Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 646: Panic Attack

Two pairs of eyes pinned Violet on the spot, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

"Violet..." her mother pressed, "Don’t you want to be my heir?"

Violet tried to speak, but her voice failed her. The words tangled in her throat and refused to come out. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple, her pulse hammering in her ears. Suddenly, her chair felt like a hot seat, the air too thin to breathe.

"Violet?" Asher called her name, concerned. His brows furrowed, his hand twitching as though he wanted to reach for her. He could sense something was wrong.

Violet Purple never believed in panic attacks. She had always been strong—panic, in her mind, was for the weak. But in that moment, when she met Asher’s slitted gaze and her mother’s piercing amethyst eyes, both heavy with expectation, and responsibility, a crushing wave of pressure settled on her chest.

Violet abruptly stood up, her chair scraping back loudly. The walls felt like they were closing in, and she stumbled a few steps away, her breath hitching. She needed air—she needed to breathe. Something was choking her.

Asher was on his feet in an instant. "Violet?"

Queen Seraphira rose too, her voice tight. "Violet, are you alright?"

But Violet didn’t respond. Her eyes darted around wildly, and unfocused, panic clouding everything. The blood roared in her ears, drowning out every voice as if she’d been dropped underwater. She clutched at her chest, but her heart only beat faster.

"I think she’s having a panic attack!" Asher was alarmed.

Except it wasn’t just a panic attack.

Dark shadows began to coil around her, protectively like a dome. The air thickened, humming with unstable magic. Veins darkened beneath her skin, pulsing with power that was too much for her fragile control. When Violet staggered against a pillar for balance, it exploded into dust the moment her hand touched it.

Asher moved to run to her, but Queen Seraphira grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Don’t!" she warned, her eyes wide. "She’s having a flux."

Asher’s voice was rough with panic and anger. "What the hell is a flux?!"

"Magical instability," Seraphira said quickly, her tone clipped but urgent. "The human realm holds limited energy, but here, magic flows freely. Her body isn’t used to this abundance, and with her emotions feeding it, the power’s building uncontrollably. She needs balance—a release—before it consumes her."

From the way Violet’s magic surged higher, they both knew the effects would be destructive. To Asher, the scene was almost like that day at the pine lodge when her powers came out for the first time. Only this time, it was stronger.

Almost immediately, the doors flung open, and soldiers poured into the room.

Asher’s head snapped up, every muscle tensing. He didn’t like this at all.

But the Queen was already in command. "Build a barrier around us!" she ordered.

All five soldiers responded at once. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Then they spread out in a perfect circle, their lips moving as they murmured in an unfamiliar tongue.

Asher demanded, stepping forward. He was ready to fight and rescue

another step, Lila appeared and planted a hand firmly on his chest, forcing

"She’s the reason Violet’s unstable in

and blaming her won’t change anything!" Lila snapped

the doors burst open

even Roman—still pale and weak—stormed in, drawn by the violent surge of emotion through their bond. They froze at the sight: Violet surrounded by pulsing magic, Queen Seraphira standing before her,

was going

a blinding shimmer, a transparent dome sealed around the Queen

the Queen turned to

said

shook her head, her voice hoarse. "I—can’t.

more reason to breathe," the Queen said firmly, "You own this power, Violet. It does not own

slowly, her chest rising and falling

dragging knives into her lungs. Still, she

"Good," Seraphira whispered. "Again."

voice was steady, guiding her like a lifeline

If anything happened to their mate, they would rent the Fae

"You have too much magic inside you, and it’s overflowing. We’ll purge the excess, and keep

a weak

blood, your bones, your breath. The same way your body expels sweat through your pores, you can expel magic the same way. You must open yourself to release it. Feel it leaving

whole body shaking. She imagined the thick, heavy,

the Queen urged. "One trickle at

out instead when she felt a sharp pain cut through her. She had rushed the whole

Seraphira whispered again. "Slow.

poured from her skin like ink dissolving in water, replaced by

lullaby. "That’s

Violet did.

escaped her until her knees buckled and her breathing slowed, returning to a normal

she felt lighter. Lighter than

whispered, her

learns to regulate their magic from the

voice was

barrier, and they stepped out. And

them halfway, but her legs

"Whoa, whoa—easy."

hit the ground.

rest," Seraphira said

" Violet began to

With effortless strength, he adjusted her in his arms, holding her