Beneath a Blue Moon (Crescent City Wolf Pack Book 2) Read online

  “True. Spellbound Sweets wouldn’t be much without the spells.” She sat up straight. “Let me pay the fees. I’m the one operating as a witch anyway. I should be the one paying for the license.”

  Rain rose to her feet and shuffled around the counter to put the plates away. She’d drained her savings account to get the place up and running, not allowing her sister to pay for something as small as a can of rainbow sprinkles. It was the only way to make certain her curse didn’t affect Snow. “It’s a witch’s bakery. My bakery. If you paid, it would be a kindness. I won’t let you take that risk.”

  “What’s the worst that could happen? Pneumonia for a week? A sprained ankle?”

  Rain closed the cabinet, her heart sinking at the thought of what her curse could do to her sister. “You could get run over by a streetcar. Or struck by lightning. Or worse.”

  “Yeah, okay. Good point. The appointment tomorrow sounds promising, though. Werewolves tend to stick together, so if you can land the alpha’s wedding, we’ll have our foot in the door with their pack. They could bring in a lot of business.” She spun a circle on the barstool and grinned. “Werewolves like to eat.”

  A tiny flame of hope flickered in her core before dying out. Her shoulders drooped. “Until another werewolf opens a bakery. They prefer to do business with their own kind. Don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Well, there aren’t any werewolf bakeries now, and now is all that matters at the moment.” Snow leaned her elbow on the counter, resting her chin on her fist. “Let’s focus on landing this gig, and it will solve half your problems.”

  “And the other half?”

  She shrugged. “We’re Connolly witches. We’ll figure something out.”

  Rain smiled at her sister. Snow risked so much by being here every day, and gratitude didn’t begin to describe the emotions Rain felt for her. “You’re a Connolly witch. I’m just a Connolly.” Or so everyone seemed to believe.

  “Your powers may be bound, but there’s magic in your blood.” Snow leaned her forearms on the counter. “How many ingredients are left to find?”

  She’d received an unbinding spell from the national witches’ council in the mail three months ago on enchanted paper. Each time she retrieved an ingredient, the next one revealed itself. “I’ve got two ingredients left. As soon as I get my hands on some Bauhinia harvested by a priestess beneath a full moon in Peru, the last one will be revealed, and we’ll be good to go. Do you really think it will work?”

  Snow lifted an eyebrow. “Are you doubting my powers, sister?”

  She laughed. “Of course not. But the council said only an ultimate act of selflessness could break the spell and unbind my powers.”

  “Then they said seven years of repentance is enough.”

  “I know that’s what the letter said. It seems strange that they’d change their minds though. I bet Mom had something to do with it.”

  “So what if she did?” Snow lifted her hands as she shrugged and dropped them to her sides. “Maybe they weren’t specific enough in what an ‘ultimate act of selflessness’ is. Maybe they feel like you’ve learned your lesson.”

  She traced the marble pattern on the countertop with her finger. “I guess.” If the lesson was to put others before her powers, she hadn’t had a choice but to learn. She’d been powerless for seven years. “Whatever their reasoning…I want my magic back.”

  “I understand. This will work.” Snow stepped around the counter and gave her sister a hug. “I’m going home. Can I have today’s pay so I don’t get run over by a streetcar on my way?”

  Rain chuckled and took two twenties from the cash register. “Be safe.”

  “Always.”

  After her sister left, Rain locked the door and turned off the lights before padding to her storage closet-turned-bedroom in the back of the shop. If this unbinding spell worked, and her curse could be broken, she might be able to save the bakery.

  Bauhinia itself was easy to come by, but the stipulation that it be harvested by a priestess beneath a full moon made it difficult to find. She’d located a shop in Peru who could fill the order, but the cost of the ingredient, plus international shipping, had set her back several hundred dollars. But if she could get rid of this curse and be accepted into the witches’ community again, she’d have more than enough business to pay all her bills.

  Though she’d never achieve a spot on the national council after what she’d done to earn the curse, she might be able to work her way up in the coven once they let her in. At least she could hold a position of power within the community. It was better than nothing.

  Chapter Two

  Chase sat behind a massive oak desk and eyed the whimpering rule-breaker. The lanky teen couldn’t have been more than seventeen, and he shifted in the green vinyl chair like his ass was sore. His dad most likely had torn the kid a new one the moment his little sister blabbed about what he’d done. Now he had to face the punishment from the pack.

  With one elbow resting on the desk, Chase leaned his mouth into his hand, trying to hide the involuntary curve of his lips. Truth was, he saw a lot of himself in the rebellious teen. Growing up, he’d never been one for rules. Now his job for the next twenty-plus years was enforcing them. Who would’ve thought?

  “What the hell were you thinking, Landon?” His smile under control, Chase steepled his fingers beneath his chin—a move the old alpha had pulled when Chase got in trouble himself—and leaned back in the squeaky leather chair. “You don’t show your wolf form to humans.”

  Landon lifted his hands and started to speak, but he dropped them in his lap and let out a dramatic sigh. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  He arched a pierced eyebrow. “Try me.”

  “He was kissing my sister in the back of his truck. In the swamp. The swamp. Who does that?” He fisted his trembling hands on the arms of the chair. “I was trying to save her.”

  The corners of Chase’s mouth tugged upward, so he shot to his feet and paced around the desk. “Save her from what?”

  Landon cowered in his chair. “He’s going to break her heart. Dude’s got a new girlfriend every week.”

  He stood behind the chair and peered through the mini blinds at the empty stone corridor. The kid’s mom and sister waited in the bar down the hall, probably cowering in their chairs like rebellious Landon here.

  The kid peeked over his shoulder and caught Chase’s gaze. As soon as he made eye contact, he jerked his head forward and stared at his hands in his lap. “What are you going to do to me? Are you going to kill me?”

  Now he didn’t fight the smile. “For a first-time infraction? We’re more civilized than that.” He ran a finger across the back of the chair, and the kid froze. The hum of fluorescent lights and Landon’s rapid, shallow breaths filled the otherwise silent room. The red numbers on the digital clock display flipped from eleven forty-five to forty-six. Forty-seven.

  A little flush of fear ought to keep the kid in line for a while. It always worked on Chase when he was young. A pair of work boots thudded on the concrete outside, and Landon dropped his head into his hands. Being drilled by the second in command was intimidating enough. Now he’d have to hear it from the alpha.

  The door flung open, and Luke sauntered in. He wore paint-stained jeans and a gray T-shirt, and his light-brown hair was tied back at the nape of his neck. Chase liked to think his own tattoos and piercings made him intimidating, but Luke held an aura of authority only members of the first family had.

  The alpha dropped into the leather chair and leveled his gaze on Chase. “What did I miss?” Landon let out a whimper, and the corner of Luke’s mouth twitched.

  Chase crossed his arms and stood next to the kid. “Showed his wolf form to a human to stop him from making out with his sister.”

  “Did he now?” Luke pinned Landon with a hard stare. Both men had their own little sisters, so they could sympathize with Landon’s need to protect his sibling. But the kid didn’t need to know that.


  The alpha rested his hands on the desk. “And what’s the verdict?”

  Chase strolled forward to lean against the desk. “Thirty hours of pack service and an apology to his sister.”

  Luke nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

  Landon lifted his head. “Thirty hours? That’ll take forever.”

  Chase put a heavy hand on his shoulder. “We could put you in the pit. Or kill you.”

  His eyes widened. “No, no. Thirty hours sounds fair.”

  “Great.” Luke smirked and took an old toothbrush from a desk drawer. “You can start by cleaning the toilets.”

  “Yes, sir.” Landon took the toothbrush and sulked out of the office.

  As the door clicked shut, Chase laughed. “That the same one your old man made me use when I screwed up?”

  Luke nodded. “That toothbrush has seen more toilets than a frat boy during rush week.”

  Chase flopped into the chair and ran a hand through his hair. As second in command, his main job was to deal with rogues and rule-breakers. Lucky for him, Luke kept the pack under tight control. Rules were rarely broken.

  Luke opened the laptop on the desk. “How’s it feel being on the other side of the interrogation?”

  “If you’d have told me ten years ago I’d be your second, I’d have laughed in your face.”

  The alpha chuckled as he punched the keyboard with his index fingers. “You’ve grown up a lot since we were kids. So have I.”

  “Yeah, but you knew you’d be alpha from day one. Responsibility’s in your blood.”

  “It’s in yours too. Just took you longer to figure it out.” He hit the enter key and closed the computer.

  “I suppose.” Responsibility occupied ninety-nine percent of his time lately, but surprisingly, he didn’t mind.

  Luke’s phone chimed, and he pulled it from his pocket. “Oh, shit.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I forgot about that. Come on, I need a beer.” He paced out of the office before Chase had a chance to ask what was up.

  He followed him up the short flight of stone steps into the bar, where Luke’s sister stood behind the counter, polishing a beer mug. Amber wore the standard O’Malley’s uniform—jeans and a black button-up—and she’d swept her light-brown hair into a high ponytail.

  “It’s about time you got here.” She set down the glass and picked up a stack of notebooks. “I have to get the stock orders done. Just because you have rank now, it doesn’t mean you get to make your own schedule. I own this bar.” She winked. “I run the show.”

  Chase glanced at the clock. “I’m ten minutes early.”

  She lifted a section of counter top and sashayed toward him, a playful grin lighting on her lips. “Good.” She glanced at Luke. “Keep him in line. I’m sensing change in his future.”

  Chase narrowed his eyes. “What kind of change?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t know yet. The feeling’s building.” She dropped into a chair at a table and opened the books, ending the conversation.

  Luke settled onto a stool, and Chase slipped behind the counter and poured a tall glass of Blue Moon beer, sliding it to his friend. “Your sister’s gift isn’t very useful.”

  “She has her moments. Empathic premonitions are never exact.”

  He shook his head. She had helped a bit with the recent demon infestation, but change in his future? No, thank you. He liked his life the way it was. “What’s going on?”

  Luke took a swig and gripped the glass on the counter. “Damn cake tasting.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Cake?”

  “For the wedding. Macey’s dragging me to the bakery to taste the damn cakes for the reception. Like I give a shit if she chooses almond or butter cream. Cake is cake.”

  He laughed. “Better you than me.”

  The alpha narrowed his eyes. “It’ll happen to you one day, my friend, and I plan to enjoy watching you squirm when it does.”

  Chase huffed. “You had to mate. I don’t.” And until recently, he didn’t plan to. Ever. He had enough responsibility in his life without having to answer to a mate too.

  “When you meet the right woman, you’ll want to.”

  He crossed his arms. “I’ve met plenty of women. I don’t want to.”

  Luke chuckled and downed the rest of his beer as his mate walked through the door. His entire demeanor shifted, and he shot to his feet and then sauntered toward her. Macey’s smile reached all the way to her emerald eyes as she gazed up at Luke and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Hi, beautiful. How’s your day been so far?” Luke ran a hand over her head and tugged at the tight bun she wore at the nape of her neck.

  Chase looked away from their affectionate display. Since Luke and Macey had gotten together, Luke had been the happiest he’d ever seen him. Apparently, love did that to a guy; not that Chase would know. But he’d reached the age where his mating instincts were kicking in hard. He wouldn’t mind waking up in a beautiful woman’s arms every morning, but he damn well wouldn’t admit it to the alpha. It was hard enough admitting it to himself.

  “Good.” Macey pulled from Luke’s embrace. “Hi, Chase.”

  “Afternoon, ma’am.”

  “How did it go with Bryce?”

  “Oh, fine. A heads-up would’ve been nice. I didn’t know I’d have to put on a show.”

  She turned to her mate, her eyes widening. “You didn’t tell him I wasn’t going to be there?”

  “It may have slipped my mind.” Luke chuckled. “Sorry about that, man.”

  Slipped his mind, my ass. He probably forgot on purpose to keep him on his toes. It wouldn’t be the first time. “No problem.”

  Macey kissed Luke on the cheek. “Bryce is in the car waiting for me. I got called to a scene.”

  “So, no cake tasting?” Luke’s voice sounded way too hopeful.

  “I need you to go without me.”

  The alpha’s mouth hung open, and Chase stifled a laugh.

  Luke shook his head. “Reschedule it. I’m not going to pick a cake without you.”

  “I’ve already rescheduled on her three times.” Macey walked her fingers up his chest. “You can do it, baby. I trust your taste.” She kissed him on the cheek and headed for the exit. “Roberta says Spellbound Sweets is amazing. Just make sure nothing tastes gross.” She waved goodbye and disappeared through the doorway.

  Luke spun around, a look of terror freezing his features.

  Amber shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got a shipment coming in half an hour, and I have to finish balancing the books.” She glanced at Chase, a sly smile curving her lips. “But I can man the bar if you want to take your second.”

  “Oh, hell no.” Chase crossed his arms. “I’m not going to a witch’s bakery. I’d rather go back to the morgue.”

  Luke raised his chin. “If another mummified body shows up, you will. Right now, you’re tasting cake. Let’s go.”

  Rain took a deep breath to calm her racing pulse as she arranged the cake samples on the platter. After they’d rescheduled the tasting so many times, she’d begun to worry this appointment would never happen. Snow had fielded all the calls from the alpha’s mate, and they both stared at the phone, expecting it to ring any second with another cancellation.

  “I think they’re going to show this time.” Snow drummed her lilac nails on the counter.

  “Goddess, I hope so. I either get this deposit or I’ll be sleeping on the streets.” She eyed her sister. “Please be on your best behavior.”

  Snow pressed a hand against her chest, feigning shock. “Me? You think I’m going to screw this up?”

  “Don’t even pretend like you’ve cast a spell. And watch your temper. This is an alpha we’re dealing with.”

  Snow smirked. “The hot temper runs in the family, love. I could say the same to you.”

  Rain huffed. Her sister had a point. Her temper had been what got her into this mess to begin with. “We’ve been here six months and haven’t had any trouble
with the werewolves. I don’t want to start now.”

  Snow furrowed her brow. “What makes you think we’re going to have trouble?”

  “The Miami alpha’s daughter went to culinary school with me, and we talked. Alphas are rough, no bull-shit men.” She set the tray of samples in the fridge. “I guess they have to be in order to run a whole pack of werewolves. I hear their mates aren’t any nicer.” While she’d never met the New Orleans alpha, she couldn’t imagine him being much different.

  Snow blew her bangs off her forehead with a huff. “Jeez. They sound like the clients from hell.”

  “Yeah. But if we get this job, we’ll be in. You said yourself how loyal werewolves are. Once the alpha accepts us, the whole pack will. I might be able to keep this place afloat after all.” She dusted the powdered sugar from her pants. “At least I’ll have a place to sleep for another month or two.”

  Snow rolled her eyes. “You’ll sleep at my place before you’ll be on the streets. I’ll take my chances with the curse.”

  Rain pressed her lips together and peered at her sister. Snow would knock her out with a sleeping spell and drag her to her house before she’d let her end up homeless. And she could imagine the wrath her curse would bring down on her sister if she did. “That will never happen.” She couldn’t let it.

  The front door chimed before Snow could argue, and a hummingbird took flight inside Rain’s ribcage. She could do this. Be nice. Don’t piss off the werewolves. Hope they like the cake. She took a deep breath, plastered a smile on her face, and sashayed into the storefront.

  The alpha stepped through the door first, his deep-orange aura screaming power like nothing she’d seen before. He stood nearly six-foot-four and had light-brown hair and bright blue eyes.

  He stepped aside for the next werewolf to enter, and Rain’s breath caught in her throat. Another male, a few inches shorter than the alpha, shuffled into the store and shoved his hands into his pockets. His shiny, dark-brown hair was cut short on the sides, long enough on top to cascade to one side and curl down to his eyebrow where it accented a circular, silver piercing in his skin. He had a full, dark beard, and a series of intricate tattoos covered both his muscular arms, disappearing into the sleeves of his black shirt.