Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 261: No Time For Remorse

"And that would be all for today," the teacher announced as the shrilling sound of the bell rang through the room.

The Anatomy and Physiology class was finally over and Violet was the first to pop out of her seat, slinging her satchel over one shoulder like a soldier gearing up for war.

Her strides were brisk as she headed straight for the front of the class as if being anywhere near the back was suffocating. Because it was.

And it was because he was there. Alaric Storm. The very storm that had ripped her apart twenty-four hours ago.

After yesterday’s humiliation, where Alaric Storm had publicly degraded and shamed her, she’d expected a carryover of the same hostility today. Violet had expected him to sneer, and glare at her. That he would pretend like she didn’t exist.

Yet when their gazes met briefly, all she’d seen in those glacial blue depths was not ice, but regret. It jolted her so hard that a small, humiliating squeak slipped past her lips before she could catch it.

Violet had turned away instantly, her cheeks hot, and her heart thudding wildly like a trapped thing. She hadn’t looked back after that. Not once. Not even when she felt the intensity of his gaze on her nape like a ghost’s touch. She sat ramrod straight for the rest of the class, overly conscious of his presence.

How dare he? How dare he look at her with remorse?

He didn’t get to do that. Not after yesterday. Not after he tore her down in front of the entire school. Not after he’d stripped her dignity and handed it to Elsie like a prize for a game well played.

didn’t get to feel

with Roman, but his stunt yesterday went too far. If Alaric truly wanted to settle the score, he should’ve confronted her in private. Instead, he’d conspired with Elsie to crush her. He’d dragged out her darkest fear

revenge. And

image of those regretful blue eyes deep, deep down where it couldn’t touch her, hardening her heart like steel around a fragile core. She had to hate him enough to see this through. There could

She refused to let Alaric or anyone else slow her down.

alone without eyes on her, but it was proving near impossible to corner the girl. Daisy and Natalie had the same class, and right now, her friend had just texted her that Natalie was heading toward the ladies’ restroom. Good. Just the

rushed over to the restroom, nearly running into Lila, who caught her with a grin. "There you are," she said, clearly pleased with herself. "I emptied out the whole place. Don’t worry, it’ll just be the both of you in there. I’ll make sure

with gratitude. "Thank you, Lila." She hugged her

flush of the toilet, she ran to the sink and turned on the water, washing her hands as casually

her own hands in silence. Both of them stood there, wordless, the sound of running water the only noise between them. Natalie was the first to finish. She dried her hands, pulled out her compact, and started touching up her lips

glanced at her from the corner of her eyes, nerves crawling under her skin.

been washing your hands for over five minutes now," Natalie said coolly. "What do

her more, that Natalie knew she wanted something, or that

jab that, strangely, didn’t even sting. "Fallen queen. Is that

things," Natalie replied with a shrug, still reapplying her lipstick. "But that’s the one that stands out for