Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 265: Roman’s Punishment

Lila was crouched low in the backyard of their shack, hovering over a small bed of flowers that she had grown. A strange lilting hum escaped from the back of her throat, sounding like the chant of the ancient. One that her other partner could never understand.

Ivy was the other partner. She was standing a few feet away on watch but precisely came to offer moral support. She glanced over her shoulder for what had to be the umpteenth time, frowning.

"You’ve been making that noise forever and nothing’s happening," the girl said with her arms crossed, and the slightest edge of boredom in her tone.

Lila, who by now looked like she had completely transformed into that strange, cold, otherworldly version of herself—the same one from the night of the Running Game —turned to Ivy with a glare.

"Don’t distract me."

That tone alone was enough to shut Ivy up. She lifted her hands in surrender and kept her mouth shut, deciding to just wait it out and see whatever weird Fae spell Lila was weaving.

Not long after, Lila’s whistling changed pitch, and the petals on the flowers began to tremble. One by one, they peeled themselves from the stems, lifting into the air like delicate dancers caught in a breeze.

Ivy’s eyes widened in disbelief as the petals bunched together, forming one large blossom. And then, with a sound like a soft pop, it exploded in a flurry of pink confetti-like fragments. A trio of tiny creatures emerged from the fluttering pieces, each barely the size of a thumb.

This time around, Ivy’s jaw dropped. They were pixies! She had to be seeing things!

Each pixy had delicate wings that shimmered in a different color: one with iridescent sapphire blue, another with a fiery crimson sheen, and the last a glistening green like new spring leaves.

They had bright eyes, button noses, and plump cheeks, undeniably cute even if their high-pitched chirps filled the space with an almost hectic energy. Yet, despite their constant bickering among themselves, they somehow managed to flutter about in sync.

Lila began chattering back in a language Ivy guessed was Fae. Though Ivy couldn’t understand a word, the little pixies seemed to follow Lila’s every word. Still, the three small creatures quarreled incessantly, batting each other as if they just couldn’t agree on one opinion.

Then Lila said something and pulled out the green strand of Roman’s hair. Except

and in a blink, one of them snatched the hair. Only for the second to yank it from her. Then the third swooped

it was a prized relic in a game of sky-tag. Ivy didn’t understand a word they

did

to Lila’s face, squeaking demandingly. From the dramatic way she thrust out her miniature arm, Ivy guessed she was asking for

and from the ground rose a

a long-lost lover, and chirped madly to her companions. They squeaked back, circled the prize, and in a flash of glittering wings, vanished.

dusted her hands and stood. "It’s

blinked, still trying to wrap her head around everything she had just seen. "What

our realm to help," Lila said casually, as if she hadn’t just pulled mischievous spirits from thin air. "When it comes to hexes, those creatures are

half-impressed and half-terrified, dared to ask, "What exactly

a wicked grin that sent a chill down Ivy’s spine. "That is what we’re about

........

an interesting rumor. I hope that’s not true.

and instead of panicking, he burst into laughter. The fact that even the puppet master had

deal with him if they crossed paths in this mood of his. But until then, he would enjoy every second of the

alike lounging on the grass,

had said. Only days ago, Roman might have gone after the beautiful nerd just to know if she was good down there as she was smart up there. But strangely enough, no other woman interested him any longer.

made him shift where he stood. His gaze dropped to her lips, the ones he’d kissed as

again. And this time, he’d push a little further. Roman was confident he

so lost in his wicked thoughts, he didn’t see the ball flying at him until it

"Sorry, Alpha," his Beta, Abel, added with a mischievous

"Funny," he drawled, grabbing the ball as he rose to his feet,

jolt of agony made his