Page 7 of Knot Cursed

She blinked at me for a second before a snort of laughter escaped her. It quickly morphed into full laughter that I couldn’t resist.

“That was bad. I’ll just see myself out,” I groaned, turning away but she wasn’t leaving it at that.

“Oh no, you’ve already committed to the name. Good luck with your chicken, Henfather.”

“Did I really just say that?” I groaned as I watched the infuriatingly handsome alpha walk out of my shop. The scent of parchment, campfire smoke, and cinnamon hit me as he moved away, carried in by the breeze as he walked outside.

My body tensed as I took in a deep breath, realization and horror washing over me in tandem.

He didn’t just smell nice, he was my scent-match. My mate.

The man that was here to study us like experiments. An alpha who had a solid ten years on me.

What the hell, universe?!

My omega urged me to run after him and tell him what we were to each other, even if he couldn’t scent me. After years of being side-eyed and dismissed from everyone I knew, I didn’t know if I could trust this man that had no curse.

Being rejected by a scent-match wasn’t on my agenda today.

Maybe judging him prematurely wasn’t fair. Not only had he taken the chicken but he’d bought something. I shouldn’t be anything but grateful if not for the fact he was here to keep me in line.

It was likely a way for the magistrate to regulate what I was doing in my shop. He already found my restricted storage area and breezed past my wards.

Yet, here I was, omega practically purring already at his smiles and teasing smirks. Melting at his scent. Fuck, I was in trouble.

Ross walked in to save me from my internal struggle.

“Hey there, Prue. Where is it?” I snagged the paper I’d written his address on and walked to the front.

“Back here,” I said, leading him to the chest then holding out the slip of paper. He took it and whistled.

“They got someone out in that old, fancy house? Wasn’t that for the bigwigs and their equally high and mighty friends?”

“He’s, apparently, a curse expert,” I said, shying away from sharing the real reason he was here in town.

Me.

“Ah, I wonder if he’s in town for the bazaar. The Halloween Bazaar is in what… a week?”

“Five days,” I said, because I’d absolutely been counting down the days until it was here. Random merchants weren’t allowed in town. Every delivery was regulated. Even our moving boxes were inspected thoroughly.

The only time I got in real lots that could include ingredients or possibly cursed objects to practice on were smuggled in when I took little day trips.

There was no way the Mayor didn’t know about them. I had a feeling he kept it hidden from the Magistrate in hopes that I’d actually have success one day. So far, I’d created problems he feigned ignorance to.

Ross said his goodbyes as he took the furniture out to his truck. My focus was still on the unexpected curse expert.

I had my doubts that Rook Sinclair would turn the same sort of blind eye to my shenanigans. He seemed almost excited at the prospect of working on the curses. That might be something I could use to my advantage.

For now, I was starving and it was way past lunchtime. I put the closed for lunch sign up on the door before leaving the shop.

The streets were fairly empty. Despite everyone trying to pretend life was normal here, only half of Moonlit Grove's citizens had accepted their fate and embraced this town. Most of them worked here on Main Street. It was decorated with an array of orange, black, green, and purple decor. Pumpkins lined the sidewalks, small, magical candles inside—which didn’t go out or dwindle—burning bright.

The windows had twinkle lights and spiderwebs. Every inch of our town was slowly transforming into a spooky wonderland. On instinct I glanced over at the library. Every year the librarian dressed up the gargoyles out front. Last year the pair of them prowled around the lot in matching tutus. Her accidental transfiguration curse came in handy sometimes.

I had a feeling the lions weren’t accidental. She just liked the companionship.

The pizza shop down the block was empty after the lunch rush. I walked in and sent a ping to Blake for my location.