Blood Oaths and Witches

Her POV:

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, waiting for the answer. She had worked on this project for months, and she needed their approval—but she wasn't about to show it. She knew these old bastards could smell fear from a mile away. Failure was not an option. If she lost this battle, she'd lose the trust her people had placed in her. This project was her way to contribute, to prove that she could use her brains to earn their respect.

Slowly, one by one, they nodded. She flashed a brilliant smile.

"Fine, young lady," the eldest of the three said, his voice grudging. "The land is yours. Your offer isn't the highest, but you've made some compelling points, and we're starting to see the merit in them."

At his last words, he flinched. About time, she thought. These old monsters were human, after all, and capable of the worst atrocities. Greed had shaped them for decades, and they'd been destroying the surrounding land without a second thought—cutting, building, drilling, all with zero concern for the consequences. Humans were capable of good, sure, but not these three. Not anymore. She had made sure they finally felt the sting of their greed.

"Great," she replied coolly, though satisfaction hummed through her veins. "I'm glad we're on the same page."

With a swift motion, she pulled out the contract, making sure they signed it before they had a chance to reconsider. She wasn't leaving anything to chance.

Once they left her office, she finally relaxed into her chair.

"We did it." The voice belonged to one of her coworkers, a tall man built more like a football player than a graphic designer.

She smiled at him. "Did you doubt my abilities?" she teased.

He flushed, looking down. "Of course not."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding! Don't take everything so seriously. I'm not my dad." That was the problem with most of the men in her pack. They were always so damn serious, switching from playful to stone-faced in a heartbeat. Her brothers were the same—fun until it came time for business.

"I'm heading home to give the news in person," she said, standing up. "A phone call isn't enough for this."

As she waited for the elevator, she caught her reflection in the mirrored wall. She was pretty, and she knew it. At 5'6", she wasn't tall but with curves in all the right places. Her long, thick brown hair cascaded down her back, her porcelain skin glowing under the office lights. Her full lips hinted at a smile, but it was her eyes that set her apart—large, Emerald, and full of intensity.

She adjusted her black suit, which hugged her figure perfectly. As the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside, feeling the weight of victory settle comfortably on her.

                                            His POV:

parked his Porsche in front of the imposing white mansion. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the house, illuminating the garden—a sprawling sea of colorful flowers that stretched out like a soft wave of life. It wasn't just money that built this place; someone loved every inch of that garden. It reminded him of his mother, the way she used to care for her garden, a rare softness in a world otherwise shaped by power and control. Here too, behind the wealth, there was something personal.

Beside him, Ben shifted, his sharp eyes scanning the property. They had been friends long before the pack hierarchy had made Alec the Alpha and Ben his Beta. That connection meant Ben could sense Alec's discomfort without a word being spoken.

"You good?" Ben's voice broke through the silence, his tone casual, but Alec knew him too well to miss the concern beneath it.

Alec let out a long breath, staring at the house. "I hate this part," he muttered, voice tight. "This fight was over before I was born. Hell, it was over before my father even became Alpha. My grandfather made that promise, and now we're the ones cleaning up the mess."