Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 45: Who Knows Asher’s Plans?

A cold like never before burrowed deeply into Violet’s skin, chilling her to the bone. The steps she took down the empty hallway felt heavy, almost robotically, as if she had been disconnected from her own body.

Nothing made sense anymore. Not when her head swirled with a thousand thoughts, all crashing into each other like waves in a violent storm. It was as if the world had tilted off its axis, and she was left grasping at straws to regain her footing.

Her instincts had always whispered to her to be wary of Asher, and now she knew they had been right all along.

"You, my purple queen, will take Elsie’s place." Those words kept echoing in Violet’s head, haunting her as she replayed them over and over. They looped through her mind, like a broken record that refused to stop.

It was chilling.

At first after he had said that, Violet had assumed Asher was joking. She thought it was another one of his games, you know, his own twisted way of riling her up. But there had been nothing playful about that dark, intent look in his eyes. And that was all the confirmation she needed to know he was deadly serious.

"You mad man!" she had shouted, pushing him away before taking to her heels, her breath catching in her chest as she fled. She hadn’t looked back. No, she didn’t dare to.

What the fuck was wrong with Asher? What did he mean by her "taking Elsie’s place"?!

Elsie was the one chosen by the Alpha King for one of them. Taking Elsie’s place would mean challenging the Alpha King himself, and only someone with a death wish would even consider that. It was madness. Suicidal.

And Violet, as reckless as she was, still wanted to live. So she clung to that desire fiercely, which meant there was no way she could go along with Asher’s ridiculous idea.

The first thought that rushed into Violet’s mind was running away. To leave Lunaris and escape Asher and his insanity as planned. But she couldn’t do it now. Not in broad daylight when his eyes and ears were possibly everywhere.

After all, Asher had made it crystal clear that he doesn’t plan on letting her go anytime soon. Violet shuddered at the thought of what he would do if he caught her trying to "leave him." so running wasn’t an option. Not while the sun was up.

in time. She had to figure out a plan and keep herself safe until she could escape properly, without leaving a

she had wandered aimlessly for what felt like hours, lost in her thoughts. By the time she realized herself, the hallway was

and began to walk in the direction of the classroom. The teacher would likely deduct points, maybe, even punish her. But that was nothing compared to the fear of what Asher

complete stop when someone stepped out from

ran down her spine. The blood drained from her face, leaving her feeling cold and hollow. Of all people, it had to be him. Just

Griffin didn’t move and kept his gaze fixed on her,

had been

Oh God.

opposite direction, but she slammed right into someone else. She stumbled back, lifting her gaze to see who it was, and her heart leaped

cardinal alphas. Maybe, just maybe, he’d help her. But that was until she remembered that Alaric and Griffin were best

Fuck her life.

fight-or-flight instincts took over.

Violet screamed, struggling against him with all her might, twisting and squirming. But Alaric was strong—unbearably strong—and he pulled her back, holding her tightly against his chest. She could feel the tension in his body, and his grip was

hitting his nose with a satisfying crack. He yelped, and his grip loosened, giving her a split second to escape. Violet didn’t waste any

then, but it only lasted for

before she felt hands wrap around her shoulders, and then she was being

cry of shock left her lips as Griffin Hale threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. The world tipped upside down, her stomach lurching as she landed hard against his broad

me down! Let me go!" her

back, but he didn’t even flinch. Instead, his arm clamped

was against him. Griffin was a

and any hope of someone

shut behind them, the sound echoing off the walls