Page 11 of Chasing Stripes

He dropped into his chair, the leather creaking beneath his weight. The map stared down at him, a pointed reminder of his responsibilities. As alpha, he led dozens of tiger shifters, managed their communal finances, protected their territory, and ensured their prosperity. Personal feelings—especially inconvenient attraction—had no place in his calculated existence.

And yet.

The memory of golden hair and that intoxicating scent refused to fade. His tiger, temporarily subdued, still prowled restlessly beneath his skin, eager to break free and cross the street to investigate the source of such powerful attraction.

A knock interrupted his brooding.

“Enter,” he called, expecting Haavi with more teasing.

Instead, a courier stepped in, holding a sealed envelope. “Delivery for Mr. Arbor. From the Enchanted Falls Town Council.”

Bartek accepted the envelope with a nod of thanks. After the courier departed, he examined the heavy parchment, noting the multiple wax seals pressed into its surface. Fox, lion, wolf, bear, fae, dragon, tiger, vampire, and witch emblems formed a circular pattern—the mark of Enchanted Falls’s full Council of Elders.

Breaking the seals, he extracted a letter written in elegant script:

To Mr. Bartek Arbor, Alpha of the Western Mountain Tigris Pride and Proprietor of Tooth & Claw,

The Enchanted Falls Town Council formally welcomes you as a new business owner in our community. Your establishment has been duly registered in our records with noted location in the area designated as the “Borderlands” between the Sparkle District and Fang Quarter.

Given this unique positioning, the council strongly encourages your attendance at our upcoming Community Integration meetings, scheduled monthly at the town hall. These gatherings facilitate harmonious relations between diverse business owners, especially those operating in proximity to different supernatural groups.

Additionally, we recommend establishing cordial relations with neighboring businesses, particularly Honeycrisp Bakery, as cross-district cooperation reflects the values of inclusion upon which Enchanted Falls was founded.

Should you have questions regarding zoning, regulations, or community expectations, please do not hesitate to contact our offices.

Respectfully,The Enchanted Falls Town Council

Beneath the text, nine signatures lined the page, each representing an elder from the town’s supernatural factions.

Bartek tossed the letter onto his desk with a derisive snort. “Perfect timing.”

Another knock sounded, and this time Haavi did enter, tablet still in hand.

“Something interesting?” he asked, nodding toward the letter.

“The town council welcomes us to the neighborhood.” Bartek’s tone dripped sarcasm. “They’re ‘strongly encouraging’ me to attend community meetings and play nice with the neighbors.” He gestured vaguely toward the street. “Especially the bakery.”

The corners of Haavi’s mouth twitched upward. “How terrible. Forced to interact with the pretty baker whose very scent scrambles your brain. However will you cope?”

TEN

Bartek leveled a flat stare at him. “It’s bureaucratic meddling. Territorial posturing disguised as community building.”

“Or maybe it’s just good business,” Haavi countered, leaning against the doorframe. “Building local alliances benefits everyone, including the pride.”

Logic, Bartek couldn’t argue with. Still, the idea of sanctioned, even mandatory interaction with the source of his unprecedented reaction sent a conflicting surge of anticipation and dread through his system.

“I’ll consider it,” he conceded. “After we get through opening week.”

“Fair enough.” Haavi checked his watch. “Anything else before I head out? Mimi’s making her famous tiger-stripe pasta for dinner, and I promised not to be late.”

“Go home to your family,” Bartek said, waving him off. “I’ll lock up.”

After Haavi departed, silence descended on Tooth & Claw. Bartek wandered through the now-quiet bar, savoring the rare moment of solitude. Late afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, bathing the room in warm amber tones. The space looked good—better than good. With its blend of rustic charm and upscale touches, the bar would appeal to both locals and supernatural tourists passing through Enchanted Falls.

Pride swelled in his chest. This venture represented years of planning, saving, and strategic expansion. What had started as a desperate attempt to create new income for a struggling pride had grown into a respected brand throughout supernatural communities.

Yet despite this accomplishment, that strange restlessness persisted beneath his skin.

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