Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 259: First Bait

"Wait up!" Violet called, weaving through the exiting crowd of students as her eyes locked onto the familiar figure moving swiftly ahead.

Mary halted at once, like she’d been expecting to be stopped. She turned slowly, her blonde hair catching the light.

Violet offered a small smile. "Hey. Where’ve you been?"

"Hello to you too," Mary responded quietly.

Violet was about to press for details, but noticed Mary glancing sideways and her gaze shifted to where Daisy, Ivy, and Lila stood, waiting for her.

Violet gave her roommates a quick look in return, silently telling them she’d catch up soon. Understanding her unspoken signal, the trio slipped away into the thinning crowd.

Now alone, the ballroom was nearly empty, save for a few staff members tidying up the mess left behind by students before shutting the doors.

In that echoing space, Mary let out a wry smile. "I’ve...been in the hospital."

Violet’s heart jumped. "Which hospital?" she asked quickly, the pit of her stomach turning cold and her voice coming out sharper than intended.

Mary raised an eyebrow, amused. "The school’s hospital, of course. Where else would I go?"

Because of Adele’s ominous warning, Violet had always assumed something strange was going on in that hospital and would never encourage anyone to go there. She couldn’t exactly dissuade Mary either, after all, what would she even say?

Violet laughed sheepishly. "Oh, right. The hospital. Where else would it be? Sorry, my mind can be a little dull sometimes," she managed to cover up.

Mary took a breath, looking hesitant, then confessed in a low voice, "I’ve been having epileptic attacks. It had been mild for as long as I know, but since that week they got so severe the school decided to keep me in the ward for observation."

Violet’s heart sank. "Oh... Mary, I’m so sorry." She reached out and put a comforting hand on Mary’s arm, gently squeezing.

But the moment she did, Mary’s eyes snapped wide. She gasped as though jolted by an unseen force, and her body went rigid. In an instant, she collapsed, dragging Violet down with her.

For a terrifying heartbeat, Violet froze, having no idea what to do. It all happened so quickly. Then she realized the girl was convulsing, her limbs jerking uncontrollably on the floor.

her throat, panic rising. "Somebody help!" she called out weakly, her voice barely carrying as her mind scrambled to process

hand gripped her arm so tightly that it hurt, her jacket

to still for a moment, and her pupils rolled back. Her voice, half-choked, shaped words that emerged in a haunting,

"Child of war,

Child of chaos,

you

but for fire—

not in

hate-bite unravels

The purple bloom awakens.

calls to blood; blood of my

must break for the

truth will bleed

where

storm, the beast, the

With hearts entwined,

Shall break the law.

A father’s wrath,

A kingdom’s lie.

tremble at her

hidden princess who tames

warns fate: night is

war—let none

moves

the scene, the words wrapped around her like a noose, thick and suffocating. Her ears rang

in and pushed her aside to help

to Mary, rising on her feet

my blood. Four thrones must break. The serpent smiles. And that