The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 7: Chapter 07: Shame Like a Second Skin

Selene’s POV

The ripples in the pool slowly faded.

Kael was gone.

The courtyard was silent again. The only sound was the wind brushing softly against my wet hair.

I stayed where I was kneeling on the cold tiles, arms wrapped tightly around myself. My cloth was soaked through, clinging to my skin like it had been sewn onto me. Every part of me trembled—not from the cold anymore, but from something deeper.

Something hollow.

It felt like someone had carved out the inside of my chest and left nothing but silence.

My arm throbbed under the wet fabric. The brand. That cruel mark they burned into me like I was cattle. My knees ached from kneeling for so long. My pride? Gone. Shattered like glass. But none of that hurt as much as the question echoing inside my mind—the one that never stopped since they chained me.

Why?

Just that one word.

Why me?

Why this?

Yes, my father was a monster. Alpha Eirik Bloodfang was cruel, heartless, feared by all. But I wasn’t him. I had never raised my voice at anyone. I hadn’t even shifted yet. I was only seventeen. Still human. Still trying to understand the world.

But none of that mattered to them.

They looked at me and didn’t see a girl. They saw his blood. His shadow.

They hated me.

And not just hate—they wanted me destroyed.

They wanted me to beg for death.

Especially the four Duskdraven alphas—Kael, with his fury. Luca, with his frozen stare. Lucian’s calm that was more terrifying than rage. And Aeron, the one who already passed judgment before I ever spoke a word.

didn’t want me to suffer.

And the cruelest part?

wouldn’t even

had begged.

light breeze moved across the courtyard. My shift fluttered, still damp and cold, clinging

tighter, arms hugging my knees. My hair stuck to my face. I could barely breathe, my fingers trembling

Then—I heard it.

Sharp. Angry.

could even lift

exploded in my side, and I collapsed onto the

up through

It was her.

The same one from earlier. Her eyes were full of

"You bitch," she spat.

confused,

I had

clever, huh? Seducing the Alpha on your first day?" Her voice was loud, cruel, each word soaked in venom. "Just because you have a pretty face and some curves, you think you can climb your way back

Seduce?

could barely stand. I hadn’t said a single word

I tried to speak, but she cut me

tempting Alphas so

My heart stopped.

"No... wait... please..."

But she didn’t care.

pain, but she didn’t

My knees scraped the floor, the stone tearing at my skin. I tried to resist, but I was

a towel. She didn’t let

transparent—clung to every part of me. My legs, my waist, my chest... everything was exposed under the

to cover myself with one arm. But I was too small. My hands couldn’t hide

Please... don’t look at

But I felt it.

Their eyes.

A few looked away—but it was too late. Their

I felt naked. Filthy.

whole body screamed in