Book 4 of the Casters and Claws Series

Selene Bishop runs the Healsome Magic Center with her sister. She loves her job, but she did wish that her life had time for something more. She doesn't know what she's looking for, but she would settle from a bit of free time. When she is taken to a secluded house on a wolf's pack lands for her own safety, Selene realizes that she might have gotten exactly what she was hoping for.

Jett is a grumpy wolf who doesn't expect much out of life. After a lifetime of regrets, he's just fine being on his own. None of his plans include finding his mate. In fact, he is adamant that he doesn't want a mate. He just knows that domestic life isn't for him. He wants to work in the bar and go through the motions. But when he is sent to save a witch, he comes face to face with what he never wanted.

Selene might be a witch, but she understands the pull of the mate sense. She also has a lot of compassion for what Jett has been through. While he is protecting her from the Order of Salem, Selene is doing some saving of her own. Will she be able to mend her mate's broken heart or will they lose out on the love of a lifetime?

Chapter 1

Selene

Selene pushed the stack of sticky notes to a corner of the reception desk. The space was clear and organized, and that made her very happy. It wouldn’t stay. She knew that. The second her sister sat behind the desk, there would be carnage on her thoughtfully organized work area.

Technically, it was their desk so Selene really shouldn’t be so territorial and particular. But Astra sort of bred chaos wherever she went. Selene knew that was the fire magic inside her twin. It wasn’t exactly Astra’s fault.

But it sure drove Selene insane. Needing to do something to keep busy before her pride and joy, Healsome Magic Holistic Center, opened, she grabbed the office phone. It was either make a call or reorganize the pens. She’d done it twice already this morning, and she had a feeling that if she went for a third, she would end up feeling way guilty about her need to have everything just so. At least she was comforted to know this neurosis didn’t follow her in her regular life. Just her work life, and that was enough, thank you very much.

There was one person in particular Selene needed to speak with. She dialed the number by memory.

“Are you awake yet?” Selene didn’t even bother to hide the smile in her voice. Cerise, one of her cousins and half of another set of Bishop twins, would know she was being teased.

“What is the matter with you?” Cerise grumbled on the other line. “Who calls anymore? Can’t you just text like a normal person?”

“So you can ignore me for a few hours? Absolutely not. I want to talk to you about expanding both of our businesses.”

This was a project near and dear to her heart. Selene was desperate to merge and expand both Gemstones and Healsome Magic Holistic Center. 

It would mean they could hire a few staff members and get the chance to take a day off. Selene hadn’t had one of those in so long, it made her ache. She loved her job, and she loved her business. But sometimes a lady just needed to stay in gross, ratty, and perfectly comfortable pajamas all day to play board games and watch movies.

That sounded like absolute heaven. 

“I already told you that we have to get Raven in on this first,” Cerise answered with a sigh. “We both know Raven will want a business plan and an idea of the profit margin. If we do some of the legwork before we talk to her, she’s more likely to be receptive. I still think it’s too soon to take this to her. 

"I know she talks about wanting an expansion for both the store and your clinic, but if she puts all of her energy in this right now, she’s going to be lost to the business forever. She’ll let it consume her. I want to wait until she’s over Arthur.”

Selene scoffed. “Fuck that guy. I think this is the best thing for her.”

And she really believed that. Focusing on something new would be good for her cousin and good for business. 

“Give me a few more weeks, and then we can start on the business plan for the expansion. I’ll do some recon and see what Raven would want, that way she can’t say no to us.”

“I hate that you’re right,” Selene mumbled.

If anyone knew how to wrangle Raven into doing things she didn’t like doing, it was Cerise. Raven was, without a doubt, the most stubborn of all four Bishops.

“It’s because I’m older and wiser than you,” Cerise teased.

Selene rolled her eyes, and she hoped the cousin could sense it even at a distance.

“Look, witch,” Selene said, “let’s reconvene in three weeks. I have to go. Astra isn’t here yet and her client has just arrived.”

“Creepy Mrs. Gellar?”

“Yup,” Selene confirmed. “I still say she’s evil.”

Not that Selene would ever admit that to Astra. It was bad enough her twin believed it. Selene didn’t need to feed into the paranoia.

“Oh, come off it. She’s an innocent little old lady. She’s what, eighty?”

“Probably more like two-hundred. I seriously think she’s a vampire.”

“Okay, Selene. This is where I let you go if you’re going to go all conspiracy on me.”

Selene put the receiver down just as Mrs. Gellar walked in.

“I don’t like your door,” the woman snapped. “It’s too damn heavy.”

“I’m sorry about that. You could use the mechanical feature, if you’d like.”

Mrs. Gellar gave her a cold stare down and Selene had to force herself not to shiver.

“Is she here yet, or am I going to have to make small talk with you?” Mrs. Gellar sat in one of the chairs in the small waiting area and tapped her watch.

She was a few minutes early, not that it would matter to Mrs. Gellar.

“You look tired. Not going to catch a husband with bags under your eyes.” Mrs. Gellar gave her another pointed onceover. “Or that haircut.”

Instinctively, Selene’s hand went to her hair. She lowered her hand, hoping the gesture hadn’t been spotted. Mrs. Gellar was being particularly snippy. Selene felt bad for Astra. It was obviously not going to be a good session. And afterward? Selene would have to deal with a very grumpy and very short-tempered Astra. She could only hope that she would have time to do her morning ritual.

It was an important part of her day, one that made her ready to take on whatever events might occur.

“Are your parents and uncle and aunt still off on trips like a bunch of teenagers?” Mrs. Gellar pulled an antibacterial wipe from her purse and began to rub the chair’s arms. “It’s disgraceful for people their age to go off gallivanting like that.”

Selene was seething. No one dissed her parents, or her family, for that matter. She was proud of all four of them for moving to a sunnier place. They were always off visiting all types of different countries, going on adventures. Selene knew those experiences would keep the four aging members of her family young for a while.

“I admire them,” she said with a shrug. “I’d love to travel one day.” She meant it, too. She loved Salem, and she really didn’t think she’d ever move from her hometown, and she was more a homebody than she cared to admit. She wished she had that travel bug.

There was a want to travel, and then actually doing it. Selene knew she would probably always be in the first category.

“Tsk. Admire them.”

Astra chose that particular moment to burst through the door. Selene didn’t miss the new rose quartz necklace around her neck. She shook her head and made a mental note to stop by Gemstones to pay for the piece of jewelry. Knowing her twin, Astra hadn’t paid for it.

“Morning, Mrs. Gellar,” her sister’s chipper tone was fake and forced. The corner of her smile was slightly downturned, like it was hurting her to smile, while the warmth didn’t reach her eyes. “If you’ll just follow me to Room 2.”

“Room 3,” Selene corrected.

“Right. That’s the one.”

Mrs. Gellar stood and started walking down the hall.

“Be good,” Selene mouthed to Astra, but she shook her head with large wide eyes.

It was an interesting task, keeping her sister in line. Selene was used to it, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t exhausting. Thank god coffee and carbs existed to help her carry on.

Selene felt like a rebel as she waited to duck out of the shop on a mission for her morning treat. She, too, could be the rebellious twin.