The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: The Breaking Point

Selene’s POV

I should have known today would go badly.

The moment I saw those two walking toward me, I knew my luck had run out again.

Even back in the palace, we never got along. Meriya and Arlena always wore fake smiles, hiding sharp claws underneath. They never missed a chance to humiliate me. Back then, I still had a name... still had dignity. And even then, they hated me.

Now? Now that I was nothing? A slave with no family, no power, no protection?

They were going to destroy me.

I lowered my gaze quickly, hoping they would just pass by or lose interest. But no. Of course not. The goddess must enjoy watching me suffer, because they found me too quickly—smirking like noblewomen with golden crowns, pretending to care.

"Selene?" Arlena gasped with fake surprise, covering her mouth like she had just seen a ghost. "Oh my, it really is you!"

I stayed quiet. I didn’t want this fight. I didn’t want any part of their twisted games.

Meriya stepped closer, her eyes scanning me from head to toe with thinly hidden disgust. "Working in the Alpha Wing?" Her smile was tight. Cold. "How strange."

I could feel their jealousy—burning hotter than the sun outside. Even as I kneeled on the cold hallway floor, dressed in a filthy servant’s gown, with my hands red from scrubbing tile after tile... they looked at me like I was still a threat.

Like my existence bothered them.

Then, without warning, Arlena kicked over my bucket.

Dirty water splashed over my legs and chest, soaking the last clean part of my gown. It stuck to my skin.

feigning innocence. "I didn’t see you

refusing to answer. Maybe if I stayed quiet, they would get bored and leave. That was the only

silence only made them

sharp pain

had kicked me—hard—right in the ribs. Right where it would hurt the most. I gasped and stumbled backward, curling in on myself. My entire side throbbed, and I knew from the pain that she had hit

"My foot slipped. You really shouldn’t stand in my

but I forced myself

cry. Not

word holding back my rage and pain. "Lady Meriya. Lady Arlena. My work is

she echoed. "I

pointed at the

"Clean it up."

sighed. There was no use arguing. Not here. Not when I was outnumbered, outmatched, and already in trouble for even being

I knelt

the tiles, Meriya crouched beside me and leaned close. Her breath tickled my

her breath brushing against my ear like something rotten. Her voice

Selene? One after another? I heard the warriors didn’t even have to force you... you

against the floor. Her words felt like knives,

behind her, playing the part of someone shocked by scandal. "What?

wanted to scream. I

But Meriya wasn’t done.

Did you cry for them while they

squeezed my eyes shut, my breath trembling. My jaw clenched so hard I thought

Luna, they said. And now look at you... scrubbing floors with filthy hands and spreading your legs for

low, mocking laugh, her voice dripping with poison. "And now look at you—following in her footsteps like