Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 179: East. West. South. North

There was a little commotion as the pack members who had chased them through the Silver Glade, went into the crowd of newbies and began dragging the defeated students away.

"Are they doing what I think they’re doing?" Ivy asked Daisy in a whisper.

"The wolves are identifying and pulling their captured prey, the ones who lost in the game, to their permanent houses," Lila was the one who replied, calmly explaining it all to the others.

She said to her roommate with a serious expression. "That would have been your fate if I hadn’t stepped in. We would have been separated just like that."

The truth of her words hit like a cold slap, and all three of them swallowed hard, the weight of what could have been settling over them.

"And we’re grateful for your help," Violet said sincerely, locking eyes with Lila.

A slow smile spread across Lila’s face, and just like that, the girl they knew was back. "Of course. I’m amazing, and I know it." She flipped her hair dramatically, making Daisy snort.

Violet let out a soft chuckle, and before she knew it, her arms were wrapping around Lila in a tight hug. Lila melted into the embrace, holding on just as tightly.

But their moment was shattered by a sharp shriek.

Their heads snapped toward the sound, their laughter fading. A girl was being wrenched away from her roommates, her cries filled with devastation as her friends clung to her, powerless to stop it.

Violet, Lila, Daisy, and Ivy stood frozen, stricken by the sight knowing that could have been them. For the first time that night, the girls exchanged a shared, silent look of gratitude toward Lila, who felt a swell of pride in her chest.

By the time the pack members had finished their work, there were only eleven of them left, standing together in a haphazard cluster.

"Fuck, this is terrible!" Violet heard someone mutter from the crowd, their voice bitter. "There shouldn’t be this many winners. This year’s game is a failure."

purple storm, " another person chimed in, his own voice tinged with

house she’d choose soon enough," the first voice

were they blaming her for the failure of their twisted game? She was not

stepped forward,

Running Game. You now have the esteemed privilege of choosing your permanent house. The Fiery and Unwavering East House; the Mysterious and

made up of fearless, loyal warriors. Driven by an insatiable appetite for adventure and challenge, we thrive in the face of danger. In one word, the East House is for those who are unafraid to

a ripple of awe through the crowd, and more than a few

House is not merely a collection of students. We are masters of subtlety, planners who always move several steps ahead of our enemies. We excel in strategy and intellect, using our wits to defeat

feeling that his words were aimed directly at her even though he was speaking to

silken cadence. "who wouldn’t want to be on the

pack howled in agreement,

muttered under her breath, "Dude’s a

noting her impressed look. She knew the appeal of Asher’s words. Daisy was smart, and Asher’s pack

Roman sauntered forward, breaking the tension with

grin. "We’re here to have fun, right? Why stress over all this when you can live freely and still soar to your greatest potential?"

South House, the ultimate chill zone, where success comes with a side of pleasure. I mean, what’s life without a

your Alpha... well, let’s just say, paradise has never looked so

looked enamored, and some even giggled at his

Lila coughed

look, knowing full well that Roman was as deadly as he was charming.

eyes turned to Alaric, and for a moment, the crowd grew quiet, as if waiting for him

lightning prince looked completely unprepared, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. His face