The Witch and the Wolf - Complete

by Lola Kidd

  Rory contemplated the sequence of events again. She’d thought about it many times since Cross and Ozzy got back. “Beatrice says that she can’t find Periwinkle anywhere. She’s gone into hiding. Some of the other nature fae she associates with have disappeared too.”

  “What’s your theory today?”

  “Don’t mock me,” Rory warned. “I think they don’t want to be associated with this witch-fae-wolf union. They’re afraid of getting in trouble with the council.”

  “Okay, I’ll play.” Cross leaned on the kitchen bar. “Why would other nature fae who aren’t Periwinkle disappear too?”

  “She told them about our wedding and they’re just getting out of the U.S. as a precaution. They were probably up to something themselves and don’t want to be here if the council shows up.”

  Cross nodded slowly. “This is your best conspiracy theory yet. This one could be true. The nature fae have been casting weird spells for a while now.”

  Rory nodded. “They went rogue once companies started fracking too close to their homes. The vampires in our area have been lying low since word about our wedding got out.”

  “Oh, yeah!” Cross put his plate in the sink. “Melody ordered all the vamps in the area to come to her mansion for the entire full moon. They’re going to have a massive party there for three whole days.”

  “That way she won’t have to worry about some stupid baby vamps feeding on non-consenting humans while we’re being monitored.”

  Cross shook his head. “I’ll be glad when this is done and everybody stops paying attention to us.”

  Rory smiled. “They’re always going to look at us. Any kids we have will be witch-fae-wolf hybrids. I believe we’ll only get more interesting to the council.”

  Cross scowled. “They better keep their noses out of our business after this union is finished. We’re jumping through a lot of hoops to make sure everything is done exactly right. We had to ask a lot of weres to help us, too.”

  Rory handed Cross her plate. “That won’t change the fact that between us we stand to make pretty powerful little supes. Something never seen anywhere before.”

  They went to sit in the living room. Cross pulled Rory onto his lap. “If anyone even thinks about messing with our pups, I swear I will kill each and every one of them.”

  Rory rubbed his arm. “That won’t help. Too bad there isn’t another hybrid couple.”

  “There are TONS of hybrid couples.”

  Rory shook her head. “Not like us. All the other couples are only one thing combining with one thing. Their babies usually only get one trait. I’m a hybrid. How many hybrids have you even heard of?”

  Cross thought. “Actually, two or three. There’s the vampire fae in Russia. I’ve met him before and he’s intense.”

  “You’ve met Vlad? How can you just be mentioning this now? Tell me everything!”

  Vlad was the only hybrid Rory had ever heard about before finding out she was one herself. Vlad didn’t even have a last name and no one was sure what his exact origin story was. He was very old and very powerful. He didn’t do much with the supe community. He had had a hand in banishing the Lost Tribe only because they had killed the fae he was living with at the time. Vlad had no mates, just women and men he lived with.

  “It was only one time. It was a gathering of wolves in New York City. He wasn’t at the gathering, but I saw him when I was on the subway.”

  Rory’s mouth dropped open. “Vlad was on the fucking subway. Vlad takes public transportation.”

  Cross nodded. “He sure does. I didn’t believe it was him at first, but my dad went up to say hello and introduce me to him.”

  Rory got off Cross’ lap and sat next to him. “Your Dad knows Vlad? You have to get him to introduce me! How could you not tell me this? You know I want to meet another hybrid.”

  “It’s not that simple,” Cross cautioned. “I don’t even know how my dad knows him. He never explained. I’m sorry, baby, I don’t think you can meet him.”

  Rory smiled. That was enough. She’d been dying to try a locator spell to find Vlad or any other hybrid. The only thing holding her back was Vlad’s anger at being found. She would have to try after the wedding. Even if he was mad, he couldn’t be that dangerous. He was sort of friends with Grizzly.

  “Have you heard from the Brazilian bats at all?” She changed the subject back to their Prescott problem. Cross would never let her do the spell if he suspected. She wanted him to forget this conversation very quickly.

  “They haven’t found him yet, but they’re going to check one of his popular haunts. Your dad gets around. Don’t be surprised if it turns out you have a Brazilian sibling too.”

  Rory frowned. “I wish he would just tell me how many siblings I have. It’s really distressing knowing that I have more siblings and I can’t even meet them.”

  “You met one and she was crazy,” Cross reminded her. “I don’t think you need to go searching for any more of them just yet.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t say I would look for any of them, though. Who knows, maybe they’ll come looking for me too.” She glanced at her phone. “Hate to say it, but it’s time for me to go.”

  Cross pulled her to his chest. “It’s too early. Stay a little longer.”

  She hugged him back quickly before standing up. “If I don’t leave now, we’re just going to keep screwing until Ozzy gets home.”

  Cross gave her a grin. His fangs were showing. “What’s wrong with that?”

  Rory shook her head and went to find her clothes. “I need to go now. I have to get some sleep before my shift. I open tomorrow.”

  Once she was dressed, Cross held out her helmet. “Have a safe trip, soon-to-be Mrs. Hemlock.”

  She kissed him. She could really get used to the sound of that.

  Five

  Cross put his hands down on the table. He was sweating in his best leathers. This was it. Today was the day. He hadn’t seen Rory in person for three days and the next time he saw her she would be his bride. Maybe.

  It was only thirty minutes until the ceremony. Everything was ready outside and he was supposed to go join his dad at the altar. Jamie had already set up everything she would need for the bonding spell and the rest of the coven was already mingling with his pack mates. Everything was perfect. Almost. Ozzy, his witness and best man, was missing and the bride’s father still couldn’t be found.

  The Brazilians had called him at two a.m. and told him they were on their way to get Prescott. They should have reached him hours ago and should have sent him straight to the compound. Only he still hadn’t heard anything from them to confirm that Prescott was on the way. Without Prescott, the rest of the ceremony was pointless. They would have to do it all again in order to satisfy the council or they would be all over Grizzly for performing an invalid ceremony.

  Cross had already heard that two of the council’s goons were in town snooping around. There was nothing else he could do. He had to be at the altar waiting for Rory or his dad would kill him. Cross took a shaky breath and punched the wall next to the front door. He had promised Rory he would take care of the finding her father and he had failed.

  When he opened the door, Ozzy was standing on the porch. “How much do you love me?”

  “What are you so happy about?” Cross growled.

  “Geez. It’s your wedding day, fucker. Can’t you be a little happier?”

  Cross was ready to throw Ozzy off the porch. Instead he shoved past him to the porch steps. “Where the hell have you been? You just disappeared while I was putting on my leathers. I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for the last hour!”

  Ozzy preened and put on his sunglasses. “I was out saving your ass.”

  Cross stopped. “Don’t play with me, Ozzy.”

  Ozzy slapped Cross on the back and pointed toward where Grizzly and Bone were standing. “Why would I lie, brother?”

  He couldn’t believe his eyes. Standing between Grizzly and Charlie in fro
nt of the bonfire was an impeccably dressed fae. Prescott was wearing a sharply-tailored, grey pinstripe suit. In the firelight, he looked like a king among the wolves in all their leathers. “How?”

  Ozzy looked sheepish. “I didn’t really have anything to do with it. He couldn’t get into the compound, so I had to open the door for him.”

  Cross punched Ozzy in the arm. “Who cares? He’s here, man.”

  “That means you’re actually going to have to go through with this whole marriage thing, I guess.”

  Cross put his arm around Ozzy’s neck. “Guess I will.”

  They went to their place at the front of the group. Cross nodded and waved to people as he walked up. He supposed he should be nervous, but all he could feel was excitement. His wolf was going to have to make an appearance sooner rather than later tonight. Even his leather felt constricting. He wanted to run and howl at the moon. He couldn’t believe this was finally actually going to happen.

  “Cross Hemlock,” Prescott said as they got closer. “Your friend Oswald was nice enough to let me in the compound. I would have been stuck wandering around the perimeter if it weren’t for your friend.”

  “I forgot about the enchantment,” Cross said. “Magda did it as a favor for the club.”

  That was half true. They had all felt her casting the spell, even the women and children down the street. Grizzly had been mad as hell when he realized that Magda had enchanted his compound. There was no way to force her to undo it and she had offered to extend the protection area to include the homes of the women and children. There was no way Grizzly could refuse the offer of keeping the women and children safe. The fathers in the club would have been mutinous. Now, the official story was that Magda had done it as a thanks for the club helping her daughter.

  “How nice of her,” Prescott mused. He held up an ordinary-looking rope. “So I’ll be bonding you to my daughter today.”

  Cross beamed. “Yes, you will, sir.”

  “How exciting. I’m happy Aurora has found someone to spend her life with.” The smile left Prescott’s face and his eyes turned a hollow, deep black. “If you ever think of hurting my daughter in any way, I would like to remind you that I am one of the few remaining Northlands Fae in this dimension. I can do things to you'd never see in a thousand years.”

  Cross nodded. “Understood.”

  Prescott’s eyes turned back to clear blue. “Great! I think the bride is arriving now.”

  Ozzy and Cross looked around for any people. Cross trained his hearing and just faintly he could hear the main gate to the compound opening.

  “Okay, folks!” Grizzly called. “It sounds like we’re about to kick this show off.”

  The guests arranged themselves to form an aisle for Rory to walk down. Nobody sat down during a werewolf wedding ceremony. There were park benches set up a few feet away. They would all drink and dance into the night after all the ceremonies had been completed.

  Headlights appeared at the road into town. Cross watched as the car stopped just short of the makeshift aisle and the back door opened. He looked at Charlie and Ozzy on his left and his dad. Grizzly nodded and smiled. Now, his nerves were hitting him.

  Magda stepped out of the car looking every inch the powerful witch she was. It seemed like she had cast a spell to make all the moonlight shine only on her. Her silver hair was held up by green vines. She wore a long, dark purple dress with a million sequins on it. She was almost blinding in the moonlight.

  When Rory got out of the car behind her, Cross’ eyes filled with tears. He cleared his throat and blinked a few times to stop the tears from falling. She looked so beautiful. Her long blonde hair hung down to the middle of her back. There was a crown of green vines in her hair just like Magda’s, but Rory’s was dotted with small white flowers that had glowing yellow centers.

  The dress clung to her in all the right places as she walked down the aisle toward him. All the wolves howled as she walked. The entire way she didn’t look anywhere but at Cross. He was sure he had the same ridiculously happy grin on his face.

  “Hi,” Rory whispered when she got to him. Magda smiled at Cross and gave Prescott a dirty look. Prescott didn’t seem to mind at all.

  Prescott and Jamie were waiting just behind Rory for their part. Grizzly stepped forward. “Let’s get down to business. We’re here tonight to watch my son, Cross Hemlock, bond to his mate, Aurora Silver. This ceremony will be a little longer than usual. So you’ll have to wait a little longer to get to the kegs.”

  There were some good-natured catcalls from the audience. Grizzly held up his hands for silence again. “I’m starting off the ceremony with the werewolf bonding ritual.”

  Ozzy stepped forward and put Rory’s hand under Cross’. “I, Oswald Bone, stand as witness for Cross Hemlock.”

  Grizzly nodded. “Does anyone in the pack have any reason to object to the bonding of Cross and Aurora?”

  Cross’ eyes turned yellow and he growled at the audience. He got a few friendly howls back, but no one objected.

  “Great.” Grizzly put his hand on top of Cross’. “As alpha of the Moon Brothers Pack, I approve of the union of Cross and Aurora. Aurora, I’d like to officially welcome you as a mate of the pack.”

  Now the wolves showed their true might. The sounds of howls filled the air and a few of the smaller children couldn’t resist shifting. A few young mothers scooped their little pups up. One unfortunate mom had to run after her pup as he chased a beam of moonlight.

  Cross’ heart stopped hammering in his chest. As far as he was concerned, the ceremony was over. Rory was a mate of his pack and they were officially bonded in the eyes of his pack.

  Jamie stepped forward and waited until the wolves had quieted down. “I’m Jamie Winn and I’m the head witch of the Cleary Coven.”

  There was polite clapping from the crowd. She bowed her head. “Thank you. I’m here to perform the second bonding ceremony of the night.”

  She picked up a bottle of glowing, white powder. It looked like sugar to Cross, but from the way it burned the inside of his nose it had to be enchanted. Jamie poured the enchanted power around Cross and Rory to form a circle. Deanne and Sarah Browning handed each of them a long, silver candle. The magic in the candle stung Cross’ fingers where he held it.

  Jamie picked up her own candle and said a quick spell to light the wick. “Once you’re bonded, only a spell from one of you will be able to break the bond.”

  Cross and Rory both nodded. Jamie held her candle to Rory’s until it caught the flame. Rory repeated the spell Jamie had said and touched her candle to Cross’. He felt the magic wash over him. This time it didn’t burn. Instead, warmth flowed through his body from his fingers where they touched the candle. He almost dropped the candle he was so shocked.

  “It is done,” Jamie said. “I wish you a long and happy marriage.”

  The powder around them glowed and then vanished in the air. Rory said a spell and the flames on both of their candles went out. Rory took their candles and handed them to Jamie. The head witch held the two candles close to each other and they melded together to make one candle. The wolves howled in appreciation of the magic bonding.

  Finally, Prescott stepped forward. The guests hushed instantly. Grizzly had to be pissed that the fae was more revered even in his own tribe. The Northlands Fae had a powerful reputation.

  “Hello, everyone,” Prescott said. “I’ll make this very brief so you can get on with the partying. Rory is technically a fae by blood, but she doesn’t have any connection to our traditions.”

  Rory looked at Cross and shrugged. Prescott laughed. “It’s alright, darling. I’m only here to make sure no one questions this union. In keeping with Northlands Fae tradition, I will now bind you together with this rope.”

  Prescott took the rope he was holding and tied Rory’s right hand to Cross’ left. He held their hands together with one of his hands above and one below. Prescott’s eyes became hollow black pits again. There were gasp
s from the audience behind them. Whatever he was doing, Cross was glad they had done the witch bonding first. It felt like his body was on fire. He heard people retching in the audience.

  “All done.” Prescott tapped their hands and unraveled the rope. “You two are now bonded.”

  Grizzly stepped forward and raised Cross’ and Rory’s hands. “It’s done, folks! Now, let’s drink.”

  Someone started music immediately. The kegs were tapped before Cross could even kiss Rory. People came up to hug and congratulate them. It was a never-ending stream of platitudes for three hours. Cross had taken off his jacket and was wearing only his vest after he’d had a few beers. He watched Rory dancing with some of the young girls a few feet away.

  He put down his beer and went to dance with Rory and the girls. It was done. He had pulled it off. Now no one could take Rory away from him. Not the Lost Tribe and her crazy sister. Not the council with their stupid rules. No one.

  Cross didn’t know what the future held, but as long as Rory was by his side he knew it would be good.

  A Note from Lola

  Thank you so much for reading The Witch and The Wolf: The Complete Series. If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review. It really helps other readers decide to take a chance when looking for new authors to try out. I would really appreciate it if you have the time!

  You can read the story of the Lost Tribe starting with Exile. This series tells the story of Sophia’s tribe and is a BBW/Dragon-shifter romance.

  If you’d like to keep in touch you can always join my new release mailing list. I won’t spam you’re inbox but you’ll get an email whenever I have a new release. You can also friend me on Facebook.

  Lola

  Other Books by Lola Kidd

  Other Witch and Wolf Universe Books

  The Vampire and the Bear

  Lost Tribe Books:

  Exile

  Black Oak Shifter Universe Books