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.

the East Pack rather than staying here in the North. Zara had never once

could communicate telepathically like most mates. But for some reason, it didn’t work between them. Not that he was complaining, but it would have made things simpler.

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

Griffin replied, mirroring her fake warmth with one of his

to freeze when he abruptly said, "So, can

mask

a distraction," Griffin said

fingers together on her lap. "About that..." she began,

shirt as he crossed his arms, giving her a look

spirit." She gestured vaguely, her tone posh and clinical. "It’s a form of advanced therapeutic meditation combined with sensory recalibration. During this process, his mind must remain undisturbed. Any interruptions

"Yes, yes, I understand.

understand a

The others have been very worried about him too. Who knows, maybe we’d all try this advanced therapeutic

demand the truth about what was really

her lap. She was smart, but she wasn’t streetwise.

out and who knew what might be going on in the

first, make yourself

Zara’s expression shifted. Her sharp mind

enough, she turned abruptly to the guard who

came alone, right?"

tone. "No,

cracked like a whip, the word filled with