Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 101: His Turn

"You do know that I can eat with my hands, right?" Violet said, watching Asher as he lifted a forkful of perfectly twirled spaghetti toward her mouth.

"Mmmhm." Asher hummed in response.

And yet, he didn’t stop feeding her.

Left with no choice, Violet opened her mouth and accepted the food. The way he fed her was almost... tender. His movements were deliberately gentle, almost as if he were playing the role of a doting boyfriend. Almost, being the word.

But Violet wasn’t fooled. This was just a fleeting moment, a fragile truce. Come tomorrow, they’d be back at each other’s throats. Asher’s crimes against her were far too severe to be erased by a single kiss. Even if it was a hot, toe-curling, mind-melting kiss—Oh, shut up already! Violet cut off the thought immediately, her face heating.

She accepted another mouthful of spaghetti from him, trying to shake the warmth creeping into her chest. After that incident, he had left her alone, only to return later with a tray of food. It had been a simple gesture, but it touched her more than she cared to admit.

The Silvered Court was likely locked at this hour, and she doubted there was anything edible in the vending machines. The fact that Asher had gone out of his way to bring her a proper meal... it made her stomach flutter in ways she didn’t like to acknowledge.

As Asher twirled another forkful of pasta, Violet found herself staring at him. She imagined what it would be like to have him as a boyfriend. He was undeniably attractive, charming when he wanted to be, and surprisingly attentive. If only he were normal, then she might consider challenging Elsie for him.

But then reality crashed in, and Violet shuddered. No. Absolutely not. Asher was trouble incarnate, and she didn’t need that kind of chaos in her life.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Asher asked, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

kiss doesn’t mean anything, right?" The

fork suspended mid-air. Then, without a

pressed, her

little queen," Asher replied lazily, his tone

once. She knew Asher better than to take that response at face value. He was the type to twist her words, to make her regret not nipping things in the bud. She needed to make it clear—crystal clear—that whatever happened

just as she opened her mouth to speak, Asher chose that exact moment to stuff it full

purpose. Asher, of course, was unfazed. Instead, he reached forward and plucked a stray strand of spaghetti from the corner of her lips.

so maddeningly sexy, that Violet could only sit there, speechless, her heart

on me, she thought in a daze.

with Asher would only lead to more frustration. He was too cunning, always twisting her words. When the meal ended, Asher cleared the dishes off to the side and began

enough to return to my dormitory now," she said

Asher didn’t care. He continued toward her until she was forced to lean

dawned on her: Asher had intentionally fed her to give her the strength for whatever his plans were. It felt like she

Violet’s voice faltered as he leaned over her, his body hovering inches above hers. His haunting, slitted gray eyes bored into hers, making her forget how to breathe. He was so devastatingly handsome that

Fine. Just one more kiss, she told herself. Just

bed was abruptly yanked open. Startled, Violet pushed Asher back and turned to see none other than Alaric standing there, his stormy blue eyes

thunderboy?" Asher snarled, clearly displeased with the interruption. His expression darkened as

at Violet. "I can see you’re so busy that you forgot about the assignment

crap. She had