Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 453: The Fight

Violet jolted upright with a loud gasp, like a drowning victim breaking the surface for air. Her chest was heaving, while her eyes were still wide and unfocused with panic.

Beside her, Asher, Alaric and Roman—who had apparently slipped out of her nightgown and shifted back into his human form sometime during the night — also woke.

There were shouts of her name, but Violet was too busy feeling her neck, which throbbed with a sore, burning ache. The boys’ eyes were now fixed on her too, their gazes dark with dread.

She didn’t wait. Violet jumped off the bed, rounded the corner, and stormed straight into Asher’s bathroom. Violet froze the second she saw her reflection on the mirror and the breath left her lungs.

Holy shit.

Large, angry bruises bloomed across her neck, raw proof of the pain she felt.

It might have been a dream, but the consequences were brutally real.

Had Asher not severed the connection in time, she would’ve died. For real.

Violet would have spent more time in the bathroom if not for the sudden shouting that came from the room. She rushed out just in time to see Asher land a solid punch to Roman’s jaw.

Oh God. No.

Griffin must’ve arrived while she was inside because the only reason Asher hadn’t launched a second blow was because he and Alaric were holding him back. Not that it helped calm him in the slightest.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Asher roared, eyes blazing. "Your impulsiveness nearly got her killed! This was already dangerous, but what if something worse was waiting behind that door? You could’ve walked us all to our deaths! Why can’t you think with your damn head for once?!"

"Alright, that’s enough!" Violet cut in sharply, stepping between them just as she saw the flash of hurt across Roman’s face. Asher’s words had bite far too much and she wasn’t about to let him draw blood with them.

Roman whimpered as if in pain, then turned without a word and stormed out of the room completely naked.

"Roman!" Violet called after him, but he didn’t stop.

"That was harsh," she said, turning back to Asher.

a defiant growl. He

"I’m going after

didn’t look her way. His jaw tightened, his expression unreadable like he couldn’t care less if Roman jumped off

called as she stepped into his room, but there was no answer, nor sign

was nothing. That’s when it hit her that Roman had a habit

Of course.

just like that, Violet found herself trudging into

between the trees. The ground was soft beneath her feet, still damp

you?!" Violet shouted, cupping her hands around

Silence.

talk

her, rustling the trees. Violet

heart racing.

was here. She could feel

was him

"Roman?" she tried again.

There was still silence.

to her, then she’d make damn sure he had no choice

Violet let herself slip just slightly and landed on the forest floor with a convincing

burst through his

eyes that scanned her body as if

face but she just couldn’t hold it in. She burst into a loud, wicked

happened. Just like that, his expression shifted

speechless. Then Roman growled, turning

Violet scrambled to her feet to follow him except this time, it wasn’t a trick. Her leg seized up with a vicious sting and she fell with

kept

actually happening—" she groaned, holding her calf. "Why do I do this to

moment, it seemed Roman planned to leave her there out of pure pettiness. But then, he suddenly paused, then turned with a guttural groan that was half frustration, half surrender. Roman’s face was screwed up like it

She knew it.

was crouched beside her, grumbling, "What is