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.

closer. My breath caught. His warmth was

rough, quiet voice that always made me lose myself, he whispered, "Are

before I could even open my eyes fully,

moment... 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

my fingers touched my lips without thinking. The ghost of that kiss still lingered. My throat tightened.

knew I didn’t really want him

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

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

pressing my hand against the cold table

past, I thought I had changed enough to fool them. My scent, my hair, my voice... everything. But alphas don’t forget what’s theirs, do they? They don’t

he did recognize me again. The moment

He knew.

a shaky breath and leaned closer to the mirror, staring at the girl who stared back. She looked calm, almost cold. But her eyes... they

said softly. Saying it out loud made

I hadn’t meant to disappear? That

all sounded so small

the guilt, the stupid, unwanted longing... it was

forced myself to stand straight, to breathe, to be calm again. My face in the mirror was composed now... just like

inside, I

I knew the truth. He had already found me. And this time... I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run

My mind was a mess, full of his face, his voice, his

a shiver down

Wherever one went, the others followed.

to my forehead and sighed. "Perfect,"

already been hanging by

to calm the storm in my chest, when a sudden sound broke my thoughts... a soft, polite

flinch. I already knew who it

breath. My voice came out

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

he said gently. "You

looked. "I wasn’t hungry," I said quietly. "Just

the one that said

a pause. "After what

out sharp, almost defensive. I

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

don’t have to apologize. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. You

Shaken.

If only he knew.

and waved it off.