The Witch Who Cried Wolf by Sarah Makela

  Chapter Eleven

  Ethan

  After Mia fell asleep on the couch last night, Nolan covered her with a blanket, and we slipped a pillow beneath her head. She was still out like a light. I’d anticipated her being awake and gone by the time I came down for breakfast, but there she was.

  Her arm dangled toward the floor, and she made the softest, cutest snore I’d ever heard. Her red hair spread out around her head like a halo, and I wanted to bury my face in that thick mane, feeling the silk of it against my skin.

  “No,” she whispered, rolling to her side. “Get off.”

  I took a few steps closer, wondering if she was talking to me, but her eyes were shut. Should I wake her? I toyed with the thought, but she shot straight up into a sitting position. The sound of her rapidly beating heart filled my ears. Yet another werewolf attribute taking root.

  I clenched my hands into fists, wanting to be mad, but I could only see how beautiful Mia was. “I’m brewing some coffee. Want would you like?”

  She jumped nearly a foot off the couch and yipped. “You scared me, Ethan.”

  “Sorry. Guess I thought you heard me come down stairs.” I walked toward my dad’s armchair, so she wouldn’t have to strain her neck to look at me. “Something to drink?”

  She ran her gaze over my bare chest and her mouth dropped open. The fact she was as attracted to me as I was her made me happy. What made me happier was that Nolan had taken off for work already. Now I’d be able to figure out what she’d wanted to tell me last night.

  Maybe we’d do something else, too.

  I shoved the thought aside before my dick swelled. The last thing I needed was that kind of distraction.

  She blinked, looking me in the eye. “Do you have any hot tea?”

  That’s right. She didn’t drink coffee. She preferred tea. I should’ve remembered. Unfortunately, neither Nolan nor I kept any around. “No, sorry. We have apple juice, though.”

  “Sure.” She climbed off the couch, yawning. “You guys could’ve woken me up and told me to go home.”

  “Nah, we wouldn’t have done that. Truth be told, it’s better if you stay here. Safer. You can sleep in my room, if you want.” Her eyes widened. “I’ll sleep on the couch, of course.” Even if I would rather sleep in the same bed as her.

  “No way. I wouldn’t want to impose. I can sleep on the couch.” Smiling, she ran her hand through her hair as if trying to brush it with her fingers. “I’ll need to stop by my place and get some toiletries and clothes, if I do that. We should probably ask Nolan about it, too?”

  “It’s my house. Besides, he agrees with me.” I waved her toward the kitchen. “If you want some breakfast, we have eggs and bacon. There’s cereal, pancakes, you name it.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t—”

  “Stop. Just tell me what you’d like.”

  She bit her lower lip. “At least let me help. I could wash dishes even.”

  “Fine. Dishes it is.” I didn’t really like doing them anyway. That chore fell to Nolan, but he usually tries to put it back on me.

  “Bacon and eggs sounds good.” She went to the fridge, grabbing the juice, while I measured the water for coffee. Nolan had drunk whatever he’d made this morning, but that worked since I preferred drinking it fresh.

  I set a glass out for her on the counter, then scooped some grounds into the coffee pot’s filter. When I went to the fridge, I collided with Mia. She squeaked and the juice container slipped from her fingers. I grabbed it before it hit the floor.

  My newfound reflexes surprised me. While I’d always had quick reaction times, I couldn’t help but stare at my hand as if they were someone else’s. I leaned against the counter, not knowing what else to do.

  Mia placed her cool hand on my arm, tentatively at first, then she embraced me. Her hands circled my waist, and she pressed her cheek against my back. “It’ll be okay. I’m here for you.”

  “I appreciate you trying to comfort me, but you said it yourself: ‘Werewolves have violent tendencies’. Who says I’ll be any different? What about my career?” I placed my hand over hers. Being this close to her felt right. The need to claim her overrode all reason.

  “You’re different than him. Maybe not all werewolves are bad.” She tensed her grip on me a little.

  Maybe I would be different, but I noticed how she said nothing about my career. “What did you want to tell me last night? You were at a fast food restaurant, and you saw someone or something.” Rage burned my insides.

  As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew whom she’d seen. Why she’d come to me to talk. If only I had taken her aside and listened then, but I’d been concerned with Nolan becoming suspicious. The last thing I needed was him sticking his nose in our business. It was too dangerous for him to get involved. The less he knew the better.

  “I saw the werewolf. In human form, though!” Mia buried her face into my chest. “He threatened me and my family. He said if I don’t make a potion to poison the guy he’d had me try to heal, then he would kill us.” She looked up at me with tears shimmering in her eyes. “He...he changed you on purpose.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close to me. “Sshhh. Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt you or your family. Perhaps changing me will be his mistake. I’m more powerful than I was. I’ll be able to protect you.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, but that wasn’t enough. It’d never be enough. She wasn’t my sister. Polite kisses in respectful places weren’t the only way to show affection for her.

  Need slammed into me, and I bent to claim her lips.