Bewitched Shifter (Alaska Alphas Book 3)

by Tamsin Ley

  “I can fix this,” she said out loud, uncertain how she was going to make that happen as she stared at the big gray house ahead.

  She wasn’t part of this coven, hadn’t had to answer the summons. In fact, she’d be in grave danger if anyone suspected her of being in league with the agathion. But the coven had somehow caught wind about the shifter she was after. She had to find out what they knew and reach the shifter first. Her familiar’s life depended on it.

  She parked next to a beat-up Subaru under the boughs of an old spruce tree and threw a reusable grocery bag over the growler. She could no longer dismiss the agathion like she used to, which worried her. He was getting stronger, even though she had yet to secure him an appropriate host. She locked the bottle in the car and turned toward the house.

  The sun had crossed the sky and brushed the tips of the barren trees, setting the yard aglow with orange light. The air whispered to her of witches who’d recently passed through here. Now that the coven knew someone was casting death spells, they were duty-bound to purge the world of forbidden magic.

  “Would help if I had Hamilton to help me,” she muttered under her breath, longing for her familiar.

  At the base of the steps, the breeze whispered something new. Something foreign. The agathion’s shifter? Could the coven have captured it already?

  Veering between the flower beds, she skirted the house until she reached a greenhouse. No surprise, it radiated magic. One of the panes had been shattered, leaving shards of broken glass scattered across the grass. No shifter here, but something had definitely happened.

  A glance over her shoulder assured her no one was watching from the house’s windows before she moved toward the wreckage. She lifted her sunglasses, squinting at the ground. Several glass shards were discolored with blood. The shifter’s? The only reason she needed to find the shifter was to get a physical sample for the hex—blood, hair, skin, anything would do. This blood was already on glass, the perfect conduit for the agathion’s power. Maybe things were finally going her way.

  Maybe this could all be over soon, and Hamilton would be free.

  Carefully plucking several shards from the grass, she wrapped tissue around them and placed them in her purse. Now to find a safe place to cast—

  “Jen, you made it!”

  Her heart nearly leapt out of her body at the sound of her name. She turned to find Muffy striding toward her from the house, lines of distress creasing her brow. Her sister grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the back door. “Thanks for agreeing to help. Come inside. Tessa has a plan.”

  A twinge of guilt soured Jen’s stomach. Her sweet, unsuspecting sister had invited her to Alaska, hoping she’d like the coven enough to join. But everything Jen touched seemed to go to shit. She had no intention of poisoning the coven her sister had grown to love.

  But she couldn’t let the coven suspect she was behind the hexing. She’d just have to play along until she could break free and cast her final hex. Softening her face into a smile, she followed Muffy inside.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ashlyn let out a slow breath, staring into Kepler’s eyes. The golden glow there spoke to her wolf. His nearness ignited her passion. He was huge, strong, and naked, skin warm in the autumn chill. Her thighs quivered in response. Fated mates. Could a modern day relationship be built on something out of a fairytale?

  Kepler seemed to think so. She loved how easy it was to lose herself in him. To trust that everything was going to be okay. He pulled her tight against him and secured his mouth against hers, tongue demanding entrance as if they’d kissed a million times.

  She pressed herself against him as they kissed. She knew almost nothing about his life outside of the time they’d spent together, yet the emotion she felt was real and strong and pure. Forever with Kepler would be nothing shy of heaven. She wanted him more than she’d wanted anything in her life. It had been a whirlwind, but she couldn’t believe how incredible it felt to love him. I love him.

  “Claim me,” she said.

  Kepler’s arms tightened around her, and he growled deep and low. He rolled his hips, letting her feel the hard length of his erection pinned between them. One of his hands slid over her naked ass and into the space between her thighs, fingers dipping into her waiting wetness. She gasped, arching her back to open herself up for his exploration. He delved between her folds, slipping along her lower lips with teasing slowness.

  More accustomed to her wolf now, Ashlyn reveled in their heightened senses. Her wolf made her bold, more sure of herself. Releasing one hand from her grip around his shoulders, she slid her palm between them to find his shaft. Thick, rock-hard heat met her hand, and she wrapped her fingers around it, stroking upward.

  His touch on her backside drew away, but before she could protest, he lowered her into a hollow of dry leaves beneath the roots of a fallen tree. The earth smelled raw, primal, matching the feelings growing inside her. This was so right, this moment with Kepler. All things will be made right. She had no idea if that was her wolf’s thought or her own, but didn’t have time to dwell on it.

  Kepler knelt between her legs and dragged her ankles up over his shoulders. Her stomach dipped as she realized his intention. His tongue parted her slit, meeting her core in an explosion of sensation that made her gasp. He circled her opening once, then sucked gently on her sensitive nub.

  She bucked upward with a moan. Her entire being wanted this, wanted him. His tongue flicked against her, making her body surge with pleasure. He worked her clit while she threaded her hands into his hair, rocking against his mouth. The pressure inside her expanded, racing down her thighs, tingling in her nipples. Her legs trembled, and she gripped handfuls of his hair as she climbed toward climax.

  He plunged his tongue into her opening, throwing her over the edge into ecstasy. She screamed his name as he kept thrusting his tongue, thumb against her clit, extending her orgasm until she could no longer breathe.

  When her muscles could take no more, he eased, letting her sink into bonelessness against the cushion of leaves. Her racing heart and ragged breathing made the world spin, and she closed her eyes. “Kepler, that was…” she couldn’t finish between gulps of air.

  He planted small kisses against her inner thigh, moving upward over her belly to her breasts. “You are,” he nipped one nipple, sending an aftershock rolling through her, “the most beautiful,” he nipped the other nipple, “woman on the planet.”

  She curled her fingers into his hair again, shuddering as he continued teasing each nipple, intensifying her aftershocks. Her core ached, tired yet yearning to be filled.

  Wrapping her legs around his hips, she said, “I want you inside me.”

  Kepler moved to her mouth, kissing her deeply. The head of his cock was ready, pulsing at her entrance. He pushed into her slowly, surely, his eyes never leaving hers. She never wanted this moment to end. She tightened her quivering muscles around him.

  He groaned, “You’re so tight. So hot.”

  She lifted her hips, seating him fully inside her, feeling the pressure of him deep in her belly. He let out a shuddering breath, each of them still for a long moment, lost in each other’s eyes. Lost in each other’s bodies. God, she loved the way he covered her, as if he owned her. He pulled back slowly, beginning a rhythm. Increasing his tempo, he gripped the back of her neck, fire in his eyes.

  She clutched his back, rising to meet his thrusts as he drove into her. When he plunged his tongue into her mouth, her teeth felt too sharp, but he didn’t seem to notice. She opened wide, tangling her tongue with his, tasting him as she’d never tasted any man before. Mine, her wolf growled. The urge to bite him, to taste him, was growing inside her in a way she found both unsettling and exciting.

  He continued kissing her, a form of claiming all its own, until the first tightening of her inner walls made her dig her nails into his back in anticipation.

  Then his teeth were against her shoulder. Both her orgasm and the fire of his claim shot t
hrough her as a single sensation. She howled in pleasure, shudders coursing through her body before she clamped her mouth onto his shoulder in return. As her teeth sank into his smooth, hard flesh, he growled, thrusting hard and filling her with pulsing heat.

  Locked together, they slowly relaxed, him still on top of her as she went limp against the cushion of leaves.

  Kepler feathered his lips against her jaw. “Mine.”

  She smiled. “Mine.”

  His warmth felt like a protective shield. Then she felt a caress in her mind that was so full of tenderness, she wanted to cry. Kepler’s silent voice sounded exactly like his regular one. Ashlyn, can you hear me?

  I can! She’d never imagined being this close to another person, and it felt amazing. The claiming worked!

  His arms around her tightened. It did. Pure joy infused his words. We are bound. How’s your wolf?

  She looked inside. Her wolf was all relaxed and melty inside her. I don’t know if she’s stable or not, but she’s certainly content. She ran her fingertips along his jawline and smiled at the warm glow in his eyes. Do my eyes glow like yours?

  He nodded. Yes, but yours are glacier blue.

  Can humans see it? Or only other shifters?

  Humans can see it, but most of them think it’s a trick of the light. Even so, you should be careful using your wolf’s senses in public.

  She nodded, then asked out loud, “If we’re both shifters, does it mean our kids will be puppies?”

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry. Shifter kids don’t experience their first change until puberty.”

  She grinned back, loving that he appreciated her humor. “What do we do next?”

  He kissed her gently, then rose. Shadows were taking over the forest as the sun began to set. “We should’ve picked a better place and time for this. There are witches after you, and Cal could return with the pack at any moment.”

  The cool air gave her goosebumps as she climbed to her feet, worry taking over where contentment had been. “Can we outrun them?”

  He shook his head. “Not forever.” The glow in his eyes brightened as he looked at her. “I was hesitant to introduce you to the pack, but I think it’s safe, now. As my mate, you’re protected. They can no longer kill you as an outsider. I just need to introduce you and we can explain what happened.”

  Ashlyn glanced down at her nakedness. “I’m a bit underdressed for a meeting.”

  Kepler grinned. “How about we wear fur?”

  Her wolf wriggled, excited to come out and run alongside Kepler’s animal. But Ashlyn’s chest felt tight. She was still uncertain. “You think that’s the best way?”

  “I want them to see, smell, and hear your wolf. None of this questioning what you are bullshit, regardless of how you came to be. Plus, we can travel faster as wolves.”

  At least out here in the woods, she wasn’t likely to attack someone’s pet. And she had to learn to let her wolf out or they’d both go crazy. She nodded and took a deep breath. “Let me shift first, in case I have trouble.”

  “Go ahead.” He nodded in encouragement, his eyes bright as stars. “I can’t wait to run with you.”

  Closing her eyes, she let down the barriers she’d erected to contain her wolf. The animal swelled within her, a prickle of magic racing along Ashlyn’s skin. This was so amazing, so exciting. She couldn’t wait to see the world as her wolf again.

  The scent of ash enveloped her, followed by a sudden headache. Her wolf no longer pressed at her awareness. Ashlyn scrunched her lids harder. Wolf? The image of her animal in shackles came to her, pale fur lit by abrasive, shifting colors.

  Then a laugh like a roll of thunder filled her head.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kepler watched Ashlyn’s forehead crease in concentration and told himself to be patient. She’d done an amazing job containing the Alpha wolf inside her, but releasing it, embracing it, was new to her. It might take more effort.

  Another minute passed. He frowned. “Ashlyn, is everything okay?”

  Her eyes popped open, flashing purple light before settling to normal, human blue. “I’m fine.”

  Purple? He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” her voice emerged husky, like it wasn’t her own. “But my wolf doesn’t want to shift right now. She wants us to talk.”

  He looked into her eyes, trying to understand her abrupt change of behavior. We can talk in wolf form.

  Kepler? Help! Ashlyn’s voice sounded far away.

  He shook his head. Ashlyn? What’s going on?

  I don’t know. I don’t know where I am. The panic in her voice made his pulse race.

  He pulled in a breath, staring at what appeared to be his mate smiling at him. The corrosive stink like burning coal had returned in force. He didn’t know much about the creatures Darcy’d said might come through the hellmouth, but he knew this wasn’t Ashlyn. She was possessed. Was it a demon? He’d have to play along until he came up with a plan or Ashlyn regained control.

  The thing looked downward as if realizing it was naked. “Let’s get accustomed to each other’s human forms first.”

  In his head, he urged the real Ashlyn to take back control while out loud he said, “Of course. Why don’t we find some clothes?”

  “It is a bit chilly out here.” Seemingly unaware Ashlyn was in communication with him, the demon stepped forward and placed a palm flat against his chest. Its veins seemed to glow through its skin with a faint, purplish light. “But you have a way of warming me up.”

  Trying not to gape, he covered its hand with his own. “I, um, need a little recovery time first.”

  The demon must’ve detected his distaste. Its eyes flashed purple again and narrowed. “You’re smarter than I expected, especially for a beast.”

  Kepler bared his teeth and took a firm grip on the creature’s elbow. “What the fuck are you and where’s my mate?”

  “I’m your new master.” A smile twisted not-Ashlyn’s mouth. “You should be honored to be my consort.”

  A consort? That must be why the thing hadn’t yet run away or tried to kill him. It must need him for some reason. He shook his head and gripped its elbow harder, which seemed to excite the demon because it rubbed Ashlyn’s nipples against his arm. “I am delighted by this body’s response to you.”

  Her body shuddered and, with a force that caught him off guard, ripped away from his grip. Hands balled into fists, Ashlyn pressed them against her temples. “Keep your hands off my mate.”

  Anger roiled through Ashlyn. How dare that thing possessing her body touch her mate with such familiarity! With fury fueling her, she screamed her protest, resuming control of her senses. The pain of twigs and stones dug into her knees. Then what felt like an electric jolt stole her breath and she lost sensation again.

  Ashlyn strained against the pressure that had squeezed her into a remote corner of her own consciousness. How can I be kicked out of my own body? Her wolf had shoved her aside the few times the beast had taken control, but not like this. She had no hold on her limbs or voice, and her view of Kepler was small and fuzzy.

  The sound of his words came to her through a muted roar, as if she was hearing it from behind a waterfall. “Ashlyn, are you in there? Use your wolf! Fight! Push the demon out!”

  A demon? Weren’t demons supposed to need an invitation? Or was that vampires? She couldn’t remember. Straining against the pressure holding her, she shouted, Get out!

  A voice responded to her, tone full of disdain. I am no mere demon. Your kind call me an agathion. It is pointless to fight, so stop struggling. We will have a lot more fun if you cooperate.

  She had to make this thing leave. Where was her wolf? Changing tactics, she searched for her animal, but the demon possessing her had transplanted it. What did you do to my wolf?

  The demon didn’t answer. Instead, it seemed to be occupied fending off Kepler’s attempt to tackle her. Through her fuzzy view, she watched her body raise both hands and send twin arcs of
lightning against Kepler’s chest.

  He flew backward, landing on his back on the forest floor where he lay unmoving against the crushed branches.

  Was he dead? Panic surged through her, and she flexed, straining against the agathion’s hold on her.

  Her body advanced on Kepler. “I’d hoped to savor my first soul slowly, but perhaps a full meal is a better way to begin my sojourn on Earth.”

  Ashlyn didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded bad. Kepler, wake up!

  The agathion straddled her mate’s body, splaying both hands against Kepler’s chest. A trickle of pleasure washed into Ashlyn, not her own, but the agathion’s as Kepler’s perfect, golden energy flowed into it. “This male’s life force is strong.” The voice had become giddy. “Such ambrosia.”

  Kepler was defenseless. She had to do something. With a great burst of effort, she broke through the containment. Regained control. Stared down into her mate’s shocked face.

  He bared his teeth and golden sparks filled the air as Kepler’s huge gray timber wolf materialized beneath her. Thrashing, he bucked her off, sending her sprawling on the forest floor.

  In her head, the thunderous voice shouted, Enough! and a flash of purple light blinded her. Kepler and the world around her disappeared into a roiling mass of colors and shapes.

  An angular face the size of a bus loomed above her, reminding her of the Wizard of Oz. But her sense of humor fizzled as the agathion spoke, revealing wickedly angular teeth. “I suggest you settle down and be quiet.” Its lavender eyes flashed like sheet lightning. “You wouldn’t want to alert the others to your presence.”

  The way it said others made her shudder. She glanced around, still unable to make sense of her surroundings. “What others? Where am I?”