Hunter's Moon (The Witch Who Sang with Wolves Book 1)

by Kat Bostick

  Maybe it was a poor excuse to justify the instantaneous attraction to him but part of her wondered if their link originated in her blood. According to what Charlie and Clem said, werewolves had a close relationship with witches in her family. They worked their magic together, each guiding and strengthening the other. Mari even had a drop of wolf blood passed down from Nagamo, Ina’s mate.

  Many generations had passed without reconnecting the lost bond between wolf and witch but that didn’t mean Mari wasn’t still drawn to it as her foremothers had been. The rift between the two groups was not irreparable. What if she and Jasper were meant to repair it? Would that mean his interest in her stemmed more from what she supposedly was—a Wolfseggner—than who she was?

  The disappointment of that potential chilled Mari enough drag her brain out of the buzz created by Jasper’s kisses. She released his hair and leaned as far away from his roving lips as she could get with the wall right behind her.

  “Mari,” Jasper whispered tenderly. His breath on her skin created goosebumps.

  “We should get up.” The nerves had returned in full force and Mari desperately wanted to hide herself in more clothing.

  The smell of bacon wafted up the stairs to interrupt the moment and make them both notice how hungry they were. Mari sat up to rub her face and thank the divine for bacon aromas. Breakfast called to her but she had a few important tasks to take care of first. She quickly climbed over Jasper and made her escape before pulling on her pajama bottoms and trudging to the bathroom in a half walk-half stretch.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up.” She called over her shoulder.

  The mattress squeaked as Jasper arched his back in a languorous stretch. Mari’s eyes followed the flexing muscles of his stomach and her mouth went dry. If this was him underweight then she couldn’t imagine what his healthy self looked like. It was probably illegal for someone to possess so much charm and sex appeal. She had half a mind to tell him that but then she’d be admitting how irresistible she found him. When she realized she was openly ogling him—and that he was smirking with satisfaction over it—she quickly scurried into the bathroom.

  Lucky for her, Jasper’s bathroom was equipped with everything she needed to groom a disheveled man. He didn’t resist or complain when she sat him on a stool and got to work on his hair. Actually, he continued giving her a smug grin that was one part mischief and two parts sexy smolder. She did her best to keep her eyes on her task and not those teasing lips that he’d kissed the breath out of her with last night.

  When Mari started Jasper bore a striking resemblance to Tom Hanks from Castaway. With hands skilled from years of cutting her own hair, she clipped his overgrown locks just above his collarbones. Even if he wanted it longer, the rest of his tresses were far too tangled to easily salvage. After that she gingerly trimmed at his shaggy beard until it was closely cropped to his face.

  As a final touch she brushed the front of his hair back into a half ponytail and braided it together so it would stay put. The look suited him, Mari decided, running fingers through shortened hair and desperately trying to ignore how freaking good-looking he was. Jasper was stunning when he was wild and unkempt. Well-groomed, he was downright regal. Shirtless as he was, he looked like some kind of Celtic warrior.

  What if he was? Werewolves lived unnaturally long lives—Charlie was proof of that—and she had no clue what the limit was. For all she knew, Jasper was a thousand years old. Nah, that seemed unlikely for any supernatural being. Except maybe vampires. Father Above, vampires were real too. There was so much for Mari to learn about the supernatural world.

  There was so much for Mari to learn about Jasper as well. He could be much older than her, even if he wasn’t freakishly old. There were too many things she didn’t know about him. She wanted an origin story of his life and she was tempted to ask him for it now but that wasn’t something he could squeeze in before breakfast.

  Jasper lingered in the bathroom when she was done with his hair, mirroring her when she started brushing her teeth. He leaned against the sink with a grin so wide he could barely keep his toothbrush in his mouth.

  “What?” Mari asked through a mouth full of froth.

  “I like this.” He answered.

  “Brushing your teeth? Good. You could really use it.”

  Jasper leaned over and pinched her hip, provoking a spittle-y squeal from her. “Mornings with you. Routine between the two of us. I like that.”

  She nodded awkwardly and busied herself rinsing her mouth. When she went to retrieve her hairbrush she found Jasper holding it with an eager expression. “May I?”

  She eyed him warily. “You want to brush my hair?”

  “Yes.”

  “Um, sure.” Mari shrugged one shoulder and gave him her back.

  Jasper started by gently brushing the tangles from her ends, working his way up in gentle strokes. At first she was tense but as his fingers worked with the brush to glide through her hair and tickle her scalp, Mari relaxed back with a sigh. She couldn’t deny that his hands felt good.

  He swept locks behind her ear and whispered. “I’ve always loved your hair.”

  “I didn’t know you noticed things like hair.” She said with a quiet groan as his fingers massaged the base of her skull.

  “I notice everything about you.”

  Mari’s eyes snapped open and she quickly shimmied away from him. She muttered a quick “thanks” before snagging the brush and rushing out of the room to find clean clothes.

  The only clean garment Mari found among her belongings was a little ridiculous. She’d purchased it for a Halloween costume years ago. The ink black gown draped across the floor behind her and fluttered around her ankles in the front. It had a deep V-neck and flowy three quarter sleeves, the perfect look for Morticia Addams, which was exactly who this dress helped her pretend to be.

  “Mari!” Jasper said with approval as he tugged a shirt over his head.

  “It’s not silly?” She smiled shyly.

  “Your elegance and beauty take my breath away.” Mari was finding it harder and harder to believe that this was the same person she knew as an animal days earlier.

  Jasper wrapped an arm around her waist and pressed his body against hers. His nose once again found the crook of her neck and he inhaled like it was the scent of her skin that gave him life rather than the oxygen in the air. Mari was simultaneously aroused and uncomfortable. She liked the feel of him and the hungry way he put his hands on her. But she was also worried he was getting carried away.

  “We should get some food.” Mari suggested as the pecks on her neck slowly graduated to playful nips. “Before you eat me. I thought we had a deal about that.”

  “I won’t eat you alive.” He promised. “Not all of you.”

  She smiled at his teasing but ducked her head to hide the blush that followed. Who was this blushing girl and what happened to the real Mari? The real Mari was shy, yes, but not completely tongue-tied and dimwitted. “It’s time for you to introduce me to your pack.”

  “Introduce you?”

  “This morning is our do-over. Pretend I’m meeting your family for the first time—and that they didn’t threaten to kill me yesterday—and introduce me.” She put a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him toward the door. Her movement was casual but her heart was racing in her chest. Mari was anxious to get him out of the privacy of the bedroom.

  As she was following Jasper out the door she noticed her cell phone buzzing with a notification. She picked it up and felt a spike of panic when she saw three missed calls and two voicemails from Henrick. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure Jasper wasn’t watching, she quickly deleted both voicemails and turned the phone on do not disturb. She didn’t think Jasper or anyone else would go snooping through her cell but she didn’t want them getting the wrong idea.

  Mari had been with the pack for three days and she’d already broken an enormous amount of Charlie’s trust by keeping secrets. She wasn’t interested in
divulging more than she had to—at least not until she got to know them better and they earned her trust—but she didn’t plan on making an enemy of the alpha either. The amiable welcome that the majority of Charlie’s family offered her was appreciated and Mari had no intention of spoiling it.

  “There’s my favorite feral brother!” Cash roared a greeting when they walked through the kitchen doorway. He abandoned the coffee machines—yes, plural—he was loading with grinds and wrapped Jasper in a tight bear hug, lifting him off the ground. Jasper returned the embrace with matching vigor. When they were done Cash approached Mari and she did her best not to flinch when she thought she was due for a violent squeeze. Instead, he dipped into a very gentlemanly and uncharacteristic bow, took her hand, and kissed it. “And good morning to you, little witch.”

  “Mari,” Jasper corrected.

  “I know, Trev.”

  “Jasper,” He corrected again.

  “Mari and Jasper. Got it. Maybe I’ll change my name too, just to mix it up.”

  “No one is gonna to call you Genghis Khan.” Coralee drawled as she came around the granite island in a frilly blue apron. The garment was garish but Cora pulled it off. She was so cute it was almost annoying. “Hey, handsome.” She murmured sweetly to Jasper, apparently having forgotten the snarls and threats from the night before. “I’m so happy you came home.”

  Mari wasn’t sure if she was more surprised that Cora tugged Jasper into a kiss or that it made her jealous. Exactly what kind of relationship did they have? He hadn’t mentioned anything. Not that he’d really had the opportunity to. She resisted the desire to cross her arms and scowl at the blonde.

  “Coralee,” Jasper chided. “You overstep.”

  Cora laughed a beautiful, melodic laugh. “I’m sorry, sugar. I missed you.”

  “Not that much.” He put both hands on Mari’s shoulders and shifted behind her.

  “Since when are you afraid of kissin’, Tre—Jasper?” Cora waved a dismissive hand. When she started back to the stove Jasper cleared his throat and gestured at Mari. Cora pasted on an obnoxious smiled and said “I recognize Satan in a Sunday hat when I see him. Stay away from me devil woman.”

  “Aren’t you friendly?” Mari lifted her lips in a sardonic smile. The she-wolf froze, meeting Mari’s gaze in challenge.

  The staring contest only ended when Charlie called “Bacon is burning, Coralee!” She sauntered back to the steaming food in her stupid apron, shooting Jasper a wink over her shoulder.

  Charlie let out an exasperated sigh from his place at the counter and cracked another egg into a bowl that had to have at least two dozen in it already. He grinned when he caught Mari looking. The expression was rather boyish for the supposed authority of this mad house. It caught her off guard and she found herself smiling back at him. Despite everything, she really liked Charlie.

  “I still can’t believe my eyes. Look at you, handsome devil.” A deep baritone vibrated behind them. She pivoted in time to see Jasper swept up into a tight hug by Teal.

  Teal turned a bright white smile on her, displaying perfect teeth in amiable delight, before opening his arms to offer a hug. Reluctantly, Mari stepped into his embrace. She was careful not to give him one of those awkward half hugs that usually came from bony, old aunts. Werewolves were huggers and she was not one to half-ass something. Teal was gentle, thankfully not crushing her. He was also hasty to retreat when Jasper made a soft noise of objection in his throat.

  “Thanks for bringing him home, darlin’.” Teal gave her head a patronizing pat.

  The rest of the pack trailed into the kitchen, drawn to the smell of food just as Mari and Jasper had been. Clem was next. She looked tired but her dark brown hair was combed and straight and she wore a flowy jumpsuit that matched the stormy blue of her eyes. The click of her black pumps on the stone floor announced her before she appeared in the doorway by the stove.

  Yesterday Clem was all business. Today, she noticed Jasper and broke her stern face into a joyful smile. She click-clacked quickly over the stone floor in a shuffle that only she could have made graceful and circled her arms around Jasper’s neck. Even without her kitten heels she would have been tall enough to stand head to head with him.

  “Listen Trev, don’t you ever leave us again or I’ll beat you with a bloody book.” Clementine was the only one that Jasper didn’t correct about his name. He was extra gentle with her, as was the rest of the pack, Mari noticed. That didn’t mean she was gentle back.

  Clem wasn’t the youngest and she seemed to hold enough authority that she could be Charlie’s right hand. Yet no one treated her with deference like they did the alpha. It was unclear why they all came across as overprotective toward her.

  “Ooh, I’m scared.” Jasper put his hands up and backed away from Clem with a grin. He looked so happy to be home. It made Mari’s heart flutter in a funny way that it never had before.

  Is it possible to fall in love with a man in your dreams? Or perhaps the very first time you see him? Because you’ve got a problem, Mari. A big mushy one.

  Jasper smirked at her like they were in on some secret together and all of a sudden Mari was paranoid that he knew what she was thinking.. That made her blush furiously and quickly rush through her head to think of anything other than him. Surely he couldn’t read her mind, even if he had heard her silently casting last night. She couldn’t read his. Or could she?

  Mari concentrated for a moment and tried to imagine what might be on Jasper’s mind. All she got was “hunger” and that could easily be her own thoughts because she was starving. The color was almost ready to leave her cheeks when she realized Clem was studying her curiously and she blushed all over again.

  Clem rescued her from the discomfiture that seemingly only she understood with a hug. For such a poised woman, she had a motherly hug. Her touch was indulgent and her skin smelled of citrus, which had to be intentional.

  “Since we’re getting a do-over, it’s nice to meet you, Mari. I’m Clementine, Charlie’s daughter.” Clem said, her smile shifting to one that was more polite than what she gave Jasper.

  There was a glitter of mischief in her eyes—one that Mari was quickly recognizing as familial—and Mari didn’t miss that Clem used the exact same phrasing that she herself had used when talking to Jasper this morning. Werewolves had exceptional hearing but surely not that good. Clem’s room was at least three doors down. She couldn’t have overheard them.

  Mari tried to remember anything potentially embarrassing she said to Jasper that she didn’t want any of the others to hear. It didn’t matter that much since they already knew way more about her than she did about them. Apparently, werewolves were also good at finding people on the internet, though that was hardly a supernatural talent.

  Deak was the last to enter the kitchen. Mari supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised to see him. The first time he stormed out, he returned less than two hours later. Did Charlie have that much sway over his wolves? Some of the books she read claimed an alpha’s command could not be denied but neither Charlie nor Jasper made it sound like that was true. Maybe Deak was all bark and no bite.

  Deak wasn’t quite handsome but his angular jaw, dark eyes, and thick hair made a pleasant enough combination, if only he’d smile. Like Charlie, he was also below average in the height department, which might not have been as obvious if half of his companions weren’t well above average. Mari hadn’t decided if his well-groomed appearance suited him—he was wearing designer jeans and a baby blue t-shirt—or made him look pompous. The color, at the very least, was all wrong for his olive toned skin.

  Deak approached Jasper with a rueful half-smile. “Welcome home, little brother.”

  “Deak,” Jasper briefly caressed the side of Deak’s face before wrapping him in a fond embrace. Charlie wasn’t kidding when he called the pack tactile creatures. If Mari didn’t know they were werewolves as she witnessed the interaction between them, she might have thought that Rob at the gas station was righ
t and this was some touchy cult.

  When Deak made no move to greet Mari, Jasper put a hand on the small of her back and pushed her closer than she would have liked to be. “My Mari,” He said as if that was the only introduction necessary to make it clear who she was.

  “I know who she is.” Deak grumbled.

  Mari shifted her weight to gain space from him. Deak did the same. They watched each other unblinking for nearly a minute before Clem interrupted the exchange.

  “Sit down. You both look beat.” She waved them to the table and reached for the cabinet over Charlie’s shoulder. Deak took the opportunity to circle around the kitchen island, narrowly dodging Cash’s attempt to tousle his slicked back hair. “Do you drink coffee, Mari?”

  “Hell hath no fury like an under caffeinated witch.” Jasper answered for her.

  Mari quirked a brow. “You remember that?”

  “I remember everything you say.” He replied with a wink.

  “Well isn’t that unfortunate for me.”

  “I’ll bring you some coffee and we’ll have you good as new in no time.” Clem trilled.

  Jasper pulled a seat out in the middle of the table and offered it to Mari. Rather chivalrous for a beast. He sat next to her, scooting his chair so that they were close enough for their legs to touch. Okay, chivalrous and clingy.

  Clem set two mugs that were slightly different shades of red on the table in front of them, followed by a pitcher of cream and a bowl of sugar. The sugar bowl had a silver spoon with the head of a stag on the end. Clem noticed Mari admiring it and explained “It’s a family heirloom. We used to have a whole set but someone,” a pointed look in Cash’s direction. “bent and broke the rest. This one is precious. If you see that brute put his hands on it, stab him.”

  “Is stabbing a werewolf a good idea?”

  “Well the spoon is real silver so you could always use that.” Clem suggested. She fetched a mug for herself and took a seat across from Mari. “I bet it would do some damage if you thrust it hard enough.”