THE WITCH AND HER QUADRUPLET AlPHAS

THE TRAP

While Rose was desperately eager to heal the dying Alpha, she had forgotten where she was and the consequences her supposedly kind actions could lead to.

Though it sounded like a fairy tale, Rose had always heard stories of how witches and werewolves once lived in harmony until a fierce war broke out. The witches barely won by casting a spell to imprison all werewolves in an entirely different realm, devoid of humans or witches. Unfortunately, Rose was told she lost her mother in the war.

Over the years, the werewolves tried various ways to break free from the barrier, but they failed. They believe the only way out was if there was a witch among them, one powerful enough to reverse the spell and open a gateway out of the realm.

After many years of failing to break out of the realm, the werewolves had completely given up on escaping and accepted their unfavorable fate until a colossal airborne threat occurred.

Werewolves were gradually dying from an airborne disease spreading quickly from rural areas to the entire realm.

Shortly after Rose recited the spell to heal the Alpha, Jamie rushed back into the room, staring with eyes wide open at Rose and his father; the Alpha who was now weak and back in his previous condition.

Within seconds, Dante, Reece, and Lemar barged in, wearing the same shocked expression. All Rose could do was stand still, her hands clenched and her body sweaty.

"What did you do?" Jamie broke the silence, his voice easing slightly as he saw the tension and anger building in his brothers' eyes. "I... I... don't... I only placed—" Rose stammered until Lemar, fiercely angry, interrupted.

"You have thirty seconds to appear in the courtroom," Lemar ordered, immediately leaving the room. Reece and Dante followed, throwing deadly glares at Rose before exiting. "Follow them," Jamie instructed, his anger replaced by sadness.

As Rose passed through the door, Jamie held her right hand and stared into her eyes, "Put yourself together." Rose paused, staring back at him, truly scared for the first time since arriving.

After a few seconds of following the brothers, they entered the fifth room down the corridor. It was Rose's second time there, though she had been too dazed by hunger the first time, just after being released from prison.

The room had a large table at the center surrounded by chairs, with four larger chairs at each side of the table. The brothers took their seats, all gazing at Rose, waiting for Lemar to speak first as the eldest.

"What did you do to the Alpha and how?" Lemar spoke with clenched teeth and tightened fists. The earlier scared Rose had vanished, replaced by a bold and daring one, much like her late mother. "I didn't do anything, Master," she said boldly.

Reece chuckled. "Do you think we're fools?" he asked, staring at her with disgust. "So let me get this straight; I left you with my dad, and a few seconds later, he is strong enough to signal to us all and then fades out again?" Jamie asked, slightly rising from his seat.

"As soon as you left, I saw his eyes glow and that was all until you rushed back in," she said, unfazed by the situation she had gotten herself, and part of her still didn't regret her action.

"Alright then, you'll begin to work with me in my nursing room since your presence has magic powers that can heal the sick," Jamie said, now relaxed in his seat with his right hand on his chin.

Rose's eyes widened at his words, as did his brothers', who immediately kicked against his decision. After a few minutes of arguing about the decision telepathically with their linked minds, it seemed Jamie had won the argument.

He stood up, "Follow me," he said to Rose, walking out with his brothers still seated and staring deviously.

"You'll be staying in the nursing room every day until evening, right after cleaning. No more donkey chores for you," Jamie said once they were back in his room.

He was able to wear a faint smile on his face but Rose could clearly see through it. "Do I have a choice?" Rose asked, holding her hands behind her back. "No," Jamie replied quickly with a slight grin.

"These are my accolades from school," he said, pointing at an award as he showed Rose around the nursing room.

"These are my accolades from school," he said, pointing at an award while showing Rose around the nursing room. The room had three beds and a few items, with an extra door at the far end leading to another room. He opened the door, and Rose followed him inside. "This is where you can find and read books and other items."

Rose's attention was immediately drawn to a framed picture of Jamie holding hands with a woman. As she moved closer for a better look, it suddenly fell from the wall.

Jamie swiftly turned into his beast form and back to his human form after seeing blood gushing from Rose's leg, where she had stepped on the broken glass from the frame.

"I'm sorry," he said to Rose, raising his arms with his hands wide open. "Hold on, let me get the first aid kit," Jamie said, rushing to the other room while Rose hopped on one foot. "Here, give me your foot," Jamie said, kneeling and extending his hands.

"Imposter, now tell me who you are, since you're obviously not a werewolf," Jamie said staring into Rose's eyes with his earlier show of concern replaced by a devious, angry sneer.