Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 276: The Goddess’ Game

The first thought that came to Violet’s mind was that Asher wanted to kill her. That he had finally lost it and was ready to silence her for good.

But then she caught his glowing eyes in the dark and realized his pupils were unfocused. He wasn’t seeing her at all.

Oh fuck. It hit her like a slap. He was still caught up in the nightmare. Asher was going to kill her, and he wouldn’t even know it.

So she began to struggle, panic clawing up her spine. And that was when it hit Violet just how wide the gap between their strength really was.

Asher was like a boulder crushing her windpipe, and no matter how she pushed, nothing budged. It dawned on her that Asher had let her win that day in combat training, because right now, she couldn’t even move him an inch.

"Asher, wake up! It’s me!" Violet cried desperately, her fingers clawing at the arm crushing her windpipe. If anything, his grip only tightened, her vision beginning to blur at the edges.

Goddess help her, she was actually going to die.

Violet thrashed with all she had left, kicking beneath Asher in a fit of desperation. Then, summoning her last ounce of strength, she slapped him hard across the face.

"Wake up, you asshole! Wake up right now!" she screamed.

And it worked.

She caught the flash of panic in his eyes right before the tension drained from his body. Asher jerked back, horror dawning on his face as he scrambled off her, stumbling to the side table and flipping on the lamp.

The glow wasn’t enough to light the whole room, but it was enough for her to see him clearly. Not that Violet could focus, not when she was busy coughing, and dragging in air into her raw, burning lungs. That was a close brush with death. Too damn close.

"Asher," she rasped, reaching for him.

But he flinched like she’d burned him. Asher backed away, wide-eyed and his chest heaving. Violet watched him slowly unravel, his hand raking through his hair over and over again. He was shirtless, dressed in nothing but black boxers, and he looked completely, utterly lost.

here?" he demanded, voice rough. "How

suddenly I started moving. At first I thought I was sleepwalking, but

Asher suddenly laughed. But it wasn’t a kind laugh, rather it was hollow

powers," he said, his

out to her. Yes, it was not intentionally, but his

she after what she’d seen? She couldn’t blame him. Not after the hell that monster of a father had

already

"Asher, I—"

immediately, having sensed what she was about to say. He didn’t need

should leave. Right

blinked in disbelief. Then her face hardened.

her bones. He had summoned her right into his broken memories. That was a sign. He may not

going anywhere," she told him fiercely. "You called

him. But then his

he said flatly.

could respond, he turned on

Wait—what?

in

on the door. "Asher, come on! You can’t hide

Silence.

share it with?

there was

But know this, Asher—none of what happened was your fault. I don’t blame you. And

further. As much as she wanted to help,

Asher leaned back against the door, breathing hard.

She knew. She