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

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 and presented

revenge. And to achieve that, she needed to

her heart like steel around a fragile core. She had to hate

was precisely why Violet didn’t hesitate to flee the classroom the instant the lesson ended—before anyone else had even stood up. She refused to let Alaric or anyone else slow her down. Not when she had more pressing business like tracking down Natalie. Hence, there was

She needed Natalie 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

with herself. "I emptied out the whole place. Don’t worry, it’ll just be

looked at Lila with gratitude. "Thank you, Lila." She hugged her quickly and hurried into

waited, listening. The moment she heard the flush of the toilet, she ran to the sink

simply moved to the sink beside her and began washing 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 without sparing

skin. How was she supposed to begin? Doubts

five minutes now," Natalie said coolly. "What do you want from me,

surprised her more, that Natalie knew she wanted

didn’t even sting. "Fallen queen. Is that

you a lot of things," Natalie replied with a shrug, still reapplying her