AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t stay for another drink once Dean Hart assured me he took my protection seriously.
I hoped that a pack of werewolves would be enough to dissuade my ex-husband from fucking with me, though I wasn’t quite sure.
I was almost home, navigating the familiar mountain roads, when the flash of red and blue lit up my mirrors, and the chirp of a siren told me to pull over.
My hands gripped the steering wheel, and my stomach flip-flopped as I put my hazard lights on and pulled over.
I didn’t own a gun, and even if I did, pulling a weapon on a police officer was never a good idea. Even if that officer was my soon-to-be ex-husband.
I took a deep, shaky breath, staring straight ahead. The edge of the road was lit up by my headlights, revealing the forest and the sharp drop at the edge of the barrier.
As the officer approached, bending down to knock on my window, my life flashed before my eyes. The moment I saw the female figure, I loosened the breath trapped in my throat.
“Hello, Officer.”
“Mrs McGowen.” The female police officer dipped her head.
“It’s just Hunt now. Mallory Hunt.” I told her. “Or it will be. Soon.”
She nodded in understanding. “We had a report come in that you’d been drinking at a bar and chose to drive.”
My nostrils flared. “A report?”
“Were you at a bar this evening, ma’am?” The officer ignored my question.
“I—” I mashed my lips together. “I went to The Chug after work.”
How did Joel know? Was he following me?
“I’m going to issue a field sobriety test. Could you step out of the car, ma’am?”
Chapter Two
Which Craftwas my store on Palmer Street. My baby, though it had cost almost my entire inheritance from my grandmother Eva.
Before she died, my grandmother taught me everything about yarn, thread, and fabric. Knitting, crochet, macramé, if you could name it, she could do it. She had sewn all my clothes until I was a teenager, and I’d taken over the responsibility.
I’d been on edge since I’d woken up. A police cruiser had driven past my driveway that morning, and though I couldn’t have said if it was Joel, I knew his habits.
He’d made a point of parking down my street and watching the house almost every night.
An unfamiliar Ford had followed me down the mountain that morning and parked a few cars down from the store, but no one had gotten out.
I’d hoped the wooden coin and the Wolfkin would solve my problems, but it would probably take more than a night to see any results.
Instead of worrying about the mysterious car parked outside the door, I focused on unboxing the new cashmere yarn I’d gotten that morning. A beautiful selection of autumnal oranges and reds for fall.
I was elbow-deep in yarn when the bell over my shop door rang. I froze, which was an unfortunate reaction to a potentialcustomer. Luckily, my shop neighbor, Melly Parish, was just popping in to say hello.
Melly ownedFortune Favors, an eclectic store that sold witch paraphernalia. Candles, tarot cards, and gemstones. Melly often griped that she made most of her money on handmade jewelry and the novelty birthday cards by the register—which said things like “Don’t talk to me before my coffee” Or “But first, wine!”
Melly had been with me the previous evening when I’d found the dead rat on top of my wiper blades, but I hadn’t answered her questions the day before.
As Melly held up two takeout coffee cups, I realized there was no escaping her interrogation. “Special order.” She grinned. “I came to deliver the herbs for your smoothies. You were meant to come to mine straight after work.”
“Something came up.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either.
“You missedthe Real Housewives of Red Citywatch party last night.” She handed me a paper cup. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
