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

how I would gain strength to survive in

the

me. Just another girl in a plain blue dress,

scrubbing the floors,

a storm

open

I couldn’t seal

breathe here

I couldn’t stay.

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

slaves. As toys. As things. Beaten, bred, discarded. And I had

last night... I realized

prey. And it was only a matter of time

pretending. Pretending I was whole. Pretending I didn’t remember their faces.

I heard

end of the hallway, their

you hear? The prince arrived this morning... before

My blood froze.

So, Prince Vaelen. He

in a completely different part of the estate with a broom in my hand. One of the omega maids had spotted me wandering in the hallway and, without much of a word, handed over

broom in hand, cleaning up her unfinished work. But I didn’t refuse. My

Until I heard footsteps.

patrolling guards. These were measured and calm. The kind

in my mind. My hands trembled as I clutched the broom like a weapon I didn’t know how to use. I should have walked away. Should have kept moving, head down,

But I didn’t.

then... I

"Lady Meriya..."

voice...it was just as smooth and clear as

Prince Vaelen.