A Witches Alpha

Chapter One

The soft light of dawn filtered through the cracks of Vendetta's cabin, casting a pale glow over the wooden floors. The scent of herbs and magic hung heavy in the air, a testament to the hours Vendetta had spent brewing the curse late into the night. She stood over the cauldron, her hands moving with precision as she dropped the final ingredient into the bubbling green liquid. It hissed and shimmered momentarily before vanishing, leaving no trace of the magic that had just been woven.

A small smirk tugged at her lips, though her face remained mostly unreadable. The Alpha's son wouldn't be bothering anyone else again. Not in the way he had. The curse was simple yet fitting—an enchantment that would strip him of his masculinity, rendering him incapable of continuing his legacy of power through abuse.

With that task finished, Vendetta turned away from the cauldron, her focus shifting to the morning ahead. The cabin was silent except for the soft breathing coming from her room, where Seraphine rested.

Vendetta didn't need much sleep, and she certainly didn't need rest now. Instead, she busied herself with preparing breakfast, her movements quiet and deliberate as she ground fresh coffee beans and set a pan over the fire. The smell of brewing coffee began to fill the air, along with the soft crackle of eggs cooking in the pan. She worked with practiced ease, her mind calm despite the events of the previous night.

By the time Seraphine stirred and wandered out of the room, still groggy but looking slightly better, Vendetta had already set the table. Two steaming mugs of coffee and a simple breakfast waited.

"Morning," Vendetta said, her voice as indifferent as ever, though she glanced briefly at Seraphine to assess her condition.

Seraphine yawned, stretching as she slid into the chair. "Morning," she replied, her voice still a bit thick with sleep, but a smile briefly touched her lips when she saw the coffee. "You're a lifesaver, you know that?"

Vendetta merely shrugged and took a sip from her own cup. "I know."

The two sat in relative silence for a moment, the quiet between them comfortable, at least for Vendetta. Seraphine sipped her coffee, her expression slowly brightening as she came to life with each passing minute.

"You know," Seraphine started, a hint of playfulness creeping into her tone, "you're good at this whole breakfast thing. You sure you're not hiding a soft spot somewhere in that cold heart of yours?"

Vendetta raised an eyebrow but didn't bite on the bait. "Eat."

Seraphine chuckled, but she did as she was told, picking at the eggs on her plate. The silence stretched on for a bit longer, the two of them sharing the quiet space in their own ways. But eventually, Seraphine's mood shifted, the lightness in her voice dimming once more.

"I met him, you know," she said, her tone softer now. "My mate."

Vendetta didn't react outwardly, though she continued working with the herbs she had laid out on the table, her fingers deftly separating leaves and roots with care. "The Beta of the Black Lotus pack?"

"Yeah," Seraphine said, a small sigh escaping her. "His name's Elias. He's... perfect, honestly. My exact type. Strong, confident, but not in a cocky way. Experienced, though. Like, *really* experienced. You can just tell when someone's been around, you know?"

Vendetta raised an eyebrow, her tone was as flat as ever. "Sounds charming."

Seraphine laughed, though there was a hint of nervousness to it. "He is, but... I don't know. It's weird. I should be excited, right? I mean, it's my mate. He's everything I've ever wanted. But after what happened... I just... I can't shake this feeling."

Vendetta didn't look up from her work. "What feeling?"

"Like I'm not good enough. Like he'll see me and know, and he'll hate me for it. For everything. I feel... ruined." Seraphine's voice trembled slightly, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug.

Vendetta finally glanced up, her gaze cool and steady as she looked at Seraphine. "If he's really everything you claim, he wouldn't care about your past."

Seraphine bit her lip, her eyes distant. "Yeah, but... what if he does? What if he sees me and thinks I'm damaged or—"

"Then he's not worth your time," Vendetta interrupted, her tone sharp but matter-of-fact. "And if he is as 'experienced' as you say, I wouldn't get too caught up in the idea of him being perfect. No one is."

Seraphine blinked, a bit taken aback by Vendetta's bluntness, but a small smile crept back onto her face. "You know, you have a way of putting things that really cuts through the crap."

Vendetta didn't respond, her attention already back on her herbs. But after a moment, she spoke again, her voice softer this time. "You said you think you're pregnant."

The mood in the room darkened once more, and Seraphine nodded, her hands trembling again as she stared down at her plate. "I think so, yeah. I... I don't know what to do. I can't... I can't keep it."

Vendetta paused, her fingers stilling over the dried leaves she had been sorting. Her gaze flicked up to Seraphine, assessing her for a long moment before she spoke again. "Do you want me to take care of it?"

The question was delivered so plainly, so casually, that for a moment, Seraphine just stared at her, as if unsure how to respond.

Vendetta's expression remained unreadable, her tone indifferent. But the offer was real, and they both knew it.

"I..." Seraphine's voice wavered. "I don't know. I just... I don't want to feel like this anymore."

Vendetta gave a small nod, understanding in her own quiet way. "You don't have to decide now. But if you want it gone, I can make it happen. No one would ever know."

Seraphine's eyes filled with unshed tears, and she wiped at them hastily with the back of her hand. "Thank you. I don't... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Vendetta didn't respond, her focus returning to her herbs. But in the silence that followed, there was an understanding between them, deeper than words could express.

Seraphine might be the light to her shadow, but that light didn't always have to shine. And Vendetta would be there to guard it when it faltered. Even if she never said it out loud.