Page 30 of BeWolfed

Through our bond, I felt Rudy's protective instinct stir at the mention of Charlotte potentially becoming entangled in dangerous knowledge. "Be careful," he advised. "Academic interest isn't always purely academic, especially in Midnight Creek."

"Says the werewolf mated to a witch," Charlotte countered with a small smile. "You two aren't exactly following conventional wisdom either."

She had a point. Our own situation hardly gave us standing to question unexpected alliances. Through our bond, I felt Rudy acknowledge the irony with reluctant amusement.

As evening approached and customers dwindled, Rose insisted we take time for ourselves, claiming she and Daisy had matters under control at the store. "Go. Enjoy dinner at the Silver Flask. Show the town that your bond isn't weakened by their disapproval."

"Public opinion isn't exactly supportive right now," I warned. "We're getting cold shoulders from both sides."

"All the more reason to be visible," Rose replied firmly. "Change doesn't come from hiding in safety."

Before we left, she handed me a small package that had arrived earlier. "From your roommate Toni. She seems to be having her own inter-species adventures."

The package contained a small crystal carved with protection sigils and a note in Toni's distinctive handwriting:

El,

Call it witch's intuition, but I sense your life has taken some unexpected turns. This protection amulet is specifically designed for bonds across species—a little something my grandmother taught me before the coven's restrictions tightened.

Gideon and I are thinking of visiting Midnight Creek once the semester ends. The coven's disapproval of our relationship is getting exhausting, and honestly, we could use some solidarity. From what you've told me, sounds like you understand exactly what we're facing.

Solidarity forever,

Toni

"Another witch-non-witch pair facing prejudice," I murmured, showing the note to Rudy. "Seems like we're not alone in challenging traditions."

"Small comfort when facing the daily reality," he observed, though I felt his appreciation for the connection through our bond.

“But you know," I murmured, tracing my fingers over the mate mark on my shoulder, "I always thought if magic ever truly changed my life, it would be because I lost control of it. But that’s not what happened." I met his gaze, warm and knowing. "I wasn’t bewitched. I was bewolfed."

Rudy grinned, squeezing my hand.

As we prepared to leave, Daisy materialized beside us, her form more solid than usual. "The romance novels have been consulting with the prophecy section," she announced. "They believe Professor Katz and Miss Evers stand at a similar crossroads to your own, though with... complications unique to their circumstances."

"What kind of complications?" I asked, curious despite myself.

Daisy's smile turned enigmatic. "Some secrets aren't mine to reveal. But the threads of their story intertwine with yours in ways even the mystery section finds intriguing. Watch the northern ley lines when the semester changes. Magic rises there that hasn't stirred in centuries."

With that cryptic pronouncement, she vanished back into the stacks, leaving Rose to shake her head fondly. "She's been even more mystical than usual since the ritual disruption. But her insights are rarely wrong, just unhelpfully phrased."

Outside, Midnight Creek's magical layer shimmered visibly to my witch sight—the wards stronger in some ways since the ritual's disruption, different in others. But beneath that surface stability, currents of tension flowed through the town like invisible rivers, separating communities that should have been united.

A witch mother pulled her child closer as we passed. A werewolf shopkeeper pointedly turned his back. Small gestures of disapproval that accumulated like tiny cuts.

Rudy's hand found mine, warm and solid, our bond humming with shared determination despite the silent hostility. "Still glad you came back to Midnight Creek?" he asked, only half-joking.

I thought of Rose safely home in her bookstore. Of the blood magic corruption stopped, at least temporarily. Of the unexpected connection I'd found with a lone wolf who understood the value of freely chosen bonds.

"I'm exactly where I need to be," I answered, squeezing his hand as we walked proudly down Main Street, ignoring the stares. "Whatever comes next."

***