Page 45 of Enchanting the Alpha

“You are far too charming.” But her smile could have lit up the night sky.

“The whole town’s buzzing about game night,” he told her between kisses. “Even the Griffin pride asked about additional tickets.”

“Really?” She pulled back enough to see his face, eyes sparkling. “The stuffiest shifters in town want to play magical charades?”

“They do now.” He drew her closer, alpha energy purring. “Though I’m more interested in having you to myself for a while. Dinner tonight?”

“Mmm.” She rose on tiptoes to kiss him properly. “Your place or mine?”

“Mine. I have plans for you.”

“Do these plans involve actual dinner, or are you just trying to get me alone?”

His growl made her laugh. “Both. Always both with you.”

“Good answer.” She kissed him again, slow and sweet. “Though we should probably stop scandalizing my assistants.”

“Too late,” Thane called from the supply closet. “Already scandalized. Years of therapy needed.”

“Agreed,” Clover chimed in. “Though you two are disgustingly cute.”

Xabir just grinned and stole another kiss. Let them tease. He had his little witch in his arms, their communities were coming together, and everything felt absolutely perfect.

FORTY-FOUR

Xabir 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.

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