The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Perfect Face in the Dirt

Author’s POV

Prince Vaelen stood near the carved stone balcony, asking about Selene news that was why he bring Meriya with him in the first place because she promised to help him rescue Selene.

but just as he was having a short conversation with him he smelled it...the faint scent in the air.

His boot shifted on the marble floor. Every instinct in him screamed to follow that scent, to find her. because it was her scent Selene.

But just as quickly as it appeared... it vanished.

Like smoke from a dying fire.

He turned slightly, scanning the corridor. Nothing. Just omegas moving and Meriya still speaking.

He took a step toward the hall it had come from, his mouth parting with a question—but before he could take another, her voice cut through.

"I almost forgot," Meriya said with a sweet, almost apologetic smile, "I have news... about Selene."

Vaelen turned to her sharply. His expression no longer neutral.

Meriya touched her chest gently, as if the news hurt her to even speak. "She’s not well. In fact... she’s fallen into disgrace. She’s been marked as a slave."

The words struck him like ice down his spine.

Marked.

As a slave?

"So it was really true," he breathed, barely audible.

"I didn’t believe it either," she said softly, lowering her gaze. "But I confirmed it myself. People in the pack whispered about it behind closed doors. Her father... was killed by the Alphas, and she paid the price as his bloodline."

His chest tightened, and his fists curled at his sides. He knew what it meant to be marked—what kind of cruel treatment came with it. Humiliation. Punishment. Chains. Selene, who once stood with her chin high and a fire in her spirit, now forced to bow?

His heart ached.

She didn’t deserve that.

"I’m... sorry," Meriya murmured. Her voice trembled as if she truly felt something, and her lashes lowered in perfect mimicry of sorrow. "It’s awful. But I’ll try to find her, Prince. Maybe I can speak to someone. Ease her situation, somehow..."

jaw tense. "Thank you. I... can’t move freely in

a hand over his. "Leave it to

graceful nod and turned away with quiet

the moment Prince Vaelen disappeared behind the guestroom

Meriya’s soft features twisted.

tightly that her perfectly painted nails bit into her palm. Blood pricked the

whispered under

curled—but not in a frown. No, there was a glint of triumph in her eyes. Selene, the ever-perfect golden girl of the palace, the one who dared to act above them all because the prince once looked

A slave.

Meriya nearly laughed.

swiftly on her heel, skirts swishing, and headed down the hallway. Her boots clicked quickly

opened before she

looked up from her mirror. "Well?" she asked with a

true. She’s a slave. Hidden away somewhere in

then burst into a delighted laugh. "No way! Finally, the proud little thing

Meriya said, eyes shining. "All those years she acted like she was better than us—just

girls linked arms,

Arlena

"I want to see it with my own eyes. Let’s go see what’s left

secret game, but there was

finally ready to watch Selene fall... and enjoy every second of

first to the servant quarters, her golden dress and courtly presence enough to draw bows

of a trembling omega girl barely

Meriya cooed, tucking a curl behind her ear. "I heard she’s been through... such tragedy. But no one will tell

the corridor. Fear

say anything..." she

coin, heavier

in the Alpha Wing," the girl finally confessed. Her voice was barely audible. "Assigned to clean. Orders came directly from Alpha Lucian. No one

didn’t waver, but

Wing?" she repeated, like the words tasted foul. "Why

imagination filled in the rest. Selene, the filthy bitch now marked as a slave—working in

Meriya’s blood boiled.

pathetic bitch wants

did it before, didn’t she? The prince wouldn’t stop talking to her, and she acted like a princess just because of it." She

her nails dug into her palms as she walked