The Witch’s Regrets

Safe.

Natasha pov

Nat stood in front of the house she shared with her mother at the Midnight Howlers pack. While most people would have thought Nat would have felt safest at her childhood home in Russia. That feeling of safety was obliterated in one night by her father when he unleashed his magic on her mother. That tainted all the happy memories of that cabin for her.

Nat opened the door, in every email Lili told her that she made sure the cabin was cleaned in case she ever decided to come back.

It was this place after years of hell at the academy that made her feel safe again. Her mother, Liliana, Penelope, and even Jackson.

She hated leaving. She hated her father for forcing her to leave her safe haven. The only source of happiness she had known after years of hell. Natasha wasn’t sure if she could ever forgive him for that.

Natasha walked up the stairs and went up to her room. Talk about a trip down memory lane. Her old room was full of bandposters, black light, and she could still smell the incense. Nat went and laid down on her old bed and let the memories wash over her.

Natasha had only been lying in her old bed for an hour when there was a knock on the door. Nat could immediately could tell that it was Liliana who was at the door. She reluctantly went down the stairs and went to open the door. She hasn’t seen Liliana in five years. She was afraid of how Liliana would receive her. Natasha opened the door and there stood Liliana. Liliana looked a little worn around the edges, but I guess that’s what happens when you have four kids.

The two women stared at each other for a while when Lili finally broke the ice.

“Well, it looks like we both got fat,” Lili said with a smirk. Nat took immediate offense to that.

“I did not get fat!” she responded with a huff. Lili broke out a smile,

“At least twenty pounds. I’m still mad at you but give me a hug.” Lili said with a smile.

“I do deserve that,” Nat said and enveloped her friend in a hug. The second that Nat enveloped her closest friend in a hug. The second she felt safe again, she immediately broke down into a sobbing mess. Liliana hugged her tighter while running her hand down her back.

“It will be okay Nat, everything will be okay.” Nat felt Lili releasing her Luna energy and wished that it worked on her. She needed the calm to forget the storm that waged within her. Nat shook her head, and her sobs started to get worse.

“No it won’t Lili, it won’t,” Nat repeated over and over again. Lili didn’t ask any questions, she just comforted her as she cried her heart out. Nat really didn’t deserve her as her friend. They eventually moved to the couch in the living room. They turned the TV on to Supernatural of course. It was their comfort show that blocked out reality when they were angsty teenagers.

“Hey, can you make some food appear?” Lili asked her. In a wave of pink mist, there was an array of junk food on her mother's old coffee table. Lili was impressed.

“You want to tell me what happened?” Lili asked after an hour of watching Sam and Dean. The first season of course.

“I found my wick.” Nat started crying again.

“Your bully?” Lili guessed. Nat nodded. Lili didn’t know much about her life at the coven, but Lili knew she had been hit by her grandma. Lili had seen some of the bruises after coming back from the coven one weekend. Lili knew the teasing at the academy was particularly brutal because the ringleader used to be her close friend.

“Penelope is right, we are cursed,” Lili responded.

“For sure,” Nat agreed. Life worked out for her best friend, but the road for her best

Friend was not easy.

“You know what? We are finally old enough, your birthday is next week let’s go out drinking!” Lili said out of nowhere.

“What?” Nat asked shocked.

“Yeah! I’ve never gone out drinking with friends have you?” Lili asked her. Nat shook her head.

“Let’s do it, for your birthday. This weekend. We will try and get Penelope back in time!“

Nat for the first time in five years started to get excited about her life. She just hoped it would last.

.

Alexei POV

Alexei stood with Luka Volkov in a wooded area.

“If you know she’s in there why don’t you go get her?” He asked impatiently. Luka instantly blasted him with magic that tossed him into a tree.

“You don’t question me cockroach.” He tried stifling his grain as he stood up and walked back to Luka’s side. Luka walked down the road until two wolves came out of the woods. One shifted,

“Mr. Volkov, how can we help you?” The one who spoke seemed to be a beta by his aura.

“You know I am looking for your alpha,” Luka said impatiently. The wolf nodded his head,

“Yes sir, he knows you’re here alpha Killian is busy with the kids.” The wolf treated Luka with respect which showed these wolves were different than most uncultured swine he came across. Those that treated witch’s with contempt and quickly faced deathly consequences.

“Where’s his Luna?” Luka asked sharply.

“Follow me and I’ll take you to the Alpha,” the wolf evaded the question.

Alexei trailed behind Luka as well as the wolves, keeping his eyes open for anything suspicious. The way Luka was acting has been odd since the wolf showed up. The group made it to the packhouse, and they were led to a large playroom. That Alexei found odd as well. Why show two wizards to their children?

“Luka Volkov! Good to see you,” a large wolf embraced Luka. They pulled apart and Alexei was finally able to get a chance to look at the large alpha. He was tall at least six foot two, he had black hair. What surprised Lex the most was the aura coming from him. It was the strongest aura he had ever felt coming from a wolf. It made sense that Luka was being cautious. Though Luka was obviously more powerful than the wolf, this wolf was someone who shouldn’t be disregarded.

“Alpha Killian, who is this little angel?” Luka asked with a voice filled with a softness Lex never heard.

“This is Finley, Nathan took Hudson her twin to a doctor's appointment.” Alexei was watching this meeting with keen interest. One never knew when you could find a person’s weakness.

“Is he all right?” Luka asked.

“He was born with his lungs being underdeveloped. So the doctor likes to keep a close eye on him.” Lex watched the two in wonder. Lex couldn’t believe Luka was friends with these wolves. Wolves! They were beneath them, no matter how powerful.

“Luka! We are here for a reason,” Lex said sharply. Luka looked at him angrily,

“And I told you to keep your mouth shut!”

“Luka I know why your here,” Killian said getting back on topic.

“So she’s here?” Luka asked desperately. Before anything further could happen the door opened and a boy walked in. He seemed to observe the room. Alexei went to disregard the boy when he said in a childish voice,

“You a bad person. You need to leave this pack.” This kid said to him with authority in his voice. The little sh.it! How dare he talk to Alexei Patrovi like that.

“Look you don’t-“ he started to berate the kid when suddenly he was blasted with the strongest aura he had ever felt. It was so strong he was forced to his knees.

“You will leave my father's pack! You will also leave my aunt Natasha alone you understand me?” Alexei couldn’t speak, the power of speech had been taken from him.

“My young king, please I would like to speak to my daughter,” Luka’s humble voice came from beside him. With Herculean effort, Lex turned his head and saw Luka bowing his head. Lex didn’t know if it was due to force or by Luka’s own free will.

“Callum,” the alpha reprimanded his young son, and just like that the aura was pulled back. Suddenly Alexei could breathe again, he stood back up looking at the father-son pair.

“Luka she just got in a few hours ago, and from what my mate says Nat’s been crying ever since.” The alpha flicked a brief glance at him, “Luka you are welcome to stay here.” The alpha looked at him, “My son's words stand. You are not welcome here, you leave before you get executed.” The alpha said and Lex scoffed,

“You think you can kill me?”

“No but I can, you had the makings to be a decent wizard Alexei but you let your parent's greed for power darken your magic. You are going to be a dark wizard if you don’t change. Leave.” Luka commanded. Alexei knew when he had been beaten so he teleported in a cloud of red mist.

He popped back to Moscow where he could get a drink, a good f***k, and come up with a plan to get his hands on Natasha. Then in essence the Volkov coven, winning over Luka wasn’t working. Lex needed to work on Natasha instead.