Page 2 of Enchanting the Alpha

They settled at Romi’s small kitchen table, now clear of boxes. Clover poured two cups of fragrant herbal tea while spreading out several documents between them.

“The café has been waiting for someone like you,” Clover said, sliding the main contract across the table. “Someone who understands both its history and its potential.”

Romi wrapped her hands around the warm teacup, inhaling the soothing aroma. “I still can’t believe you’re selling Witch’s Brew. You’ve put so much of yourself into it.”

“And now it’s time for someone else to move it forward.” Clover’s eyes sparkled. “Someone who can make it a true gathering place for all of Mystic Hollow - witchesandshifters alike.”

“No pressure or anything,” Romi quipped, but her heart swelled at the trust Clover was placing in her.

They spent the next hour going through the details of the sale, discussing everything from magical licenses to supplier contracts. Dragon-Whiskers curled up between them, occasionally releasing small puffs of smoke that made them both laugh.

“There’s something else,” Clover said as they finished signing the last document. Her expression grew worried. “My herb shop,Weaver’s Botanicals - we’re having some strange issues. The enchanted herbs are behaving unpredictably.”

Romi set down her pen. “What kind ofunpredictably?”

“Some are growing out of control, others won’t respond to even basic spells. Yesterday, a batch of calm-mint started causing anxiety instead of relieving it. It’s becoming annoying.”

“That doesn’t sound normal.” Romi frowned. “Want me to take a look once I’m settled?”

“Would you? We need someone who isn’t so close to the situation to look at it with fresh eyes. We need someone who isn’t biased or secretly trying to protect something or someone. I trust you, Romi.”

“Of course. We’ll figure it out together.” Romi reached across the table to squeeze her cousin’s hand. “That’s what family’s for.”

As evening approached, Romi stood in her bare living room one last time. The walls were empty, the rooms echoing with possibility rather than memories. Whiskers had returned, mostly, to his normal feline form with the addition of the sprouted wings.

Friends and neighbors stopped by to say good-bye, sharing hugs and well-wishes. Her next-door neighbor brought cookies, the mail carrier left a card, and even the grumpy man from the floor below managed a genuine “good luck.”

“We’ll miss you, Romi,” her friend Matilda said, hugging her tightly. “Mystic Hollow is lucky to have you back.”

“I’ll miss you all too.” Romi blinked back tears, surprised by how much she meant it. “Thank you for everything.”

She couldn’t wait to go home.

TWO

Romi 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. YoungRomi 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.

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