The Alpha's Captive

Elise laughed as she and Sophie tried on silly hats at the market stall. They had spent the day shopping and gossiping, enjoying each other's company. As they admired their reflections, Elise didn't notice the pair of piercing eyes watching her from across the way.

Lucas, the beta, had been tracking Elise for weeks, following the faint hum of magic that only the compass could detect. He had finally found her, and his eyes narrowed as he took in her carefree smile.

As Sophie and Elise continued their shopping spree, he kept a safe distance, his eyes never leaving Elise. He waited for the perfect moment to strike.

That moment came when Sophie exclaimed, "Oh no, my new dress! It's been stolen!" A thief, conveniently appearing out of nowhere, had snatched the bag from Sophie's hands.

In the chaos that followed, Sophie bid Elise farewell, leaving her alone. Lucas saw his chance.

He unwrapped a small leaf, filled with a blue powder, and blocked his nose with his shirt. The unconscious charm, known to work on all supernatural beings, including werewolves, would render Elise helpless.

With a swift motion, he blew the powder in Elise's direction. The blue dust danced in the air, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers, before settling around Elise like a shroud.

Her eyes fluttered closed, and she swayed, unaware of the danger lurking mere feet away. Lucas approached her, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and curiosity. What would he do with the powerful Lunar Witch now that he had her in his grasp?

Just as he was about to drag Elise away, Sophie reappeared, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. Her hair, once brown, now flared with a vibrant red, matching the intensity of her gaze.

Without hesitation, Sophie charged at Lucas, tackling him to the ground. Elise's unconscious form slipped from his grasp, and Lucas swiftly drew his dagger, sending it flying towards Sophie.

But Sophie was no ordinary opponent. With her newfound powers surging, she dodged each dagger with ease, her movements lightning-fast. She countered with a ferocity that left Lucas stumbling back.

Just as Sophie seemed to gain the upper hand, a dagger appeared out of nowhere, striking her with deadly precision. She crumpled to the ground, her body dissolving into nothingness.

Lucas eyes widened in shock, realizing too late that Sophie was a witch. The ancient magic of the covens had protected her, returning her body to the safety of their sacred grounds.

Elise, still unconscious, lay vulnerable on the ground. His gaze snapped back to her, his mind racing with the implications of what had just transpired. He knew he had to get out of there, and fast, before more witches arrived.

With a swift motion, Luca scooped up Elise and vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of mystery and unanswered questions.

Sophie's body materialized in the coven, her limbs twisted at unnatural angles. Her skin was deathly pale, and her eyes were sunken, but a faint spark of life still flickered within her.

The witches gasped in horror, rushing to her side. The queen's face contorted in anguish as she cradled Sophie's broken form.

"No, no, no... This can't be," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Ariana, the wise witch, quickly assessed Sophie's condition. "She's been drained of most of her magic," she said grimly. "The werewolf's bite is cursed, meant to destroy her from the inside out."

The queen's eyes blazed with fury. "We must act quickly," she commanded. "Gather the strongest healers and every rare ingredient we possess. We will save Sophie, no matter the cost."

As the witches scrambled to obey, the queen's gaze fell upon Sophie's face. "Hold on, dear one," she whispered. "We'll bring you back from the brink of death. You will not leave us."

But Sophie's eyes remained closed, her breathing shallow. The spark of life within her was fading fast, leaving the witches to wonder if they were already too late.

The queen's grip on Sophie's hand tightened. "Elise, where is she?" she demanded, her voice urgent.

Sophie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused. She struggled to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Taken..." she gasped, her chest heaving with effort.

The queen's face twisted in anguish. "By whom?"

Sophie's lips trembled as she forced out a single word: "Werewolf."

The queen's eyes flashed with anger and fear. "Deuce," she spat, her voice venomous. "I should have known he'd be involved."

Ariana, the wise witch, placed a calming hand on the queen's shoulder. "We'll find Elise, Your Majesty. We won't rest until she's safe."

But Sophie's gaze had already drifted away, her eyes closing as she slipped back into unconsciousness. The queen's face contorted in worry, her mind racing with the implications of Sophie's words.

"Taken by a werewolf... What does Deuce plan to do with her?" she whispered, her thoughts consumed by the fate of her beloved niece, Elise.

The witches' chanting grew louder, their voices weaving a spell of healing and protection around Sophie. The air was thick with magic, the scent of herbs and incense filling the room.

Meanwhile, in the werewolf's den, Deuce's beta, Luca, arrived with Elise's unconscious form. Deuce eyes narrowed as he took in Elise's pale face.

"Report," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Luca bowed his head. "The witches were too powerful, Alpha. We had to retreat."

Deuce's gaze fell upon Elise, his expression unreadable. "See to her wounds," he commanded. "I want her alive... for now."

As Luca obeyed, Deuce's thoughts turned to the queen and her witches. He sneered, his lips curling upward. "They think they can defeat me? I'll show them the true meaning of power."

Back in the coven, the witches' chanting reached a fever pitch. Sophie's body began to glow with a soft, white light, her wounds slowly closing.

The queen's eyes shone with tears as she watched her heal. "Thank the gods," she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.

But Ariana's expression remained grave. "The poison has been neutralized, Your Majesty, but Sophie's magic is still compromised. She'll need time to recover."

The queen nodded, her mind racing with the implications. "We must find Elise," she said, her voice firm. "Before Deuce does something irreparable."

Elise's eyes fluttered open, her gaze met with an eerie darkness. She was lying on a bed, surrounded by black walls, black curtains, and black furniture. Panic set in as she scrambled to remember how she got there. The last thing she remembered was shopping with Sophie at the market...

Where was she?

Elise's heart raced as she tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the bed. She was trapped.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Lucas, Deuce's beta, entered with a group of omegas carrying food trays. His gaze locked onto hers, and he smiled - a sweet, yet sarcastic smile that sent shivers down her spine.

"Welcome to your new home, Elise," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Alpha sent this for you."

Elise's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. "Where am I?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

Lucas's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're in the den. Deuce's special guest."

The omegas set the trays down and left, leaving Elise alone with Lucas. She eyed him warily, unsure of what to make of him.

"What does he want with me?" she asked, trying to hide her fear.

Lucas's smile never wavered. "Oh, I think you know," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're just too afraid to admit it."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Elise alone with her thoughts and a sense of foreboding.