The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Selene Is Alive?

Serena’s POV~

The room stayed silent after Aeron’s words.

You could almost hear the tension humming in the air. The queen’s polite smile had vanished, the king’s expression had gone stiff, and everyone else seemed too afraid to even move their forks.

It was awkward. Painfully awkward.

I stared down at my plate, pretending to be focused on my food, but my heartbeat was too loud in my ears. I could feel every gaze flicking between Aeron and the king. Even Kael had stopped smirking for once.

Finally, the king cleared his throat.

"Ahem..." His voice came out calm. "Let’s not allow old matters to spoil the evening, shall we?"

He forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "We are all gathered here to celebrate peace and unity between the packs and the crown."

Peace and unity...right?

The only thing peaceful in this room was the silence that came after every insult.

But the king kept speaking, his tone gentle, almost fatherly. "Alpha Aeron, Alpha Luca, Alpha Lucian, Alpha Kael... I understand your journey has not been easy. You rose from nothing. You built what many thought impossible. I deeply admire your... determination."

The pause before "determination" said everything.

It was the kind of fake compliment that sounded like praise but felt like a warning.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. His hands were clasped together tightly under the table, knuckles pale. He was angry...furious, even, but he couldn’t show it.

Because he knew exactly what everyone else did.

He couldn’t afford to lose his temper with them.

The Alphas weren’t just powerful...they were dangerous. Their pack had grown faster and stronger than anyone expected. Even the werewolf council were starting to whisper about them.

If the king pushed too hard, he wouldn’t just be insulting some Alphas. He’d be provoking a possible war.

And that was something he couldn’t risk.

So instead, he swallowed his pride and put on that calm royal smile again. "You must understand," he said softly, "it is the duty of the crown to watch over the balance of power in the realm. I only wish for your safety and for the safety of your people. You’ve all suffered enough loss already."

He sighed, as if truly burdened by their pain. "I was deeply remorseful to hear about your mate," he added slowly. "Such tragedy is not something any ruler should ever ignore. Please, accept my sincerest condolences."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Even I froze for a second.

Mate.

That single word brought a stillness over the table.

Everyone seemed to wait for Aeron to respond. But before he could open his mouth, Lucian spoke instead.

His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge, like a blade sliding free from its sheath.

have not lost

turned toward

mildly surprised that the silent Lucian

is perfectly fine," he said, his tone smooth and final. "So, Your

a pin and heard it hit

The shock was instant.

slipping. Arlena’s fork clattered onto her plate. Prince Vaelen blinked, looking between Lucian and the king as if trying to make sure he’d heard

himself froze

he

Lucian didn’t

expression blank, as if nothing unusual had happened. "There’s nothing to discuss," he said flatly. Then he looked down at his glass, swirling the wine lazily. "Let’s not speak of

one said another word

so long it started to feel

My chest tightened.

else was confused, I knew

She’s alive.

Selene.

four

that she’d been lost to the fire,

She was alive.

here, watching the shocked faces around the

didn’t look my way again. Neither did Aeron, nor Luca, nor Kael. But I

silence that followed Lucian’s words was different

just awkward...it was

changed in the same instant. Confusion. Shock.

almost hear their

he

everything, looked completely lost. His brows drew together as he stared

second, her calm, regal face twisted into something cold and ugly. "I’m sorry,"

even

his drink, like her question wasn’t

only made

the daughter of the late Alpha Eirik. The one who perished not long ago... along with that pure-blooded witch. Surely, I am

words hung in the air, heavy

knew what

Everyone remembered the story.

of fire. The witch who

That the Alpha brothers had gone mad after losing their mate, that they had slaughtered every

the king

hear that she

king looked like someone had just poured a bucket of ice water over his head. His fake calm cracked, and his hand

his glass and looked

eyes were cold and

not repeat myself, Your Majesty," he said

room went so quiet, it felt like even the candles had stopped

the table, Arlena’s face went pale. Then red. Then pale again. She blinked rapidly, her lips trembling as she tried to form words

She finally stammered, her voice high-pitched and shaky. "H-how can Selene still be alive? Everyone

"Enough."

voice cut through her words; he refused to listen

loud, but