The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Her Real Father

Aeron’s POV~

I sat there in the quiet room, trying to look calm. On the outside, I probably did; I was still and silent...the perfect picture of control. But inside, my heart was beating too fast. It refused to calm down.

Kael’s words still echoed in my head.

"She’s here, Aeron. Selena...I saw her."

At first, I thought he had finally lost it. I was almost ready to mourn my brother for good. Kael was always reckless, but this... this was too much. I stared at him for a long time in the morning...waiting for the joke. But he didn’t laugh. His eyes were serious and bright, almost glowing with something I hadn’t seen in the entire year.

It was hope.

And that was the moment I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I didn’t believe him at first. I didn’t want to. Because if he was wrong, if it turned out to be just another illusion or another cruel twist of fate... I wasn’t sure I could handle it again.

But when he said she had looked at him, that she had spoken, that she had gotten angry at him just like before ... something inside me broke loose.

That fire... only Selene had it.

Only she could make Kael grin like that even after nearly getting bitten.

I remember how I almost stood up that very moment. I was ready to go, to find her myself. To see if she was real. To make sure it wasn’t some trick my brothers were playing.

If Luca hadn’t stopped me, I probably would’ve kicked the door open and barged into her room like a fool.

But I didn’t.

Because deep down, I knew she’d hate that.

She must’ve been furious already... Kael had a way of doing that to people, and I could only imagine how she’d react if another one of us showed up uninvited.

So I waited.

With so much patience, I didn’t even know it existed in me.

I sat there quietly, pretending to think about something else, but my mind wasn’t on them. Every few seconds, I’d glance at the door, half-expecting someone to walk in and tell me it was all a lie.

But no one did.

And then... it happened.

The moment I sensed her presence in the hall, my whole body went still. It was like the air itself changed...softer, but heavier at the same time.

I didn’t even see her yet. I just knew.

breath caught, and before I

closer

I

trembled slightly, the way her eyes flicked around like she was trying not to

so real and

couldn’t breathe. I just stood there, staring at

same fire that used to challenge me every time we

to have her near, but the moment my gaze found her, it all came back... the pull, the

And then I moved.

already reacting. My

didn’t think.

me, after

up and saw

widened slightly, surprise flickering across her face, and I felt something sharp twist

Anything. But all I could do was take

nervous as me or not, but just touching her sent a tingle down my entire

pressed my lips to her skin, I felt it...that

for a heartbeat, it

the crowd, or the whispers, or the king sitting

saw was

how close I had come to losing this moment

my head, I met her eyes again. They were trembling slightly, but they were still

beautiful tonight," I said quietly. My voice sounded calm, but my heart was a

wide, lips parted

felt louder than anything

go of her hand, it felt wrong, like I

But I had to.

to show her that I wasn’t like Kael. That I could be patient. That I

if my chest still ached from how much I wanted to

I watched as Luca, Lucian, and Kael each took their turn...each one struggling in their own way

And I realized something.

matter what she’d

table. The noise of the hall had quieted, replaced by the soft sound of music and the low chatter of people trying

a word they said. My mind was somewhere

was when

Lord Maximus.

heard of him before... the man everyone called a legend, the one who disappeared years ago without a trace. I knew

Until now.

shifted. Even the air seemed to

at him once...

it... that feeling of familiarity. I’d seen him before. Once in that pack with Vaelen, I hadn’t known who he was back then. But now, looking at him... and then looking at her sitting not far from him...

They looked alike.