Morgana Faye sighed contentedly as she emerged from the back room to take over running the front of the shop. It was good to take another break from conjuring the gate to Japan for Ellie, Beck, Kristi, and their girlfriends. The witch would be relieved when everyone crossed over tomorrow and she could just dismiss the gate for a few months.
Morgana was jolted out of her thoughts when the door to her shop opened. In stepped a muscular, hirsute woman with chin-length red hair. She was 41 years old, but she easily looked ten years younger. She was dressed in a short-sleeved flannel shirt, worn-out blue jeans, and hiking boots. Morgana instantly recognized this woman as Artemis Lyall, wife of the werewolf pack's alpha and Selena's mother. Morgana braced herself; Artemis had a reputation for being stubborn and aggressive, even for a werewolf.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Lyall," Morgana said politely, forcing a smile. "How are you today?"
"I've been better!" Artemis snorted. "Selena's been screwing a fang, those fucking leeches are multiplying again, there's a goddamn werefox camp just outside the town limits, Luna says she smelled evidence of an interloping werehyena pack around town, and—as if all that weren't enough!—a human family related to the fucking Vordenburgs sound like they're getting wise to our pack! And then what do you think my mate goes and does? He fucking suspends my pack rank for confronting the leech clan's matriarch over Selena being seduced by one of her brood! All in all, I'd say life's been pretty damn shitty lately, thank you very much!"
"I see," Morgana said, trying to avoid rolling her eyes at the irate werewolf. "So, what can I do to make your day just a bit more magical, Artemis?"
"The pack needs to grow," Artemis answered. "Our birthrate's been dwindling for a few generations on account of Carmilla von Karnstein turning most of our newborn daughters lesbian, and now the tricky fang's started turning human girls into vampires again. She's nabbed two in just a few days. I'd wager anything that she's preparing for war! Well, two can play at the human-recruiting game! I need a way to turn humans into werewolves. My two elder daughters can provide the recruits; Diana's high school and Luna's college must be brimming with strong, swift, clever humans just waiting for a little magic to awaken their inner wolves. I just need you to provide me with that magic, Morgana Faye."
"I'm sure the vampires aren't preparing to wage war on you, Artemis," Morgana said firmly, "but I suppose there's no harm in growing the pack. Its birthrate is getting worryingly low, after all. Just give me a minute or two, and I'll see what I can find."
Morgana turned around and began rummaging through her overstuffed shelves. "Hmmm... I doubt you'll find much use for a Ring of Embraces without a penis. Hm, no. Also no. Not that either. Maybe... no. Or... aha!" Morgana plucked an old jar off the shelf, swiveled around to face Artemis, and handed her the jar. "Behold!"
"What is it?" asked Artemis.
"This is a Werewolf Transformation Salve!" Morgana declared proudly. "I only got it in stock yesterday. It's actually very similar to the salves we witches use to transform into animals: henbane, deadly nightshade root, silverweed, bat’s blood, and soot. The difference is one key ingredient."
"Which is?" Artemis asked warily.
"Werewolf sexual fluids," Morgana said, almost blushing. "Sorry, but magic's no field for the prudish."
"I'm not offended," Artemis said. "At least it isn't our blood. So, how do you apply this stuff?"
"Simple," said Morgana. "You just rub it thoroughly into the armpits and crotch hair of whoever you wish to turn into a werewolf. The change should take hold after fifteen minutes or so. Doing it under a full moon tends to make it go a little faster."
"Sounds good," said Artemis. "So long as the recruits do their own rubbing, that is. How much?"
"Twenty-one dollars and ninety-nine cents a jar," said Morgana.
"I'll take two," said Artemis, handing Morgana the money and scooping up the jars. "Also, I'd like to do something about this mysterious werehyena pack and that skulk of giggling vulpine shits. Caleb'll want it done with as little bloodshed as possible, so I'll probably force them to turn human after besting them in a 'civilized' fight." Artemis theatrically rolled her eyes at the notion of having to do anything the 'civilized' way. "So, do you have anything that can turn a werebeast into a human?"
Morgana went pale, worrying for Selena. "Umm... well... I'm not sure, Artemis. This shop gets so cluttered you know. I honestly have no idea what half this junk is. If you could give me a few days to sort through it all... well, something useful could always turn up. No promises, though."
"If it doesn't, ORDER IT!!!" Artemis barked fiercely as she headed for the door. "I have a shitload of problems to troubleshoot, and I need all the magical help I can get!"
Morgana sighed in relief once the door closed behind Artemis. As refreshing as the newfound peace and quiet was, though, Morgana was still tense. Selena and Clan von Karnstein were in for interesting times, that was for sure. The werefoxes, too, from the sound of it. Morgana just prayed to Mother Night that it would all work out in the end.