The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: He Is Not Her Mate... Then Why Does Her Heart Flutter?

Author’s POV~

Celeste’s body trembled as she muttered curses under her breath, her eyes still burning with rage as she glared at the space where Selene had walked away. Her nails dug into her palms, her lips twisted with a sneer. "How dare she... How dare she mock me like that in front of everyone... She will pay for this, I swear..."

But before another word could leave her mouth, a hand clamped tightly around her wrist. Celeste gasped as her arm was yanked roughly, spinning her around with such force that her breath caught.

And then...slap!

The sound cracked through the air like thunder. Celeste staggered back with a stinging cheek, her vision blurring in disbelief. The crowd gasped again, but this time not for Selene. This time it was for her.

Her hand flew to her face, trembling. "W-what—" she choked out, her voice breaking. Her eyes lifted, and then they widened in shock. "M... Mother?"

Elder Naeris stood before her, her face carved in cold disappointment, her eyes sharp as blades.

Tears welled in Celeste’s eyes. Her voice broke into a small, pitiful whisper. "Why... why did you slap me? Here? In front of everyone? How... how will I ever face them again?"

But Elder Naeris’s voice cut through her like ice. "Shut up. If you do not know how to speak with dignity, then do not speak at all."

Celeste froze, the weight of her mother’s words striking harder than the slap itself.

And then, before the stunned crowd, Elder Naeris bowed her head low. "My daughter has caused trouble today. I ask for your forgiveness on her behalf. I will discipline her properly."

Gasps and protests rippled through the witches gathered. "Elder Naeris, please! Do not bow to us..."

"It is not your fault, Elder!"

was Celeste who wronged Selene."

another, filled with respect, pleading for Elder Naeris not to

Her voice was steady, unyielding. "No. She has shamed not only herself but me as well. We will go to Selene, and she will

ago softened, their hearts bending in respect

could barely breathe. Her lips trembled, her voice small and desperate.

sharp glare from Elder Naeris silenced her instantly. Celeste’s throat closed. She dared

deepening. But Selene was already gone, her figure nowhere in sight. So Elder Naeris had not been able to force the apology there in the market, but she would make sure

painfully on Celeste’s arm. Without another word, she dragged her

cheeks burning with both pain and humiliation. She wanted to scream, to fight back, to curse

the first time, Celeste felt small—smaller than

Kieran’s arm as she pulled him

to her ears, but she refused to look back. She couldn’t stay there a second

opened the door quickly and almost pushed him inside, her own hands trembling as she climbed in after

voice came out soft, almost breaking. "Take off your

as she had asked. The moment it was in her hands, she tossed it into the

If I had known she would show up,

still, his gaze soft and steady as it followed every movement of hers. He didn’t interrupt. He didn’t tell her to stop apologizing. He

of his shirt. "At least it didn’t stain

back. Selene leaned close, her hand brushing over his shoulder as

was when

close she was.

smaller now, every inch of space between them erased by the fact that she was leaning into him, her hand

slowly, just enough to glance at her from the corner of his eye. His gaze met hers, close, too close, and

unsteady, her cheeks flushing with heat. "I—I think you’re fine now," she muttered, shoving the