The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Just a Dog of the Werewolves Council

Vaelen’s POV~

The moment I led her out of that cursed room, I could still feel the weight of every stare burning into my back. My aura hadn’t settled yet. But I didn’t care. All I could think of was the girl trembling beside me.

Serena.

Her breathing was uneven. Every few steps, she stumbled, her small hands clutching at my sleeve as if she feared she might vanish if she let go.

I tightened my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as we walked through the long corridor toward a calm place.

The guards we passed lowered their eyes. No one dared to speak. Good. Because if anyone even whispered a word about what happened, I would have silenced them on the spot.

When we reached my quarters, I shut the door softly behind us. The silence that followed was almost unbearable. She stood there, shaking, her face pale and streaked with tears.

"Sit," I said quietly.

She obeyed without a word, sinking onto the couch as though her legs could no longer hold her. For a long moment, I just watched her, the way her fingers clutched the fabric of her dress, the way her lips trembled though she made no sound.

The scent of fear still clung to her. It made my chest tighten.

I knelt in front of her, lowering myself until her wide eyes met mine. "Serena," I said gently, "tell me what happened."

Her lips parted, but no words came. Then, slowly, haltingly, she spoke.

"I... I don’t know," she whispered, her voice raw. "I felt dizzy. I just wanted to rest for a while. I thought one of the rooms was empty."

I stayed still, letting her speak. Every word was like a blade twisting in my gut.

"I lay down... and then he came. He...he pinned me down." Her voice cracked. "I didn’t even know him. He looked angry, like he wanted to kill me."

Her breath hitched. "He tried to choke me, brother. I don’t even know what I did wrong..."

Her words broke apart into sobs then ... small, helpless sounds that made my throat burn. I reached out slowly, placing my hand on her back.

"You did nothing wrong," I said quietly, keeping my tone steady. "You hear me? Nothing."

She nodded weakly, tears spilling over again. I rubbed slow circles on her back until her breathing eased a little.

When I finally spoke again, my voice was calm, but there was no warmth in it. "He’s nobody," I said, the words sharp in my mouth. "Just a dog of the Werewolves Council."

eyes still glassy. "The...

call themselves peacekeepers," I said. "A group of pack leaders who claim to prevent wars between packs and races. They monitor alliances, control territory, make sure everyone stays

low breath. "But that’s not

at me. "Then

power. They fear what we are... our strength, our blood. So they wrap their chains

stared at me, silent. Her eyes, still damp with tears, reflected the light like tiny

looked away for a moment, my gaze falling to the floor. The note still weighed on my mind... that blank

there to witness it. And in all

this was more

still broken from the fear, but she was breathing evenly again. I reached out,

anymore," I told her softly. "You’re safe here.

flickered up to mine... uncertain, tired, but trusting. That look did something strange

and move, thinking of the council, of the blank note, of the

orchestrated this wanted to send a message. But they’d chosen the

Serena, her breathing slow, her lashes still wet

this time it was more a vow than

And I meant it.

would end the moment

finally steadied, I knew it was time to return. The night had stretched too long already. And Serena

quiet for someone her

slowly. "We’re going back to the palace," I

her feet, making sure she was steady before leading her out. The corridors were silent now, no guards daring to cross our path. The scent of fear and tension still clung to the

cool night air, I pulled my cloak around her shoulders. She leaned slightly into me, tired, fragile. I didn’t say anything, but I could feel

Not just for her.

would

mind. The old man might look calm most of the time, but I knew his temper. He’d probably kill me first

the fragile line between the Lycan palace and the Werewolves Council would shatter

couldn’t let that

for a reason to twist the knife — to call us monsters again, to strip away what little authority we still have left. One mistake, one careless act, and my father would hand them the excuse

Father...

was nothing more than a puppet to the council. He never saw the strings they tied around him. Or maybe he did

not be surprised if I even found him fucking some whores that

about the situation, having drowned himself in a world where

to end a

death rather than become a

had to