Tara, Glenda, and Shana, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.” As soon as I met them, they treated me like family—especially Tara. We had an instant, almost sister-like bond. It’s kind of a witch thing. We either hit it off immediately or we don’t. “They’re awesome. I couldn’t be happier with the new coven you’ve formed.”
“Jerome is no different. Besides, he might be the perfect person to help you with Jennifer.”
Did she and Derrick already set this up behind my back? “Okay, I trust your judgment. I’ll agree to meet him in an hour. I better make sure Fred is settled before I leave.”
My mom eyes my torn black skinny jeans and black jersey pull on top. “You’re going to meet him dressed like that?”
I admit it’s totally not my style to leave the house in one of my hang-around-the-house outfits. I’m all about looking my best, but there is no way I’m dressing hot for some werewolf that everyone knows wants in my pants. “It’s not a date or anything.”
She nods and turns her gaze back to her spell book. I race down the hall in case she changes her mind about letting me leave the house in my scrungy clothes.
The teal color of my bedroom walls calms my nerves as soon as I walk through the door. Fred hangs upside down on his perch, munching away on a piece of apple I left for him as a treat. He is a fruit bat after all.
Fred wipes his mouth with one of his wing toes. “You are truly going outside the house dressed like that? I agree with your mother. It is highly inappropriate.”
Why do I keep forgetting about Fred’s echolocation? He can literally hear through walls. “Look, as my familiar, you are supposed to support my decisions.”
“When I think they are wise. If your decisions run astray, it is a familiar’s duty to inform his witch of his objection.”
Why did I have to be clever and pick a bat as a familiar? They are so darn opinionated. Nothing like cats. Ra, my mother’s grey tabby, is a total sweetheart. Although he is older now and sleeps most of the time, he still serves my mother without complaint.
“Duly noted. But I am not changing my clothes. That werewolf is a horn dog and there is only one thing he wants from me. So, if I dress like a slob maybe he won’t find me so attractive.”
Fred makes a high-pitched squeak that is his equivalent of snickering. “My dear, you could wear a potato sack and men would still find you desirable.”
Standing in front of a typical Spanish style apartment building, I look for Jerome’s address. Number 125 is on the side of the building toward the back behind a large hedge. The apartment location is the perfect place for him to make an escape when he is in wolf form. I grab onto the small porch railing forcing myself to walk up the steps. I push the lighted doorbell, and in a flash, Jerome opens the door. He stands eyeing me like I’m a piece of meat. Fred was right. Dressing down made absolutely no difference.
He gives me a warm smile turning his gruff mountain man looks into something worthy of a cover model on a romance novel. “So, you have finally given into my charms.”
The fact that he refused to meet me at a coffee shop was bad enough. But as I enter his apartment living room, I discover it is a dirty, pizza box covered mess. Instead of accent pillows on his couch, he h
as more pizza boxes and a pile of clothes. He gives me a half smile as he pushes some of the dirty laundry off the well-worn distressed leather couch. “Sorry, the maid couldn’t come this week.”
Right, like a werewolf would let anyone into their personal space. I sit down on the couch and my pants leg instantly sticks to the front of the cushion. As soon as I get home, I’m going to need to take a shower. “I see your hands aren’t broken. It would have been nice if you had thought to clean up a bit, knowing I was coming over.”
He sits down right next to me, his hand edging close to my leg. “You smell nice. What perfume are you wearing?”
This guy is unbelievable, but I can’t deny there is something irresistible about him. His curly light brown hair accents his pale blue eyes perfectly. The stubble on his face ups his sex appeal even more. It’s like his pheromones are on hyper drive. As much as he disgusts me, my body is responding to him in ways I never imagined—every nerve is sizzling. A bit of sweat drips down the back of my neck as his warm breath hits my cheek. I scoot a few inches away from him until my butt is wedged up against the bulky couch arm. “It’s just my Fruits shampoo.”
He lets out a breath. It smells like peanut butter. “I like it.” His hand drifts toward my leg again. “So, you said you needed my help with something?”
Is this his way of disarming me? “Yes, I assume Derrick and my mom filled you in about my new shifter friend, Jennifer.”
Jerome rubs the stubble on his chin. “They might have mentioned something about her.”
I knew it. I love my mom, but sometimes she is too much of a helicopter parent. “Then you know I’m looking for someone to help her learn the art of shifting.”
He puffs out his muscular chest. “Well, I do know a bit about shifting.”
“Right, but Jennifer isn’t an animal shifter. She’s like a human chameleon. I believe she has the power to shift into anything she wants. Right now, she just knows how to morph into inanimate objects. I’m looking for someone to teach her to shift into animals and people too.”
His thick eyebrows dart up. “No one in the paranormal world can do that. It will be impossible to find her a teacher.”
Exactly what I was afraid of. “Well, could you at least put the word out to your friends? Maybe by some miracle there is someone out there that knows how to shift into anything.”
He edges closer, then reaches over and takes a few strands of my hair and wraps them around his ring finger. His body heat is like an oven. I actually feel dizzy. “As you are Eshe’s daughter, I’ll do my best to help you as soon as I get back from my trip to San Francisco.”
“Great. I guess I better head out. My mom will have dinner waiting for me.”
His warm hand touches mine. “Text her not to bother. I’ll whip something up for you.”
A werewolf that cooks? Totally against type. I get up off the couch. “Um…can you tell me where the bathroom is?”
A smile takes over his face. “It’s just down the hall. But I have to warn you, it doesn’t have a window.”
Geeze, was I that obvious? I step over two pizza boxes and walk down the short hallway. To my astonishment the rest of the apartment is immaculate. The cute deco bathroom’s jade green and black tiles are gleaming. A skylight illuminates an equally spotless shower. What is Jerome up to?
I sit down on the pristine white toilet and text my mom I won’t be home for dinner. Jerome is cooking me something. She texts back a thumbs up emoji.
And to think just two minutes ago I wanted to jump out of his non-existent bathroom window. But now my curiosity is piqued. Jerome is far more complex than I give him credit for.
I walk back into the living room to find a small dining room table has appeared by the front window. It must have been buried under a huge pile of comics and magazines. Miraculously it is set for dinner for two. Jerome even has a lighted candle stuck in a mason jar sitting in the center of the table. The aroma of garlic and onions streams from the kitchen. I walk past the table and into a bright and cheery yellow tiled galley kitchen. It’s straight out of a vintage deco kitchen magazine. I lean against the door opening and watch Jerome braise chicken thighs in a cast iron skillet. My mother obviously told him about my food weakness.
Jerome pushes his slightly long hair out of his face. “Hope you are hungry.”
“I am.” I eye the pizza box pillows on the couch and the messy living room floor. “So, what’s the deal with the pigsty living room when the rest of the apartment is immaculate? Proof that you really do have a maid.”
He laughs. “Guess I’m busted. I know you aren’t into me, but a lot of women are. In fact, they actually follow me home. So, I make sure when I open the door to the front room, they can see it's a frat house disaster. It works pretty well.”
I have completely underestimated Jerome. He’s more than just a sex maniac like most werewolves. “That’s pretty smart. Worked like a charm on me. I was willing to do anything to get away from you. Even jump out a non-existent window.”
His hearty laugh echoes above the stove fan. “Well, somehow you are still here.”
I breathe in the aroma of braised chicken mixed with garlic and onions. “I’m starving. One thing you’ll learn about me, my stomach rules my world.”
“Perfect.” He grabs two large black plates and loads them down with chicken and fresh string beans. “Dinner is served.”
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The way to this witch’s heart is exactly the same. I sit down across from Jerome and with every bite of his delicious food, my resolve is melting away. He smiles but doesn’t say much between bites of chicken and beans. He likes to eat in silence too. Once we are done eating, I help clear the table and put the dishes in the sink. “I hate to eat and run, but I actually have to study for a test tomorrow.”
He opens the fridge and brings out a bowl brimming with massive ripe strawberries. “I picked these yesterday at my friend’s house. They are super sweet. Just sit down for a minute and try a few.”
My mind tells me to head straight for the door, but my body tells me to follow him over to the couch. He pops a berry in his mouth. The juice drips down his lips and then he licks it off. I’ve never seen anything sexier except in the movies.
He holds out a berry. “Try one.”
I take it from his hand and pop it in my mouth. He wasn’t kidding. The strawberry is so sweet I could swear it was soaked in sugar. He holds out another berry and runs it across my lips. Then he leans in and kisses me. My nerves sizzle as our lips lock together. He breaks the kiss and smiles. “I knew we were a good fit.”
His kiss lingers on my lips like honey. If I don’t get out of here right now, I’m done for. I leap off the couch and bolt for the door. “Thanks for the amazing meal and the strawberries. I appreciate you offering to help. When you get back from your trip text me.”
I throw open the door and dive for the front porch. Before Jerome can catch me, a black streaks blast past my shoulder and lands on the apartment railing. Jerome takes ahold of my arm. “Please, don’t leave.”
Fred opens his wings like a shield. “Unhand her immediately.”
Jerome drops his grasp and stands dumbfounded. “Sorry, Fred. No offence.” He gives me a weak smile. “Was good to see you, Brooklyn. Have a goodnight.” He steps back into his apartment and slams the door.
I tap Fred’s foot. “Good job. But how did you know I needed to be rescued?”
His dark eyes twinkle. “I knew your horrid outfit would not stop him from following his animal instincts. He is a werewolf after all.”
5
The Ditching Spell
Operation “snag a shifter” is now in full swing as I spy Jennifer standing by the lockers down at the end of the hallway. During my first period class, Derrick confirmed he put out some feelers at the Order for a shifter teacher. He also said he could meet Jennifer later this afternoon. I got a text from Jerome too that he would be down for working on the Jennifer p
roblem when he returned to LA. I, of course, really knew what he was down for. Just thinking about him made my blood pressure rise. But with him safely out of town, my raging hormones from last night will have a chance to finally quiet down. Who knew werewolves had the testosterone of ten men? I shake off the lingering scent of Jerome and concentrate on Jennifer. My mission is at hand. All I have to do is earn her trust layer by layer.
I march straight toward her with a determination I haven’t felt since I first earned my spot in the coven. The first thing I’m determined to do is give her a cooler name. “Hey, Jen, glad I caught you.” I cast my face toward the sun streaming in through the windows on the far wall. “Isn’t it an amazing day. Why don’t we hit the beach?”
Jennifer waves me over. “No one has ever called me Jen before.” She beams. “I like it.”
Score one point for me. “My mom calls me Brook. Guess I’m used to shorting names.”
She laughs. “Somehow, Brooklyn suits you.”
I actually agree with her. My mom is the only person I let call me Brook. After all, I’m not some water source. I’m a girl named after a famous bridge who is soon going to be a powerful badass witch. “So, what do you say about my beach idea?”
Jen looks down at her skinny jeans and plaid shirt. “I’m not really dressed for the beach. Besides, what about World History?”
“It’s so boring. Let’s ditch class.”
Jen nervously plays with the hem of her shirt. “I’ll give you that history can be a snooze-fest sometimes, but I really can’t afford to get another C. Not if I want to get into USC.”
I can’t tell her yet that I can solve that problem with a simple spell. But I can tell she needs a bit of a magical push. I straighten my shoulders and send my most persuasive witch energy toward her. “Oh, come on. One class won’t hurt.”
How to Snag a Shifter-The Book of Brooklyn Book One: A Young Adult Paranormal Romance Witch Series (The Book of Brooklyn Witch Series 1) Page 4
