Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 24: Making Progress

Violet hurriedly gobbled down her food, not because it was incredibly delicious, but because she wanted to be done with it as quickly as possible and get away from this psychopath.

Unfortunately for Violet, Asher seemed to misinterpret her urgency. He looked at her with concern and said, "My poor queen, you must be starving. Let me order more for you."

He was already picking up his phone when Violet shouted, "No!"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "No?"

"Yes, I’m good. Any more than this and I’ll throw up," she replied honestly. Years of deprivation had conditioned her stomach to accept only so much, and she truly couldn’t eat any more.

Asher frowned, clearly disapproving. "You have quite a small appetite. It’s not enough, little purple. But don’t worry, you’re here now, and I’ll fix that."

Shivers ran down Violet’s spine at those words—a promise she wished had never been made. Asher was not going to let her out of his sight. Good thing she was already thinking of another way to escape. She would not let this psychopath groom her into being his "purple queen." That was never happening.

Violet slowed her pace, eating less quickly now but still taking large bites of food, trying to make it appear natural. Thankfully, Asher was focused on his phone now, and that gave her some breathing room.

Still, Violet couldn’t help but watch him. Asher Nightshade looked surprisingly proper in his Lunaris uniform. Unlike Roman and Griffin—based on her recent experience with them—Asher wore his uniform fully and neatly, and she found herself wondering if he was, in fact, a model student.

Or maybe that, too, was just an elaborate act to make people believe he was something he wasn’t. Just like his abilities, was everything about him a facade? What was real about Asher Nightshade?

Violet got so absorbed watching him, trying to unravel the enigma he seemed to be, that she barely noticed she was still eating. There was something about him that was undeniably alluring, though she couldn’t quite figure out what it was. Was it his overgrown hair, gelled smoothly to one side of his face, or the nearly invisible pores on his skin? How could someone look so perfect?

As he typed away on his phone, the slightest frown appeared on his face. Violet found herself having the ridiculous urge to smooth it away. Yep, this was more proof that she was going crazy.

features appealing.

lifted her head to steal a glance at him, only for her eyes to collide with his. The suddenness of it startled her so much that she choked,

violently, tears slipping

of water to her lips. She didn’t even protest, instinctively gulping it down until the glass was empty. Asher set the

he muttered, his hand moving in soothing

staring at Asher as if he had suddenly grown two heads. No one had ever said those words to her. Even though this was some twisted situation, no one had ever taken care of her like

sick and she didn’t want her to die. No one else had ever looked at her like she truly mattered, like

her face with one hand, the other continuing to rub her back, his touch now slowing into a gentler, almost seductive rhythm. Her breath hitched,

magic in the air. Asher leaned in, her own eyes slowly drifting closed. She knew what she was doing. It was only a kiss, nothing

swung open, and Principal Jameson’s voice echoed through the room, "Who the fuck is in my

jerked back immediately, the feeling of being caught about to kiss a psychopath feeling like a slap across her face. It was a sobering

Jameson cursed as she realized he wasn’t wearing his

to get to her feet just as Jameson pulled

the principal’s over-the-top reaction, Violet couldn’t help but wonder what

unusual from the others, but that was

anything, Violet found herself oddly comfortable staring into those slitted, reptilian eyes. Unless, of course, Jameson had secrets she didn’t want Asher pulling from her.

to recognize

behind the shades, Violet could sense the accusation in Jameson’s tone. She had begun to judge her and it was not surprising, not after her "creative"

satchel. "I’m leaving

to his feet as well.

startling

licked her lips, regaining her composure as she spoke calmly, "I think you’ve done enough already." And it was anything but a thank