Alpha Asher By Jane Doe

“I hear our girl’s night has been cut short.” Holly stated as she stepped past the threshold and into the house Asher had built for me. As she spoke, her eyes scanned the foyer, her head pivoting back and forth to soak up every detail.

I hummed my confirmation, motioning for her to follow as we passed through the dimly lit kitchen and into the living room. “Sorry about that, things sort of popped up at the last minute.”

“Oh, no worries. I had a feeling something would come up. Truthfully, I’m just happy to be out of the house.” She smiled softly, striking a chord deep within my chest as I noticed the similarities between us. Releasing a sound of interest, she spoke. “Oh, so many windows! This might sound hard to believe, but I absolutely love natural light. I can’t stand being cooped up.”

“That’s not hard to believe at all.” I murmured, thinking back to the meek and obedient girl I’d met, trapped within the walls of the warehouse our father called his home. “Does sunlight hurt you? I never asked how it affected you, being half vampire and all..”

Holly shrugged, following me out the backdoor. “It’s not painful or anything, but I do sunburn very easily. After awhile I start to feel a bit tingly, but I’ve never tested it longer than an hour or two.”

“Well, if you ever want to try again just let me know.” I assured her, succumbing to the slight flutter in my chest when she gave me an enthusiastic nod.

I padded across the patio and hefted the small box of supplies into my arms, kicking open the door and descended the stone staircase into the field that served as our back yard. It was here, beneath the blossoming light of the moon, that we would attempt the protection spell

“I’ll make sure I call you.” Her voice was laced with anticipation, flecked with dollops of hope that made me wonder if a happy ending weren’t an impossibility. She bounced on the b***s of her feet, flipping her ebony braid over her shoulder. “I’ll admit, I’m a bit nervous… and excited. We’re both powerful, I can feel it. There’s no way this won’t succeed.”

“You think so?” I asked, my eyes on the task of setting things up for the spell. More than once I scanned the page, ensuring I followed each and every direction down to the smallest of details. “I heard you were doing incredible at calling on your magic…” I trailed off. “I haven’t been doing as well, but I’m trying. It just seems to be a bit more spontaneous is all.”

“Pay attention to what it feels like when you use magic, it’ll make it easier to call on it again. I can feel your power, Lola. We’re sisters, but your magic isn’t quite like mine. It’s…it’s different.” She hummed, closing her eyes, and furrowing her brows together as though she were concentrating. When they popped open, the same shade of blue as my own, they flashed with hidden knowledge. “It’s older and much more volatile than mine, but there are some similarities too. Our magic is rooted in darkness, but that doesn’t make it evil. No matter what you do, or how it manifests itself, remember that. Don’t fear it, embrace it.”

I took every shred of her advice, accepting reassurance from the little sister I’d always wanted but never knew I had. This was what I’d been wanting those months after my father’s d***h, a relationship where we could talk to one another, where we could recount the experiences and events that led us to where we were today.

black pillared candles I created, cradling a few of the rough crystals in my

met my eyes, her mischievous grin matching my

of each candle went

was what the book called it, a stone meant to protect both the

hair was b****d, the smoke thick as it curled into the air and vanished

which I found incredibly impressive since my memory

tilting our chins towards the new

as the words flowed from my thoughts to my lips. “I call on the Goddess of the Moon, mistress of the night and all who walk her path. Come to thee, hear your

tried to ignore it, the amulet Rowena had given me began to warm around my neck. Though the feeling wasn’t unpleasant, it was distracting. Holly’s voice snared

on the Goddess of the Moon, huntress and protector, so merciful and bright. Come to thee, hear your daughter’s cries, shine your light on these willing eyes!” Holly shouted, her voice

in all of its beauty-basking in the breeze which quickened in its pace, though none

shouted into the

iron is whom we wish to protect. Shine your light on him, shield him from the evil that brings him closer to d***h.

slashing through our circle so sharply that every single went out, plunging us both into darkness. Only

you think the spell worked?” Holly asked several minutes later, once the silence between

chests as we placed them in various

two of us were now perched in front of the television, some nameless romantic comedy Mason had forced me to watch playing on the screen. He

trailing off as I remembered the cold spike of energy that passed through me. From hundreds of feet away, I could feel the shadows that hid within the forest