Page 37 of Enchanting the Alpha

Inside lay an exquisite crystal teapot small enough to fit in her palm. Magic hummed within its faceted surface, complex and beautiful.

“It’s enchanted,” he explained, watching her face intently. “It knows exactly how long to steep any tea for optimal flavor. But more than that—” His fingers brushed hers as he traced one of the crystalline patterns. “It’s spelled to work in harmony with your magic. The stronger your connection grows, the more precisely it will attune to your customers’ needs.”

The implications of that enchantment – a gift meant to grow with her, to complement her magic – made her throat tight with emotion. “This is incredible. Thank you.”

“There’s more.” He scooted closer, his presence enveloping her in warmth. “The enchantments are linked specifically to your magical signature. It will only ever work for you.”

Her heart skipped at the possessive note in his voice. The gift wasn’t just thoughtful – it was a declaration. A way of saying she was special, chosen, his.

“I have something for you too.” She retrieved a small vial from her evening bag, its contents shimmering with threads of gold. “I’ve been working on this for weeks. It’s designedspecifically for shifters, to help ease the strain of maintaining human form during long business meetings.”

His eyes darkened as he examined the vial. “You created this for me?”

“I noticed how tense you get during those marathon hotel planning sessions.” She bit her lip. “This should help your muscles relax without dampening your alpha energy at all. I can adjust the formula if it’s not quite?—”

“Perfect,” he interrupted, tucking the vial carefully into his pocket. His hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing across her lower lip. “Like everything about you.”

Her breath caught at the intensity of his gaze. They’d drawn closer without her realizing it, the space between them charged with possibility. Music drifted through the butterfly curtains, slow and sweet, while moonlight painted everything in silver and shadow.

A disturbance from the dance floor shattered the moment. They turned to find Arlo extricating himself from what appeared to be an unsuccessful attempt at a complicated lift with one of the bear shifters.

“I should probably...” Xabir gestured toward the chaos, though he made no move to step away.

“Go help your second-in-command before he starts an international incident?” Romi suggested, trying to hide her disappointment.

“He can handle himself.” Xabir’s voice held that growling undertone. “I have more important matters to attend to.”

His hand slid to her waist, drawing her closer. The butterfly curtains shimmered around them, creating a private world of starlight and possibility. Her magic hummed beneath her skin, reaching for his alpha energy like a flower turning toward the sun.

“More important than pack business?” she teased, though her voice came out breathier than intended.

“Always.” His other hand came up to cradle her face, thumb tracing her cheekbone. “You’re always more important.”

The simple declaration, delivered with such absolute certainty, made her heart stutter. Before she could form a response, he lowered his head and claimed her lips in a kiss that tasted of starlight and promise.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Romi’s magic exploded outward in a shower of silver sparks, making the nearby lanterns pulse like captured supernovas.

When they finally broke apart, his eyes had gone wolf-gold around the edges. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.”

“Just tonight?” She couldn’t resist teasing, even as she smoothed his lapels where her fingers had clutched them.

His growl sent delicious shivers down her spine. “You know exactly how long I’ve wanted you.”

Before she could respond, a pointed throat-clearing interrupted them. They turned to find all four elders watching with varying degrees of amusement.

“Don’t mind us,” Felix sang out. “Just gathering material for my epic romance saga. I’m thinking of calling it ‘The Alpha’s Enchantment’ – or maybe ‘Love’s Magical Moon’.”

“The historical significance cannot be overlooked,” Bella added, though her eyes twinkled. “The first time in over a century that a pack alpha has officially courted a witch.”

“The stars are particularly aligned for such a union,” Madame Zephyrine said.

Neve’s eyes danced with mischief. “Indeed. Though perhaps some alignments are more... personal than astronomical.”

“And that’s our cue to find more champagne,” Romi said quickly before Felix could start reciting verses. She tugged Xabir toward another secluded spot, their laughter mingling in the night air.

The party continued around them in a swirl of music and magic, but Romi found herself caring less about playing hostess and more about stealing quiet moments with Xabir. Each dance brought them closer, each shared smile felt more intimate. Their gifts sat warm in their pockets – tangible reminders of how well they understood each other, how naturally they fit together.

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