Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 375: The Boys Left Behind

"What do you think Asher and Violet are up to right now?" Alaric asked no one in particular, his expression distant as he stared out the window, the cocoa mug untouched in his hand.

"Fucking, obviously," Roman replied, leaning over to stick his tongue into Alaric’s cup and lap at the drink like a dog.

"Dude, what the fuck!" Alaric recoiled, pure disgust written across his face.

"I licked it. It’s mine now." Roman showed no remorse as he snatched the mug and chugged it down. When he drained the last drop, he let out a deep, satisfied burp.

"Thanks, Momma Griffin," he greeted cheerfully just as Griffin walked in, an apron tied around his waist. "That was divine."

With Asher and Violet gone, Roman had been restless. Nothing—not even the company of his own pack—could soothe the strange ache in his chest caused by Violet’s absence. So, without thinking much of it, he found his feet dragging him to East House.

He hadn’t expected to run into Alaric in the foyer and the both of them froze mid-stride, locking eyes. Violet’s presence had been a balm over their constant feud, but now that she was gone, the scab had ripped right off.

Alaric, sensing Roman’s intent, sprinted for Griffin’s room like it was war. Roman, swearing under his breath, bolted after him. Alaric arrived first and locked the door behind him, triumphant, until Griffin, curious about the commotion, opened it moments later to a breathless Roman.

And just like that, both idiots were inside, and handed mugs of Griffin’s famous cocoa, the one that was almost, mark the word "almost" better than an orgasm.

"Really?" Griffin’s expression brightened, lingering between bashful pride and doubt. "You like it that much?"

Roman clutched his chest. "Like it? Griffin, I am obsessed. This cocoa didn’t just warm my stomach, it healed ancestral trauma. I took one sip and I saw my entire life flash before my eyes, except this time it was happier."

Griffin blinked.

"I’m serious," Roman went on, deadpan. "If Violet is the sun of my universe, you’re the soothing moonlight that reminds me it’s okay to feel things. I’m in love with it, and maybe a little bit with you. Not like Violet-love," he added quickly, "but you’ve definitely claimed whatever remains of my giddy, emotionally unstable heart."

Griffin looked stunned. Then, slowly, his face split into a grin so wide it could’ve powered the East House on joy alone. He looked like a kid who’d painted his first masterpiece and had it declared a national treasure.

Alaric’s jaw dropped, stunned by the sheer audacity of Roman’s flattery skills. He groaned, burying his face in his palm. "Don’t tell me you believed that? He’s so dramatic." he said to Griffin.

Roman said in a theatrically scolding tone. "Is this how you support your friends? No wonder they say you don’t know what you’ve got

Griffin, he raised the empty mug in salute. "Dramatic? No. I just know when a man deserves his flowers. And

then down at the plate of still-warm double-chocolate

he said, "You know what? Roman,

choked on air. "But that’s

catching their child with bad grades. "Well," he said

plate with glee. He bit into it, letting out an exaggerated moan of satisfaction. "Mmm. Tastes like betrayal and

with the cookie still between his teeth, he turned to Alaric and added with a

looked like he’d just been

he declared as he lunged at

Roman’s throat, but Roman, ever the drama king, just threw his head back and laughed like a madman, even

only made

and he drove a fist into Roman’s gut, knocking the air clean

Okay, okay! He’s serious!" Roman wheezed, gasping as he doubled

Then chaos broke loose.

tackled Alaric, and the two of them went crashing to the floor with a loud thud, fists flying. Their fight wasn’t

sighed deeply like a tired mother

so done," he

this time, instead, he sat away from them and took a bite

idiots rolled across the floor like deranged puppies and in the process sent a lamp flying, followed by the shattering

his wrists above his head with a smug gleam in

stronger,"

shutter clicked and both

see Griffin casually holding up his

two looked so good together. I figured

that’s the case," he said, glancing down at Alaric with mischief burning in his eyes,