Part Forty Six

The scent of sage and lavender hung thick in the air as Lily moved through her shop, her fingertips trailing over glass vials filled with shimmering liquids. Sunlight streamed through the large front window, casting prismatic patterns across the worn wooden floor. The familiar sounds of the street outside - the distant rumble of cars, the chatter of passersby - faded into a comforting white noise as she focused on her work.

Lily handed over a small pouch of protective herbs to an elderly werewolf. "Remember, sprinkle it around your threshold at the next full moon for best results."

As the bell above the door chimed indicating Mrs. Blackwood's departure, Lily found herself alone in the shop. Her emerald eyes darted to the clock on the wall. Still two hours until Caspian's return. A smile tugged at her lips as she remembered their passionate goodbye, but she quickly pushed the thought aside. There was work to be done.

Kneeling on the floor in her workshop, she began to draw an intricate