Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 521: Deflecting The Alpha King

Violet should have felt like a small celebrity being escorted by this many people, but nerves prickled instead. She was about to meet Alpha King Elijah—her jealous uncle, the kind of man who wouldn’t think twice about snapping her head off if he discovered she was yet another abomination his brother had created.

But it wasn’t so bad, not when she had Griffin and Roman by her side, and Alpha Irene leading the way. Warmth bloomed in Violet’s chest at the thought of so many people being concerned about her. She had gone from that orphaned girl with a nonchalant foster mother to a girl blessed with two bonds and a new family.

Every corner they turned, they ran into one or two people whose eyes widened at the sight of her, or more precisely, at the mating rune etched into her body.

Knowing what they were bound to face, Violet had dressed for the occasion. She wore a simple black crop top that allowed her to flaunt Roman’s mating rune on the side of her belly while Griffin’s rune spilled boldly down her neck, impossible to miss.

Because of Alpha Henry’s unexpected death, many people—werewolves and humans alike—were flooding the Alpha King’s residence to offer condolences, if not for grief then for appearance’s sake. That only made her stand out more. Those unaware of the situation simply stared at her with curiosity and intrigue, wondering who she was.

It was not long before they arrived at a door and the guard stationed at the entrance let them in. The first thing Violet noticed was that the sitting room was too big, too bright, and too full of eyes. Elijah had guests and now their eyes were on them, following their every movement.

There was no throne-like chair in the hall. It looked just like every other rich man’s living room with its high ceilings, polished wood gleaming beneath golden chandeliers, and walls crowded with expensive art and artifacts that probably cost more than most families earned in a lifetime.

Griffin had told her this was Elijah’s private residence. The king’s palace was back in the wolf region. Thanks to that, it made Elijah a little hard to locate.

Violet followed close behind Irene, who

hadn’t faltered once, walking with a straight posture and her head lifted high. There was no hesitation in the way she cut through the room toward three men in quiet conversation.

Irene stopped before them, bowed her head slightly, and said to the one in the middle, "Your Majesty."

The men fell silent.

Irene stepped aside, and Violet’s gaze collided with Elijah’s. For a heartbeat, she forgot how to move, or rather, how to breathe.

wasn’t just that Violet was looking at a king. It was that she was staring into

Elijah justice. Her uncle was a handsome man, which wasn’t all that surprising since nearly every werewolf carried that same hot, impossible kind of

hadn’t even realized she’d been gaping until his voice cut through her

said, smooth

at that moment and bowed her

felt Roman

catch Elijah staring at

caused that explosion, she wouldn’t be standing here. She’d already be cooling her heels in

Elijah muttered

smell lies,

arched. "...Do you know how rare it is for a human to

her mind drifted. Her eyes stayed on him, yet her thoughts wandered miles away. She thought about Griffin’s abs, those ridges etched deep like stone she could trace with

could lick and savor. And while she feasted on him, she thought of Roman, sliding between her legs with that wicked

was punctuated by a low growl from Griffin, vibrating from his chest, while Roman’s lips pulled back in a grin that was all teeth and hunger. Their eyes gleamed, fixed on her

caught the scent

cursed out. "While

even as the ghost of Griffin’s body and Roman’s tongue lingered in her

tension in the room could have snapped a bone but

Majesty, do not be offended," she said, dipping her head slightly in deference. "They are young children, and with a

flush hotter, even though her tone carried no judgment. Great way to announce to a

settle down and burn off some steam,

just defending them, but was

on Violet like he could rip the truth out of her. From the sharp lines on his face, it was clear he wanted to grill them until he got what he wanted. But Irene had put him in the spotlight and now every eye