ALPHA'S WITCH (Midnight Oath)

Just then, there was a knock at the door. She wondered for a few seconds who it could be, then finally gathered her courage and went to the door. When she saw Elly standing there, she relaxed and smiled.

"Hi, good morning!" Elly said cheerfully. "I brought you fresh pastries!"

She was holding a basket, from which the aroma of fresh dough wafted.

Catching the scent, Eva excitedly said, "Come in!"

Elly entered.

"Should we make tea, or would you prefer coffee?"

"You know I'm always a coffee person," Eva said.

"Okay, agreed then. Let's make coffee."

When Elly turned her head, she saw the bouquet on the table. Her eyes grew wide.

"Oh! Gerberas! How did you gather these? They're beautiful!"

Eva casually pulled her shawl over herself. "I don't even know where they came from," she said.

Elly's eyes grew even wider. "What do you mean? Really?"

"Yes. I woke up this morning and they were at the door."

Elly picked up the bouquet and examined it. Curious, she came closer to Eva.

"Eva," Elly said seriously. "These flowers are a messaging technique used many years ago, they mean 'welcome.' And they only grow at the mountain peak. They couldn't have come down here on their own. Didn't you wonder at all how they got here?"

Eva shrugged playfully. "I guess I have a handsome admirer," she said. But then, noticing the detail, she asked curiously: "Excuse me, exactly when was this flower tradition from?"

"About fifty years ago."

Eva turned to Elly with a playful expression. "Great! So I have an elderly stalker. Bringing me flowers from the mountain peak. What more could there be? Perfect."

Elly started laughing, but none of this really made sense to her.

Eva got up and sat at the table with appetite. "Come on, I'm starving, let's eat!"

Elly smiled and brewed the coffee. As they began breakfast, Eva asked curiously, "So, is your offer to shop at the town center for me still valid? I don't like drinking tea without sugar and I forgot to buy some yesterday. Plus, I want to get some Christmas decorations. The townspeople won't sell me anything."

Elly said, "Of course my offer still stands. Let's go out after breakfast. And I'm taking you to my favorite café! We'll investigate your elderly platonic lover. Maybe he's in the town history," she said with a laugh.

Eva let out a deep laugh. "Oh monsieur, whisk me away! Take me far from here."

Now the laughter of these two young women filled the mountain house.

A few hours later, Eva and Elly decided to head down to town.

"This town is really strange," Eva said. "People act like they're living centuries ago. Witch hunts, wolf tales... Don't they have more sensible things to do?"

Elly glanced at her sideways. "You won't believe it until you see it yourself, will you?"

"You're talking about many years ago, Elly. Have you seen them yourself?" Eva asked.

Elly answered with great devotion in her eyes, "I believe, Eva! Sometimes you need to hope and believe."

When they arrived at the town center, Eva parked the car in front of the market. They both got out. Eva took a deep breath. If that old fool said one more word, she could seriously tear him apart. She breathed and steadied her pulse.

"Ready?" Elly asked.

"Ready for an old fool to kick me out as cursed? Yes, I think I'm ready, let's go get my daily dose of bullying."

When they entered the market, all eyes turned to Eva again. Whispers began. Old David was at the register as usual, arms crossed over his chest, glaring hostilely at Eva.

Eva ignored him. She began putting the things she needed into a basket. Canned goods, flour, sugar, eggs... basic items. She also added some Christmas decorations. Then she handed the basket to Elly.

Elly, tossing her braids with a smiling face, came to the register. "Hello, dear David! I'm buying these," she said.

David's face soured even more. His gaze didn't even turn to Elly; he was completely focused on Eva, staring with furrowed brows.

"I won't sell to her," he said in a harsh voice.

Blood rushed to Eva's veins. She couldn't contain herself. "Excuse me? I'm a customer and I'm paying!" she growled.

"I won't sell anything to Rose's daughter," David said. "Get out of here!"

The people around watched silently. No one intervened. Elly grabbed Eva's arm, trying to calm her down.

Just then, the market door opened.

Joe walked in...

Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and a sharp gaze, he commanded everyone's attention in town. His eyes caught on Eva, then slid to David.

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

David backed up a bit. "Joe... this woman..."

"This woman what?" Joe cut in, his voice hard. "She's a customer. And she'll pay."

Eva looked at Joe in astonishment. Joe turned to her and nodded with a slight smile.

"Then I'll buy them," Joe said decisively. He took the shopping basket and placed it at the register.

David's gaze went first to the basket, then to Joe.

"Joe, but you're not buying these for yourself..."

Joe cut him off. "I said we're buying, David. You're going to sell me these items."

David seemed intimidated by him. The old man muttered as he calculated and asked for the money. Then he handed over the packages...