Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 422: Alone

"You’re finally awake."

Those were the first words Asher Nightshade heard when his eyes fluttered open. He turned to the side and saw his father seated beside the bed, a deeply amused expression tugging at his face.

"I was beginning to think you’d sleep for eternity," Henry said. "Would’ve solved most of my problems considering you’ve been a real pain in my ass lately. But alas, I still need an heir, and I’m not exactly in the mood to start over with another one who’ll just betray me in the end."

Asher didn’t respond. He shifted his gaze around the room instead. He was in the hospital again. The steady beep of a heart monitor echoed annoyingly in his ears and his body ached like hell. If this was what living felt like, then maybe being dead wouldn’t have been so bad.

No. He couldn’t think like that. He’d promised his purple queen a lifetime.

With a grunt, Asher pushed himself up into a sitting position. His eyes landed on a bouquet on the nightstand, and hope surged in his chest.

"Don’t get excited," Henry said, following his gaze. "It’s not from the girl. Alaric brought those. Since when did you two become so close?"

Asher stayed silent.

Henry narrowed his eyes. "Well, you boys were once united at one point."

Yeah, they had once been united against Patrick after Elijah had handed them over to be experimented upon, so he could figure out what made them "tick".

If Alaric had come, what about Violet? Was she safe? Had they found her?And how long had he even been asleep?

Henry let out another mirthless laugh when Asher still wouldn’t speak to him. "It’s almost funny," he said, "how you’re treating me like this when I’ve been here the whole time, and not even the bitch you nearly died for bothered to visit you."

"Don’t call her a bitch again," Asher warned, his voice cold. "And if Violet didn’t come to visit me, then she’s smarter than I give her credit for. I wouldn’t trust what you’d do to her, not with your track record."

and dripping with mockery. "Really? Is that what you think? That the bitch was thinking about you?" he sneered. "Let

picked up the remote from the nightstand and turned on the television mounted to

The camera panned over a crowd of cheering

some good news to share and what a story it is. Amidst what’s been a particularly dark season for the school, a

mate bond, we’re talking about Griffin Hale, one of the Cardinal Alphas, and a human named Violet Purple. I’d say this marks a symbolic victory in

of Griffin and Violet sharing a kiss at the haircutting ceremony. Then a perfectly edited clip rolled and this time, from the

was of the two of

Tessa added as the scene faded back to the studio. "Fated mates have always been celebrated in werekind history as signs of divine favor. But what makes this even more powerful

marginalized within the academy, this changes the narrative. If the Moon Goddess herself paired a

wasn’t

union and

and frozen,

a close-up of the kiss, zooming in just enough to clearly show the mate rune etched into both of their necks. Violet’s face was radiant, her lips

mated to Griffin? The cold reality settled over him like a fog,

feel the tear sliding down

like a failed experiment. "This

rough hand, and suddenly Asher felt small again. He was back to being that boy from long

when Henry grabbed him again, it was harder

now. So pull yourself together. If anything, you should be grateful this happened. I was planning to get rid of the bitch anyway, but it looks like the Moon Goddess did me a

eyes and Henry saw it

should be focused on. No