Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 337: Out Of Lunaris

Roman sat beside Violet at the edge of the bed, unusually quiet as he focused on her injured hand, the first aid kit with its contents laid open between them.

Violet watched him in silence, noticing the way he handled her hand with so much care that a small smile crossed her lips.

"I didn't think you'd be this good at this," Violet said. "I usually assign medical competency to Alaric."

Roman gave a short laugh, glancing up at her. "Yeah, he'd probably love to hear that."

She tilted her head. "So? Where'd you learn?"

Roman's smile faded slightly, replaced with a more serious expression. "I didn't exactly have a choice. Growing up with Leon and Alexa, they weren't what you'd call involved parents. They were mostly distracted with their own needs and personal lives. So, I figured things out on my own."

Violet didn't say anything and let him talk.

Roman continued, his voice lower now. "I didn't grow into my powers easily either. People think it's all instant. Like, poof, I see a new animal and I become it. But it wasn't like that. Not even close."

He looked down at her hand, wrapping the last layer of bandage carefully.

"Sometimes I'd try to shift into something I'd seen, and only half of me would change. Like, one side of my body would be the animal, the other side still human. Bones cracking the wrong way. Skin not adjusting. I'd collapse half-shifted, bleeding all over the place. It was a mess."

There was a quiet bitterness in his voice. Not self-pity. Just the truth.

Violet reached out with her uninjured hand and gently touched his knee. "But you overcame it. Look at you now, Roman. You're in control. That's what matters."

Roman paused. Then slowly, he looked up at her.

his voice raw. "Not after the kind of life I've lived. Not after the

matter anymore, Roman.

passed in his eyes. Relief? Gratitude?

you," he

thank me for," Violet replied and then glanced

the bandage. "Yeah. That should hold until Adele takes

leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his

her face and kissed her full on the mouth.

without warning and her breath caught as her back hit the bed, and Roman's body followed, his mouth still on

always carried crashed into her,

dangerously close to letting go. But then his phone rang, the sound slicing through

pulled back, breathing hard. He reached for his phone without looking, answered it in one word, then hung

he announced. "We should

him, her breath still shaky. The warmth that had been curling in

different way now. Roman stood and offered her a hand which she

the parents had already left and the students were back in their dorms. Just like earlier, when

different now. The students stepped aside, clearing the way, not

Violet exchanged a glance but said nothing. Right now, their

Nancy and Ezra were waiting

"Nancy?"

and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank

Violet started to say, but Nancy's eyes

"You're obviously hurt."