Page 108 of Upside Down Magic

And, filling the tables close to the entrance, was the rest of myOlmedafamily.

“Congratulations!”Alexshouted.Tomy shock, everyone else in the pub—most of whomIdidn’t know—joined in the loud congratulating, includingDru.

Keyrushed over and gave me a huge hug. “I’mso happy for you,Hope!”

Ihugged her back, still somewhat thunderstruck. “Thankyou.”Iglanced atIanover her shoulder. “Youplanned all this?”

“Please,”Drusaid, walking up to us. “Itwas a team effort.”

Andthen, in an aberration of all the universe’s laws, she also hugged me.

Veryfast, mind, but it happened.

“Proudof you,” she said, then leaned in. “Theyhave karaoke set up.”

“I’mnot getting drunk and putting on a show for the internet,”Isaid primly, even though the views of my last attempt had gotten us some brisk business. “Don’teven think about it.”

Drugave me a knowing look, then stepped back soShaneandAlexcould claim my attention.Ihugged them without a second thought.Itwas still so good to seeShanefully recovered from the spell.Atfirst, he’d refused to shift back into wolf at all, but after a long talk withIan, they’d both gone into the shifter forest and come back with an expression of utter relief onShane’sface.

Ianmight not want to shift, but he knew how important it was for other shifters.Hetruly was the best alpha.

“Goodjob, boss,”Alexsaid with his usual good humor.

“Morethan deserved,”Shaneagreed.

Someonegrunted by my side, andIturned to findHuttonstanding next to us.Lilianhadn’t mentioned anything aboutHutton’sblood having dark magic in it again, andIhad assured him she sounded like a witch who knew how to keep secrets.Huttonwas unconvinced, of course, and had walked around snarlier than usual for the first week after the incident.Luckily, he was relaxing back into his usual grumpy self, butIhad a feelingLilianknowing his secret would bother him for a long time to come.

Whoknew—perhaps it was the impetus he needed to come clean to his pack.

Inanother surprising twist,Huttonactually shook my hand.Afirm, peer-to-peer shake and not an attempt to pull rank over my poor fingers. “Congratulations.Thepack looks forward to doing business with you.”

“AndIwith the pack,”Iresponded.

Huttonstepped aside to make space forKeith, who shook my hand a lot more effusively. “Goodto have you be official,Hope.Lovethose muffins of yours.”

“Thanks,Keith.I’lltellMeito make more of your favorite.”

Hegrinned wide, thenHuttondragged him to a booth where two other shifters lifted their beer mugs in salute.

Iwaved back, then accepted congratulations from a few of the usuals, who had come up to me.

Thenit wasSoniaandBrimstonewho stood in front of me.Sonianodded curtly in greeting. “Avery.”

“Hello…Sonia.”

Ibraced myself for her ire, asIstill didn’t know how she liked to be addressed, but she didn’t glare, andIfiguredIhad a free pass due to the celebration.

“Congratulationson becoming the official owner of theTeaCauldron,” she said.

Byher side,Brimstonenodded in that theatrical way of his.Asmall rumble echoed over the music.

Mysmile reached epic proportions.Somethings,Inever wanted changed.

“Congratulationson the shop, witch,” he said in his deep, ominous voice.Andhe meant it, too, sinceIwas still more than willing to let him pick up shifts if he needed.

“Thanks,Brim—Jeremy.”

“Iexpect you to submit the forms registering your official ownership byMonday,”Soniasaid.

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