Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 289: Hexes And Visions

Alaric showed up at Adele’s residence at the staff lodge, and to say she was shocked at his appearance would be an understatement.

After the fire incident at his apartment, Alaric had managed to dress up—half-hoping, half-believing—that if he just left the house, maybe the disasters would stop. He thought he’d be safe outside.

Except the universe had other plans.

The moment he stepped outside, a flock of birds decided he was their personal toilet. And not just one or two, but an entire sky-squadron bombed him, and him alone. Of course, nearby students had caught the whole unbelievable scene, and it was probably trending on Moonfeed by now.

Unfortunately for Alaric, while he was trying to take cover from the aerial bombing, he disturbed a wasps’ nest. The little monsters chased him down with vengeance in their buzzing souls, and a few even managed to sting him. Successfully.

Ouch. It hurts.

Then, as if choreographed by the devil himself, Alaric slipped on a banana peel —because why the hell not? — and fell straight into a puddle of actual shit. Wolf shit, to be precise. Some idiot must have shifted and relieved themselves like a savage.

God, it stunk.

That was when Alaric knew he needed to see Adele.

On his way to the staff lodge, the sprinklers activated without warning and sprayed him clean. Well, at least it washed the shit off his face.

And now, here he was. Drenched like a church rat dragged from the depths of some subterranean pit, breathless and wild-eyed, after summarizing his entire cursed day to Adele in a single breath.

Adele blinked at him, her mouth slightly ajar. "Wow. That is quite a lot to process." She opened the door wider, trying to usher him in. "Come inside then. You need to wash up and—"

head violently, his expression alarmed and

cursed! And the longer I stay here, the higher the chances that your whole house might be destroyed very

prove his point, the bulb above loosened from its holder and crashed down, missing his head by

from the shattered glass to Alaric’s dead-serious expression. She looked back

she said carefully, walking him toward the living

"Hexed?" Alaric repeated, stunned.

than a day apart? I think our neighborhood not-so-friendly witch might be at it again." She looked at him carefully. "Alaric Storm, can you remember the people you’ve been in contact with over the last twenty-four

shook his head, trying to think. He has been with so many people he could not exactly

eyes widened

our witch is," he said with

know?" Adele looked

he slapped his thigh. "I should’ve known. She fed me something and I don’t remember anything after that. Plus,

We’re gonna need more solid evidence before we accuse someone of witchcraft. We don’t want to go down the same road history took.

it?"

dear little witch was kind enough to make it temporary. But

of the day off?"

world. That’s why no matter what you do, the misfortunes keep happening. You can’t outrun it. So in one word, I need to put you to sleep, Alaric Storm. While you’re asleep, you’re caught between the living and the dead. The hex doesn’t have full access to you there.

care, not when there was a chance to cure him of this misfortune. "What are you waiting for then?

now. He’d been through enough already. Right now, his only priority was breaking this curse and reclaiming his sanity. Finn could handle

here then," Adele said, narrowing her eyes at him. "And do not move, no

and disappeared

obeying Adele’s instructions and half bracing himself for whatever new disaster might come his way. His entire body was tense, like a wound-up string ready