Page 52 of Enchanting the Alpha

“I’ll manage.” Romi straightened, drawing strength from Xabir’s steady presence. “What do you need us to do?”

The next hour passed in a blur of complex spellwork. Neve and Madame Zephyrine guided them through the intricate casting, their voices weaving together in ancient languages. Felix bounced between anchor points, his enthusiasm never wavering as he aligned the crystals. Bella monitored the magical flow, ensuring the balance between witch and shifter energy remained stable.

Through it all, Xabir never strayed from Romi’s side. His strength flowed into the spells alongside her magic, the two powers dancing in perfect harmony. When her energy flagged, his hand would find hers, sharing his seemingly endless stamina. Each touch, each concerned glance, each soft kiss pressed to her hair spoke volumes about his dedication to protecting her.

Finally, the last crystal locked into place. The protective web hummed to life, invisible but powerful. Romi could feel its warmth surrounding them like being wrapped in a blanket woven from pure magic.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“And very hard to break,” Bella said with satisfaction. “Anyone attempting dark magic within this network will find their power reflected back at them.”

“Plus, it’s connected to the wards at the café,” Felix added. “Double protection!”

“Triple, once we extend it to the hotel,” Xabir said. His eyes never left Romi as he asked, “How soon can we replicate this there?”

“Tomorrow, once the anchors have settled here.” Neve gathered her supplies with efficient movements. “For now, rest. Both of you. The casting took considerable energy.”

“We’ll check the café’s defenses again,” Madame Zephyrine assured them. “Focus on recovering.”

Their friends filed out, leaving behind crystals, potions, and strict instructions for rest. Whiskers escorted them to the door before returning to his guard post on the headboard. His tiny claws clinked against one of the crystals as he adjusted its position slightly.

“Always the perfectionist,” Romi teased. A yawn caught her by surprise - the spellcasting had drained what little energy she’d recovered.

“Sleep, sweetheart.” Xabir helped her lie back against the pillows. “I’ll be right here.”

“You need rest too.” She caught his hand before he could return to the loveseat. “Please? Just hold me?”

His expression softened. Without a word, he stretched out beside her, gathering her close until her head rested on his chest. His heartbeat thudded strong and steady under her ear as his fingers carded gently through her hair.

“I can’t live without you,” he murmured into the quiet, his voice rough with emotion. “When I felt that attack... when I thought I might lose you...”

“You didn’t.” She pressed closer, drawing comfort from his warmth. “You won’t. We’re stronger together, remember?”

His arms tightened around her as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Above them, Whiskers created a canopy of softly glowing hearts before settling with a contented chirp.

They had mysteries to solve, dark magic to counter, and enemies to face. But for now, wrapped in multiple layers of protection and each other’s arms, they could rest. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but they would face them as they faced everything else - together.

FIFTY

The morning sun hadn’t yet burned away the mist when Xabir strode into his office at the Lupo Hotel where Arlo and Wesley waited. His beta lounged in an armchair while Wesley stood near the window, both radiating concern that set Xabir’s teeth on edge.

“Tell me you found something.” Xabir didn’t bother sitting. Standing helped him manage the restless energy that had plagued him since the attack on Romi.

“We did.” Arlo straightened, his usual playful demeanor absent. “But you’re not going to like it.”

“I already don’t like any of this.” The muscle in Xabir’s jaw ticked. “Just report.”

“Bastian’s been up north at the pack gathering for five days,” Wesley said. “Multiple witnesses confirm he hasn’t left the grounds. More importantly, we had his magical signature analyzed.”

Xabir’s fingers curled into fists. “And?”

“He’s a brute.” Arlo’s lip curled. “Strong physically, but magically? He can barely manage basic shifter spells. The dark magic used against Romi was ancient, complex. No way he could have pulled that off.”

“Someone’s using his magical signature as cover,” Wesley added. “Making him look guilty while they work from the shadows.”

A growl built in Xabir’s chest. The need to protect his mate - and stars above, just thinking of Romi that way made his wolf howl - warred with his strategic mind. “We need proof. Names. Something concrete.”

“We’re working on it.” Arlo spread his hands. “But this level of magical deception takes serious skill.”

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