Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 562: Where Was Alaric?

Chapter 562: Where Was Alaric?

Micah hadn’t been kidding, the North Packhouse was locked up tight. Guards were stationed at every corner, their eyes tracking every movement. It was so heavily secured that one might mistake it for the president’s residence.

It took over thirty minutes before they finally reached the North Packhouse. Along the way, Griffin had been forced to stop for some impromptu shopping and buy clothes that would fit Violet’s current form.

Technically, she wasn’t Violet right now. She was Oscar, Griffin’s beta.

And gods, it was weird.

Violet was still trying to come to terms with the fact that she was currently juggling a dick between her legs. A freak accident, one she knew she was never going to recover from mentally.

She was just grateful Griffin had stopped teasing her about her awkward walking stance. Now that she’d gotten used to it, she had fully embraced her temporary identity.

When they finally stepped inside the packhouse, Violet was struck by how empty it felt. The halls were quiet and for a moment she wondered if Zara had deliberately sent all the pack members away. Or maybe the North’s packhouse was simply different.

Traditionally, a packhouse was meant to house the most important members of the pack — the Alpha, their family, the Beta, Gamma, and other key wolves — so that leadership could remain close and united, ready to act at a moment’s notice. It was the heart of the pack’s territory, and always always buzzing with activity.

Times had changed, of course. Most wolves now lived in their own homes scattered across the territory, districts and the packhouse functioned more like a political center and stronghold than a communal home.

But still, no packhouse ever felt this empty.

As they crossed into a massive foyer, Griffin suddenly turned to her, or rather, to Oscar.

"Wait here," he ordered.

The guard leading them stopped, frowning slightly in confusion.

"I want to speak with Zara privately," Griffin explained.

The guard gave a short nod, clearly not suspicious, and led Griffin further inside.

Now Violet was left alone with two silent guards who stood at the far end of the room. They didn’t even speak or look at her. They just stood there like statues, which suited Violet perfectly.

She used the moment to study her surroundings. The foyer was grand, with towering pillars and two sweeping staircases leading up to the higher levels. Multiple hallways branched off in different directions. Violet mentally mapped them out, taking note of the narrow corridor to the east that would lead to the servants’ wing, another hallway toward the west that seemed less guarded.

Five minutes ticked by. Violet intentionally shifted her weight restlessly. Finally, one of the guards’ eyes landed on her.

"What’s wrong?" he asked stiffly.

and grimaced. "Uh... bathroom? I

was as if they couldn’t believe she was asking about

they didn’t respond, Violet

take

one of them barked, panic breaking his stone-cold

his companion. "Kelvin, show him to

his breath, clearly annoyed,

hid a triumphant smile, obediently following

headed toward the servants’ wing. A visitor’s bathroom would have been near the main hall, but this

in front of

jerked his chin toward

I’ll wait here,"

a stiff nod and stepped inside. The restroom was small, and she shut the door halfway, making

Violet could hear Kelvin’s stance relax

what

lunged at him. Kelvin’s eyes widened

Kelvin was strong as a man. He twisted his body, throwing Violet against

snarled, reaching for

grip, kicking his knee with all her strength. Kelvin grunted but didn’t go down. He swung a vicious punch at her and she barely blocked it,

her going.

her training with Asher, she drove her elbow into his ribs, then used his brief stagger to leap onto his back.

and spots danced in her vision. But not

throat, she locked her legs tight around his torso and applied

sheer will, her

from adrenaline. She stumbled to the sink and caught herself, then froze

raw wound across her cheek. And right in front of her, it healed up. Seeing that sent a strange thrill

no time

the other guard comes to check the reason for

was not an easy mission with her always ducking and finding spots to hide whenever footsteps echoed nearby. Twice, she slid beneath long curtains as the guards passed, her heartbeat so loud

the steps two at a time, she emerged on the

with ornate doors and thick

low, moving

turns. Violet crept forward, turning into a side passage when she heard voices. Two maids passed by, gossiping in hushed voices, oblivious to

She knew finding Alaric wouldn’t be easy, but no one told her she’d be moving around