Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 181: Alone

Violet stood paralyzed, watching the chaos unfold around her, her heart hammering against her ribcage. She had known her decision would shake the school, but she hadn’t expected it to unravel into complete madness.

Griffin struggled to keep the peace, but it was a losing battle. Asher was beyond livid, his rage rippling through his pack, igniting an instinctive aggression in them

His wolves had taken aggressive stances, snarling and baring their fangs, their bodies coiled. They were ready to defend their Alpha, to strike down anyone who dared oppose him.

On the other hand, Roman, who had borne the brunt of Asher’s punch was not pushing for revenge, no, it was his pack demanding for violence. Both packs might have been friends in the past but they weren’t about to stand back and let their Alpha be attacked without retaliation, especially when Asher had already sunk his teeth into him.

The agitation was too much, with the low growls and hisses filling the air like the prelude to an all-out war. The human students were frozen in place, unsure whether to flee or stay, while others whispered anxiously among themselves, their eyes darting between the enraged Alphas.

"That’s enough!"

Alaric’s voice thundered across the space, carrying a command so powerful it shattered the air like a storm’s fury.

As if the heavens themselves answered, lightning tore across the sky, striking the earth with a deafening crack. The ground sizzled where the bolt landed, dangerously close to where Asher, Griffin and Roman stood.

The reaction was instant. The Cardinal Alphas recoiled, breaking apart as another bolt of lightning struck closer to their wolves. The scattered sparks sent the snarling pack members scrambling, their yelps filling the night as they backed away in alarm.

All eyes snapped toward Alaric Storm.

He stood at the spot, his eyes sparking with uncontained electricity, his platinum hair glowing under the eerie flicker of lightning. The air around him pulsed with so much power that no one dared to move or speak.

Slowly, Alaric ascended the stairs leading to the entrance, elevating himself above the others and demanding the full attention of everyone present.

He gazed out at the crowd, his expression looking like it was carved from stone. Then he spoke with a voice so cold it felt like a death sentence.

"You heard them. They rejected the four houses. They refuse to be governed. They deny the protection of a pack."

The bitterness in his tone was obvious, and was edged with something close to betrayal and disappointment.

"They have turned their backs on the natural order. They owe no allegiance to the Cardinal Alphas. And we all know what that means."

Alaric let the words settle, his furious gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd, challenging them to speak the truth aloud.

At first, there was nothing but silence until a lone voice whispered. "Rogues."

Another voice picked it up, louder this time. "Rogues."

Then another, and another, until, like a flood breaking free, the entire school chanted in unison, their voices filled with scorn and condemnation.

"ROGUES! ROGUES! ROGUES!"

school ground, the collective

twisted

hand down her face. "Fuck. I knew this was a bad

eyes wide with panic when one of the

sizing up its prey. His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and the snarl that followed sent a chill down her

"Violet, what is happening?!"

followed suit, shifting into a strange, menacing dance, their eyes locked onto Violet, Lila, Ivy, and Daisy with unhidden hostility. They weren’t just looking at them. No, they were claiming them as outcasts, treating them

stone as she realized this

houses would mark her as an outcast, but she never thought it was this serious. Her decision marked her and her friends as enemies to the very system

eyes burned with the

had convinced her to do this. The look on his

this. And now, there was no turning

cried with disbelief. "We’re not even

wolves without a pack. Some were outcasts, banished for breaking the sacred laws of their kind. Others were lone wanderers, forsaking their packs for reasons

rogue was

no structure. Without structure, there

werewolf society. And if a rogue gathered enough numbers, they could pose an even bigger threat to the alphas, to the packs, to

on sight. It was an unspoken rule of survival—kill

and her friends had just been branded

or rogues in the traditional

"Or have you forgotten that Lunaris Academy operates under a strict

her gaze cut straight to Violet, her tone scathing. "It’s clear to me now why you did what you did." A dry, humorless laugh escaped her lips.

the words hitting her harder

She had told them not to follow her. And yet, they had still chosen to stand by her side. It was no excuse

words came out. Her throat was tight, as if an invisible noose had cinched around her neck. Her mind scrambled for something to say, for a way to explain, but the words refused to form. She hadn’t wanted this. She had just wanted freedom. A way out. She

even attempt to apologize, Alaric’s voice rose

that concludes today’s events.All changes to the houses would be executed tomorrow. Enjoy what’s left of your morning." His voice was different now, it sounded lower,

already turned to her. His broad shoulders,

never seen him like this before. Defeated. It was

she blurted, stepping

she never made

her in her tracks. A wolf stood in her path, its gleaming fangs bared, hackles raised.

or associate with Alaric Storm or any Cardinal Alpha from now on,

hard. "No, Finn, I just need to talk to him one

sound vibrating deeply in

no use, there was no room for negotiation. Violet clenched her fists, her nails