Chapter 392 The Shop by the Street

Chapter 392: Chapter 392 The Shop by the Street

Emilia’s POV

The drive into downtown Haven’s Reach took nearly an hour, and I spent most of it talking myself out of turning around.

I wasn’t just looking for a bakery. Any fool with a lease and a sack of flour could open one.

I wanted something bigger. The witches of Hollowthorn had a real gift. Their honey cakes melted on your tongue, their berry tarts could make a grown man weep, and their vanilla cookies had a warmth no factory could ever match. But all those treats stayed within the town, passed from one witch’s kitchen to another without ever reaching the outside world.

I wanted to rent a small shop and sell those sweets to ordinary people.

It could be a bridge between Hollowthorn and the world beyond. A gentle first step for witches who had spent generations being taught to fear it.

The young witches wouldn’t have to leave home to take part. Those who wanted to stay could bake and prepare ingredients in town. Those curious about the outside world could take turns working at the shop. They could start with simple tasks like stocking shelves and wrapping pastries, then learn to greet customers and handle sales.

I wouldn’t force anyone through that door.

I only wanted to give them a choice, along with a place they could always return to.

"You don’t overcome fear by pretending it isn’t there," I told Eve as I merged onto the main road. "You face it a little at a time, somewhere you know you’re safe."

"Spoken like someone who’s never run from a fight," Eve said. "I like it."

"Flattery. From my own wolf. We’ve truly reached a new low."

I had no intention of signing anything that day. I only wanted to walk around, check the rent, watch the foot traffic, and get a sense of what running a shop would actually cost. Once I had a plan solid enough to survive Grandmother’s questions, I’d bring it to her and the others.

Downtown Haven’s Reach was nothing like Hollowthorn. The streets buzzed with cars and conversation. Shop bells rang as customers came and went, and the air smelled of coffee and fried food. I pulled out my notebook and got to work.

The first shop had rent that could choke a dragon. The second had a kitchen so small I couldn’t have swung a cat in it, let alone baked a cake. The third was in a decent location, but one look at the landlord’s proposed terms told me everything I needed to know.

"Three years locked in," he said. "And I keep the deposit if you leave early. Standard, really."

"Standard for whom? Thieves?" I smiled and closed my notebook. "I’ll pass."

It was almost funny. This was exactly what I’d been trying to teach the witches. They weren’t afraid of the outside world simply because they didn’t understand it. There were plenty of people out here who could spot an inexperienced newcomer and take advantage of her.

Then, near the quieter end of the street, I found it.

An empty storefront between a flower stall and a shuttered tailor’s shop. It wasn’t fancy, but it had everything on my list. The back room could easily become a kitchen, while the spacious front area had room for a glass display case. A wide window let in plenty of light, and there was a separate storage room with its own rear entrance. It was also close to a bus stop without being right in the middle of the crowds.

"This one," Eve murmured. "This one feels right."

"Don’t get sentimental. We haven’t checked the paperwork."

I didn’t sign anything. I wrote down the address and the landlord’s number, reminding myself to check the property records, confirm the actual rent, and look into the neighborhood before getting my hopes up.

I slipped my notebook into my bag and turned to leave.

I hadn’t gone far when I felt someone watching me. The looks were hostile enough to catch my attention. I glanced around, following the direction of each stare.

Across the street, three men were watching me. At first, they only stared and muttered among themselves. I ignored them and kept walking.

Then they pushed away from the wall and started following me.

One hurried ahead and blocked my path. The other two came up behind me, leaving me with nowhere to go.

"Hey, sweetheart." The man in front grinned. "You look lost. How about we buy you a drink?"

"I’m not lost. And I don’t drink with strangers." I kept my voice flat. "Move."

They stayed where they were. My refusal only seemed to amuse them. A woman alone, clearly not from around here. They probably thought I would be easy to scare.

"Come on, don’t be like that," another man said, stepping closer. "We’re just being friendly."

"Friendly." I tilted my head. "Is that what we’re calling it now?"

One of them reached for my wrist.

I pulled away before he could grab me. "Walk away while you still can."

They laughed as if I’d just told them a joke.

"Ooh, she’s got claws," the leader said, nudging his friend. "I like the feisty ones."

"Really?" I muttered. "Then you’d better hope my claws don’t tear your throat apart."

Eve was already pacing inside my mind, a low growl building in her chest.

"Let me out. Just enough to frighten them. Just a taste."

The problem was the street. People were passing on both sides. I couldn’t let my eyes flash gold or my nails turn into claws in front of a crowd. The last thing Hollowthorn needed was a half-blood making headlines.

So I changed my approach.

I lowered my shoulders and let my expression falter. Then I glanced nervously between the men, took a step back, and turned toward the narrow side alley I’d noticed earlier. I even stumbled slightly as I hurried away, making sure to look over my shoulder as if I were afraid they’d catch me.

"Aw, where are you running, princess?" one called.

All three followed, laughing as they chased me into the alley.

The moment we were out of sight, I stopped pretending. Brick walls enclosed us on both sides. There was a rusted dumpster near the end and no one else around.

"Now," Eve said, her growl growing louder. "Let me out."

I’d planned on a partial shift. Just enough to show them a fang or two and make sure they remembered the encounter for years.

A real shift and a fight both carried risks I couldn’t ignore with the little one growing inside me.

Still, a small lesson wouldn’t hurt anyone.

I turned to face them and took a slow breath, preparing to let Eve forward.

Then, before I could even bare a tooth, the man closest to me disappeared from view.

One second, he was grinning at me. The next, someone had grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the brick wall. His two friends froze.

A tall figure stood behind them.

I knew that face.

My stomach dropped.

"Leighton?!"