Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 290: Elsie’s Secret

School had ended for the day and night had fallen.

Violet and her girls were gathered in the living room, huddled around Daisy as they watched the footage from Elsie’s bugged room playing on her laptop. Apparently, Elsie and the elites were throwing some kind of post-party celebration, likely in anticipation of what they already assumed would be tomorrow’s successful Legacy Luncheon.

It was happening right there in Elsie’s room and, as expected of a party, there was a lot of drinking. Except, unlike the cheap beer most kids sipped at parties, these girls were clinking crystal glasses filled with obviously expensive wine. They were really living the life most people dreamed of. If only they weren’t so damn vain, even Violet might’ve felt a tinge of envy.

And of course, as expected of a party, there were lots of conversations aka gossip. Not that any of it was useful to Violet. It was the usual shallow chatter about who slept with who, and yes, her name came up more times than she could count. And the things they said about her? Nasty didn’t even begin to cover it.

Not that Violet cared. In fact, she considered it an honor to be that famous as she practically took up sixty percent of their conversation. But gossip wasn’t what Violet wanted. She was hoping someone would say something incriminating about Elsie. Or even give her a hint of the big secret.

But no. No one exposed anything. Not while they were in her damn sanctum. They obviously had to keep face.

So instead, Violet turned her attention to Natalie Avax.

The girl smiled and made small talk whenever approached by the others, but she was clearly alone. Detached. And at one point, Violet could’ve sworn Natalie stared straight into the camera while sipping her wine calmly, like she knew exactly where it had been hidden.

"I don’t know about you, but this girl gives me the creeps. She’s too smart for my liking," Daisy muttered, witnessing the same eerie moment.

"Or maybe," Ivy said casually, "you’re just jealous she might be smarter than you."

Daisy turned and glared so hard it could’ve peeled paint off the walls. If looks could kill, Ivy would have dropped dead.

Violet said nothing. Even if Natalie turned out to be a bigger obstacle in the future, for now, an enemy’s enemy was still a friend.

They watched as Natalie stood up and dropped her empty glass. Then she bid Elsie goodnight, even though the queen bee had been talking to another one of the elite girls. Elsie acknowledged it with a polite smile, and Natalie took her leave.

As soon as she vanished, the conversation turned against her at once.

"Just look at her, acting all high and mighty like she owns the school." one of the girls sneered now Natalie was gone.

Sharon let out a mocking laugh. "Please. All she has going for her is Avax’s family name. Without it, she’d be nothing. And yet she thinks she’s better than us."

She flipped her glossy hair like she was starring in her own shampoo commercial. "She’s not even that pretty."

snorted. That was where they were dead

she knew it. The girl flaunted it with zero shame, walking like she knew every head would

had a nose job done. That nose can’t be real," another girl chimed in, wrinkling her

added another,

though. I love them. They’re perfect," one girl sighed dreamily,

of the girls turned to her like she’d

rushed to save herself. "I—I mean, I

beside Violet, eyes on the screen. "I’d never join that clique even

words, but then her phone beeped with

eyes to widen

"Asher Fucking Nightshade."

As she saved it.

in mild panic, scanning to see if anyone had seen it. But the girls were

back," Violet murmured, already on her

leaned against the

could

attached to it

lungs. It was a photo. One he’d clearly taken earlier that

hair spread across them like silk, and Asher had the most peaceful, satisfied look on his face. Like for once, the world had stopped trying to

intimate and beautiful. Violet stared at it, her

girl. She was

yet Violet typed right

I can’t wait to see your face

whatever. She pressed the

it was not even up to a minute, Violet

the word, baby girl and I’ll bring

The guy

knew she had to rein herself back. She had a

she remained standing behind the sofa, arms

and shook her head. "At this rate, we’re not gonna get anything substantial," she then added with a rare softness, "It just isn’t working, V." She used Violet’s

respond immediately. She knew Daisy was right, at least, based on what they had seen so far. The conversation had been