Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 171: Human Heat Source

Violet didn’t get the chance to ask her question because Roman was already ascending the wooden stairs with minimal effort as if he was carrying mere air and not a grown human like her.

Instinctively, she tightened her grip around his shoulders, pressing herself closer as the steps beneath them groaned and creaked ominously. A scream hovered at the tip of Violet’s tongue when one particularly fragile plank let out a cracking sound, her heart seizing at the thought of them crashing down. And breaking her pretty neck.

Violet wanted to tell Roman to stop, that the flimsy rope supports wouldn’t hold both of their weights, but before she could utter a word, they already reached the top. What the.... Violet was rendered speechless. Fucking werewolves!

The platform they stood on was stable, but the entrance to the tree house was not a door, but an open archway framed by roughly cut wooden beams, weathered with age and exposure.

A single curtain hung in place, swaying slightly in the wind, its fabric thin and frayed at the edges, giving the entrance a rustic, almost dreamlike feel.

Violet gulped, her fingers still curled around Roman. The place had an air of secrecy, as if belonging to something—or someone—wild and untamed. And now, she was stepping into it.

Roman didn’t drop Violet until they were inside the treehouse, and the moment her feet touched the wooden floor, she seized the opportunity to ask the question that had been burning in her mind.

"Who else is here with us?"

Roman faced her, his expression shadowed with confusion. "Who else is here?"

Although she couldn’t see him in the dark, she could feel the warmth radiating from his body like a beacon. Frustration welled in her chest, and she pushed against his shoulder to make her point.

"Don’t play cheeky with me! Is that why you brought me here?"

Roman let out an exasperated sigh. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Oh really?" Violet shot back. " ’We wouldn’t want you to fall.’ That’s what you said on our way up here."

"So tell me, who else is here?!" she demanded.

stomach twisted with dread. It didn’t help matters that the silence stretched, feeding her

needed to escape, how would she

suddenly, Roman suddenly burst into laughter. A deep, unrestrained laugh filled the treehouse, making not only her brow twitch but her

Draven?"

"Aside from the fact that

Violet’s glare intensified.

something." He intentionally took a step closer, their bodies brushing. "But the way I see

hitched, but she refused to back down. However, Roman wasn’t done. He leaned

rather.... " his voice dipped, low and teasing. "Who

pulse hammered wildly at the sound of

recoiled, flustered. "Get

grinned. "Sorry, honey, but you’d be the lost one if

was warm—so incredibly warm that she nearly leaned into him, craving to sink into

on, sister.What in the

brushed her arms absentmindedly, and she shivered, and

of course, misread it. "Still cold?" he mused. "Don’t worry, we’ll share body heat. You’ll be fine

screeched to

"Isn’t there... like... an extra shirt or something? I’d probably stop feeling cold if

double—sometimes triple—what humans’ do." He cocked his head. "Don’t tell me you didn’t

it in the dark only made

met his gaze, stubborn. "You will keep your hands to

head. "Honey, your kind are the ones always throwing

exasperated. "Your cockiness is infuriating.

added, "Come on now, let’s get this over with. We don’t have all night. The longer we stay out here, the more time the others have to regroup and track

a shiver through her, but Roman’s presence was

"Wait here," he instructed.