The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 8: Chapter 08: From Dreams to Ashes

Selene’s POV

My fingers trembled as I held the dry clothes in my lap.

The silence in the room was unbearable. It pressed against my chest like a stone, making it hard to breathe. Even the walls felt like they were watching me—mocking me—like they had witnessed my shame, my humiliation, my pathetic state as I was paraded half-naked through the halls of the very place where I was once treated like a guest. A child of an allied alpha. A girl who was welcome.

Now I was just... filth.

I slowly pulled the wet shift off my body, the fabric clinging stubbornly to my skin as if it too was ashamed to be discarded. My skin was cold and sticky. Covered in bruises. Covered in shame. The shift fell to the ground with a wet slap, and I stood there in my undergarments, arms wrapped around myself, shaking.

My branded arm throbbed with every movement. A dull, burning pain that refused to let me forget. My ribs ached from where the maid had kicked me earlier. My throat was raw—burning from all the sobs I’d swallowed down just to keep some shred of dignity.

But now... now I couldn’t hold it in.

I looked down at myself. I was bruised, dirty and exposed.

And then the tears came. it star with tiny drops but I did not when they start falling like broken dam.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed beside the bed, the clean clothes forgotten. My hands gripped the edge of the bed like it could keep me from falling apart completely.

"Why?" I whispered, voice cracking. "What did I do?"

My shoulders shook, the weight of everything finally crashing down on me. The hot tears blurred my vision as they hit the cold stone floor. The scent of dampness mixed with old memories—ones I didn’t dare think about. But they came anyway.

"Why do they hate me so much?" I choked, clutching the bed like it could answer me. "Why am I being punished... for what he did?"

My father.

Alpha Eirik Moonveil.

flinch. He destroyed lives. Crushed

But I wasn’t him.

for this bloodline. I never wanted

even shift yet when the war began. I was just... just a

they—why did the Duskdraven heirs—look at me like I was filth? Like I was a stain on their

girl," I whispered again, the words barely audible. "I

My breath hitched.

just like that, I was pulled

I had been thirteen.

had journeyed to the lands of Silver Dawn pack to attend the birthday celebration of the heirs—Aeron, Kael,

Speaking of peace and unity. Even if I knew now those were lies. But back then, I didn’t care. I was

just remember the night of the

off the marble floors, soft music playing from every corner. It was like

Four brothers.

The room bent around them like they were born

stood near

it—sharp-tongued and graceful,

alone commanding

And Lucian...

most gentle, just like a gentleman, every girls

countless peoples, his eyes had found mine when I felt almost invincible to

I could barely breathe. My hands were clammy. I was sure my cheeks were

stopped in front of me and bowed slightly, that same smile

this dance?" he asked,

trembling hand in his. He led me gently to the center of the room, guiding me through the steps. I barely heard the