Midlife's a Witch: Wolves of Loon Lake, #2

By Ruby Raine

Ava Andrews has to leave Loon Lake and return to Boston in hopes of solving her mother's murder and property takeover, which lands Ava in the proverbial lion's den when she meets with number one suspect, Raiph Pride. But she's not traveling alone as Silas King tags along to serve as her personal bodyguard, only things get heated when they find themselves stuck in close quarters in Ava's studio apartment and she reveals a shocking decision.

 

The Wolves of Loon Lake Trilogy:

Paranormal Women's Fiction - Spicy Witch Mystery Romance

Volume 1: A Mid-Life Shifter's Dream

Volume 2: Mid-Life's a Witch

Volume 3: Go Ahead, Magic My Mid-Life

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ruby Raine
• Release date: Jan 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215439227

Ruby Raine

Ruby Raine is part of The Witchy Writer community and is the author of steamy supernatural witch mysteries. 

Book preview

Wolves of Loon Lake Book 2: Midlife’s a Witch

AVA ANDREWS HAS TO leave Loon Lake and return to Boston in hopes of solving her mother’s murder and property takeover, which lands Ava in the proverbial lion’s den when she meets with number one suspect, Raiph Pride. But she’s not traveling alone as Silas King tags along to serve as her personal bodyguard, only, things get heated when they find themselves stuck in close quarters in Ava’s studio apartment and she reveals a shocking decision.

The Wolves of Loon Lake Trilogy:

Volume 1: A Midlife Shifter’s Dream

Volume 2: Midlife’s a Witch

Volume 3: Go Ahead, Magic My Midlife

Chapter One - Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

AVA ANDREWS...

I STRETCHED OUT UNDERNEATH the sheets, having slept better than I had in days. Sadly, the side of the bed where Silas had slept was now cold and empty. I’d felt the gentle press of him getting up over an hour ago and heard the swish of his clothes as he’d quietly gotten dressed. But I wasn’t ready to face the day, or him, yet. So, I’d curled in deeper and delightfully dozed off again.

My dreams had been pleasantly benign and unmemorable. The smell of Silas still lingered on my own skin—it was like a blend of fresh rain, pine, and a hint of maple. I imagined from spending so much time in the wild. I didn’t want to wash it away, because it was like a full body hug from the wolf-man, and admittedly, let me linger in the belief he was really mine, if only for the one night. Another thing I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet.

Last night had been—I made a woeful sigh, because even as a writer making a living by stringing together coherent sentences and stories, I had no simple words for last night.

Being with Silas was like taking an epic journey that was just beginning, and yet as easy as breathing and like it was simply meant to be. Like he breathed for me. Like he breathed life into me. It left my mind overfilled with joyful possibility but equally and beautifully empty and clearer. Well, I’m sure the deep sleep helped a little too.

I heard distant voices and the sounds of hustle and bustle and decided it was time to come down off the sexy all night naked snuggle cloud and deal with the not so desirable real life happening outside my bedroom. But here in my cozy bed I was safe and protected, and out there was way too many real-life problems...

Solving my mother’s murder.

Figuring out some way to save her property and deal with her overdue taxes.

My wacky glowing magic hand.

Needing Silas and his pack to be safe and protected.

Needing Silas...sigh...couldn’t I just stay in bed and ignore it all a little longer?

Getting my body moving was not easy. And not just because of the laundry list of problems. How had I forgotten that being a middle-aged woman of forty-four, doing non-normal things—like, the merciless pounding Silas gave me on the beach—always required recovery time now? But it was a satisfying and knee-buckling sort of ache I’d take any morning.

I dressed and was greeted to already-brewed coffee and my mom’s cabin a hub of activity. Silas had promised help cleaning up after the wolf attack, and he’d delivered. I’d wager every human shifter in his pack made an appearance at some point this morning, all of them eager to help in any way they could.

Except for Ariana’s daughter, Luna. It was a workday for her. She did part-time work at JJ’s grocery, helping out with some of the heavier lifting and stocking as Jack and Jake were getting on in years and unable to do some of those things themselves any longer. The human shifters in Silas’ pack needed jobs just like regular humans. They had bills and needs that required money just like everyone else. Most of the human part of the pack had some sort of job somewhere, if only a few hours here and there.

After hearing about the break-in though, the J’s had sent Luna to deliver some coffee, muffins, and donuts, enough for everyone who’d come to help me clean up. She’d wanted to stay and help too but returned to finish her shift at the store. And as eager and thankful as I was for the help, I was also rather sidetracked by the fact that Silas had not only vanished from my bed sometime during the early morning, but I’d barely seen him for more than a minute here or there. It had me feeling all sorts of doubts I didn’t want to feel. It bothered me more than I liked that he was putting space between us this morning.

I supposed it meant my one-night dream was officially over. But it had been everything I needed. Even though it hurt my heart a little, if that’s all it ended up being, I could be happy with that.

Well, I’d have to be okay with it, not happy about it. It was frustrating to get mixed messages from Silas. One minute he looked at me like I was his personal Queen and the only woman in his existence, and the next, he was everywhere I was not and on purpose.

It was that one summer so long ago all over again. Hot and heavy and going to last forever, and then Silas pulling away like I’d become poison overnight. I’d refused to heed the warning of inevitable rejection, even though it wore on my heart like a neon sign blinking on and off—exit here, before you get hurt again.

It wouldn’t be like last time, though. I wouldn’t let it. I would be okay this time—a lie I could tell myself over and over, because it would never be easy or okay to lose Silas again. For now, I decided I’d be grateful for the help in getting my mother’s cabin back in order.

By mid-afternoon, everything was back in its place and almost everyone had left, other than a few shifters who Silas had out patrolling the perimeter of my mother’s property for signs of anything foreign. So far, there had been no sightings of any new wolves or other animals or strangers in the territory.

Hungry? I asked Silas. It was one simple word, but my voice came out husky and weird and not at all sounding like myself.

His eyes finally met mine and I saw a troubled spirit in those piney depths. Regret? I didn’t think so, but I wanted to understand. I certainly didn’t want any weirdness between us. Why did sex make things weird? It’s not like it was some new concept as it had only been around forever. And yet that kind of intimacy had a way of bringing out the weird and uncomfortable.

I did it again, he said, confusing me. I’m sorry, Ava.

"I’m not really sure what you mean. Are you okay? Are we okay? You know, if last night was—" I shook my head, no right words coming to mind. I mean, we weren’t really a we other than in my imagination.

It took two long strides for him to reach me, have his hands firmly on my shoulders and his eyes pinned to mine. I do not have a single regret.

Then what’s bothering you? I can tell something is. I just wasn’t sure where I fit in and if I even really had a right to ask.

I—I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling. I just need you to know it’s absolutely nothing to do with what we did last night. I’m sorry I’ve been distant this morning. I guess I’m not that good at this sort of thing. Even with your mom close by, and everyone in my pack...being Alpha often feels like going through my life—alone. Being anything but alone is... He let go of my shoulders and plunked back against the counter behind him, looking more defeated than I liked.

Complicated, I finished kindly.

So very complicated. But I wish it wasn’t.

Probably because of the whole fated mate thing. He might have feelings for me, but all that would change because of some wolfy thing I didn’t really understand but was starting to hate. Especially if it kept us from having something real together now.

I can keep my distance, I told him. Last night was—well, I can’t lie—pretty much the best night of my life in a very long time. But you know, we’re both adults. It doesn’t have to be more than what it was. I tried not to sound whiny and clingy or disappointed, but I’m pretty sure I failed on an epic scale. I turned around to busy myself with finding something for lunch, but a second later my body was spinning around with a dark-eyed Silas staring me down.

I don’t ever want you to keep your distance.

And then his lips were on me, and I melted right into him, forgetting to push out the obvious question about his unknown possible future mate and ignoring the mental whiplash his moods were subjecting me to. This kiss had a desperation to it. Almost like he was trying to say with his lips and tongue and sweet, sweet heavenly mouth that his words could not.

What was I not understanding?

I was typically a pretty observant woman, so I thought. But I was missing something with Silas. Of course, when hormones get gooey all sense and reason and