Piper’s silence told me she’d wondered the same.
“But that means leaving my parents, you, and—”
“Mathis,” she interrupted, her voice a mere whisper.
My jaw tightened at the sound of his name. “The three things I think about every morning. Our pack is all I know. They’re my family. I don’t want to leave.”
“So, what does any of this have to do with witches?”
I glanced toward the brick building. Ancient in its own right, it was older than the surrounding buildings. It had withstood the ravishes of time and murder. Surely, I could withstand a little magic to persevere in this world. “Even though Conrad fucked up, he had one thing right. If you aren’t happy with your lot in life, change it.”
“What does Conrad have to do with any of this?”
“He was a submissive. He didn’t like it. So, he made a deal with the fae.”
“Yeah, and?”
I rolled my eyes. Guess I was going to have to spell it out for her. “And…I’m going to do the same. The witches have magic. Maybe they can give me what I want.”
Piper’s jaw dropped. “Juniper, no! You saw what happened to Conrad. Six wolves are dead because of his selfish actions! He lost his family. Rumor—”
“Conrad made a deal with the fae,” I corrected her. “And a clumsy one at that. I’m not talking about the fae.”
“You think the witches are any better?” Piper stepped in front of me, her long fiery-red tresses swinging over her shoulder. “Juniper, please, think this through! You’re talking about using magic to alter who you are.”
Yes, I was. Oddly enough, it didn’t bother me the slightest bit. I lacked magic. Whereas every other werewolf I’d ever met possessed that unique little spark, I was a null. My whole life, I’d felt this gaping hole where something should have been. Something otherworldly and beautiful.
“I won’t let you do this,” Piper announced. “I’ll call Mathis, and—”
“He won’t get here in time.”
Piper groaned and ran a hand through her hair. “This is insane! What about the consequences? We all know magic doesn’t come free.”
“I’ll deal with the consequences,” I stated. At this point, I didn’t care anymore. I wanted this. I needed this.
“Juniper—”
“Look, this is happening whether you like it or not.” Without waiting for her response, I strode toward the shop, my chin held high. No more struggling to find my place within the pack, no more mooning over someone I could never have. Something in my life needed to change, but I had to be the one to change it.
The bells jingled above my head as I entered the shop. Overstocked aisles and shelves brimmed with product. Nothing fancy. It even had its own shrunken woman, seated behind an oak counter, reading a thick tome.
“Evening, dear,” she called out in a warbled voice.
“Uh, hi…” I minced my way through her shop, my pulse racing as I contemplated the next couple of minutes.
Looked like I was the only customer. It was Valentine’s Day, after all. Couldn’t imagine many frequenting the local magic shop when there were chocolates to eat. Resolved, I squared my shoulders and headed toward the counter.
“A chilly night out there?” She glanced at me over her rims.
I nodded while examining the book. Whatever it was, it wasn’t written in English. Latin, maybe? I’d never been a student of languages. Couldn’t even tell Spanish from French.
“Why don’t you tell me what you need, dear.”
“A spell,” I said without lifting my head. The text was oddly hypnotic.
“Yes, I gathered that much. What kind?”
I placed my arms on the counter and nibbled my bottom lip. Maybe Piper was right. Was this insane? Or was it worse to live the rest of my life as nothing more than human?
The sound of tinkling bells drew my attention. I glanced over my shoulder as Piper stepped inside the shop. Apparently, curiosity killed the wolf as well. She crossed the threshold, her gaze darting around the room as she smoothed down the front of her dress.
“You two coming from a celebration?”
“A wedding,” I stated, before turning back to the woman.
She lifted a knowing brow. “A wedding on Valentine’s Day. Then you’re here for a love potion, I presume.”
Those were real? Not that it mattered. I had no interest in bewitching Mathis. All I wanted was to become a wolf. With that obstacle removed, maybe we could be together. “Oh. Uh, no, actually. What I want is a bit trickier than that.”
She removed her glasses, folded them up, then placed them on top of the book.
Here goes nothing. “I want to become a wolf.”
Could have heard a pin drop in the store. The old woman leaned forward and appraised my whole length. “Are you sure you aren’t one already, dear? You sure smell like a wolf to me.”
“If I were, do you think I’d be here?”
The corner of her mouth lifted before she pressed two weathered fingers to the back of my hand. Her gaze grew distant, her eyes fading to a milky white as she peered right through my soul. “Ah,” she hummed. “I see now. You’re shiftless.”
My mouth pursed. “And I want a spell that will change that. Permanently.”
A condescending smile curled her lips. “Changing yourself for a boy, dear? How boring.”
“It’s not just for a boy,” I forced out through gritted teeth. “It’s for me too. I want to become who I was always meant to be.”
“Meant to be.” She clucked her tongue. “Who’s to say you’re not already?”
“Listen, I didn’t come here for a therapy session. Can you help me or not?”
“Manners, dear. And here I thought we were getting along famously.”
Impatience had my foot tapping.
“As it stands, I have just the thing for you.”
“Juniper, no!” Piper snapped, closing those final steps between us. “Think about this. You’re asking for a spell to change the essence of who you are.”
“Or, I’m asking for a spell to make me complete.”
“Quite astute, dear,” the witch chuckled. “I suppose only you can decide which is correct.”
Piper grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. “I get it. You’re frustrated. And sad. But maybe you don’t see how Mathis watches you. When the two of you aren’t busy dodging each other, his eyes follow you everywhere.”
“Alphas don’t mate with shiftless,” I muttered.
“Alphas can choose whoever they want as a mate,” Piper hissed. “Give it time, Juniper. Please. Tell him how you feel—”
I had given it time. Years, in fact. But I understood the hierarchy. If Mathis took a human as a mate, there would be mutiny. Those who believed themselves superior would challenge him repeatedly until he fell. All because of who he’d chosen to love. It was political suicide to choose someone like me, and I refused to put him through that.
“This isn’t right!” Piper cried out.
“Well? What’ll it be, dear?” the old woman asked. “I have just the spell for you.”