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.

somehow willing her to find his features appealing.

at him, only for her eyes to collide with

began to cough violently, tears slipping from

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

his hand moving in soothing circles across her

frozen in place, 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

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

continuing to rub her back, his touch now slowing into a gentler, almost seductive rhythm. Her breath hitched, coming out in

her own eyes slowly drifting closed. She knew what she was doing. It was only a kiss, nothing more. Violet justified

voice echoed through the room, "Who the fuck is in my

being caught about to kiss a psychopath feeling like a slap across her face. It was a sobering

cursed as she realized he wasn’t wearing

the distraction to scramble away from Asher, managing to get to her feet just as Jameson pulled a pair of aviators from her bag and put

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

were unusual from the others, but that

secrets she didn’t want Asher pulling

seemed to recognize her. "Miss

with her eyes hidden behind the shades, Violet could sense the accusation in Jameson’s tone. She had begun

grabbed her satchel. "I’m

feet as

shouted, startling

calmly, "I think you’ve done enough already." And it was