Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 157: Catatonic

Violet stood alone in the darkened area, a creeping unease curling in her stomach especially as she stared at the forest behind her.

She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. The shadows between the trees stretched unnervingly and though she wasn’t a child anymore, scared of the dark and the unseen horrors it harbored, but right now, Violet found herself praying for Alaric to return quickly. After all, the wolves weren’t the only creatures that lurked in the night.

And it wasn’t long before her prayer was answered. Familiar footsteps approached and she breathed in relief. Except that relief was fleeting.

As soon as she caught sight of the hulking Alpha, her throat went dry. Violet’s stomach twisted with anxiety and every ounce of confidence she had built up minutes ago vanished like smoke in the wind. Maybe this had been a mistake. Maybe wanting to see him had been the worst idea she’d had in a long time.

However, Violet wasn’t a coward so she planted her feet firmly, resisting the urge to fidget as he approached. Griffin in question

suddenly stopped in his tracks, throwing out an arm to halt Alaric as well.

Their body language shifted, and Violet narrowed her eyes, watching as they turned toward each other, their voices dropping into hushed whispers.

They were arguing about her.

Violet knew it instinctively from the way Alaric’s gaze flickered toward her before focusing back on Griffin. Her pulse quickened with curiosity. What were they saying? Before they reached a conclusion, she managed to catch a single fragment of their conversation.

"She’s not Lucille."

Her frown deepened at once.

Lucille?

What did Lucille have to do with her apology? A sense of unease curled in her stomach, a gnawing awareness that there was something she wasn’t being told.

Violet intended to question them and get answers. But the moment Griffin stepped forward, Violet forgot everything just like that.

She swallowed thickly, feeling the weight of his gaze as if it had a physical hold on her.

And then there was the hair.

Oh, for the love of all things holy.

The very thing that had started this mess was pulled into a messy bun atop his head. Since when had a man bun become this dangerously attractive? Since when had it made her want to unravel it with her fingers, just to see how it would fall around his face?

No. No, no, no.

to apologize, not stand there and lust after

a grip

took a shaky breath,

embarrassingly unsteady. She rubbed her

why was

"Listen, about earlier, I—"

think I have something

his words catching

prince remained as unreadable as ever. A wall of stoicism

help her

said uncertainly, bracing

moment, watching her cautiously before he finally

arched in interest, though she shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Sure. Go on then." She straightened, making a show

nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared Violet for what happened

locked onto hers, intense, burning, making

The air had already thickened between them,

too late when she caught the flicker in his

The hunger. The intent.

before he grabbed her face and kissed

creator of

the actual

of his lips. There was no urgency, no overwhelming force. And yet, it was

seconds. That was all it lasted. She

of his lips, the roughness of his hands, the way the

when he studied her expression as if gauging her reaction,

Didn’t breathe.

tugged at Griffin’s lips. He turned to Alaric. "Do

"At

her a gentle

roused.

hurricane of confusion, emotions, and sheer disbelief. All Violet could do was

"Y-you...!"

heart pounded as she turned to Griffin, realization

kissed her. Griffin had