Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 131: Are You The Oracle?

Violet’s throat tightened as she watched Alaric break away from his team, approaching her in strides. His pure, unguarded smile, so full of trust and excitement, made her stomach twist painfully.

Shame clawed at her, threatening to overwhelm her entirely. He didn’t know—he couldn’t possibly know. Her chest felt heavy with guilt, and for a brief moment, Violet thought she was going to be sick.

"Hey," Alaric greeted her, his voice warm and boyish, carrying the kind of unfiltered joy that only made her feel worse. His smile was the kind of thing people fought wars to protect, and she was about to shatter it.

"Hey," Violet replied, her voice shaky as she fought to calm herself. She tucked her trembling hand behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

Alaric stepped closer, cupping her face with a tenderness that nearly broke her heart.

"Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I was almost tempted to have Richmond arrested if you didn’t show up after this."

It was clearly a joke, one meant to make her laugh, but Violet could barely muster a smile. She forced her lips into a weak curve, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her stomach churned as Alaric chuckled at his own humor, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

"I, um... I had an emergency," she lied smoothly, fidgeting under his gaze. "But it’s fine now. I’m fine."

"You smell like you were tossed into a tank of perfume but If you say you’re fine,"

Instead, she allowed his lips to meet hers, their kiss gentle and familiar. She hated how right it felt, hated how much

her to him. But Violet’s heart twisted painfully, her own smile fake. She felt like a

deserves someone who won’t hurt him like this. Someone who will love him without this

wasn’t the time to break his heart. This wasn’t the moment to tell him the truth, not when he needed to focus on his games, even if it was just training. And she couldn’t possibly do it here, in public, where everyone could see. Alaric didn’t deserve that level of humiliation, not

just a kiss to temporarily satiate my hunger," Alaric said with a husky voice as he leaned close to her ear. "We’ll spend more time together at the party later,

to play along. She forced a playful smirk onto her face, hiding the anxiety inside

and for a moment, she swore she saw a flicker of lightning in his eyes. The

across the field, snapping them out of the moment. "I’ll shove a thunderbolt up your ass if you don’t bring that said ass back to this

gnawing at her, Violet couldn’t help but laugh too. It was impossible not to, even as her heart ached. Before she could

shoulder as he jogged back to the field, his

by their interaction, cheered and whistled, feeding off the playful energy of the moment. Violet felt her cheeks flush, but her focus was on Alaric as he ran back to his team. She caught herself

the bustling field and the emotion immediately died off as if the very life had been

a blade, cutting through the brief joy she’d felt. Violet’s scowl deepened,

Natalie watching her with a scrutinizing gaze that nearly made her