Midnight Magic

Contents Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Acknowledgments About the Author Also by Erin O’Kane Midnight Magic Bloodlines Book One By Erin O’Kane Copyright © 2023 Erin O’Kane Midnight Magic First publication: January 2023 Editing by Elemental Editing & Proofreading Cover by Logan Keys Formatting by Kaila Duff All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to places, events or real people are entirely coincidental. Published by L. Guyatt writing as Erin O’Kane [email protected] Prologue Twenty-One Years Ago The wolf lopes through the snow-covered woods, light on his paws as he weaves through the undergrowth. As the alpha’s second-in-command, he is tasked with the role of communicating with the other local packs, and he is currently returning home after one such visit. Recently mated, he is eager to see his wife after being apart for so long, and his thoughts are so focused on her that he almost misses it. A sound catches his attention, and he skids to a halt, scanning the area with his amber eyes. Raising his muzzle to the air, he sniffs deeply, trying to pick up any unusual scents, when the sound comes again. It’s a cry, like that of a human infant. Hesitating for a heartbeat, he tries to decide whether to ignore it and carry on or to investigate the sound. It could be a trap, but his heart makes the choice for him. Cocking his head to the side, he follows the sound, weaving through the trees until he comes across a wriggling bundle of fabric and the pink, crying baby within. He approaches slowly, scanning the area for any traps or tracks in the snow, but no, the baby is completely alone, and the faint, almost non-existent female scent clinging to the fabric tells him that the child has been here for some time. Shifting to his human form, he kneels in the snow and picks up the bundle, and the baby immediately calms. Cradling the baby to his chest, he uses his free hand to gently stroke the child’s cheek, noticing how cold it feels. He’ll have to take it to the nearest police station. After all, the wolves have nothing to do with the business of humans. Shaking his head in disbelief and sadness, he quickly checks the baby over, discovering that she’s a girl who appears to be healthy. He’s just Chapter One After ensuring the coast is clear, I slip out of the cabin and down the short flight of stairs as the sun’s morning rays just start to peek through the dense forest that surrounds us. With a quick scan of the clearing, I sneak to the back of the building, using the wooden walls to hide me. While it’s early, and most of the pack will still be fast asleep in their beds, there’s still a chance someone will see me, which is why I need to slip into the treeline as quickly as possible. Taking a deep breath, I make a dash towards the undergrowth. I’m fast and light on my feet, thanks to my wolf genes, so I’m pretty sure no one saw me. I know it won’t be long until my family notices I’ve left, though, so I need to put as much distance between us as possible before the inevitable happens. I’ve lived in this forest my whole life, so I know it like I know my own body. I’ve also managed to memorise the routes the pack’s protectors take on their patrols of the perimeter. Weaving past the trees, I jog through our land. I’m not trying to escape, I just need some time to myself, and I know the perfect place. Deep into our territory, far away from even where our most reclusive pack member lives, is my favourite place to visit—a spot I used to run away to when I was younger, and I needed some space. It’s been years since I last came here. Most wolves thrive on being part of a pack and surrounded by other wolves, and while I love interacting with my family and packmates, there’s always a part of me that wants to be alone, surrounded only by nature. A small grove appears before me, the trees giving way to the spring in the middle