Love's Protection (Passion Moon 3): (A Shifter, Supernatural Romance) (2 page)

Too much power. It had to be protected. Forrest was its guardian. I think my father sent him here to protect the spring. It all seemed to tie back to my father. Who was he? What did he want? For three months, I had tried to find something out. Penny, my friend and fellow witch, and I had tried to divine his true name and motivations.

Our spells always failed.

Vanessa took point as we crashed through the brush. All three wolves sniffed, following the trail. Their world was full of so much more information than mine. They had the noses of bloodhounds and the vision of eagles. Forrest could read my mood by my scent. It made it hard to keep things from him. It was a distinctly unfair advantage he had.

The terrain was dangerous. The brush was thick, ripping at our faces and hiding fallen branches to trip over, small divots that could twist ankles, and loose rocks that could shift beneath you. I ignored the scratches covering my arms—finding the girl was far more important than a few scrapes.

“Scent's getting stronger,” Vanessa growled as she turned left. “I think she realized she's lost now.”

Vanessa led us in circles. I pictured poor Maryanne's excitement turning to fear and terror. I imagined her screaming for her mother as she wandered in aimless loops through the thick brush. “Maryanne!” I yelled. “If you can hear us, shout!”

My words echoed through the mountains.

Forrest growled, his head snapping to the left. “I smell blood. Fresh. Human.”

My heart hammered. The prickle returned to my tattoo, but that didn't matter right now. Forrest pushed through the brush. “Maryanne!” I screamed again as I followed. “If you can hear us, shout.”

“Boss,” Vanessa hissed, “did you hear that?”

Forrest nodded. “Faint. She's close.”

“We're coming, Maryanne!” I shouted. “Just hold on.”

“Over here!” Hank roared. “I found her. She fell down a ravine.”

The ravine was steep and rocky. A small form lay at the bottom, her body broken by the fall. She made a whimpering cry. She was still alive. But for how much longer? “How do we get down?” I asked, scanning the cliff. I didn't see a path.

“No idea,” Hank answered. “We have to choose a direction and hope we find a way down.”

“Let's climb down,” Vanessa snarled.

“Look at the rocks. It's loose, brittle. It'll crumble beneath us, and then we'd end up down at the bottom of the ravine just as hurt as she is.”

“We have to get down there, Hank!” Vanessa's eyes burned. She was on the verge of changing.

“If we get hurt, we're not helping her,” Hank snapped back. “You know the rules of search and rescue.”

“I can get down there,” I said. “You guys find a trail or something and meet me down there.”

Forrest glanced at me as I took a deep breath, backing away from the ravine. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” I gathered my will. Magic was about commanding the spirits. They were like children having fun playing and I was their mother calling them in for chores. If I wasn't stern, they wouldn't listen to me. “Spirits of the wind, surround me and slow my fall!”

I sprinted to the edge of the ravine. I had cast this spell before, jumping off far shorter drops. But I knew it would work. I leaped off the edge of the ravine, my ponytail trailing behind me. The cloudy Air spirits rushed towards me. They zipped around me, controlling the air and churning up a wind.

My fall slowed. I drifted down into the ravine like I was parachuting. The Air spirits tickled my body as they zoomed around me. I smiled and laughed, lost in the moment. I twisted my body, spinning about in the air. Forrest watched me from the top. I waved at him.

My feet touched the rocks at the bottom. I stumbled, my boots sliding on the uneven terrain. I gasped and almost fell before I caught myself. “Okay, I'm good!” I shouted.

“We'll find a way down!” Forrest answered, his voice echoing.

I knew he would.

Maryanne whimpered nearby. I moved to the poor child. She must have bounced down the cliff. Her arm was twisted at the wrong angle and her blood stained the rocks. I rushed to the child, falling to my knees beside her.

“Don't worry. I'm here. I'll save you.”

Maryanne moaned, her small body struggling to move.

I took her hand. “Don't move. Okay? It'll be just fine.” I didn't need to say any words to cast the healing spell. I was a Love witch. Every witch had an affinity to a certain category of spirits, so controlling those spirits required not much effort or any words. Love spirits could heal and protect. I sent the golden hearts into Maryanne's body. My tattoo prickled as I worked my magic. The Love spirits danced across her body. Golden light covered her wounds.

Maryanne convulsed. Her broken arm twisted back into place. The scrapes and cuts healed. The spirits dived into her body, repairing her damaged and ruptured organs. The little girl gasped, her eyes shooting wide open.

“Wh-what happened?” she asked.

“Magic,” I grinned and hugged her. “You're all better.”

Maryanne's eyes were wide. “Are you my fairy godmother?”

“Just a friendly witch,” I told her. “Like from Harry Potter.”

Her laugh was pure and infectious.

It wasn't long before she fell asleep on my lap. I held her, stroking her fine hair as I waited for my mate and his deputies. I stared up at the brilliant stars and the moon. I shivered, the night growing colder. I should have worn a sweater, but it had been such a hot day.

My tattoo prickled again.

Eyes were on me. Someone was watching me. I looked around at the top of the ravine. “Hello?” I called before swallowing, my mouth dry. “Who's there?”

No answer. The prickling itch tingled across my tattoo. So I cast the Life spell again, questing for any living creatures. Maryanne glowed green in my arms, along with dozens of other animals. But no humans. So who was watching me? Who was making my tattoo itch? 

*   *   *

The Traveler stood at the top of the ravine wrapped up in an illusion. The Light spirits that hid him deflected Dakota's divining spell. It was a powerful enchantment, one he had imbued himself with a century ago. He studied his daughter as she held the little girl. She had learned how to master her magic. She had grown skilled, her instincts finally honed enough to detect his magic. He had been watching her for months. 

The Traveler's original plans had been ruined by Burt's bungling. His apprentice had paid with his life, killed by Dakota and her werewolf mate. The summer solstice was a week away. A passion moon would shine that night. Magic would be at its strongest.

And he needed his daughter's cooperation.

The Moon Tear Spring once again brimmed with power. This time, the Traveler would claim it. He had fathered a dozen children, but Dakota was the only one born with the right affinity. His original plan to “rescue” his daughter from Burt's abuse had failed. Worse, Burt had told Dakota too much before he died.

The Traveler was certain he could never earn his daughter's trust.

“Kotie!” Forrest shouted.

The Traveler smiled as his guardian rushed forward and engulfed Dakota and the child in his arms. The Traveler had placed Forrest in this town a decade ago to guard the Moon Tear Spring from other witches. He had never planned on Forrest imprinting his daughter.

“But now I have leverage,” the Traveler whispered. He turned and left, walking back into the night.

Chapter Two: Practice

Maryanne had squealed for joy when she saw her mother, twisting in Forrest's arms. Forrest set her down, and she raced to her mother. Tears glistened on my cheeks as I leaned against Forrest. I wanted that, one day. My own daughter, a union of Forrest and me. He would make a great father. He had been so gentle with Maryanne as he carried her out of the wilderness.

“Thank you, Sheriff,” Lisa sobbed, a huge smile on her lips. She held her daughter tight. I doubted she ever wanted to let Maryanne go.

I was buzzing with excitement on the drive home, squirming in my seat. We rescued a little girl and reunited her with her mother. It was such a wonderful moment. I wasn't tired at all, even though it was past midnight.

“You smell wonderful,” Forrest grinned. “So excited.” His eyes flashed with gold as he glanced at me.

“Mmm, I am,” I purred. “I want a child, Forrest.”

“A little daughter to hold?” Forrest grinned.

“Or a son,” I laughed. “He would grow up so strong and bold. He would have his own pack one day.”

“So could our daughter.”

“So you want children, Forrest?”

He shrugged. “I never thought much about it. But now...”

I nodded my head. “Holding that little girl. Seeing her with her mother. It stirred something inside me. My mother used to hold me like that. She was so beautiful. Always laughing, even when the chemo made her lose all her hair. She kept her smile right to the end.”

Forrest's strong hand took mine. “Then let's do it. Our house is big enough.”

“You'll have to get rid of your gun room.”

“Small price to pay.” His fingers were warm on my hand. I squeezed him. My excitement twisted inside me, moving lower, growing hotter. A wet itch formed between my thighs.

Forrest's nostrils flared. “Do you want to start tonight?”

“Well, I'm still on the pill.” A naughty grin crossed my lips. “But we can definitely start practicing. That never hurts anyone.”

“Lot's of practice. We want to do it right.”

My cheeks burned. “Trust me, Forrest, you do it plenty right.” The itch grew hotter. I squirmed in my seat. “Can we go a little faster?”

“Not sure you can wait?” he grinned, his eyes flashing gold.

The imprint seemed to magnify our lust. On some level, we were connected, and when one of us grew excited, it fed into the other. And Forrest's passions were powerful. When he grew excited, they consumed him, and I felt it. The heat grew in my nethers.

“No,” I moaned.

Forrest's grin grew wolfish. “Do you want me to pull over?”

My cheeks burned. “On the side of the road?” I threw a look over my shoulder. We were the only car on the mountain road. I squeezed my thighs together. “What if someone sees us?”

“Who?” he asked, his hand slipping down to my thigh. A warm flush shot through me as he stroked my thigh. “No one else is out here but us.”

I bit my lip. My pussy burned hot, overriding my judgment. Forrest's grin was so big, so primal. So distracting. I couldn't think. I swallowed and shuddered as his hand stroked up and down my thigh. His touch was electric.

“What are you doing to me?” I gasped. “Oh, damn, Forrest.”

He licked his lips. “Just driving you wild.” The SUV slowed. Gravel crunched as the tires moved onto the shoulder. The vehicle stopped. Forrest put it into park. “I can make you explode right now. Why wait the thirty minutes until we're home?”

“You're such a bad wolf, Forrest,” I groaned.

His hand tightened on my thigh as it slid up, reaching towards that wonderful apex. I shuddered as he brushed my crotch, pressing against my molten itch through my jeans and panties. I squirmed and leaned back in the seat. My moan was pure, liquid sex.

“Yes. Take me.”

Forrest's fingers rubbed harder. He stroked me through jeans and panties. I parted my thighs, giving him better access. My body arched and my hips swiveled. His fingers were so knowing. They touched me in all the right places. I let out a shuddering sigh, tossing my head as the pleasure gathered in my depths.

“You feel so hot,” Forrest moaned, leaning over to nuzzle at my neck.

His strong, masculine scent washed over me. I wrapped my left arm around his neck, holding him tight as his lips licked and sucked. He slid up to my ear, nibbling on my lobe. I gasped and squirmed. Electricity shot right down to the growing furnace between my thighs.

My toes curled in my cowboy boots. The seat groaned as my back arched. Forrest's fingers rubbed harder through my clothes. The stubble on his chin and cheeks rasped against my face as he kissed to my lips. He captured my mouth. I moaned into his kiss, my arm tightening about his neck. He was so strong. He claimed my body. Claimed me.

I loved him so much. He had fought for me. He had bled and burned for me. I never wanted to let this amazing man go.

Next Saturday couldn't come fast enough.

His fingers found my clit through my clothing. I moaned into his hungry lips as he rubbed on my nub. The pressure of his thumb had pleasure shooting through my body. My pussy clenched as the delight brewed in my depths.

Forrest knew my body. We had loved each other for the last three months. We knew each other. My right hand reached over, rubbing at the hard muscles of his stomach through his beige Sheriff's uniform. I found a button, popping it open and reaching in to touch his wonderful flesh. He was hot and strong, my finger tracing his muscles as the pleasure swelled in my core.

I was so lucky to have this wolf.

My hips squirmed. My head tossed back, breaking the kiss. “Forrest,” I moaned as my body trembled.

His lips moved to my ear. “That's it, Kotie. Let me hear those moans. Mmm, but you smell delicious.”

My fingers clenched against his hard pecs. My hips undulated. His thumb rubbed harder at my clit through my jeans. I shuddered as my body tensed. I was on the cusp of that wonderful relief. Passing headlights suddenly illuminated the SUV's interior.

I didn't care if someone saw. I was too close.

“Yes!” I shuddered as my body spasmed. My come rippled through my body. My feet kicked, bumping the bottom of the dashboard. I sucked air through clenched teeth as the warm fuzzies of a nice, satisfying orgasm filled me. “Thank you,” I sighed. “Thank you kindly.”

“Always,” Forrest whispered. “Every time.”

I smiled at him, my body full of the warm, buzzing fuzzies. I gave him a hard kiss on the mouth. He had given me such pleasure. My hand drifted down from his abs to his groin. His cock strained at his beige pants. He growled into my lips as I tightened my hand.

Forrest deserved his relief, too.

The zipper loudly rasped as I drew it down. My hand dipped inside his pants. I pulled down his boxers and found his warm, throbbing shaft. He was thick. He filled me up the way Burt, my only other partner, never had. The first time Forrest and I made love, I felt like a virgin as he stretched me out.