Second, my favorite sweatpants were ruined.
It seemed like a trip to the village was unavoidable.
FOUR
Xavier
What the fuck was happening? And why did this damn matebond feel stronger than my first? Olivia was everything to me, but this witch, Harlow, was a fucking puzzle piece made to fit with me perfectly.
I didn't even know her, but fuck, I wanted to. My soul had been dormant for so long it had forgotten what it was like to feel. When Harlow walked into that pitiful cottage, it came alive.
I dashed through the woods, my paws gripping the soil and propelling me further into the brush. I leaped over narrow winding creeks and slippery rocks as everything blurred into a dizzying blend of earthy colors.
My stomach rumbled, craving something big. I needed food. I couldn't even remember the last time I ate. I'd almost had those bears, but Harlow's fucking scent distracted me.
I skidded to a halt, sniffing out the scent of a rabbit. Rabbits were more of a snack than anything, but beggars couldn't be choosers. And I was a beggar in this labyrinth of a forest.
Lowering my belly to the ground, I crawled toward the smell and found two full-grown rabbits hopping leisurely in a small clearing of dirt and roots from the nearby trees.
I inched forward until they noticed me before I sprang up and tore into them, devouring them like the animal I was. The rabbits were fatter than I expected and had plenty of meat to fill me up.
And yet, I still wasn't satisfied. A certain raven-haired witch clouded my mind.
I shook my over-sized head and threw it back, howling like I was fucking wounded.
Olivia never affected me this way. So, why was Harlow? Was it because she was a witch?
When I told her she wasn't my mate, and those tears fell from her beautiful violet eyes, my heart tore in two. I wanted to make her smile, make her moan like she did when I cupped her cheek with my hand. If she was sensitive to a light touch, what would she do if I took my time with her?
My howling ceased. Why was I even thinking that? I hadn't wanted another woman since Olivia died. Harlow had to be my second chance mate, and now I had to find out what to do about it.
Could I really put my revenge behind me and pursue Harlow? I mean fuck, I'd been craving vengeance for years. The need for it has lessened since I'd found Harlow, and I knew her for less than a few hours. I hadn't even accepted the bond yet—not consciously at least.
It was my fucking obligation to avenge Olivia, but Harlow made me want to drop it and focus on her. Did that make me a terrible mate, or what?
With my thoughts in shambles, I trotted back the way I came, toward her and her shitty hut that felt like a piece of me already.
FIVE
Harlow
The village was on the outskirts of the forest, about a two-hour walk from my cottage. I enjoyed submerging myself in nature and recharging my magical energy, so the walk helped more than hindered. I could’ve used a teleportation spell, but that would’ve wasted my magic when trying to replenish it.
I chuckled to myself. I used teleportation spells to the village often, and it was considered personal gain. The elder witches of Hollows Coven would’ve had something to say about that. They used their magic for personal gain but would hex the younger ones for doing it.
Hypocritical, twisted, maniacal witches.
I hadn’t met another coven besides Hollows and didn’t plan to either. My opinion was set in stone. Witches, werewolves, vampires, and humans were innately evil, and I wanted no part in it. I was more than happy to be alone.
Even if that werewolf’s presence brought me comfort. I recognized how twisted that was.
I stepped out of the forest and into the village. The old road was barely distinguishable through the colorful flora that had colonized it. The town was sleepy and small—which was why I didn’t mind coming here. Being an empath meant crowds were exhausting. Others’ emotions coiled into me and made me feel things I didn’t need nor want to feel.
Buildings lined up the sidewalk, making a paved path between them for the minimal traffic that traveled through. I walked down the crumbling sidewalk, passing the grocer with his window full of apples and bananas, the butcher with his bloody lumps of meat on display, and the small bank before stopping in front of a shop with various items in the window.
I ignored the curious looks from a couple of passerby’s and pulled the glass door open. As I strolled inside, a bell dinged above my head.
“Welcome back, Harlow!” Deb, a pretty blonde, greeted me with her thick hair in braided pigtails. She was sweet, and her aura was pure. She was one of the only people I’d met that I didn’t mind talking to.
Although speaking with Xavier didn’t exhaust me either, but I shouldn’t dwell on that. He tore my favorite pants, after all. And against my better judgment, he hurt my feelings. It sounded like he’d been through a lot, but it shouldn’t mess with my head like it was. I didn’t even know him.
“Hi, Deb.” I glanced around the shop. “Do you have any more of those big, comfy sweats?”
“Sure do. We just got a shipment of all kinds of new colors—and some cute matching tanks!” She skipped around the counter and led me to the back table.
I didn’t take time to browse and snatched up a black and purple set along with an extra pair of large black sweats and laid them over my arm. I shook my head as I walked back to the counter with her.
Why was I buying Xaiver anything? I wasn’t even sure if he’d be back to see me.
A small pang blasted through my heart at the
