Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 369: Owe Him A Dance

For a moment, Asher didn’t speak. He just watched her lose herself to the fear, her breath quick and shallow, and her voice tight with guilt she didn’t deserve. Violet was rarely the type to let her guard down, but right now, it was falling right in front of him.

Before he could say a word, she was already covering it up with a smile that didn’t touch her eyes. "Okay, maybe I’m thinking too much and this is stupid," Violet awkwardly cleared her throat. This was Asher, anyway, and he wasn’t used to dealing with all this big emotional stuff.

To her surprise, Asher said, "It’s not stupid."

"What?"

"Look at me."

Violet wouldn’t. She felt so vulnerable right now and didn’t want Asher to see her like that. Weak and emotional.

"Look at me, love." He turned her face gently.

Violet finally looked at him, and he stared back. He saw not just her beautiful golden eyes, but the girl who had turned his life upside down since the moment he saw her face on paper.

Without hesitation, Asher pulled her onto his lap like she weighed nothing and cradled her against his chest. Then he threaded his fingers through her hair, soothing her, and Violet’s eyes fluttered closed in appreciation.

Then Asher tilted her chin until their eyes met. "You didn’t mess anything up. Lunaris Academy was already broken before you got here, Violet. You didn’t cause the fire, you just stopped pretending the smoke wasn’t choking everyone. I didn’t even know what I was doing wrong until you called out my bullshit. Our bullshit," he emphasized not just his, but the other Cardinal Alphas’. "Thanks to you, people like us, and Elsie, who were untouchable before? Now we’re accountable."

Violet blinked in surprise, lips parting, but he kept going.

rot. You’re doing something no one else had the courage to do—to stand up to it. Yeah, maybe it’s not perfect. Maybe you were

brushed the corner of her

Violet. Your values, your instincts, and that passion that burns so brightly inside you. Lunaris Academy doesn’t need

scholarship students you’re worried about? Nothing is going to happen to them. Not because they’re protected. But because they’re useful. I’ve told you before, this is all politics. Lunaris

Alpha King. The council. Every last one of them benefits from keeping Lunaris afloat. It’s not an academy, it’s a machine. And the

toss a few comforting words to the press, spin it like change is coming. Elsie will probably pull off some tear-stained apology tour and wrap it all in a redemption arc. With the

gave a dry

both assuring and scary," she said, disappointed.

bad people than good people in the world now, and even big deals like this get buried fast. That’s why we act now, while things are being shaken up. You’ve made a mark, honey. So let the world spin and

a

added, eyes dark with meaning, "If anyone ever tries to come

his hands, nor his beautiful, strange eyes, but at him. At the

you," Violet

Asher felt like he’d

her voice was louder.

twisted part that doesn’t make sense. And every part of you that’s so sweet it makes

like she’d run a thousand miles in those

face as he said, "I love you too, my purple queen. I’ve loved you since the day I read those words you wrote for me on

"Those weren’t