The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 : Caged Like an Animal

I didn’t hear the gasps. Didn’t feel the blood on my knuckles. Didn’t notice the shocked faces gathering in a half-circle around me.

All I could hear was her voice—the head maid’s filthy words echoing in my head like poison. Her insults still clinging to my skin like grease.

My breathing was sharp. My fists were aching. My body burning with fire. I was about to go at her again.

I didn’t care if she was already half-conscious, bleeding on the courtyard stones. I didn’t care if they chained me or beat me or dragged me to the dungeons this time.

She had spoken about my mother. She had spat on her name. And for that, I was going to make sure she never opened that vile mouth again.

I moved.

My foot lifted, ready to kick her across the face—

And then, I was flying.

Not forward. But backward.

A violent kick slammed into my ribs and knocked the air clean from my lungs.

I hit the ground hard, rolling once before I caught myself on my elbows, dazed, breathless.

What—

I blinked the blur from my eyes just in time to see him.

Luca.

Storming forward like a shadow cast from flame. His eyes were burning with anger, and his face—twisted with rage.

Not at her.

At me.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" he snarled, towering over me like I was filth. "Beating my people bloody in front of the whole damn estate?"

I pushed myself to my feet, wincing at the pain in my ribs, but I stood anyway. I would not kneel for him. Not again.

"She deserved it," I spat. "She talked about my mother like she was a common whore—"

courtyard like thunder. "You think you get to lose control,

hurts your

at me with pure disgust, his voice

it’s in your nature, isn’t it?

I froze.

dares to speak." His eyes burned into me, cruel and merciless. "That’s why you tried to kill her. Not because she insulted your mother. No. Because deep down, you’re exactly like

hitched, but he

even last a few days before showing your true colors, did you?" He stepped closer, looming, his words cutting deeper than any blade. "You’re not strong. You’re unstable. A little

slap to the face. He spat it with venom, like I was filth

are. A cursed reflection of your father. Nothing

I couldn’t take it.

my chest, but before I could even

holding me back like I was nothing but a wild thing

his strength. "That’s what you all want, isn’t it? Just say the word and end it already, Luca! Because I swear to the Goddess, I am done living like

clenched.

at him. "I’m done! I’d rather rot in the ground than

then I

That disgust. That cold, sharp look that

He hated me.

one brief, broken second... it

I welcomed

I

stepped forward, grabbing my arms so

so low it burned. "I told you what would

his hold. "I’ll cross every damn

not worth hearing," he said, and those words

before I could fight again, he moved

over his shoulder like I weighed

my fists against his back, twisting,

But he didn’t.

at him. Not even when my nails

atoning for your sins," he muttered under his breath, his eyes going wild with fury and hatred. "You want chaos? You

stormed through the halls, every step a thunderclap. Servants scattered. Guards stared. No one dared to stop

one dared save

hate you!" I screamed into his back.