Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 79: See The Light Of Day

Violet’s eyes opened, her stomach grumbling even before her mind could fully recall where she was. The tantalizing aroma of food filled her senses, pulling her from the haze of sleep. She sat up abruptly, when she caught sight of the large figure standing at the foot of her bed.

"You don’t need to be afraid," Griffin said, his voice calm as he raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I promise, I won’t harm you."

Violet’s glare hardened, her tone sharp as she retorted, "You said those exact words right before joining the others in bullying me at that so-called scenting ceremony."

Griffin nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Guilty as charged. But that was tradition. I would never intentionally hurt you, Violet." He gestured toward someone else in the room, and only then did Violet realize they weren’t alone.

A young woman whose eyes were filled with curiosity, pushed a trolley laden with steaming dishes closer to the bed. Violet’s stomach growled loudly at the sight, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"I figured you might be hungry," Griffin said with a sense of accomplishment. "And it seems I was right."

Violet averted her gaze, trying to hide her discomfort. The girl pushing the trolley looked at her with poorly veiled intrigue, her eyes darting between Violet and the Alpha as if already piecing together a scandalous story.

"Would that be all, Alpha?" the girl asked, her voice tentative yet eager, clearly hoping for an explanation for Violet’s presence.

"Yes, that will be all," Griffin replied curtly.

The girl hesitated before turning to leave, but Griffin called her back sharply. "And Zora."

"Yes, Alpha?" she asked, straightening immediately.

Griffin locked his gaze on hers, his voice firm. "Not a word about this."

The excitement in Zora’s expression drained in an instant, replaced by disappointment. It was clear she had been hoping to spread the juicy tidbit of gossip knowing it would trend for sure.

"As you wish, Alpha Griffin," she mumbled, her tone subdued as she exited the room.

me from making headlines on the Oracle’s post tomorrow,"

of a whore to a whore herself. Her stomach churned at the possibility. A mega whore, the Oracle might say,

Roman, and Griffin. The very thought made Violet want to disappear. If they write that, she might as well throw

her for a moment before speaking. "You’re scared for your reputation," he observed as he easily set up the bed table and placed a bowl of soup and a plate of

patriarchal privileges. Even if you slept with a hundred girls at the same time, I’m sure no one would bat an eye. Meanwhile, my gender gets persecuted for the smallest indiscretion. What luck you

insult him, but Griffin didn’t take the bait. Instead, he chuckled, the deep

are you

gaze, instantly cautious.

seat by the bedside and sat down. He leaned back slightly, his demeanor relaxed. "Because it seems you weren’t educated properly on werewolf anthropology, or you’d know that the werekind are sometimes polygamous

her body going rigid

reaction but pressed on, ignoring the tension. "You do know about the concept

was the cornerstone of werewolf culture, one of the

the other half of a werewolf’s being, said to be created by the Moon Goddess herself. The bond was revered and sacred, celebrated

but after the near decimation of the she-wolves during the great War, many lost theirs. It

finding a fated mate had become increasingly rare; it was nearly becoming a myth whispered among the younger generations. Some claimed it was the result of the Moon Goddess’s wrath, a punishment for wolves

rumors, of course. Stories of werewolves mated to humans, but Violet had never seen

said. "What

small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips as though testing

some werewolves had more than one mate. It wasn’t

would harm her—he’d done nothing to suggest

tone, his voice almost conspiratorial, "this wolf

hitting the floor. Her mind raced with questions, too many to

if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell, leaned back in his seat, entirely unbothered, and continued speaking with

piece of bread into the soup on the tray. "Werewolves have had many consorts throughout history.

still trying to process his words. "But I’m not a werewolf," she