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—"

you think that gives you the right to maim someone?" His voice cracked across the courtyard like thunder.

laughed—low and bitter. "Oh, I’m sorry. Is that what hurts your pride? That a

at me with pure disgust, his voice curling like

surprised? After all... it’s in your nature, isn’t it? Just like your

I froze.

your pride. You lose your reason the moment someone 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.

hitched, but he wasn’t

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 slave girl, too broken to know when to bow and

word slave hit like a slap to the face. He spat it

you are. A cursed

I couldn’t take it.

him, fury blazing in my chest, but

back like I was

you all want, isn’t it? Just say the word and end it

jaw clenched. His

hear me?" I screamed at him. "I’m done! I’d rather rot in the ground than spend one

I saw

That cold, sharp look

He hated me.

one brief, broken second...

I welcomed

I was

grabbing my arms

it burned. "I told

thrashed in his hold. "I’ll cross every damn

worth hearing," he said, and those words cut deeper than any

fight

his shoulder like I

screamed, pounding my fists against his back,

But he didn’t.

at him. Not even when my nails dug

he muttered under his breath, his eyes going wild with fury and hatred. "You

thunderclap. Servants scattered. Guards stared. No one dared

one dared

screamed into his