Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 250: Poison Alaric

Asher Nightshade sat on his throne in the Silver Court with all the elegance of a lion at rest, enjoying breakfast. On his plate, he had roasted plantain, golden and caramelized at the edges, and smeared with a hefty dollop of unsweetened Greek yogurt mixed with tahini.

The food was a odd combination as it was

neither sweet nor fully savory, balancing somewhere in the middle. The yogurt-tahini sauce was creamy, tangy, and slightly bitter, sticking to the warm plantain like it was trying to be something it wasn’t.

Most people would be put off by the taste. Not that it was revolting or something, it simply confused the tongue and definitely left them wondering why anyone would take a second bite. Asher, though, didn’t mind. He devoured it all.

He dragged a slice through the food, letting the cream coat the roasted flesh, then shoved it into his mouth. The sauce smeared across the corner of his lips, pale and thick but he didn’t bother to wipe it.

Usually, Asher Nightshade was the picture of orderliness even while eating, but at that moment, he didn’t care. With half-lidded eyes and a cool, lazy kind of threat in his posture, the West House Alpha seemed to be savoring more than just the strange meal. He was relishing the moment. Perfect and ripe as he wanted it.

And it wasn’t long before his cardinal brothers, Griffin, Alaric, and Roman appeared.

Just as he expected.

A subtle curve teased the corner of Asher’s lips, but it was so faint it might have been imagined. Just as quickly, it vanished, his expression sliding back into its usual cool neutrality, revealing nothing.

Griffin, Alaric, and Roman had no idea what to expect when they came looking for Asher. Yet the sight before them startled them more than any tense confrontation ever could. There, laid out on the table before their individual seats were fresh, steaming breakfasts carefully prepared for each of them.

three paused, exchanging surprised looks. It wasn’t just the fact that Asher had arranged a meal for them as if he knew

of savory soup. The spicy, red broth was filled with tender pieces of goat meat, mushrooms, and root vegetables, and followed by flat, chewy bread perfect for dipping. It was exactly the sort of thing he craved in the

drizzled with chocolate sauce was arranged beside a dish of candied fruits. Then a glass of sweet vanilla almond milk completed the setup. The sweet aroma wafted up like a siren call to his

sizzling, paired with

treat this as a peace offering, or a trap. This felt too good to be true. No, right now, Asher was giving the vibe of a

his food with the

intentionally said, "Did we miss your birthday or

Griffin mocked him. "We were

dramatically, "What great fate tying us

his throne and sat down. No other student possessed such regal seat

muttering, "If this

his own seat and sat. They had come here to talk to Asher. The fact he even entertained their presence meant he was giving them a chance to talk things out. He

down. Even when he was seated, he stared down at his plate of sweetened perfection like

sugar-loving heart adored. And yet,

from across the table. "Why are you not

"What?" Alaric said.

"Guilty?" Asher taunted him.