The Sorceress & The Alpha

The Coven

After a two-hour drive, they arrived at their destination. Aubrey looked with awe at the sight in front of her. From what she has read in books, she thought that the Coven would be located in the middle of the woods, but she was in a small city full of buildings, all made of glass, with paved streets and luminous signs here and there. The car was heading towards the tallest and most beautiful construction she has ever seen. Each level of the building had a different tint within their full-size windows, giving it the aspect of being iridescent. 

“This is the witch coven?” she said in shock.

“Not what you expected?” 

“Not at all. I was expecting a hut in the middle of the woods or something like that. All the books that I read about witches talked about being so in contact with nature that this is...”

“Well, essentially yes. There are a lot of covens that do work close to what you’re mentioning. But some other covens prefer to use their witchcraft for technological purposes. Like this one.” the car pulled over the parking lot located under the skyscraper and turned the engine off. After a couple of seconds the passenger doors were opened by Alex and Troy. Donovan looked at Aubrey with a smirk, seeing the excitement in her eyes, “Shall we?”.

Aubrey followed the werewolves to an elevator, once inside, Donovan pushed the button to the penthouse. During the way up, Aubrey started fidgeting quietly. Was all of this real? Was she really a witch? She did feel something when she was trying to pull away from Elias glare but right now she felt as normal as always. What if everything was a big mistake and they returned her to Elias? What a sick joke would that be. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ‘ding!’ of the elevator as they arrived at the Penthouse. Once the doors opened, Aubrey had to gawk once again. The penthouse was exquisite. All the floor was made of white marble, with decorations and furniture in black and white. Exotic plants were hanging from the ceilings without being overwhelming but enough to give the place a naturally delicious aroma to the whole place.

“Madame Device is waiting for you in the bar” a petite girl appeared with big grey eyes and long blond hair, very similar to the Priestess’ features. They followed her to the far right side of the Penthouse where a tall shelf carved in dark wood reached the ceiling and was at least 20 feet wide. Each rack is full of jars with different items in it: some of them liquid, some solid and some with a weird consistency that Aubrey wasn’t quite sure she would like to find out what it was nor have it in her drink any time soon.

“Welcome to my humble abode!” Lilian exclaimed with a broad smile, “Please take a seat.” The werewolves and Aubrey seated in some stools in front of a granite bar that was between them and Lilian. “Can I offer you something to drink?” 

“From there?” Aubrey asked, looking at all the jars in front of her. Lilian looked behind her and laughed. 

“Oh dear, hell no. I’m guessing you have never been inside a witch’s house. These are all ingredients for potions and other sorts of… things.” she explained obviously keeping a mischievous secret to herself about what ‘other sorts of things’ meant. She stared intently at Aubrey before bending down behind the bar and pulling out a wine bottle and two glasses; she poured the red liquid and passed one to Aubrey and kept one for herself. “Looks like this is what you need right now.” She did the same inspection for the rest of his guests and gave them glasses with scotch. “Well, now that we’re settled. Let us discuss what will happen next.”

Donovan cleared his throat in an authoritative way while putting his glass down, “I highly appreciate everything you did back there by preventing a war between me and Elias; but Aubrey right here is my mate and she needs to be with me.”

“She needs it? Excuse me, Donovan, but that’s what you think she needs. She’s not a werewolf, the mate bond is not as strong on her as it is on you. Believe me, she won’t die for not being glued to you, darling. I understand this is difficult for you to understand, alpha…” Lilian said while sneering on the last word, “but the world doesn’t revolve around you.” She took a deep breath before looking again at Aubrey. “How much do you know about werewolves and witches? How long have you been… working… for Elias?”

“Since I was 10.” Aubrey said in a whisper, she wanted to speak higher than that, she didn’t want them to think she was so scared about everything. But the truth is she was, and after so many years of being a slave, being brave around authority only taught her that she will eventually be punished. “I have some ideas from some books I read from the library but I don’t know how accurate that information is. I would have never imagined witches were so… technological.” 

“We’re not your common coven. Even before the war, a lot of our witches were involved in the greatest IT companies, infiltrated making sure that technology kept evolving without becoming a danger for us. So naturally, after the war finished, we decided to keep providing these services. Having full control of technological evolution can be quite useful. No one messes with us and everyone wants to be on your good side to make sure they can acquire the best of the best for their clans.”

“She’s speaking about armament, in case you were wondering.” Donovan whispered near Aubrey’s ear, making her feel goosebumps with the closeness.

“Donovan, behave!” Lilian snapped, making Donovan growl but he reincorporate in his seat nevertheless. “As I was saying, yes, we provide all kinds of technology; that means information as well. So in this coven you will be able to learn a lot about us as well. Now, you’re under my care, Aubrey. We’ll provide you with food, clothes and your own room; in return we expect you to work for us. We will teach you everything you need to know about your powers and within time that will help know what’s your area of expertise. When the time is right and after Elias trial is done, we can discuss your role as Luna in Donovan’s pack.” 

“This plan of yours sounds like it will take an awful amount of time, dear Lilian” Donovan said between teeth. 

“You don’t want your mate to know more about what she is? She has been a slave almost all her life! I’m trying to help her know what freedom means before being tied to you forever!”

“Freedom?” Audrey interrupted them, both leaders snapped their heads towards her which made her flinch in her place but she remained still, “you keep saying that I’m no longer a slave but both of you keep telling me what to do. I do not feel free. You’re all just taking turns to be my master.”  She said as calmly as she could but tears were betraying her. Lilian and Donovan looked at her shocked. Being compared to the ruthless Elias was not something that happened everyday.

“Honey, you're not a slave anymore and we’re not your Masters.” Lilian said sweetly, reaching out for her hand but Aubrey stood up and took some steps back. 

“Aren’t you? When I was a human I had no rights to protests my slavery because it was legal for Elias to own me. Then we learned that I was a witch and for that mere fact now I owe my loyalty to the witches even though you never did something for me during my slavery. Later, after you’re done with me, I have to go to a werewolves pack where I MUST fulfill my duty as a Luna and spend the rest of my days with a man I just met! How I’m not a slave anymore when everyone else except for me is deciding what will happen in my life!?” 

“Aubrey…” Donovan stood up slowly, holding a hand up trying to calm her as she was a wild animal. “...you’re having a panic attack, I need you to breathe, love.”

“Don’t call me that! You don’t know me, you don’t love me!” Aubrey could feel it, she was hyperventilating. She knew she was having a panic attack but she was also so furious. She suddenly hit a wall with her back, she didn’t notice that she kept walking backwards; she turned around and saw that it was a crystal door that led to a balcony. A crazy idea crossed her mind, if she was never going to be free again in her life then what was the point of it all. She looked back again at Lilian and the werewolves. They were still all at the bar, staring at her, waiting for her to do something. Taking advantage of the distance she opened the door quickly and ran with all her might towards the end of the balcony.

“AUBREY NO!” she heard Donovan scream but she had already made her mind, she was just hoping she could be fast enough. 

She was just three feet away from the railing when she heard Lilian whisper almost as if she was right next to her, “Somnus!” She suddenly felt her body growing heavy and her legs gave in; before she hit the floor she felt Donovan holding her numb body before darkness engulfed her.