The Wolf’s Pretend Bride: Enemies to Lovers Shifter Romance, page 1
The Wolf’s Pretend Bride
Enemies to Lovers Shifter Romance
Rose Valley Wolves Book 6
Electra Cage
Copyright © 2023 by Electra Cage.
All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of the book only. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form, including recording, without prior written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1 - Sara
Chapter 2 - Griffin
Chapter 3 - Sara
Chapter 4 - Griffin
Chapter 5 - Sara
Chapter 6 - Griffin
Chapter 7 - Sara
Chapter 8 - Griffin
Chapter 9 - Sara
Chapter 10 - Sara
Chapter 11 - Griffin
Chapter 12 - Sara
Chapter 13 - Griffin
Chapter 14 - Sara
Chapter 15 - Griffin
Chapter 16 - Sara
Chapter 17 - Griffin
Chapter 18 - Sara
Chapter 19 - Griffin
Chapter 20 - Sara
Chapter 21 - Griffin
Chapter 22 - Sara
Chapter 23 - Griffin
Chapter 24 - Sara
Chapter 25 - Sara
Chapter 26 - Griffin
Chapter 27 - Sara
Chapter 28 - Griffin
Chapter 29 - Sara
Chapter 30 - Sara
About the Author
Books by Electra Cage
Chapter 1 - Sara
The usual smooth rock that came from the speakers lining the Roadbar walls sounded more bitter-sweet than ever as I wiped the counter down.
From across the room, I caught Yara’s forlorn gaze on me, and I knew it would only be so long before she’d fracture.
“Yara, please,” I said, letting a half-smile crack across my lips. “I need you to keep it together for a few more hours at least.”
Yara let out a strangled laugh as she wiped beneath her eyes. She fanned the tears away and took a deep breath in. “I know—I’m sorry!”
“You two are both going to make me cry,” Jax piped up from where he was busy wiping down glasses.
The three of us chuckled despite our wavering emotions, and it was difficult to stomach the change that was ahead of me.
I had handed in my notice two weeks prior, which meant it was my last shift at the Roadbar; ta place I had spent years serving the locals and having more fun at a job than most people did. I had been there for so long, and we all grew close to one another, especially since Yara joined our crew.
I loved working there with my entire heart, despite how the experience had been tainted since the attacks first happened. Fortunately, since then, it had been remodeled and reopened to the public. I spent several months picking up shifts while Rose Valley’s future still seemed rocky, and yet, things seemed to get better overall since peace was found between our two towns.
Those months of serving patrons who seemed just as unsure by the recent changes had been such a pivotal time for me. It helped show me how resilient everyone truly was, and it was the reminder I needed to not stay in one place for too long.
Ever since our run-in with Keres, I felt a sort of disconnect with my powers. While they had come in handy, something about that experience had put a wedge between me and those abilities, as if they had been tainted just like the Roadbar was.
After surviving such a traumatic experience, I decided a change would be good for me and my magic. I needed the chance to reconnect with it and working alongside Willow in her shop seemed like the best option out there.
While change was often difficult to grow accustomed to, I felt it was the right choice, and I knew it was the step I needed to take.
“It’s just so hard to imagine you not being here,” Yara said, frowning. She leaned against her mop and wiped at her eyes again. “Especially after you did so much to help me when I first arrived here.”
Her emotions were certainly valid, but I couldn’t stop my amusement at how weepy she had been all afternoon. Rose Valley was only so big, and we were in the same group of friends. It wasn’t like she’d never see me again.
Even so, I still understood and reciprocated that sadness. A big part of me would always belong to the Roadbar, and it was hard to process that being my last night.
Fortunately for all of us, it was a slow Tuesday night, and the place was practically abandoned.
Putting my cloth down on the bar, I held a hand out for her. Yara crossed the room silently and gladly tucked herself into my side.
“I’m not leaving town, you know. We’ll make sure to see each other outside of work, alright?” I suggested, running a palm against her back soothingly.
Yara smiled at the thought and swiped at her tear-stained cheeks. “I know I’m being ridiculous, I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have to deal with me crying.”
“It’s okay, I understand,” I murmured, looking around the empty place. “I’m going to miss being here. It feels like centuries ago that I was walking through those doors with a resume in my hand.”
“It might as well have been,” Jax commented with an amused smile. “You were only a witchling. Now look at you.”
“It feels like I’ve grown so much, but I still have so much more to go. I have this place to thank for getting me started, and especially you, Jax, for guiding me through it all.”
His eyes turned glassy at the thought as he approached us with his hands extended towards me, silently asking for my own. He gave them a gentle squeeze and offered me a tearful smile. “No, thank you for investing so much of your life here. For spreading your infectious joy and charm with everyone who has ever stepped foot in here over the years. You’ve made just as much of a mark here as anybody else.”
The emotions swelled within my nose, but I urged myself to keep it together.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you, and everyone at the Roadbar wishes you luck with your next adventure,” Jax added. “Even if you aren’t going far, we’re still going to miss you.”
Yara nodded her agreement as she began to falter all over again, eyes glittering with tears.
Feeling the heat within my cheeks and the dampness in my own eyes, I couldn’t stop my own threatening sniffles. “I’m going to miss all of you too.”
At once, the three of us moved in for a group hug, securing our arms around one another. It was a mess of limbs and tears, but the warmth that came from it helped soothe the slight ache in my chest. Knowing the next time I walked into the Roadbar, I would be just another patron and not an employee was hard for me to swallow.
As we pulled away and collected ourselves once again, I took in a steadying breath. “I’ll help Yara clean up before we close. We might need the time to get our tears out.”
Before the waterworks could continue, Jax thanked us both, then wrapped up his duties, and went home.
Between the two of us, Yara and I were complete messes, but we managed to work through our emotions until it was time for closing. Since the place was practically empty all night, we spent more time cleaning than anything else.
By the time the place was spotless, and we were locking up, I was both emotionally and physically drained.
Yara gave me one last squeeze and murmured, “I’m going to miss our constant singing and dancing behind the bar.”
“Me too,” I returned gently, taking in how genuine the hug felt. “Don’t be a stranger. Come by Willow’s if you want to catch up.”
With a soft smile, Yara nodded, and then we said our farewells for the night. I knew it wouldn’t be long before she either called or texted me again. My bet was on less than twenty-four hours.
The walk home felt incredibly sad yet hopefully simultaneously. Like I was leaving something amazing behind to spread my wings and discover more of myself.
Such a big change was intimidating, but I also knew it was my emotions talking.
Despite leaving the Roadbar and all the friendly faces, I was excited for what was to come. I couldn’t let myself focus on the gloominess of shedding the old, and I needed to stay optimistic. Especially since I had the chance to work with another close friend of mine and a coven sister at that.
With my shoes padding against the sidewalk, I thought about how great of an opportunity it was to connect with my craft again. To fine-tune my abilities and feel more aligned.
Willow’s shop had felt like a beacon of magic ever since it opened, and being surrounded by all those witchy items would no doubt give me the boost I needed.
Just as I reached my front yard, I stopped.
The neighbor’s garbage bin was on its side, and its contents were spilled across their driveway and onto my lawn. It was obvious the raccoons had already gotten into it.
With a sigh, my pensive attitude faltered into irritation, which seemed more frequent as of late.
Ever since the two packs made peace, my new neighbor hadn’t been the stand-up citizen I had hoped for. He has been a pain in the neck since he moved in, and his cold demeanor didn’t help.
Each time something came up, I had to deal with it. He seemed to do everything within his power to get on my nerves, and the sight of his trash spread across my lawn didn’t help the matter.
Glancing up, I caught his scowl first.
“What are you doing?”
At my full height again, I pulled a curt smile and gestured to the bin. “I just came home to find the garbage everywhere. I was about to clean it up.”
Griffin scoffed. “Don’t worry yourself about it.”
What had been slight optimism slipped away from me just as quickly as it arrived, and I was met with that usual disappointment. It was always impossible for him to be cordial.
I sighed. “Do you at least have a bungee cord or something? It’ll help keep the wildlife from getting inside it.”
Griffin gave me an annoyed glance as he reached down and recovered as much trash from the lawn as he could manage. “I don’t need to bother. I’m a shifter, remember? I don’t need to spare any thoughts for a few raccoons.”
Furrowing my brows, I wasn’t sure what that was supposed to imply, since him being a shifter hadn’t stopped said raccoons from dumping his garbage all over my property.
Deciding to be the bigger person, I grabbed a few items that were closer to me and
helped put them in the bin. He might’ve been a colossal jerk, but that didn’t mean I had to be one too.
“I might have a spare one you could use,” I offered, hoping any morsel of kindness might help smooth his rough edges.
But he only took a spare item from my hand and narrowed those grey eyes at me, as if he didn’t believe my offer was genuine. “Keep it. You will probably need it.”
Taken aback by the comment, I didn’t have the chance to say anything else or to question what he meant by it.
Pushing his raven-black hair away from his face, he closed the lid on the garbage bin and spared me one final look before he marched up the stone footpath to his porch. The screen door swung open and closed at once, and his huge frame disappeared within the house.
If Griffin hadn’t been my neighbor from hell, I’d have half the mind to consider him attractive.
With a build like that, taut with muscle and tattooed to high heaven, I had no doubt he could have his pick of women. And he likely did.
While I didn’t exactly see him chauffeuring local women into his home each night, I couldn’t help but wonder if it happened when I was asleep or otherwise preoccupied. Or maybe he met them elsewhere?
It seemed unlikely, since he was usually home each night, kicked back on his porch. He used every power he had within himself to get on my nerves.
Regardless of any nefarious dealings he might or might not get up to, he didn’t need to be so cranky with me. I only wanted to be a decent neighbor, and who could blame me for wanting his trash off my lawn?
The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became. My magic sparked from beneath my skin, triggered by the continuous anger that coursed through my system. But I urged it down. It wasn’t serious enough to call my powers in.
With a steadying breath, I continued into the house and tried to forget about him.
Even if he was ridiculously shredded and easy to look at, he was ignorant and unapproachable. Besides, he was too old for me. That was reason enough to remind myself it didn’t matter. I didn’t need him to like me, but at the very least, a friendly conversation now and again wouldn’t hurt either of us.
Chapter 2 - Griffin
I love my mom … I love my dad … My parents mean well…
The more the words circulated through my head as a reminder of why I was stuck sitting at a table covered by a sickening red cloth with wine and breadsticks, the more reluctant they seemed to feel. The more I wanted to get out of there.
I was on date number eleven—another attempt by my parents to find me a mate.
I’m sure the woman sitting across from me was a fine person, but I just wasn’t interested. She spoke so easily to me like it was second nature for her, yet I was in agony on the inside.
While she rambled on about something that had to do with her work—she was a receptionist, which she let me know more than once—my mind wandered.
Again and again, I thought about different ways I could get out of it. I could sit and hope Rowan would text me and pretend it was an emergency. Fake an allergy. Or I could be as repulsive as possible and have her run off all disturbed-like.
Yet, I committed to none of those ideas. Instead, I remained in my seat across from her and sipped my wine which was not at all my taste. I nodded now and again and began to question what her name even was.
There was virtually no connection between us, even if I was the only one at the table who could see it. She was more than happy to chat and pick at the breadsticks, but I was far from hungry.
“And so, I told Liz from the office that I just couldn’t take it anymore. Between the stressful shifts and the constant fighting, I had to call it off with Liam. I quit my job not long after too, and while that looked bleak for a while, I had a friend named Thomas give me a call…”
Despite being beyond old enough to know how to shut someone down, there was something in me that wouldn’t let it happen. I had so many chances to let her know I didn’t want to be there, but I could already hear my mom’s voice.
She’s a great girl! Give her a chance.
I nodded along when I needed to in order to look engaged and I gave her the occasional small smile, but my attention was not in the room with us.
“I’ve been working at the office ever since, and it has been the best change for me. In fact, your mother is actually a patient of Thomas’. That was how I met her, and she told me all about you.”
Another forced half-smile. “I’m sure she did.”
My date’s eyes glimmered as if I had gone above and beyond with my small participation, and she spoke against her glass, “I’m not normally one to believe in fate, but I have the feeling she came in for her appointment at the right time.”
My money’s on that she just had an appointment—nothing more. No hidden meanings. No fate involved.
As another long-winded story popped into her head, I could hardly muster the strength to sit in that chair and listen any longer. My foot tapped against the floor, and I wanted nothing more than to get up and bolt out of the room.
Listening to her talk was like watching paint dry. Agonizing. Torturous. I felt antsy, and I needed an out no matter how I found one.
“Excuse me, sorry,” I murmured, stopping her story before she could even finish it. “I need to visit the restroom.”
“Oh, no problem!” she said with that overly wide grin, painted a far brighter red than I appreciated.
Pushing the chair back as discreetly as I could manage, thanks to the very hushed atmosphere of the fancy restaurant, I tried to not make it seem as if a fire had been lit beneath my feet.
The moment I pulled away from the table and found myself a moment of peace, I let go of a deep breath and went to the restroom.
Not for the intended purpose, of course. Instead, I stood in front of one of the sinks and splashed water on my face. While it helped wake me up from the exhausting date, I knew it wouldn’t be a long-term solution. At that point, I couldn’t think of anything that would help make the date more interesting.
My head and my heart just weren’t in it, and I wanted more than anything to just go home. To sit in the comfortable space made just for me and to take in the peace and quiet. The place where I didn’t need to fake smile or pretend to be listening.
It was certainly tempting to skip out and leave her there. While I didn’t particularly care about the woman on a personal level, the idea crossed my mind, but the thought of leaving her there with the bill and no explanation didn’t sit right with me.
That just wasn’t who I was.
Others might’ve thought that of me, but I didn’t. And I couldn’t.
No matter how sick I was of the constant dates and meeting new people, despite how I told my mother I wanted otherwise, I didn’t have a choice but to sit back down and face it. To be a man and not effectively destroy my reputation with every last woman in Rose Valley.
At that point, my mother would need to start looking outside of town.
But I couldn’t tell her that. I had no doubt she would consider that notion.
With a drawn-out breath, I pulled myself together and shoved the idea of bolting out of my mind. It would be unbelievably horrible of me, and that woman at least deserved an explanation, no matter how irritating that felt.
