The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas Chapter 85: Who the hell are you?

Luca’s POV ~

I followed in the direction, my feet carrying before I even realized. Julian’s head turned at the sound of my approach, and the mont his eyes t mine, the color drained from his face. His whole body tensed, like he’d been caught doing sothing shaful.

Pathetic.

I tilted my head slightly, narrowing my eyes. He looked like he wanted to vanish, like he was desperate for not to recognize him.

"What the hell is with him?" I muttered under my breath. "He should worry about himself before worrying about ."

I didn’t have the ti or the patience to waste on so bratty alpha heir and his little fits. There were more important things weighing on . One of them was definitely her. My mate.

And now... her scent.

At first, I thought it was a cruel trick of my mind. My wolf had whispered it too many tis in the past year, too many false hopes, too many nights clawing at the emptiness inside . He would whisper, "She’s here; she’s close," only for it to be nothing. Just grief twisting into hallucinations.

But this ti... this ti the scent was real. I could taste it in the air, rich and undeniable, the one thing that had haunted through endless nights.

"No... it can’t be," I whispered, my throat tightening.

My wolf howled inside , clawing against my chest. It’s her...ours.

I wanted to believe. God, I wanted to. But doubt tore at like fangs digging into bone. What if it was another illusion? Another dream turned into a nightmare the mont I reached out?

Still... what if it wasn’t? What if it really was her?

I couldn’t let this chance go.

"I’ll catch her," I growled, my words filled with desperation. "I’ll find out if it’s true."

But by the ti my eyes focused, her figure was already far ahead, slipping through the trees like a fleeting shadow. Just a silhouette, too distant for to see clearly. Panic slamd into my chest, squeezing until I couldn’t breathe.

Every step she took forward felt like she was tearing further away from .

"No... don’t go," the words slipped out in a broken whisper.

Before I could think, before reason could stop , my body leapt forward. Bones snapped, flesh tore, and black fur burst from my skin. A snarl ripped from my throat as my massive wolf form hit the ground running.

My paws tore through the forest floor, muscles burning, my breath ragged. My wolf didn’t hesitate. He never did. He wanted her...close to him.

But the mont my growl carried through the air, she looked back. And everything in stuttered.

Her eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. Her steps faltered, then quickened into a desperate run.

"Why..." My thoughts scattered, rage and confusion colliding inside . "Why is she afraid of ?"

My chest ached, every beat of my heart slicing deeper. If she were just so stranger, she wouldn’t run. There would be no reason for fear. But if she was Selene... she had every reason to flee. And that realization ripped through like claws.

I pushed harder, closing the gap. But then I saw her properly. Her hair. It was long and black, cascading down her back like ink. Selene’s hair was silver, bright as moonlight. This girl was not the sa.

Even when she turned her head for the briefest second, I saw her face. It was also different from Selene’s.

My speed faltered. My heart twisted.

"No... How could I mistake soone else for her?" I muttered, my voice a low growl. "What the hell is happening to ?"

I swore to myself I would never look at another girl, never see anyone but my mate. It was the only respect I could give her for the years she had been torn away from .

Yet here I was, chasing soone else.

I slowed, chest heaving.

But then—like a blade cutting through fog—it hit again.

That scent.

My wolf’s ears perked, his entire body trembling with excitent. His tail wagged furiously, like a damn pup. My own eyes widened.

"It’s hers," I breathed, unable to stop the tremor in my voice. "That scent... it’s Selene’s. Undoubtedly hers."

The ground tilted beneath , my heart flipping between joy and fury.

"Then why—" I snarled, snapping my teeth. "Why the hell is Selene’s scent all over this girl?"

Did she... did she do sothing to Selene? Did she hurt her? Or was she soone close to her? A friend? An accomplice?

Questions tore through my head, ripping apart.

I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. I needed answers.

My paws pounded harder, faster. Trees blurred past . The distance shrank. She couldn’t outrun —not on two legs, not against a predator born to hunt.

Her steps grew frantic, stumbling, but no matter how she tried, she couldn’t escape.

I leapt, and my body crashed against hers, and we tumbled on the dirt. I pinned her to the ground with my claws digging into the soil as I stood over her, massive and unyielding.

Her breath ca in sharp, broken gasps. Her heartbeat thundered so loud I felt it shaking through my chest.

I lowered my head, my wolf’s nose brushing along her skin as I sniffed desperately. The scent was there. It was definitely Selene’s. Familiar, calming, the only thing in this cursed world that had ever soothed .

My wolf’s eyes widened, glowing with joy. His tail swayed back and forth like he had been waiting an eternity for this mont.

A deep rumble vibrated in my chest. Peace. For the first ti in a year, peace claims .

I shut my eyes, inhaling, letting it sink into . Just that scent was enough to silence every storm inside.

But then my human mind struck back.

My gaze lifted, and I saw her.

Her bare shoulders glistened under the moonlight. Her chest rose and fell with each ragged breath. Her eyes were shut tight, her body trembling, trying to calm itself.

She was beautiful. Undoubtedly beautiful.

But she was not mine. my Selene.

My throat burned. My jaw clenched.

"She’s not Selene," I whispered, fury and despair tangled in my voice. "She’s not. Then why... Why the hell is Selene’s scent all over her?"

My wolf growled, snapping at my denial. Ours. She’s ours.

"No!" I roared inside. "She’s not! She can’t be!"

My chest tightened as I stared down at the girl beneath . The questions wouldn’t stop. Was Selene alive? Was she close? Did this girl know where she was?

I slamd a paw against the dirt, snarling at my own confusion.

"Answer ," I growled low, my voice rough even in my wolf’s form. My eyes burned into her trembling fra. "Who the hell are you? And why do you sll like my mate?"