The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: What a Slave Endures

Selene’s POV

A knock stirred me from the edge of sleep. It was soft and hesitant.

Then the door creaked open, and a small girl stepped inside. She couldn’t have been older than ten—thin, with big brown eyes and a nervous look that said she didn’t want to be here either.

She didn’t say good morning. She didn’t ask how I was.

She just looked at the floor and whispered, "You’re expected to return to your duties."

And then she left. That was it...like she was running for her dear life.

I sat there for a moment, the words settling around me like cold mist. My body ached everywhere, muscles sore and stiff from bruises layered over bruises. It hurt to move. It hurt to sit still. It just... hurt.

But I got up anyway.

I didn’t cry. There were no tears left this morning.

Somehow, I already knew this would happen. I didn’t blame Mariam. She was the one who gave the order. She was the one who sent the girl. But I knew she was also following the order from above.

This was just how it was.

A slave doesn’t get time to heal. Not when her body isn’t hers to begin with.

And I was a slave.

No one had to say it aloud.

I was already lucky. Mariam had stayed with me at all and had offered warmth when the world had gone cold. I would never forget how she held me when I broke apart. But that moment was over. The world didn’t stop turning just because I had.

I washed myself in silence, every movement a slow, burning reminder of what had been done to me. I saw the faint bruises in the reflection—finger-shaped marks on my arms, a shadow under my jaw. I didn’t touch them. I didn’t try to hide them.

little breakfast...bread and watered-down porridge. It tasted like ash, but I swallowed

didn’t know how I would gain

I walked back into the halls like nothing

in a plain

scrubbing the floors, dusting

inside... a storm

cracked open

couldn’t seal

breathe

I couldn’t stay.

slave was cruel—but last night proved something worse. That cruelty had no limit. That I wasn’t safe, not even from those who

the werewolves treated the human slaves. As toys. As things. Beaten, bred,

last night... I realized that meant

was still prey. And it was only a matter of time before they came

through the day on stiff legs, teeth clenched through the pain, pretending. Pretending I was whole. Pretending I didn’t remember their faces.

I heard the

talking at the end of the hallway,

you hear? The prince arrived this morning...

My blood froze.

Prince

with a broom in my hand. One of the omega maids had spotted me wandering in the hallway

and I was left behind with a broom in hand, cleaning up her unfinished work. But

Until I heard footsteps.

patrolling guards. These were measured and calm. The kind of steps that didn’t need to rush,

mind. My hands trembled as I clutched the broom like a weapon I didn’t know how to use. I should

But I didn’t.

I

"Lady Meriya..."

as smooth

Prince Vaelen.