MY ALPHA MY WITCH

Seraphina's Pov

The moment I walked into the house, I felt the tension radiating from my mother. Her fierce gaze burned into me. She didn't need to speak; the tension crackled in the air. I hesitated, my pulse quickening, but I knew better than to ask questions just yet."Sit," she ordered, her voice cold and sharp. It sent a chill down my spine. I quietly took a seat, my heart racing, waiting for her to explode. "Why didn't you attend the coven's meeting?" she asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "I... I was with Aiden." The words had barely left my mouth before her fury erupted. She stood abruptly, pacing across the room, her fists clenched. "With that monster again?" Her voice was louder now, filled with venom. "Do you have any idea what you're doing, Seraphina? Do you even understand the consequences?" I couldn't see her eyes, but I felt her anger scorching through the air. I knew she was right to be upset, but I couldn't stay away from Aiden. I loved him."The coven is enraged," she spat, her voice trembling with anger. "They won't change their minds, and you know that. They want nothing to do with you if you continue this... this foolishness." She paused, her voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "It would be better if you let Aiden go."" But mother, I love him. Aiden is my mate. The bond we share is beyond anything I've ever felt. Please, let me marry him," I pleaded, my voice trembling with emotion.But my mother's face was hardened, her eyes shadowed with a deep, knowing sadness. "Seraphina, you cannot marry him. The coven will never allow it. You must understand... If you choose this path, it will be the end of you. But, I love you so much more than watching you die before my eyes."My breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. "What... What do you mean, the end of me? Are you saying... they would kill me?"Elysia's expression softens, but the gravity of her words is undeniable. "Yes, my child. They will see your love as a betrayal, a threat to everything we have built. The coven will stop at nothing to protect its own. If you marry Aiden, they will kill you."My jaw dropped, what was going on? I really can't leave Aiden. The room seems to close in around her as the weight of my mother's words sinks in. "But... he is my heart, Mother. I chose him. Isn't our bond sacred? How can love be a death sentence?" I said with tears filling up her eyes she went out slamming the door angrily. I heard my mother calling me back, but I didn't stop. I couldn't. The tears came faster, blurring my vision as I walked, no, practically ran, trying to put as much distance as I could between me and that house. My heart ached, each sob choking me. Why couldn't they just accept that I wanted to marry Aiden? What was so wrong about that? All I ever wanted was their protection, their love. But now... now it felt like my own family had turned their backs on me.I didn't even realize where I was heading until I reached the river. This was the only place I felt I could breathe, yet today, even the familiar sight of the water flowing by couldn't calm the storm inside me. I stood there, staring blankly at the river, tears silently streaming down my face. My chest felt so tight, like I couldn't catch a full breath. Suddenly, a hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned around sharply. Aiden. The moment I saw him, my resolve broke. I threw myself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He wrapped me in his embrace, whispering softly into my hair, trying to comfort me. But nothing could take away the pain I was feeling."I was at your house," he said softly, rubbing my back. "Your mother wouldn't tell me where you were, but I guessed you'd be here."I pulled away slightly, looking up into his eyes. He was hiding something, I could tell. His face was strained, like there was something more he wasn't saying. "What else did she say?" I asked, wiping at my tear-streaked cheeks.He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "It's nothing. It doesn't matter. What matters is I found you, and you're okay."I knew there was something more he wasn't telling me, but I also knew Aiden. He didn't like to upset me if he didn't have to. So, I let it go for now. He was always trying to make me smile, always going out of his way to keep me happy.He smiled down at me, his eyes softening. "I have a surprise for you."I couldn't help but give him a small, tearful smile back. "What is it?"He chuckled and shook his head. "You'll have to wait a few minutes. Stay here, I'll go get it."I watched him walk away, feeling a bit lighter just by his presence. Aiden always knew how to pull me back from the edge. I trusted him, more than anyone. And that's why I can't leave him for anything. I wouldn't be the one to betray our love. As I waited, I started walking around the woods by the river. The soft sounds of the leaves under my feet and the distant flow of water were calming. I heard a twig snap and turned, smiling. "Aiden?" I called out, thinking he was trying to surprise me. "Stop teasing me!"No answer. I laughed softly, thinking he was being playful, but as I took another step, something felt... off.Before I could take another step, a strange force seemed to grip me. My whole body stiffened, and suddenly I couldn't move. My chest tightened, worse than before, like something was squeezing the air out of my lungs. My breath came in short, painful gasps, and panic rose inside me. I tried to call out for Aiden, but my voice wouldn't come. The pain in my chest intensified, like a burning, stabbing sensation deep inside me. I dropped to the ground, my hand instinctively going to my chest, where I felt something warm and sticky. Blood. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't scream. I was suffocating, my heart pounding so loud in my ears I could barely hear anything else. My vision blurred, and the world around me seemed to grow darker, colder. I tried to think of a spell, anything to stop the pain, but my lips wouldn't move. My mind was too foggy.The darkness swallowed me whole, its weight pressing in on all sides. I was falling, or maybe floating, I couldn't tell anymore. There was no sound, no light, no sense of time. Just an endless void that stretched out forever.Aiden. His name was the only thing anchoring me, the only thought that cut through the numbness. I tried to focus on him, on his face, on the way his arms felt when they held me, but even those memories were slipping away, like sand through my fingers.Was this death? The thought lingered at the edge of my mind, but it felt distant, unreal. How could this be the end? There was still so much I needed to say, so much I needed to do. I couldn't just disappear into the void. I couldn't leave Aiden like this.But the more I struggled to hold on, the further I drifted. The pain in my chest was gone now, replaced by a cold emptiness. My body no longer felt like my own. I wasn't sure I even had a body anymore. I was just... here. Existing in this space of nothingness.Suddenly, a ray of light appeared in the distance. Faint at first, but growing steadily brighter. I tried to move toward it, but I couldn't. I was frozen, bound by the weight of the darkness. The light moved closer, and with it came warmth, a gentle, familiar presence that brushed against me like a soft breeze."Seraphina..." The voice was barely a whisper, but I recognized it immediately. My heart clenched.Aiden.I tried to reach out, to call his name, but I couldn't make a sound. The light grew brighter, closer, until it enveloped me completely, washing away the cold and the darkness. For a moment, I felt weightless, like I was floating in a sea of warmth and light. And then, I saw him.Aiden stood before me, his eyes filled with the same worry and love I had seen in them a thousand times before. He reached out, and though I couldn't feel his touch, the sight of him grounded me. I tried to speak, to ask him what was happening, but no words came."Seraphina," he whispered again, his voice filled with so much emotion it almost broke me. "I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you."Tears filled my eyes, the weight of his words crashing down on me. He knew. He knew what had happened. He knew I was... gone. But how? Why?Before I could react, the warmth around me shifted, turning cold again. The light began to fade, and I felt myself being pulled away, back into the void. No. No, I couldn't go back. Not now. Not when I had just found him.I fought against the pull with everything I had, but it was no use. The light was slipping away, and Aiden's figure was growing dimmer. My heart ached, a deep, soul-crushing pain that was far worse than anything I had felt before. I wasn't ready to leave him. I couldn't.Is this it? Was I really gone?

Aiden's POV

I sat in the darkness, my hands trembling as I cradled my head. I didn't know how long I'd been sitting here, hours, days? Time had lost all meaning since she was taken from me. The room felt empty, like my soul, drained of life. I could still smell her, the faintest trace of lavender lingering on the pillows, on the sheets where we had once laid together. Seraphina made me awake and aware of the world around me, she walked me through nature itself and showed me the love I never thought I could have. She was everything I had, everything I ever wanted, and now, she is gone. I stared blankly at the floor, my chest heaving with shallow breaths, unable to muster the strength to do anything but grieve. I didn't want to live anymore. What was the point? She was my life, my heart. And now that she was gone, I had no reason to stay in this world."I can't live without her." I muttered beneath my breath unconsciously. I slammed my fists against the bed frame, the wood groaning beneath the force of my anger. My throat burned, my eyes dry. The tears had stopped hours ago, leaving only the dull ache of loss. My wolf paced inside me, restless and angry. It wanted to lash out, to find the person responsible, but we both knew who was at fault.It was all me, and me, and me. It was nothing I couldn't deny or disagree with. And I really hate myself for it. "I... I should have stayed away," I muttered to myself, my voice hoarse. "I should have listened to her mother. She warned me, but I didn't care. I didn't listen, and now..." My voice cracked, and I swallowed the sob threatening to break free. "I couldn't protect her. It wasn't enough."I rose from the bed, my limbs heavy like they were weighed down with lead. I stumbled toward the window and pushed the curtains aside, revealing the moonlit sea in the distance. Its waves crashed violently against the shore, reflecting the chaos inside me. *I have to go. I have to follow her.*I stepped onto the balcony, the cold wind biting at my skin. The sea... it's where I belong now. I'll drown, and no one will save me. No one will be able to, if I do it quietly. My mind was set, and yet, as I stood there staring out at the dark horizon, something caught my attention, a noise, rough and sharp, from behind me.I froze. The scent hit me before the sight did. My pulse quickened, and I knew who it was before I even turned.Elysia had just the same scent as her daughter, I can't mistake her for someone else, their fragrance was the same. I had heard her warning too many times before, "Stay away from her, Aiden. You will destroy her!"The door burst open, slamming against the wall. Elysia stormed in, her eyes blazing with fury, and before I could react, her hand collided with my face in a sharp slap."You!" she screamed, her voice trembling with rage. "You killed her! You! This is all your fault!" Her words cut through me like a blade, sharper than any physical blow could ever be. I swallowed the pain, refusing to let my wolf out. It wanted to fight back, to rip into her, but I held it back."Elysia," I rasped, "I... I didn't... I'm really sorry.....""Don't you dare speak to me!" she shrieked, grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling me forward. "You didn't protect her. You didn't stay away, and now my daughter is dead because of you!" Her words echoed in my mind, each one twisting deeper into my heart. She's right.I thought of all the times I could have left, all the chances I had to walk away, but I was too selfish, too caught up in her beauty, in the life we could have had. I didn't listen. And now, Seraphina is dead.Elysia's hands trembled as she raised them, a dark aura swirling around her fingers. I felt my wolf stir, but before I could do anything, the magic hit me like a wall, knocking me to my knees."No..." I gasped, trying to shift, to let my wolf take over, but the spell was too strong. My body contorted, bones snapping, fur sprouting across my skin. I howled in pain as I shifted unwillingly, my body forced into its wolf form, and when I looked up, I saw her eyes, cold and unforgiving."This is your punishment," Elysia hissed. "You will never be human again."I tried to fight it, but I was powerless. My body twisted, trapped in my wolf form, unable to shift back. I growled lowly, but she was gone before I could react. With a final look of contempt, she left, slamming the door behind her.I ran. I bolted from the room, my paws hitting the earth as I sprinted through the woods, my mind numb with grief and rage. The pack, the coven, none of it mattered anymore. I couldn't stay. I couldn't face them. *I need to run far away. I need to die.*I pushed myself harder, faster, through the trees, not knowing or caring where I was going. Days passed, my body aching with hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. The scar on my side burned like fire, a reminder of the curse that bound me. Finally, I reached a river. The water sparkled under the morning sun, mocking me with its beauty. I collapsed by its edge, panting, my body weak. I opened my eyes and found myself back to my human form. Then I guessed I had run so far away from where Tatia's spell could hold me back. I became ridiculously thirsty,the thirst was unbearable, so I lowered my head to drink, but as soon as the water touched my lips, I choked."No!" I coughed, spitting the water out. I can't even drink! I can't act like a human, and I can't live as a wolf.I lay there, broken, my fur matted with dirt and sweat. I was a wrecked ship, drifting aimlessly with no anchor, no purpose. "I have to die," I whispered to myself. "I can't live like this... not without her." If everything meant darkness and numbness without her, then the rest that's left should be nothing either. I stepped slowly into the river, if nature's against me, then I know I won't live when I delve into it. My legs went deeper into the river as I took more steps further with the thoughts of death. I missed a step but couldn't keep count of the other, and releasing myself to the deepest part of the river, I shut my eyes, I knew that was the end of our love that hadn't started..... there'll be no one to tell the tale.

Austin's POV

The sun was setting over the McKenna mansion, everyone was having all the fun they could and I just gave a random smile, not like I knew them. But you know, when you're handsome and fit, you get eyes on you wherever you walk in. Music pulsed through the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of high school seniors eager to celebrate Amy's birthday. I walked in, feeling slightly out of place, but determined to enjoy the evening. "Hey Mel" A young lady waved towards two ladies sitting by the pool, and I looked towards them. I couldn't pick who the 'Mel' was but I knew it wasn't the lady that gave an answer."Stop it, Amy. I'm not in the mood for that." I smiled as I watched the two dramatic ladies, and took a seat right behind them waiting to see Jackson around somewhere. I knew who Amy was instantly, no wonder everyone was drooling over her.Her blonde hair caught the last rays of sunlight. She looked radiant in a light blue sundress that swayed with the breeze.Jackson had told me she was beautiful and I didn't believe it until I saw her. I was busy looking around for Jackson while I observed both of them. I didn't know multitasking was so hard, but both of them were so entertaining."Come on, Mel," Amy coaxed, her voice light but laced with concern. "It's my birthday, and you haven't smiled in days. Can't you just enjoy tonight?"Mel sighed heavily, her hands gripping the edge of the pool tightly. "Amy, I'm trying, but...." She paused, her voice cracking slightly. "It's just hard, okay? Everywhere I look, I see people happy and carefree, and it feels like..."Amy placed a gentle hand on Mel's arm. "I know it's been tough. But you're not alone, Mel. You have me, and tonight's about having fun, not dwelling on the pain."Mel's expression hardened. "You think I'm dwelling on it? You think I'm just sulking? My mom died, Amy. How am I supposed to just move on?"Amy's face fell, hurt flashing across her features. "Mel, that's not what I meant...."Before Amy could finish, Mel stood up abruptly, splashing water onto the pool deck. "You don't get it. You'll never get it." With that, she stormed off, her wet feet slapping against the tiles as she left Amy standing alone in the pool.I had just walked in, minding my own business, but I guess I didn't do enough of that. It appeared Mel was badly hurt and I wouldn't want to argue with ladies. So, I just got up from my chair and searched for Jackson. I looked around, and I knew I needed to leave if I didn't find Jackson. I was walking out, after calling Jackson severally and I got no response, Mel, not paying attention to where she was going, crashed right into me. The impact jolted us both, and she stumbled back, looking up at me disgustingly."Watch where you're going," she muttered under her breath, brushing past me without a second glance.I grabbed her hand, not hard, just enough to get her to stop. "Hey," I said, a little sharper than I intended. "You ran into me. The least you could do is say sorry."She whipped around, her eyes blazing. "Let go of me."I didn't. "Not until you apologize."Her answer came in the form of a sharp slap across my cheek. My head jerked to the side, the sting spreading like fire across my skin. "Don't you dare touch me," she hissed before yanking her hand free and walking away, leaving me standing there, stunned.I rubbed my cheek, watching her retreating figure. What the hell just happened? I was still processing the whole thing when I noticed Amy climbing out of the pool, water dripping off her as she made her way over to me."Sorry about Mel," she said, trying to sound casual, though her eyes betrayed her worry. "She's... going through some stuff."I shrugged it off, forcing a smile. "No big deal. I've had worse."Amy's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked me up and down. "So, who are you, exactly? I don't remember inviting you. And I haven't seen around here" "Jackson invited me."She raised an eyebrow. "Jackson? I didn't know he was bringing anyone else.""Is it a problem?" I asked, leaning in slightly, testing the waters."It might be," she shot back, not missing a beat. "Especially if you're here to flirt with or bully my best friend."I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Neither, I swear. I just got here. But it's obvious you two are close."Amy's expression softened slightly, curiosity replacing the suspicion. "What's that supposed to mean?"I shook my head, not really wanting to dive into the complexities of female friendships. "Nothing. Just an observation. Anyway, Jackson said it was cool if I came, so...."She cut me off, waving her hand dismissively. "Forget it. I don't care anymore." Her eyes narrowed again. "But what did you mean about me and Mel being close? What did you see? Have you been prying?"I smiled, trying to deflect. " First off, keep your voice down, then you can stop saying I was prying. Just tell me you really want to know""Yes," she said, crossing her arms, clearly not amused by my evasiveness.I leaned in a little closer, lowering my voice. "You're protective of her. She's hurting, and you want to fix it, but she's pushing you away. Typical best friend stuff."Amy's shoulders relaxed a little, and she seemed to consider my words. "Maybe you're right," she admitted, her voice softer. "But that doesn't make it any easier.""It never is," I agreed, offering her a small, genuine smile. "But tonight's your night. Happy birthday, by the way."She smiled back, just a little, and it lit up her face. "Thanks. I should be having fun, right?""Exactly," I said, but before I could say anything else, the ground beneath us gave way as Amy stepped a little too close to the pool's edge. She let out a yelp as she slipped, her hand grabbing for mine just as I lost my balance too. The next thing I knew, we were both plunging into the pool, the cold water shocking the breath out of me.When we surfaced, sputtering and laughing, the sound of laughter erupted from the other kids around the pool. For them, it was hilarious, two people accidentally falling in. For me, it was kind of fun, but I could tell from Amy's expression that she wasn't exactly thrilled.She wiped the water from her face and climbed out of the pool, her movements a little more frantic now. "Great," she muttered, her voice laced with annoyance. "Just what I needed."I followed her out, trying to hide my amusement. "Hey, it's just water. You'll dry off. And that was fun"She turned to face me, and in that moment, her foot slipped on the wet tiles. She fell forward, right into my arms. My instinct was to catch her, and for a second, I had her pressed against me, her blue eyes wide with surprise."Let me go!" she shrieked, pushing me away as if I'd burned her. "You're taking advantage of this, aren't you?""What? No!" I protested, but she was already backing away, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger."Just stay away from me," she snapped before turning and running toward the house, her wet dress clinging to her as she disappeared through the door.I stood there, dripping wet and completely bewildered. So much for making a good impression.As I started to follow her, maybe to apologize, I found myself face to face with Mel again. She was standing near the entrance to the house, her arms crossed and her expression downright hostile."What's your problem?" I asked, exasperated.She glared at me, her eyes narrowing in contempt. The nerve. I smirked, stepping closer. " What if I told you I could make you smile? You should stop frowning. At this rate, you'll have wrinkles before you graduate.""Try it, and I'll slap you again," she shot back, her voice icy.I leaned in, closing the distance between us. "Go ahead. I dare you."