Page 15 of Real Fake Hauntings

“Oh, my God,” the teen said, stifling a laugh. “Fluffy.”

“C’mon, Hazel, let the doggy alone,” the dad said in a more severe tone.

My heart almost stopped. Hazel—Grandma’s name. This was the universe assuring me my life was on the right track yet again. Would Mother Earth’s blessings never end?

“Bye, Fluffy,” the little girl said. “Bye, Garress.”

“Bye,” the teen dropped, scrolling on her phone and walking back to their dad, her sister in tow.

“Have a wonderful Halloween,” I told them. “And visit us at the Tea Cauldron later! We have Halloween muffins!”

Just because the universe sent me free signs, it didn’t mean I couldn’t network.

The dad nodded affably, taking hold of his daughter’s small hand again. As they walked on, I heard the little girl say, “Dad, I want a dog.”

I chuckled and checked with Key. She was grinning as well.

“Let’s see if the last pentagram gives us any hints,” I said, my energy refilled to full. If the aim of whoever had left the pentagrams was to scare away people, they’d done a horrible job. I couldn’t wait to apprehend them and present them wrapped with a big bow to Sonia.

Key agreed and waited for me to name the next item on the list.

“Clawstone Park.” Hutton’s pack.

SIX

Clawstone Park’s pentagram hadn’t been drawn on the front of the gated property, but on the fence surrounding it. I tried to get us a lift, but nobody would take the dogs, so we hoofed it, with me carrying Fluffy most of the way because the poor thing was getting tired. Traipsing on asphalt and flagstone all morning was very different from frolicking around a grassy cemetery with handy spots for napping.

By the time we arrived at a parking nook between two houses backing into the pack’s territory, Key and I were sweating hard, and I hoped my green makeup had survived the trip. I didn’t want to frighten children for real.

Hutton was waiting for us, his usual scowl in place. He was tall and handsome in a pretty way, with green eyes a few shades lighter than Ian’s. The familiar resemblance was unmistakable.

“What took you so long, witch?” was his opening salvo.

Also his usual.

Fluffy squirmed in my arms, and I put her down. She immediately retreated behind Rufus, who was eyeing Hutton with deep mistrust. They were being affected by the alpha aura Hutton took no care to tamp down. Now that I knew Bagley had created this alpha aura with a potion, it never failed to raise the hairs on my arms and the back of my nape. I could almost feel the wrongness of dark magic coating my throat as I breathed in.

Behind me, Key lowered her head and tried to make herself smaller, instinctively feeling the waves of power emanating from Hutton.

“Oh, cut it off,” I said, annoyed. “We know you’re the big bad alpha, etcetera, etcetera. Stop trying to intimidate us. We’re here to help.”

Hutton’s how dare you expression was priceless. I returned it with a what you gonna do, huh? arch of my brow.

He could, of course, tell the Council about my dark magic marketplace listing and get me kicked out of my shop, so, in the interest of maintaining the peace, I switched to a bright, friendly smile.

“Where’s the pentagram?” I asked.

Other than right there behind him, the red clear as day on the whitewashed wall.

“Where do you think?” he snapped. “Do you need glasses?”

I shook my head in disappointment. “You’re being very rude.”

“At least I don’t look like a fool.”

“Hey now.” I made sure my witch hat was still perched where it should be on top of my head. “It’s Halloween.”

“Not for another day.”

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