Page 2 of Enchanting the Alpha (Mystic Hollow #1)
TWO
R omi hovered in the doorway of her empty city apartment, her enchanted suitcase pulsing with soft purple light beside her.
“Ready for a new adventure?” she asked her feline companion. Whiskers responded with a chirp that sent sparks dancing through the air.
Romi’s thoughts drifted to another place - to winding cobblestone streets that glowed with magical energy, to floating lanterns that followed residents like loyal companions, and a café where every cup of coffee held a touch of enchantment.
Her fingers traced the steaming coffee cup tattoo on her wrist, its magic thrumming in response to her touch. Home. After years of being away, she headed home to Mystic Hollow.
The drive out of the city peeled away layers of tension she hadn’t realized she carried. Each mile brought fresher air, greener trees, and stronger pulses of magical energy. Her dashboard, enchanted to play music that matched her mood, shifted from melancholy piano to upbeat melodies filled with chiming bells and ethereal harmonies.
As the highway wound through increasingly rural areas, memories surfaced like bubbles in a magical brew. Young Romi chasing enchanted butterflies through her mother’s herb garden. Learning to craft her first potion under her father’s patient guidance. Weekend afternoons at Witch’s Brew Café, watching Clover charm sugar cubes to dance across customers’ tables.
“I remember this road, Whiskers.” The cat perked up as they turned onto a familiar winding path. “This leads straight to-”
The words caught in her throat as Mystic Hollow appeared around the bend. The town sprawled across a picturesque valley, its buildings a harmonious blend of Victorian architecture and magical whimsy. The late afternoon sun caught the luminescent stones paving the streets, making them shimmer like scattered opals.
Floating lanterns bobbed gently above the thoroughfare, casting warm pools of light despite the low sunbeams. The buildings themselves seemed alive, their enchanted timber shifting colors with the breeze - deep burgundy fading to rich amber, sage green bleeding into turquoise blue.
A “Mystic Moment” rippled through the town as Romi drove past the welcome sign. Rainbow-hued butterflies burst from nowhere, swirling around her car in a spectacular display before dissolving into sparkles. Whiskers tried to catch them through the window, his wings fluttering with excitement.
“Welcome home,” Romi whispered, her heart swelling.
She parked near her new bungalow, a charming cottage with a roof that sparkled like it held captured starlight. Before she could grab her suitcase, a familiar voice called out.
“Romi Weir! By the sacred springs, you’re finally back!”
Felix Embers, a dragon shifter elder, slowly made his way toward her with a grin on his elderly face.
“Felix!” Romi laughed as he swept her into a bear hug. He might be older, but he was still strong. “Still keeping everyone on their toes, I see.”
“Someone has to keep this town entertained.” He stepped back, eyes twinkling. “Though I hear you’ll give me competition once you get that café up and running again.”
“Speaking of which...” Romi glanced down the street toward Witch’s Brew. “Is Clover-”
“Waiting impatiently for you,” Felix finished. “I hear she’s been reorganizing the herb shelves for the third time today.”
After promising Felix she’d catch up properly soon, Romi headed toward her bungalow first to drop off her luggage.
Thane had sent her all the details of her new home. It sat on a quiet street lined with maple trees whose leaves sparkled with more than just sunlight. The front garden burst with magical blooms - moon flowers that glowed softly in the growing dusk, whisper-willows that swayed without wind, and a patch of giggling daisies that actually giggled as she passed.
Inside, Thane had already set up the basics - furniture arranged exactly as she’d requested, kitchen equipment ready for use, and yes, normal non-enchanted cabinets. A note sat on the counter in his messy scrawl: “Welcome home, little sister. Try not to blow anything up on your first day.”
Next, she moved on to the café. The cobblestones hummed with magical energy under her feet, welcoming her home. She passed Twinkle’s Trinkets, where Pippin the pixie waved enthusiastically while arranging a window display of color-changing jewelry. The air smelled of fresh bread from The Arcane Brewpub, mingled with the distinct scent of magical herbs from Weaver’s Botanicals.
Witch’s Brew Café stood at the corner of Moonstone Avenue and Spellwright Street, its Victorian facade as elegant as ever. New enchanted ivy climbed the walls, its leaves chiming softly in the breeze. The front windows sparkled with protective wards, and the sign above the door shifted between different magical scripts.
Clover waited behind the counter, her emerald eyes bright with unshed tears. She wore her usual practical attire - a flowing blouse and fitted black pants, with her signature vine tattoo visible around her ankle.
“You’re here.” Clover rushed forward to embrace her cousin. “Finally here as the owner.”
The counter was polished, the magical brewing equipment clean and organized, and the shelves were stocked with both mundane and mystical ingredients. Yet Romi could already see the changes she wanted to make, the ways to blend the traditional with the new.
“Let me handle something,” Clover said, glancing at her cell phone. “I’ll be back in a few.”