Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 201: Power Like This

Ivy let out a distressed cry, "Goddess help me, my roommates have lost their minds!"

But Lila only grinned wolfishly, replying, "At least you still recognize us as your roommates."

Ivy shot her a glare, but it wasn’t half as fierce as it should have been; her defenses were already crumbling.

Daisy said, "Defeating Elsie won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible."

"How?" Ivy demanded. "Have you forgotten who Elsie is? She’s basically the mate for one of the cardinal alphas. She’s got the Alpha King’s backing. You? Us? We’ve all got none. She won’t even need to lift a finger; she’s got power, influence, and people to do her bidding."

Violet’s eyes flashed with determination. "Then we’ll cut off that backing. We’ll dismantle those influences one by one. Without them, she’s nothing."

Ivy scoffed. "And the Alpha King?"

"We’ll figure that out as we go," Daisy said with forced optimism.

"Thought as much," Ivy shook her head, unimpressed.

But Daisy persisted, "We won’t achieve this in a single day, but this is our plan for now, and we’ll work toward it. For the moment, we’ve got bigger worries, like finding a place to actually live." She glanced up at the rotting ceiling just as a drip of nasty water landed on her cheek, making Ivy recoil with disgust.

Daisy wiped it off, grimacing.

window where the rain wreaked havoc outside. "It’s still pouring out there. Even if we manage to hire workers, they can’t do repairs in this weather.

point, Lila piped up, "I can help with

can?" three startled voices echoed in unison, their gazes snapping toward

cleared her throat. "My magic

lit up. "So you can just... clean this place

witch about to chant ’bibbidi-bobbidi-boo’ while waving brooms and mops. I work with the elements, Ivy.

her palm on the warped, rotting floorboards beneath

this. The woods were once strong here. I’ll call upon them to reinforce what

hush fell over the room as they watched Lila begin to work. The wood beneath her hand gave a soft, drawn-out creak, as though

smoothed out, their brittle, discolored surfaces darkening into a rich oak. It spread like creeping frost, the weak, termite-infested wood

feet, the girls tensed, half-expecting to be swallowed up. But all they felt was a soft tingling, like the brush

the rest of the floor with a protective

eyeing the difference. There was no sign of the gaping cracks

that was only the

room like a second skin suddenly changed. The stale, heavy scent of mold and decay gave way to something fresher, as if the house itself was taking its first

like thread being reeled back into an invisible spindle. Dust motes danced

withered before dissolving into fine powder. Thin lines of new growth traced over the rotted beams, merging with the decayed wood. As the layers fused, crumbling

steadily, forming a grimy puddle on the floor. With eyes