The Witch and the Wolf: Part One by Lola Kidd

Whoever it was hadn’t set off Rory’s internal alarm. They must have powerful spells cloaking them. She squinted into the house and was shocked at what she saw.
    There was a ghost standing a few feet in front of them. A woman with long, blond hair and what must have been pale skin when she was alive. She was wearing tattered clothes that looked old-fashioned, maybe from the Civil War Era. Rory couldn’t tell. She had always been bad with history. Whichever time period she came from, the ghost looked an awful lot like Rory. Cross glanced between her and the ghost a few times.
    “My wolf isn’t losing its mind,” he said , not taking his eyes off the apparition. “I don’t think whatever this is wants to harm us.”
    “Whoever , dear. I was a person like you once,” the ghost looked him up and down. “Well, not exactly like you. You are a filthy mutt after all. But I was a person, like my lovely great-great-great-great-great-great-great granddaughter.”
    “Granddaughter?!” Rory said , coming out from behind Cross. “Who are you?”
    “Drat. I guess you really don’ t recognize me,” she frowned. “I guess that means my idiot son didn’t keep the only picture of me. It was so expensive too!”
    “That’s great and all , lady, but who the fuck are you?” Cross asked again. He tried to stand in front of Rory again, but she shoved him away.
    “Beatrice Silver,” the ghost said. She pointed at Rory. “I’m related to that young lady if you couldn’t tell. It really is like looking in a mirror. I don’t know why I waited so long to do this.”
    “Why are you here?” Rory asked coming closer. Beatrice was right. They looked so similar, even more than Rory and her mom. Cross closed the door to the cabin and came to stand by Rory’s side.
    “I had to see what all the fuss was about of course,” Beatrice said. “I really am glad I came. You aren’t much to see magic -wise, but this whole werewolf mate thing is most distressing.”
    “You’re telling me,” Rory agreed.
    “Why are the ghosts fussing about Rory?” Cross asked.
    “You don’t know?” Beatrice asked and laughed. She could barely speak she was laughing so hard. “Oh , you stupid children! You’re running around trying to have relations with each other and have no idea what kind of danger you’re in. This is rich.”
    “I fail to see how any of this is funny,” Cross said , sounding more than a little angry.
    “I really wish I could tell you all about it , but this is spot is too far from my resting place. Come find me if you want to talk.”
    The ghost faded away before they could ask anymore questions.
    “Fuck!” Cross kicked the couch next to where the ghost had been standing. “Who the fuck was that bitch?!”
    “I’m pretty sure it was one of my ancestors,” Rory said quietly. She had never been visited by a spirit before. Though this Beatrice wasn’t exactly helpful , at least she had broken up the fight between her and Cross. She was grateful for that.
    “All she does is say you’re in danger and then leave?! What the hell,” Cross kicked the couch again. “I hate fucking ghosts.”
    “At least that’s something to go on,” Rory said. “I’ll call my mom and talk with her. Hopefully, she’ll know who that was and they can send someone out to find her.”
    “I don’t like this one bit,” Cross said.
    “You aren’t the one in danger.”
    “If my mate is in danger, then I’m in danger.”
    Rory sighed. “This day has taken a strange turn. I really didn’t think it could get worse.”
    “Don’t say that,” Cross warned. “That was just a spirit. She didn’t come here to hurt us. You don’t want to jinx it and bring down a whole den of vampires on us.”
    Rory laughed. “I don’t think that’s how it works. Plus, the only reason she could find us is because she’s related to me. Unless you close it, that’s usually a loophole in cover and cloaking spells.”
    “Good to know,” Cross sat