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.

growl. He didn’t share the

"I’m going after

like

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

of the lodge, yet there was nothing. That’s when it hit her that Roman had a

Of course.

just like that, Violet found herself trudging into

was thick in the air, swirling around her ankles and drifting like smoke between the trees. The ground was soft beneath her feet, still damp from yesterday’s rain. Hence, it was

are you?!" Violet shouted, cupping her hands around

Silence.

Please talk

whipped past her, rustling the trees. Violet

heart racing.

was here. She could feel

hoped that was him

"Roman?" she tried again.

There was still silence.

he wouldn’t come to her, then she’d make damn

just slightly and landed on the forest floor

on cue, Roman burst through his hiding

you okay?" he asked with a voice full of concern, and eyes that scanned her body as if he

couldn’t hold it in. She

happened. Just like that, his expression shifted from

growled, turning on his heel.

feet to follow him except this time, it wasn’t a trick. Her leg

bother and kept walking, not

"Oh my God, this is actually happening—" she groaned,

he suddenly paused, then turned with a guttural groan that was half frustration, half surrender. Roman’s

a fool. She knew it.

moment, Roman was crouched beside