Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 177: A Kingdom Divided

Violet and Lila collapsed onto the damp ground, gasping for breath. Neither of them bothered to stand, at least not yet. Not after what they had just survived.

Adrenaline pumped violently through Violet’s veins, her heart pounding so fast it felt like it might leap from her chest. But most of all, her mind reeled from the sheer madness she had just survived.

She had made it! Against all odds, against Asher’s relentless pursuit, his traps, and

the wolves. She had won.

But the thrill of victory was not all satisfactory.

Violet swallowed hard as she turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on Lila. She was lying on her back, staring up at the night sky, her chest heaving as if whatever she had done back there had taken a toll on her.

There was no mistaking what she had seen. Lila had made them sort of invisible to the wolves, the flicker of purple in her eyes and the unnatural strength she possessed. Lila was not human, Violet was sure of it.

Sensing her stare, Lila turned her head to look at her and Violet immediately averted her gaze.

Violet bit her lip, unsure. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Who was Lila?

Had she always been like this? Had everything she knew about her been a lie?

Was this some kind of long-running deception?

God

. Violet groaned inwardly, her head pounding. Everything was happening too fast.Too much.

Violet was still trying to process the complicated request from Alaric and Griffin, her own complicated feelings towards the cardinal alphas, the insanity of the hunt, Roman’s request and now this. She might as well go crazy at this point.

In conclusion, she wasn’t ready for that conversation.

"Violet!"

moment they reached her, they pulled her

exploded through her body. It was a delayed response to the brutal tug-of-war she had endured minutes ago having been running on pure adrenaline. But now? she felt every

eyes widened.

a hand down her arm, only now registering the scrapes, the bruises, the throbbing pain settling deep into her muscles.

the way Ivy and Daisy subtly shifted away from Lila

knew too. Violet couldn’t help but wonder what had

a place nor time

who were still hanging around. It had been over an hour

entrance by being the only one in front, walking with regal confidence that made it clear that she was the queen and this was

"You do know you’re a bitch, right? Keeping all of us waiting, are you

didn’t even flinch, nor look affected by the comment because she always

her mouth and grace Elsie with the privilege of an answer when Lila did the

" Lila said

said sarcastically, "So if you haven’t gone

as silence dropped like a guillotine. The sheer audacity of Lila’s words

storm was number three on the ranking and Alaric’s girlfriend after all. She had the defiance to stand against Elsie without it being

She wasn’t even

she a werewolf. In one word, Lila wasn’t even supposed to matter. And yet, she had

in a breath, whispering,

wasn’t Lila’s usual sass. No under-the-breath mutters. No

And it did.

once, her wolf rising to the surface. A low snarl tore from her throat, and her pupils dilated, her body shifting slightly as if ready to lunge at Lila

stepping in front of Lila, and using her body to shield her friend, even though she was injured and Lila—who clearly wasn’t human—could

it was ingrained in her

snapped to hers, furious

dish out insults, be woman enough to

against each other. Another growl rumbled from Elsie’s throat, and for a