The Gentle Witch And Her Fierce Alpha

Secret Conversation

Xantha was thoroughly fed up. She was sick of the rituals, sick of using magic to hurt innocent people and creatures and she was tired of her sister Serena being treated like crap just because she didn't possess any magic. Why should that matter when you are family?

She was also getting suspicious of her mother and Stella. Lately they had been disappearing for hours on end, not always together but the majority of the time they were.  Her mother in particular had been observing Serena more closely than ever. Why? If Serena didn't have any magic than why was her mother feeling the need to keep such close tabs on her. It's not like Serena was a threat to them and she couldn't leave with the spell that had been cast to prevent her. 

Something was going on and Xantha wanted to find out. The next time she saw her mother head out, casting a significant look at Stella, Xantha knew she needed to follow them. A few minutes later Stella headed out, Serena blissfully unaware and doing her usual chores. Xantha waited then quietly opened the front door and headed out, only just able to discern the sound of Stella's boots on the ground as she walked into the woods. 

She had to be extremely careful, avoiding twigs and leaves as Xantha inched closer, Stella not even looking around to see if she was being followed, coming to a small clearing as Xantha ducked behind a large tree, heart thumping loudly in her chest as she heard her mother join her sister. 

"Were you followed" Isadora asked her daughter in a low voice. 

"No" Stella said "Serena didn't take any notice and Xantha wouldn't even think to follow me. We're safe.'

That's what you think thought Xantha sourly. Why were they meeting in secret and why was her mother worried about being followed?

"Good girl" her mother sounded pleased. 

"When will I take over the coven mother? You've promised me the position for ages and I have done everything you have asked of me" Stella complained, her voice high and shrill as Xantha winced from her hidden position. 

"Soon my dear" her mother soothed "if you help me with this one last spell then you can take over the coven and be one of the strongest witches never before seen in this world."

"How exactly are you going to explain Serena's sudden absence though? The coven obviously won't care but Xantha might question it?"

Her mother tsked at Stella, her expression amused from what Xantha could see. 

"Xantha cares nothing for Serena, same as you and I."

"But still as sisters" began Stella still not convinced

"Xantha will do what's right for the coven and us. She has never let us down before. It's getting harder to capture wolves and vampires for our spells. This one means that we won't have to worry about it for decades."

Stella looked confused. "But this ritual or spell" she said puzzled "requires the blood of both a witch and a wolf. We don't have a wolf unless you plan on capturing one?"

Isadora chuckled "We have both in one vessel, isn't that convenient" she mused. 

"Serena is just human though" Stella was eyeing her mother askance wondering if she had lost her senses. Maybe she was losing her marbles? 

"Serena still has my bloodline, the blood of a witch in her veins regardless of not having magic" Isadora explained with glee.

"but the wolf blood needed?" Stella said hesitantly "you said yourself that it's in one vessel. If you're talking bout Serena....." her voice trailed off as Xantha strained her ears, desperate to hear what was being said and not miss anything vital. 

"Her father was a werewolf I captured" Isadora's voice was breezy "I wanted to see what would happen if I mixed my blood with that of a werewolf but alas she turned out to be nothing more than a pitiful human."

Her mother really didn't care thought Xantha in horror. Serena was literally an experiment her mother had devised for her own curiosity.  She had always wondered why Serena was so different in looks compared to them and now she knew why. Their own father had been a warlock that had left Isadora for someone else but Serena had a different father. Was he still alive? 

"No idea what happened to him" Isadora shrugged "he managed to escape after I performed the spell that got me pregnant with his seed. I got what I needed though."

"Wow" Stella murmured "this spell will be easy then. Serena would never suspect us of doing this to her. Stupid girl thinks that we are family."

"She doesn't know about her father's bloodline and you cannot let it slip" her mother growled as Stella frantically nodded. 

"The spell needs to be done in three days time and you will keep silent, not even telling the coven. This power is for us only, not even Xantha can know."

Stella looked delighted, a sickening smile curved on her lips. "Trust me mother I won't say a word" she assured her mother who was looking at her with approval "even Xantha might revolt at draining Serena's life force completely dry."

"Exactly" Isadora agreed "whereas I know you will have no such worries."

Stella snorted "without magic Serena is worthless to us. At least in this way she will at least be useful."

"Shame" her mother mused "the spell would be ten times more powerful with magic, white magic even more so. But the possibility of finding a white witch is almost impossible. They're incredibly rare and more powerful than dark ones." Her voice was tinged with regret, her eyes full of sorrow. 

Xantha had heard enough but couldn't risk moving in case they heard or saw her. She lay down in the foliage, Stella and her mother whispering some details and items they needed for the spell. Both of them disappeared after that, going off in opposite directions as Xantha laid there, the grass poking into her and making her whole body itchy. She waited a few minutes, making sure she was alone before standing up and dusting off the dirt and leaves on her clothes. 

Xantha was horrified at what her mother and sister were planning. This went far beyond anything Xantha could have predicted they were capable of. She couldn't let them kill her sister Serena. As for Serena's father being a wolf? That was something else. Even without magic, Serena's bloodline was that of a hybrid. Xantha so wanted to tell her, but she couldn't risk Stella overhearing her. No she would have to tell her after she found a way for Serena and herself to escape. Xantha was going to get Serena out of here and Xantha would be leaving with her, ready to leave this life and cruelty behind her forever. This was the right thing to do and what her heart had been urging her to do all along. She was finally listening. Xantha headed out of the woods, her mind conjuring up plans. She had just under three days to find a way out and she wasn't going to waste the time she had.