Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 564: Who Are You

Violet burst out of the main packhouse, her lungs on fire and her heart hammering like the grooves of horses during a race. Behind her, the shrill blaring of the alarm wailed across the compound, echoing through the surrounding like a death knell.

It was by sheer luck that Violet managed to escape the packhouse, and now, the guards were chasing after her with weapons. A sharp crack split the air and Violet dove forward as glowing blue projectiles sizzled past her head, slamming into the frozen ground and sending up bursts of frost.

"Those aren’t ordinary bullets," Thalia growled inside her mind. "They’re designed to disrupt a wolf’s nervous system. They can’t kill you, but they’ll shut your body down."

"Good thing I’m not an ordinary wolf," Violet panted, pushing harder. Her legs screamed in protest, but there was no choice here. She was not falling into Zara’s hands today.

The field ahead was chaotic. Smoke billowed from the first explosion in the central lab building. Dozens of pack members were running in panic, their white breath rising in clouds. Some were wearing white coats—scientists, by the look of them—while others looked like ordinary pack members. The flood of bodies created a wall of confusion, and the guards couldn’t fire without risking their own people.

Violet weaved through the crowd, using them as cover. For a moment, she thought she might make it cleanly. Then a guard broke through, charging straight at her.

"Stop!" he roared, swinging a baton crackling with blue energy.

Violet ducked, the weapon passing inches above her head. She lunged forward, driving her shoulder into his stomach. They went down hard, rolling in the snow. The guard snarled and kicked her off, scrambling to his feet with feral speed.

Violet rose too, her chest heaving. The guard came at her again, striking fast. His first blow grazed her arm, sending a jolt of numbing pain through her muscles. Gritting her teeth, Violet blocked the next strike, twisting his wrist until the baton fell into the snow.

The guard didn’t stop. He swung a fist at her head but Violet ducked, countering with an elbow to his jaw. He staggered, but his sheer size and strength kept him upright. He grabbed her around the waist and slammed her to the ground.

Air rushed out of her lungs.

"Move, Violet!" Thalia screamed.

He stumbled back, giving her just enough room to roll to her feet. Before he could stand, Violet twisted around and kicked him so hard in the head he was knocked

have a second to rest before

many. Even if their electric bullets

a blessing, a second explosion

and smoke erupted from the eastern wing of the complex, sending debris raining from the sky. The guards froze, shouting into radios. Their ranks broke apart as nearly all of

to question who—or what—had caused it. She bolted, plunging into the swarm of fleeing civilians. People screamed and shoved, desperate to escape

else running away from the danger, Violet sprinted toward it. Her instincts, sharpened by Thalia’s presence, pulled her

industrial section of the compound. Two massive warehouse buildings loomed ahead, their walls reinforced

her

W-B, only to skid to a halt at the entrance.

muttered,

man in a white coat ran toward her, shouting over the alarm.

ID badge swinging

Oh, sweet mercies.

the distance in a heartbeat. One swift strike to his jaw, and he fell

beeped and slid open with a

outside. The air smelled of cold metal and chemicals.

the maze of storage racks. But the deeper

at her. "Where exactly, Thalia?"

That’s when it happened.