The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: No One Touches Her Name

I didn’t care.

Let them scream. Let them stare.

I stood there, fists clenched, chest rising and falling with every breath as the silence cracked like ice around me.

The head maid shrieked, her voice trembling with rage. "Hold her down! Hold her—"

But no one moved. No one dared.

Because like I’d said—bullies only prey on the weak. They puff up their chests when you bow your head. But the moment you stand, really stand, they falter. Cowards in uniforms. Cowards in aprons. Not one of them had the courage to face someone who was powerful than them.

I stepped forward slowly, my shadow falling over the head maid as she scrambled back in the dirt like a rat.

"You wanted to break me?" I said, voice low and steady, though it trembled at the edges. "Then you should’ve done it right the first time."

Her eyes darted left and right, looking for support.

"You think this will save you?" she spat. "They’ll kill you for this!"

"Then let them," I whispered, a bitter smile curling on my lips. "At least I’ll die fighting. Not crawling."

Tears burned behind my eyes, but they didn’t fall.

I turned in the dead silence of the room, surrounded by stares.

Let them sentence me.

Let them strip what little I had left.

Until the young omega maid, the one who sent me to Lucian’s room, shrieked like a banshee and charged at me.

"You monster!"

I ducked her wild swing and shoved her away. She came again.

This time, I didn’t dodge.

I struck.

My palm connected with her cheek—loud—and her body spun from the force, crashing into the edge of the courtyard table.

slumped to the ground,

courtyard was still echoing with shocked silence when the head

chest rising and falling with rage. "You think this little outburst will save you? You think you’re

beneath us. Stop acting

venom. "A filthy little bitch in heat, trying to play the victim

I stilled.

like knives—sharp and

shift in me, and

your mother was some noble lady?" she sneered. "Everyone knew what she was. A pretty face your father kept warm in his bed. Probably didn’t even know which man planted a bastard inside her. You’re no

echoed in the

even whispered, "She’s gone

the head maid didn’t care. She smiled through

moaned for anyone who looked her way. Bet she begged to be claimed like a dog in heat. And now look at you—just like her. Wearing rags, licking

Something inside me shattered.

rage anymore.

She had insulted me.

She had degraded me.

dared—to speak

No.

one talks about

lunged toward her, grabbing the front of her

get to say her name!" I screamed, spit flying, my voice shaking with wrath. "You don’t

trying

even

against the pillar so hard the

wearing this title gives you the right

my arm, but I

"I swear—say

She did.

course

she spread so wide, even the wolves in heat got a

I lost it.

connected with her face—again. And again. And

Until her eyes started to swell. Until

care who was

care if I was dragged off or executed for

about

about the only

My mother was gone.