The Witching Moon: The Witches of Redwood Falls - Book 1 Read online

  “Poppy?” He gripped her arms, keeping her upright. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  “I don’t know.” Her hand went to her throat, struggling to balance her center. “I don’t know. Something happened. I felt this surge of power whisk through me, amplifying the spell.”

  His mouth was grim. “Are you hurt?”

  She tested her weight again, relieved that she was all right. “Fine. I guess it just startled me.” He still gripped her as if he was worried she’d fall. “I’m really fine now. You can let go.”

  He lifted one finger from her at a time. “Why did this happen?”

  She did a mental check over her body. She wasn’t hurt. In fact, she was great. Any depletion she normally felt after a spell was gone. She felt stronger, healthier... just like yesterday’s spell. What was doing on? “I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the prophecy and the full moon coming. Maybe my powers are changing.”

  “Does the prophecy say this will happen?”

  Her lips pursed. “No. But I don’t understand what all of it means.”

  “And you still won’t tell me what it says?”

  She wanted to tell him. Wanted to confide everything she knew about it. But something still held her back. She shook her head.

  He gripped the back of a chair, but he nodded. “Is there anything else we need to do for these?” He waved at the bottles.

  His hands shook. He was upset. She couldn’t blame him. If their positions were reversed she’d be mad too. She trusted him. She just wasn’t willing to tempt fate again. “No. Those are finished. The store needs other items, but I have some extra stock in the bedroom I can give them. I can make more later.”

  He turned from her then, and it cut her deep down. She wanted to reach out to him, explain herself, but what good would that do? She still couldn’t tell him what the prophecy said.

  He repacked the bottles into a box and took them out to the car.

  What was wrong with her? Why was she doing this to him? To them? Why couldn’t she just accept this, accept him?

  As they drove in silence into town, she lashed herself with the same questions. Why couldn’t she just follow what felt right?

  Because doubt ate at her. What if he wasn’t her mate? What if her mate showed up and she’d already committed herself to another? That would only end up hurting both men.

  Why was this so hard? She’d always taken comfort in the prophecy. It’d given her hope that there was someone out there just for her. All she had to do was bide her time and he’d come to her. How naive. Life was never that simple.

  She’d been a fool this whole time. Waiting for some knight to show up and sweep her off her feet when she’d had this amazing, sexy, caring, wonderful man in front of her all along.

  After juggling boxes into the store, chatting briefly with the clerk, she marched back outside. She needed to end this limbo for them both. To tell Drake that she was all in. That she was sorry for being an idiot.

  “Drake.” His name felt right on her lips. She stepped in front of him while he leaned against a light pole. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For—”

  “Poppy, is that you?”

  The question, uttered from someone on the sidewalk, jerked her out of the moment.

  Her mouth dropped open as the world spun. “Zander? What are you doing here?”

  He laughed, racing toward her before swinging her up into a hug. “I knew that was you.”

  Once he placed her back on solid ground, her wide eyes glanced from Drake to Zander. “I can’t believe you’re here. When did you get into town?”

  “Halloween actually.” He grinned. “I couldn’t resist visiting for the holiday. Brings back fond memories.” He finally nodded to Drake, reaching out his hand. “Drake. It’s nice to see you. It’s been a long time.”

  Drake swallowed hard before shaking Zander’s hand. “It has. What’s brought you back after all this time?”

  “Oh, you know. It was passed time for a visit.” Zander eyed Poppy and Drake. An awkward silence descended.

  Zander had been here. On Halloween. And he was a descendant of a founding member of the magic community. All the pieces fit. “What did you end up doing on Halloween? Anything fun?”

  Drake’s eyes darted to hers, his jaw clenching. She couldn’t help it. She needed to know.

  “Not much really. I visited with family earlier on and passed out candy. After that I took a walk in the forest. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was.”

  “The forest?” she choked.

  “Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling. “I thought I’d go see the stones. It was All Hallows Eve after all. It seemed fitting.”

  The bottom dropped out of her stomach. “But you didn’t end up going?”

  He shrugged. “I heard some people there and didn’t want to disrupt them. It sounded serious.”

  “No kidding?” Drake finally reentered the conversation.

  “Yeah, well.” He shrugged. “Anyway, I have to run. Tell your grandma I said hello.”

  “I will. Will you be staying in town for long?”

  Drake shifted his weight. “I don’t have any solid plans.”

  Drake took Poppy’s arm as he said, “Well, we’ll see you around then.”

  Poppy said her goodbyes to Zander and stumbled away with Drake.

  Why was this happening to her? She’d just started to feel like something was there with Drake. She’d begun to accept it. She may not fully understand the prophecy, but then again, what else could born of magic mean? You either had magic or you didn’t. Unfortunately, Drake didn’t.

  But Zander did. He’d attended ceremonies when they were younger. What he’d done in the last eight years, she had no idea. But did it even matter? He had magic, he was in town on All Hallows Eve, and he’d gone to the stones.

  Her heart cracked. He had to be the one. It lined up. It made sense.

  But why did it hurt so much?

  Her hand fisted at her stomach as bile rose. She had to see this through, had to let go of Drake. She had to fulfill her destiny and accept her mate.

  Drake let go of her arm at his car, but he didn’t say anything. He stood there, waiting. Watching. She’d never been a coward, but she struggled to meet his eyes. When she did, there was pain there, and it lanced through her as well.

  “Don’t do this, Poppy,” he begged.

  She shook her head, her eyes filling. “You know I have to, Drake. We talked about this.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “I know what I said. But you have a choice in this. Just like you did before.” He gripped her hands in his. “I love you. Choose me. Pick me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Her mouth dropped open as the first tear fell. “I can’t do this, Drake. You know I can’t turn away from the prophecy. I can’t. He fits. It all fits. I can’t walk away from this.”

  “What do you want me to do then? Just sit here and let you go? It’d be easier to rip out my heart.”

  “I’m sorry for that. I never wanted to hurt you.” She stroked his clenched jaw. “But I have to. We agreed on this.”

  “We did.” He backed away from her, breaking all contact, and that one little move cut her to the quick. “I promised that I’d step aside, that I’d let you do what you needed to, that I’d let you figure it out.” He shook his head. “But I won’t stay here and watch you. I can’t.”

  His eyes pleaded, and her heart answered. But she couldn’t give in. This was too important, and there so little time.

  His eyes traveled over her as if committing her to memory. The thought chilled her. “I’m not saying this is a sure thing or forever, Drake. I just need to figure this out.”

  He swallowed hard, nodding. “I understand, Poppy. I really do.”

  “Why don’t you go on ahead? I’m going to stay in town for a bit and walk home when I’m done.”

  Drake looked in the direction Zander had gone, eyes lit with understanding. He nodded once, turning on his heel before climbing into the car.

  A smile wobbled on her lips when he gazed at her one last time before driving away.

  When she could no longer see his car, air wheezed out of her lungs and she sunk to a bench. She didn’t want this. Any of it. She didn’t want to hurt Drake, but she didn’t have another choice. Drake had to know that.

  He was her best friend. She couldn’t bear to lose him over this. But the reality was, he didn’t have magic. And her mate did.

  Swiping a tear from her cheek, she breathed deeply. This is how it had to be. She’d talk to Drake later, and they’d work it out. They could get passed this, could go back to how they were before.

  I love you. He’d said the words, but he didn’t really mean them. At least not in the way he thought. They’d loved each other for a long time. How could they not? They’d been together too long, been through too much together to not care deeply about one another. In time, Drake would realize that they weren’t meant to be together.

  He had to.

  As she wandered down the street, she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince anymore.

  Chapter 6

  Drake’s jaw clenched as he stomped through his house with no direction in mind, only needing to move. To not to feel.

  She’d chosen someone else.

  All frustration whooshed out of his body, despair settling in its place. She’d chosen Zander, and if Zander wasn’t the one, then she’d do it again when another man with magic showed up.

  He couldn’t fight it, couldn’t argue. Because she was right. He’d made a promise to her that if someone else showed up, he’d step aside. It was killing him to do it, to move back and let another man have the one person he loved above all. But he had to.

  For her.

  She was with Zander right now, and the knowledge sliced through him. Zander would take her. Who wouldn’t? She was the most caring, generous, and beautiful woman he’d ever met. Any man would be thrilled to have her, to touch her, to taste her…

  He groaned.

  No. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t sit here, thinking of her with someone else. He’d keep his promise. He’d keep his distance while she figured out if Zander was her mate, but that didn’t mean he had to stay and watch. He didn’t have to see them together. Didn’t have to sit on the sidelines as everything he’d ever wanted was ripped from his hands.

  Without finesse, Drake threw clothes into a worn duffel bag. He’d take off for a few days. He knew there was a time factor here, and he’d be back for the deadline. He couldn’t write her off, write off them, when there was still a chance. Even if it was only a small one. When she decided he wasn’t the one then, then he’d leave. Maybe for good.

  What would staying here accomplish? To see her for the rest of his life and never have her, never hold her, never touch her. He couldn’t think of worse torture.

  His movements slowed. Watching Zander touching her, kissing her… he realized there was something worse.

  With renewed vigor, he zipped the bag closed. He strode to his desk, penning a note for Poppy. He couldn’t leave without telling her. He sealed it in an envelope and wrote her name on the front. He’d drop it off on his way out of town.

  It was the only thing he could do.

  Poppy jogged down the street, grateful when she spotted Zander through the window of a bookstore. She hadn’t lost him. She marched into the store, cornering him as he paid for a book. “Zander?”

  “Poppy? Is everything okay?” He glanced passed her, no doubt looking for Drake.

  “Yeah. Um, I was hoping you could talk, grab some coffee or something.”

  “Sure.” He nodded his thanks to the cashier. “How about Shirley’s? If it’s still around.”

  Her shoulders relaxed now that he’d agreed. She knew it was a long shot that he’d be able to talk now, but Poppy couldn’t wait. She needed to find out if Zander was the one without dragging it out. “Sure is. And it still has the best coffee.”

  “Great.” He held the door open for her, gesturing for her to take lead once they were outside.

  They caught up on town gossip until their drinks were ready and took a seat in one of the cozy corners in the shop.

  “Thanks for coming with me,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to seem like a crazy person.”

  He laughed, deep and rich. “Hardly. It’s nice to see an old friend.”

  She searched his slate-blue eyes, looking for something, anything. Where was the mystical connection? Did he feel anything for her at all? If so, she couldn’t see it. He was friendly, at ease. Like he’d be with any friend. “I have to ask, but you can ignore me if you’d like.” She crossed her legs, leaning forward. “Why’d you come back?”

  “As I said, it was time for a visit,” he said easily, but his eyes shifted away.

  “And that’s it?” His brow lifted, and she muttered a curse. “I know I’m being incredibly rude, but there’s a good reason. I just need to know if there’s anything else.”

  “I came to see someone from my past. To settle things.”

  “But I’m not that person?”

  “No.” He cocked his head. “What’s going on, Poppy?”

  She slumped in her chair. What was she doing here? With Zander, as nice of a person as he was, there was nothing there. Her heart didn’t race just being near him. There was no peace in her soul from his presence, no deep seated joy because he was her best friend. Nothing like how Drake made her feel.

  She’d hurt him, and for what? Because she was scared and unsure? Scared that there was someone better out there who could love her more, that was destined to be with her? There wasn’t another

  Because she loved Drake.

  She whimpered into her drink. She’d been an idiot. No matter what the prophecy said, no matter when she was supposed to meet her mate, or what he was like, none of it mattered. She loved Drake. And she always had.

  She’d just finally realized that she always would.

  “Poppy?”

  She shook herself out of her thoughts. “Sorry.” She closed her eyes hard. “I’m really sorry, Zander. For all of this. I’ve been an idiot.”

  “Now I’m intrigued.” He set his cup on the table, leaning forward.

  “There was a prophecy about me, about my mate.”

  “Ahhh.” His eyes lit with understanding. “I remember.”

  “You know about it?”

  He ducked his head. “My mom told me about it a long time ago. I was learning about prophecies and she brought it up. All Hallows Eve right?”

  “On my twenty-eighth year,” she muttered.

  His eyes softened, reaching out to her. “I’m not him. I’m sorry.”

  “I know. I really do,” she added again when he searched her face for the truth. “I know who it is.”

  “Drake?”

  She gasped. “How’d you know?”

  He laughed. “It wasn’t hard to see. There were sparks flying everywhere.” He sobered. “So if it’s Drake, then why are you here?”

  She wiggled in her seat. “Well… I had to be sure.”

  “About him or me?”

  “Both. There are some things that don’t match up with the prophecy.”

  He whistled softly, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t think too much about that. I’ve come to realize that prophecies aren’t road maps. They only make sense after they’ve happened.”

  “No kidding.” If only she’d realized that sooner. She’d wasted so much time with Drake, not to mention the anguish she’d put him through. She ached to make it up to him, to make this right.

  A weight lifted from her chest just thinking about him. She needed to get back to him, to throw herself in his arms and tell him what an idiot she’d been. That no matter what the prophecy said, no matter what she might have thought, he was the only one for her. She’d never been surer about anything in her life.

  “Go ahead.” He nodded toward the door. “I can see you’re gone already. Go to him.”

  “Are you sure?” She flushed. “I feel awful ditching you after I basically dragged you here.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll be fine. A cup of Shirley’s is never a waste.”

  She grinned. “You’re the best.”

  “Almost makes you wish I was the one, huh?”

  She belly laughed. “Almost, but not quite.”

  He sighed playfully. “Your loss.”

  “Someone else’s gain,” she assured him as she stood. “You’ve been great. Really. You’ve helped more than you know.”

  “I’ll see you around.”

  “I hope so.”

  Without glancing back, she walked out of the shop, a little bounce in her step. She loved Drake. Knew it without a doubt, and he loved her. With two days before the deadline, she’d seal her fate within the hour. She’d tell Drake she accepted him, that she loved him.

  Her heart racing, she dashed to his house. He didn’t live far from town, only a short fifteen minute walk and she was grateful for the short distance.

  Her stomach flipped as she climbed his porch steps. Deep breath, she threaded a hand through her hair, hoping it didn’t look as frazzled as she felt on the inside.

  She rang the bell, her body tense as she listened for him. She rang again, waiting. Her shoulders fell, the smile faded from her lips.

  He wasn’t home. How could he not be here? Where would he have gone?

  Unease wound through her. He must have just run out. Or gone somewhere after their conversation with Zander. He would be back soon, she assured herself.

  But even as she made excuses, her legs carried her farther down the road to her house, her body pumping harder the closer she got.

  When her house came into view, she knew something was wrong. And then she saw the note propped up on the patio table, her name neatly written on the front in Drake’s handwriting.

  Fingers numb, she reached out for the creamy envelope, carefully opening the paper as dread settled in her stomach.

  She gasped, reading his words. The paper fell from her hand, landing softly in the afternoon light.