Page 44 of Enchanting the Alpha (Mystic Hollow #1)
FORTY-FOUR
X abir surveyed the bustling interior of Witch’s Brew Café, pride swelling in his chest as he watched Romi direct the placement of enchanted decorations for tonight’s game night. Her magic sparkled through the air, creating shimmering patterns that danced across the ceiling. The warm glow of magical lanterns cast a cozy ambiance throughout the space, perfect for bringing the community together.
“The ice-breaker station needs more chairs,” Romi called out, her brow furrowed in concentration as she consulted her magical planning scroll. “And the enchanted card tables?—”
“Are already set with protection spells to prevent cheating,” Xabir finished, coming up behind her. Her scent washed over him – vanilla and starlight with an underlying hint of coffee. “I had Arlo enchant them this morning.”
Romi turned, her eyes lighting up as she met his gaze. “You thought of everything.”
“Not everything.” He reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. “You’re the one who came up with the brilliant idea of magical team games to get witches and shifters working together.”
A slight blush colored her cheeks. “Well, nothing brings people together like shared competition. Especially when the prizes include your hotel’s famous enchanted spa packages.”
“Speaking of prizes—” Xabir pulled out a small velvet pouch from his pocket. “I had these made for the winners of the magical scavenger hunt.”
Inside the pouch, crystal pendants caught the light, each one containing a swirling mix of shifter and witch magic that created mesmerizing patterns.
“They’re beautiful.” Romi picked one up, watching the magic dance within. “And they perfectly represent what we’re trying to achieve – the harmonious blending of both our communities.”
“That’s what I thought too.” Xabir’s voice softened as he watched her examine the pendant. The way her eyes lit up with genuine wonder never failed to captivate him. “You’ve changed so much in Mystic Hollow, Romi. The café, the community events, bringing everyone together...”
She set the pendant down carefully. “We’ve changed things together. None of this would work without your support and?—”
The café door burst open with enough force to rattle the magical wind chimes. Bastian Presley stalked in, flanked by two burly shifters Xabir recognized from the outskirts of town. Dark energy crackled around them like static electricity, making the enchanted decorations flutter uneasily.
Xabir’s muscles tensed as he automatically moved closer to Romi. While he’d expected some opposition to their unity efforts, Bastian’s increasingly aggressive behavior concerned him.
“Well, isn’t this quaint?” Bastian’s lip curled as he surveyed the game night preparations. “The mighty alpha reduced to planning party games with witches.”
“Bastian.” Xabir kept his voice level, though his wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin. “What brings you here tonight?”
“Someone needs to speak up about this farce.” Bastian gestured around the café. “You think forcing witches and shifters together will solve centuries of mistrust? It’s naive at best, dangerous at worst.”
The café had gone silent, other patrons watching the confrontation with wary expressions. Xabir noticed Arlo slip in through the back door, positioning himself strategically near the kitchen.
“No one’s being forced,” Romi said, stepping forward. Though her voice remained calm, Xabir could sense her magic gathering beneath her skin like storm clouds. “We’re creating opportunities for those who want to build bridges instead of walls.”
“Bridges?” Bastian scoffed. “More like tinder for the fire that’s coming. Your little experiment will get people hurt.”
“The only one making threats here is you,” Xabir growled, his alpha energy rising in response to the challenge. The air grew thick with competing magical energies – Bastian’s darkness, Romi’s crackling power, and his own primal force.
“This isn’t a threat.” Bastian’s eyes gleamed with an unnatural light. “This is a challenge. If you’re so convinced your unity is the answer, prove it. Right here, right now.”
Dark magic exploded from Bastian’s hands, shooting toward Romi like arrows of shadow. She deflected them with a swift shield charm, but the force of the impact sent magical backlash rippling through the café. Coffee cups rattled on tables as patrons scrambled back.
“Stop this,” Xabir commanded, letting his alpha power fill his voice. “There’s no need for violence.”
But Bastian was beyond reason. His next spell shattered against Romi’s defenses with enough force to crack the wooden floor. She countered with her own magic, weaving light and energy into protective barriers while simultaneously shielding nearby customers.
Pride and concern warred in Xabir’s chest as he watched her hold her ground. Her power had grown tremendously since taking over the café, but Bastian fought with the desperate fury of a man convinced he had nothing left to lose.
“Your methods are flawed,” Bastian snarled, gathering more dark energy around himself. “I won’t stand by and watch you destroy everything we’ve built!”
“The only thing being destroyed is your credibility,” Romi shot back. Her magic flared brighter, meeting his darkness with pure, determined light. “We’re trying to make things better for everyone.”
“Better?” Bastian’s laugh held no humor. “Let’s see how much better things are when faced with real power!”
His form began to blur and shift, bones cracking as he took on his animal aspect. Where a man had stood moments before, a massive black wolf now snarled, dark magic still crackling through his fur.
Xabir’s own wolf surged forward, responding to the direct challenge. He fought the immediate urge to shift, knowing he needed to maintain control of the situation.
“Romi, watch out!” he called as Bastian lunged, jaws snapping.
She spun away, her magic creating a barrier between herself and the attacking wolf. But the force of Bastian’s assault sent her stumbling backward into a table.
That was enough. Xabir let his shift take him, clothes tearing as his wolf form emerged. He intercepted Bastian’s next attack, meeting him halfway with a thunderous crash of bodies and magic.
They rolled across the café floor, a blur of snapping teeth and slashing claws. Bastian fought with uncontrolled fury while Xabir maintained the disciplined precision that marked him an alpha. Around them, the air crackled with competing energies – Bastian’s darkness, Xabir’s primal power, and Romi’s protective light creating a dazzling display.
“Look at them go!” someone in the crowd gasped. “One is fighting for individual power and the other for unity.”
“Bastian’s out of control,” another voice added. “We need to support Romi and Xabir!”
The commentary spurred Bastian into an even more frenzied attack. He launched himself at Xabir with renewed force, dark magic enhancing his natural strength. The impact sent them crashing into a nearby shelf.
The enchanted wood splintered, sending books and magical artifacts tumbling to the ground. Among them, something pulsed with ancient power – a fragment of weathered parchment covered in archaic runes.