ALPHA'S WITCH (Midnight Oath)

she came plunged her into deep shame. B

r face with that burning, shameless gaze as she fell apart. Eva had gone rigid

n. His lips f

whispered. "The seal is awakenin

yes fle

alone in

ith something real and cold. Between her legs still throbbed. The echo of his

hed. There were t

erself. The wetness was proof. T

ious dreams had

ce stripped raw. "Again. T

e tattoos. The weight of him. The fullness. All

"This is madness," she whispered. "It

ng. Wet, responsive, an

ace had died hours ago and every last trace of warmth had vanished. The contrast

cold carpet made her shiver from

he fireplace. "Is this cursed mounta

g. Out here, she had to go fetch wood from the shed or freeze to

on the porch, a rustling at

fr

of flowers sat rig

looked around. Snow.

" she muttered. "We're on a m

sults-oriented, and right now her priority was not freezing.

fe, Eva crouched in front of it and

," she murmured. Then she laughed softly at h

r and examined the flowers. No note. And they were undeniably love

he scent hit her like something familiar she co

the knock

econds, gathering herself, t

t, the smell of fresh pastry drifting

y said, beaming. "I

" Eva said, a

her about the flowers, casual about it

ed on the bouque

om and picked them up. "How did yo

door this morning. I have no

owly. "What do you me

e up and they

e a messaging tradition from decades ago. They mean welcome. And they only

ir, unbothered. "I guess I

from about fifty ye

erly stalker who climbs mountains at dawn to b

ghing, but her eye

gesturing at the past

d sugar, Christmas decorations, and apparently a daily

ople act like they're living in a different century. Witch hu

ou won't believe any of it until

rom a long time ago, Elly. Hav

voice was so steady, so full of quiet

breath. If that old man said one more word to her, s

?" Ell

ose of being called cu

mediately. Old David stood at the register with his arms crossed,

ing a basket. Canned goods. Flour, sugar, eggs. So

th a bright smile. "Hello, D

eft Eva. "I won't se

to her face. "Excuse me? I'

thing to Rose's d

nd them watched

abbed E

e door

walk

ing presence that apparently made the whole town rearrange itself aro

a problem?

slightly. "Joe..

ice was flat and hard. "She

ared a

picked up the basket and set it on the co

his breath, calculated the to

ed to Eva. That insuff

se's daughter," he s

gratitude and annoyance. Before she could decide whic

vely day!" Elly called behin

to me, but the moment Joe touches the basket it's su

g. "His father owns most of the workshops. Half the families here d

othing, but the crown prin

tially

hinking. "In that story you

ted. "Never mind

rin. "Wait. Is Joe one of those demons f

n already," Elly sai

ing. She loaded the bags in the b

ve when a vehicle came from nowhere

d on the ice and stopped with the fron

pening?" sh

e completely white.

ked men surrounded the car. Blac

s. One of the men pun

Rose's d

!" she sh

started swinging at the windshie

n the gas but there was nowhere t

ng came out

but built like a weapon, black-gray fur, muscles pulled

a tight formation, no panic in them, moving like

Eva and Elly sat

nd. Then it turned and

like before. This was cold. Measuring.