The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Moment Before the Storm

I had to look away for a moment, just to breathe.

It was suffocating any rational thought. But still I couldn’t tear my eyes from her completely; the sight of her, so broken and silent in his lap, twisted something deep in my chest I couldn’t name.

Lucian knew it too. That’s why he kept talking. That’s why he smirked like he was winning something.

And maybe he was.

He was pushing my limit, testing how far I would go before I would snap at his face.

He wanted me to lose control. To lash out. To prove that Selene still held power over me. Because if I did... if I so much as looked like I cared, Lucian would turn it on her. That was the kind of man he was. A snake who didn’t bite until he knew where your weakness lived.

And Selene? She was mine.

Or at least, she had been. Before all this.

I inhaled slowly and forced my jaw to unclench. My fingers had curled into fists behind my back. I released them one by one, letting my voice smooth into the cold courtesy I’d mastered over the years at court.

"My apologies for the interruption," I said, my tone even, perfectly measured. "I merely came to ensure everything was progressing well before the coronation. It seems I’ve intruded on a... personal moment."

Lucian’s grin widened like a man who thought he’d won a game.

"Not at all, Your Highness. You’re welcome any time. Selene doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight."

I didn’t rise to the bait.

Instead, I stepped back with careful grace and gave a shallow nod toward the door.

"Please let the others know I’ll be returning to the main estate. I suddenly remembered an urgent matter I must attend to before tomorrow’s event."

Lucian raised a brow, amused. "So soon?"

I met his gaze directly. "Yes. I think I’ve seen enough for now."

His eyes glittered. But I didn’t stay long enough to hear his reply.

steady steps, refusing to look back. My footsteps echoed down the hall like drumbeats against the stone, every one of them carrying the weight of

out of the wing—out of that cursed chamber with its suffocating air. Only then did I let the

had to leave. Not for

For hers.

I stayed a moment longer, I might have done something

me to snap. He wanted an excuse to tear into her in ways worse than what he’d already done. And if

Selene would suffer.

I couldn’t protect her. Not when they

But soon I would.

my hands again, nails biting into my

~~~

Selene’s POV~

walked away, something in me

couldn’t hold it

silence I had kept so tightly shattered. My body twisted hard in Lucian’s lap, trying to get free. I didn’t care if it hurt. I didn’t care if I fell. I

kicked against the couch. My heart felt like it had been torn in half. I couldn’t believe he had

still remembered me. The only person who might have

Lucian had destroyed even

sobbed harder, my chest heaving. I hated him. I hated him so much

I cried, but my voice was weak and

just stared at me like he

Then suddenly, he snapped.

he shouted, his

flinched, but

that it?! Feeling disgusted that he got to

with fury. Each word hit me like

like your heart is breaking? You didn’t

froze, choking on a

for a moment... his eyes changed. Like something

think this hurts?

and stood over me, his chest rising with rage. His eyes burned as he looked down at me—still crying, still shaking, still curled like