Bewitching Her Alpha (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) Read Free

hand on my waist and slowly began to slide his hand under my shirt, caressing my soft skin with his warm, rough hand…
     
    “Nicole! Concentrate!” Amma’s voice was sharp, and I was embarrassed at being caught daydreaming.
     
    “I’m sorry Amma.” I said sincerely as I refocused my attention on the spell I was supposed to be perfecting.
     
    “The ceremony is in ten days! If you can’t even master this simple spell, how can you be expected to lead this coven?” Her words were harsh but accurate. I would never be an effective leader if I couldn’t even call a familiar. Amma’s familiar, a large raven, mocked me from his perch.
     
    I twisted my long black hair around my fingers in frustration. How could I let Amma catch me daydreaming about Brandon! She was already suspicious that something had happened with a boy from the coven, Drew. Nice looking, but completely boring Drew. From the moment I walked to the kitchen that ‘morning after’ she suspected something. She actually said, “You look different. Are you feeling ok?”
     
    “Yep, fine.” I had answered, practically running to my room, afraid if I stayed any longer she would know.
     
    “Nicole!” The frustration in Amma’s voice propelled me back to the present once more. “What is going on with you?”
     
    “I’m sorry Amma, maybe I just need a walk to clear my head.” I said hoping for a brief reprieve from training in order to make my daily pilgrimage to the dividing wall.
     
    “Fine, fine.” she answered annoyed, “Just be back in time for lunch, we have company coming today.”
     
    “I will.” I promised as I skipped out the door hopeful of finding a note from Brandon. It had been over a week since I’d seen him and his notes were the only thing keeping me going. I had my own note for him in my pocket in which I asked him to meet me at the island tomorrow night. I was going to take my place as Amma’s second in command in less than two weeks, and I didn’t have any idea how he was going to take the news. I wanted to deliver it in person, and it had to be soon.
     
    I made my way to the dividing wall and pulled the loose rock from its moorings. My heart leapt when I saw the folded paper inside. I pulled it out and replaced it with my own before pushing the rock firmly back into place until it looked as though the wall was solid once again.
     
    I climbed up the bluff, through the edge of the treeline and into the woods that surrounded our lake in a ring of green. I trekked about a half mile into the woods until I came to a small clearing, featuring a small hillock probably made a millennium ago by some ancient tribe. I shouldered my way through the opening that was nearly invisible and down the path leading underground into the warm womb of Mother Earth. I used this as my sanctuary when things got too overwhelming. I came here when I needed the dark, nurturing security of feminine energy.
     
    This is where I kept my secrets. One of my most prized possessions was here as well; a set of perfectly nestled gemstones, one of black onyx and one of white moonstone that fit together perfectly in the shape of yin and yang. They had belonged to my parents, who died when I was 11 while spending the night at a friend’s. Carbon monoxide poisoning. Our car was found running in the garage and the door securely locked. It was ruled a double suicide. I knew better; my parents would never leave me by choice.
     
    I wiped away the tear that pricked my eyes as I thought of them, and remembered my mother confiding in me that the stones had a special power that could never be dulled. They would always seek each other out; they would always find each other. I planned to give one of these necklaces to Brandon tomorrow night so that he would know I would always seek him out; that I would refuse to be separated from him.
     
    I felt around until I found the candle and lighter I kept on a small recess in the wall and sat down in the small circle