Page 32 of Enchanting the Alpha

Before he could respond, the café’s door chimed. Neve and the usual entourage entered. The four elders surveyed the scene with knowing looks.

“Well,” Felix bounced on his toes, his eternal enthusiasm undimmed. “Looks like someone’s trying to rain on our parade.” He winked at Xabir and Romi’s embrace. “Though clearly not all parades.”

“More like trying to prevent it entirely,” Bella observed, her emerald eyes sharp as she took in the damage.

Neve moved to examine one of the malfunctioning lanterns. “This magic... it’s strange. As if it’s been deliberately obscured.”

“Indeed,” Madame Zephyrine’s amethyst eyes narrowed. “The signature is masked, making it difficult to trace the source.”

Same thing his beta had discovered a while back.

“We came to show our support for game night,” Bella announced loudly enough for everyone to hear. “The four of us will be attending and participating fully.”

The effect was immediate. Whispers of excitement replaced the earlier accusations. If the most respected elders of both communities supported the event, others would follow their lead.

“Now then,” Felix clapped his hands, sending up a shower of magical sparks. “Let’s get this place cleaned up and properly protected. Can’t have any more mishaps ruining our fun.”

As the elders began setting up additional protective enchantments, Xabir pulled Romi into a quiet corner. He cupped her face in his hands, studying her features intently. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She smiled up at him, her hands sliding under his jacket to rest against his chest. “Though I notice your alpha energy is doing that possessive swirling thing again.”

His lips twitched. “Can’t help it. Especially not after...” He trailed off meaningfully, remembering how thoroughly they’d explored that possessive instinct the night before.

“Mm.” Her magic sparked playfully against his skin. “Is that your way of suggesting another thorough investigation of alpha traits, Alpha Lupo?”

A growl rumbled in his chest as he leaned down to capture her lips in a swift, heated kiss. “Later,” he promised roughly, “after we figure this out.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” She pressed a quick kiss to his jaw before stepping back, though she kept hold of his hand.

Neve turned to Romi. “I suggest you check the archives while the magical traces are fresh. We’ll be here for a while cleaning up this mess.”

THIRTY-THREE

Romi nodded and she and Xabir headed out. They found Otis already poring over an ancient book in the archive room, adjusting his spectacles as he studied the pages intently.

“Ah, I was hoping you’d come.” He looked up, unsurprised by their joined hands. “Look at this.”

The tome’s pages revealed complex dark magic spells, the kind used to disrupt established magical fields. But what caught Xabir’s attention was how the magical signatures seemed to shift and blur, refusing to settle into any recognizable pattern.

“These are similar to the disruptions at the café,” he noted, studying the intricate diagrams while keeping one arm around Romi’s waist. “But it’s like looking at a reflection in moving water – the true source is distorted.”

“Yes, deliberately so.” Otis tapped the page. “Whoever’s doing this is using powerful cloaking magic to hide their true signature.”

“Bastian was at the café during the incident,” Xabir said thoughtfully. “And he’s been present for other disruptions too. He’s made no secret of his opposition to witch-shifter unity. My men have been watching him.”

“But is he skilled enough to manage this level of magical interference?” Otis wondered aloud, turning another page. “These are complex spells, requiring years of experience to master.”

The question hung in the air, unanswered. Something about this didn’t add up, but Xabir couldn’t quite put his finger on what. His protective instincts urged him to keep Romi close, to guard against whatever was coming.

“So it could be a witch trying to frame a shifter,” Romi mumbled.

“Or a shifter trying to frame a witch?” Xabir added.

“Or a team?” Otis asked. “This is perplexing.”

“When is your higher rank official coming, Otis?” Xabir asked.

“Not for a few more days. Once they arrive, they’ll be able to easily pull the real magical signature of whoever is doing this.”

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