Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 274: Stolen Freedom

"Where are we going?" Asher asked his mother. They were walking briskly, and he had to keep up with her pace.

The only thing Maria had on her was a small bag which she clutched tightly to her side. Asher eyed it, noting the shape of its contents—it had to be stacks of cash. He knew where his father kept his stashes, and it seemed his mother did too. She hadn’t packed any clothes which could only mean this was sudden and desperate.

"I don’t know," Maria answered hurriedly, if not anxiously. "But it has to be anywhere other than here."

Asher could hear her heartbeat; it was pounding fast. His own pulse was picking up speed too. He knew what this was, they were trying to escape from his father. Even without being told, he understood how deadly this could turn out if it went awry. If Henry found them, he would punish the life out of him.

"Stick close," Maria warned, pulling him in tight against her side.

Asher didn’t need to be told twice. He pressed himself against her, craving her warmth and familiar scent. She smelled like vanilla and amber—vanilla, the taste of the ice cream she had once secretly bought him, and amber, a scent that simply smelled safe. Cozy. Home.

She must have worked something out with Brian at the gate, because he let her out carefully, no questions asked. The next thing Violet knew, they were inside a car, driving away into the night.

Violet found herself in the car with them, invisible but very much present, hope surging in her chest at the thought of their escape. But then, reality hit her like a truck. Adult Asher still lived with his father.

Fuck. What had gone wrong?

It wasn’t long before she saw.

Maria screamed in terror as a figure stepped into the middle of the road out of nowhere. She swerved to avoid him, but lost control and slammed into a tree with a sickening crunch.

It was Henry. He had found them.

Violet could never forget the terror on Asher’s face. And worse, the moment when Henry yanked the car door open and began dragging Maria out by the arm.

"Come out right now, Asher!" he hollered.

Asher stepped out of the car, his bare eyes blinking against the night. His glasses had

aside from a small cut on his cheek, he didn’t appear to be seriously

me?! And with my damn son?!" Henry bellowed, his rage

even then,

not yours alone! And if anyone has a greater right over him, it’s

made even the

hair and leaned in, hissing into her ear, "You might be his mother, but I’m the one who

cried out, struggling in his grip. But of course, he

Henry straightened up and turned to Asher. "You. Come

swallowed, her heart pounding as dread flooded her chest. What sick punishment was

a few feet away, his smaller

"Closer!" Henry barked.

Asher obeyed.

"Closer still."

He did.

"More."

Another step.

Henry purred with sick

dark with their glowing eyes, and Violet, though a mere observer, saw

Henry

felt the blood drain from her body. No. That fucking

want you to compel your mama never to run away. To stay with you," Henry

shifted uncomfortably, his throat bobbing

in her eyes. "You can’t