Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 89: Not Another Lucille

Adele’s gaze darkened further, her lips pressing into a tight line. She looked away for a moment, as though weighing her words carefully, before finally speaking.

"I can’t say for certain if Lucille experienced the exact same thing. Her head was so messed up it was difficult to separate the truth from the lies," she said, her voice slowly. "However, there are... similarities." She paused, confessing. "Asher’s power doesn’t always function in ways even he fully understands. It has a will of its own, and sometimes it lingers longer than it should. It can leave traces, imprints—"

"Imprints?" Violet interjected, her voice rising with panic. "Are you saying he’s left something in my head? That this is permanent?"

"Calm down," Adele said sharply, silencing Violet’s outburst. "I didn’t say it’s permanent. But it’s possible that whatever he did to you has left residual effects. That’s why it’s critical that you stay away from him. The more contact you have with Asher, the stronger these... imprints might become."

Violet’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, frustration bubbling to the surface. "So what am I supposed to do? Just avoid him forever? That doesn’t fix the fact that these visions are happening now! Moreover, how do I avoid someone who’s not intent on leaving me alone."

Violet told her. "There’s a party on Friday night and everyone is mandated to attend and I’m sure as hell he doesn’t plan on avoiding me at all!"

By the time Violet was done, her chest was heaving from both anger and exhaustion. She did not ask for this at all! She had come to Lunaris to study, not get entangled in Asher fucking Nightshade’s games.

"Fine, I’ll talk to the others and they’ll exempt you—" she began, but her voice trailed off, her eyes widening as if a sudden realization had struck her. "Oh fuck, I can’t help you. It’s happening on Friday."

Violet’s shock was palpable as her mouth fell open. "Are you kidding me right now?" she exclaimed, incredulous.

"I wish I could intervene, but I don’t have the

tradition?" Violet demanded, her frustration

spike if I spilled

her rising anger. Why was the

Violet’s overwhelming frustration. "However, one thing I can tell you," she added, leaning closer as if sharing a confidential tip, "if you get the chance to make the choice, leave the West House without

that one, Violet shifted the conversation. "Fine, then tell me about

as though Violet’s persistence was physically draining her. She stared at Violet with a mix of frustration and reluctant

things

my safety, and my future in this godforsaken school seem to be hanging by a thread. So,

the edge of her desk, crossing her arms as if bracing herself for

always been a thrill-seeker, someone who thrives on pushing boundaries and breaking

onto every word, her stomach

became his heir would have to marry Elsie Lyka," Adele continued, "it was like a bomb went off in Asher’s world. The idea of being bound to someone he didn’t choose, someone who represented everything he despised about the system, drove him mad. He hated the rule. He hated the

he decided to rebel

system down. And he thought he could start with his brothers, the cardinal alphas. He believed he could sway them to his side, make them his

her voice