The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 191: Chapter 191: Lies

Serena’s POV~

The call ended, and I just sat there, staring at the phone like it might still speak. My chest felt tight, too tight, like something was pressing against my ribs from the inside. For a moment, I didn’t even breathe.

Then I laughed... softly. It sounded more like a sigh. "I’m waiting for you here... Mother," I whispered, dragging the last word out until it almost hurt.

It tasted strange in my mouth. The word mother.

The phone slipped from my hand and hit the bed with a dull thud. I stood there, staring at it like it had just insulted me. My reflection in the mirror caught my eye next... wet hair, flushed cheeks, eyes that couldn’t decide whether to cry or scream. I hated what I saw.

I grabbed the towel, wiping my hair hard, as if I could scrub off the feelings clinging to me. My pulse was racing again, but this time it wasn’t because of my mother. No. It was because of him.

The moment his face flashed in my mind, my stomach turned. My hands went still.

"What the hell was he even doing here?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head. My voice sounded too small in the empty room.

He shouldn’t have been here. He had no reason to come. Pack alphas never step into Lycan territory unless something’s seriously wrong. And even then, he wasn’t supposed to be here.

I had planned everything so carefully. Staying quiet, keeping my distance, staying hidden in this place where no one would look for me. I told myself I’d finally have peace. That no one would ever find me here.

But of course, fate had to laugh in my face.

The moment I saw him... standing beside Prince Vaelen, tall, composed, radiating that same infuriating confidence, I felt my entire world collapse inside me. My heart stopped. My body forgot how to move.

I remember hiding behind the curtain, just peeking through the edge of the window. My hands were trembling so hard I thought they’d give me away. I told myself not to look. Don’t look at him, Selena. Don’t.

But then our eyes met.

And it was over.

That look. That unbearable, familiar, knowing look.

I stumbled back, hitting the wall. My breath came out shaky. My whole body screamed run, but where could I go? You can’t hide from an alpha, especially not him. I knew that. I knew it deep in my bones.

And I was right.

Because that night... he came.

I had been lying there, pretending to sleep, pretending to be calm, pretending that I didn’t care. The room was quiet, dark, safe or so I thought. But then I felt it... the presence, the heaviness, that strange electricity that always followed him.

My heart nearly stopped.

Every muscle in my body went rigid, and I begged silently, Please don’t come. Please don’t. But even as I said it in my head, I knew I didn’t mean it. Because a part of me... wanted him there.

bed dipped slightly when he leaned closer. My

then, in that rough, quiet voice that always made me

before I could even open my eyes fully, his lips

it destroyed

burned through every part of me. I froze, but my body didn’t listen to my mind. My heart was wild, and my skin remembered him like it had been waiting all this time. I hated that. I hated how much I wanted to melt into

front of the mirror, my fingers touched my lips without thinking. The ghost of that kiss still lingered. My throat tightened. "You shouldn’t have come," I

down, I knew I didn’t really want him to

I closed my eyes, I saw him again. His eyes. His hands. The way his voice cracked when

bled for me, protected me when no one else would. The desperation in their eyes when they thought they might lose me. I had told myself I’d forgotten that. I had told myself they didn’t mean anything anymore. But

I muttered, pressing my hand against the

fool them. My scent, my hair, my voice...

time it was same, he did recognize me again. The moment our eyes met again,

He knew.

the girl who stared back. She looked calm, almost cold. But her eyes... they betrayed

me," I said softly. Saying it out

face him. What could I even say? That I hadn’t meant to disappear? That I hadn’t meant to hurt him? That I was only

all sounded

and tried to push down the storm inside me. But it wouldn’t stop. The ache, the guilt, the stupid, unwanted longing...

forced myself to stand straight, to breathe, to be calm again. My face in

inside, I

the truth. He had already found me. And

a long time, staring at nothing. My mind was a mess, full of his face, his voice, his touch. But then another thought struck me...

a shiver down my

never traveled separately. Wherever one went, the others followed. It was their way... always together, always guarding each other like

sighed. "Perfect," I whispered bitterly.

had already been hanging by a

chest, when a sudden sound broke

flinch. I already knew

called, taking a deep breath. My voice came

the door, Vaelen stood there, his usual calm expression softened by worry. His eyes scanned me from head to toe like he was searching for

said gently. "You weren’t

forced a small smile, pretending not to notice how tense he looked. "I wasn’t

look, the one that said he cared,

he admitted after a pause. "After what happened

The words came out sharp, almost defensive. I saw

biting my lip. "Sorry," I muttered. "I didn’t mean to

his gaze softened. "You don’t have to apologize. I just

Shaken.

If only he knew.

waved it off. "It was nothing. Really, I’m okay