Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 563: Lock Griffin Up

Chapter 563: Lock Griffin Up

"I have to say..." Zara began as she settled on her seat with a regal posture, "it’s a real surprise seeing you here."

"Really?" Griffin said, giving her the look. "But should it be?"

"Excuse me?" Zara gave a light, awkward laugh, feigning confusion.

Griffin didn’t take his eyes off her. "You took Alaric back to the North Pack while every other cardinal alpha fulfills their duty in the West Pack. Did you really think I wouldn’t come back for him?"

Zara blinked, momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered, her pleasant mask slipping back into place. "Griffin Hale, I understand where you’re coming from, truly I do. But I have a very solid reason for my actions. "Compared to the rest of you, Alaric has always been... fragile..."

She paused, as though savoring the word before continuing, "After such a traumatic experience, even though he wouldn’t admit it, I knew my baby boy needed time away from all that chaos. My husband, Caspian, is in the West representing the North well. Alaric doesn’t necessarily need to be there, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Is that why I haven’t been able to reach him on the phone?"

Zara’s lashes lowered, her tone still sugarine sweet. "When the mind is unwell, the body suffers. Alaric doesn’t need distractions."

Griffin raised a brow. "I didn’t realize, Luna Zara, that even I had become a distraction." His lips curved into a humorless smile, his tone soft but cutting, "A distraction who risked it all, walking away from the West Pack to see how his friend was doing."

Zara gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. "Oh my! Griffin, dear, that wasn’t my intention at all. Please accept my apologies."

"It definitely sounded that way," Griffin retorted.

He was pushing her on purpose, dragging this conversation out to buy Violet time. His instincts screamed that something here was wrong. Very wrong.

had always preferred spending holidays at the East Pack rather than staying here in the North. Zara had never once been this guarded

like this, he wished they could communicate telepathically like most mates. But for some reason, it didn’t work between them. Not that he was complaining,

him a polite smile. "I truly didn’t mean to offend

mirroring her fake

with relief, only to freeze when he abruptly said, "So,

mask

a distraction," Griffin said

lacing her fingers together on her lap. "About that..." she began, her voice slow and careful, "I’m afraid

tensed beneath his shirt as he crossed his arms, giving her a look

spirit." She gestured vaguely, her

yes, I

understand a single

very worried about him too. Who knows, maybe we’d all try this advanced therapeutic restorative of

and demand the truth about what was really going on. But outwardly, he presented nothing but calm

his gaze didn’t miss the way Zara’s fingers tightened slightly against her lap. She was smart, but she wasn’t streetwise. And that was exactly where Griffin had the upper

knew what might be going on in the lab right now. She forced a controlled breath and said, "Fine. You’ll see Alaric

first, make yourself comfortable.

but before he could speak, Zara’s expression shifted. Her sharp

didn’t answer quickly enough, she turned abruptly

alone,

her tone. "No, Luna. He came

voice cracked like a whip, the