Alaric hadn’t supported this plan in the first place. Griffin had promised only to scare Violet into telling the truth, and Alaric’s role was to ensure things didn’t escalate further. God forbid Violet provoked Griffin into letting his beast out. The heavens knew it would be an unmitigated disaster.
Griffin released Violet at once, almost as if she had burned him. His gaze darted nervously between her and Alaric. Shaking his head desperately, he cried out, “I didn’t even do anything!”
Unfortunately for Griffin, Violet wailed even louder, her wails echoing through the classroom. “Why are you doing this to me?! Why do you hate me so much?! I didn’t even do anything to you!”
“I swear, I only grabbed her hair!” Griffin defended himself, his voice rising in panic.
Alaric face-palmed, groaning in exasperation. “You fool! You must have hurt her with your strength! Humans are much more fragile! How many times do I have to tell you that?!”
“But I-” Griffin started to protest, only to stop dead in his tracks as Violet suddenly threw her arms around him. She buried her face into his massive chest, sobbing as if her world had crumbled.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Even Alaric held his breath, staring at the scene in disbelief. What was supposed to be an interrogation had flipped entirely. Instead of scaring Violet into confessing, the girl was now the one doing the scaring.
Griffin looked utterly lost. He was a giant of a man, his imposing size intimidating everyone he encountered. Most avoided him, too terrified to even get close. Only his closest friends or occasional lovers ever dared to touch him. What many didn’t know was that Griffin had the most tender heart amongst all the cardinal alphas. He was a brute with a teddy bear heart.
And yet, here was this human girl, someone with no relationship to him whatsoever, clinging to him as though he were her lifeline.
For over a minute, Griffin stood frozen, unable to process what was happening. But then, in a shocking turn of events, his massive arms encircled Violet. He began patting her back awkwardly, as though she were a small child in need of comfort.
“Shit,” Griffin muttered apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Purplehead. My mama would be so disappointed if she found out I made a girl cry.” His tone was genuinely remorseful as he continued to pat her back, his earlier aggression completely gone.
Unfortunately for Griffin and Alaric, neither of them knew that Violet had been pretending all along. Griffin would never have believed her outright, and being headstrong wasn’t going to get her out of this situation.
So Violet relied on a skill women often held an edge in-tears, or rather, emotional manipulation. Like before, she clung to her mantra: fake it till you make it. Except this time, she decided to take it to the next level.
Except what Violet didn’t realize was that tapping into her emotional reservoir was a double-edged sword. The moment Griffin wrapped his massive, muscular arms around her, she didn’t notice when everything shifted. But suddenly, the floodgates opened, and the emotions she had pretended to feel crashed over her like a torrent, turning her act into reality.
Violet had always been tough. But being tough came with its own burdens, there were silent wounds and emotional bandages that weighed her down every single day. She had been holding onto them for so long, never realizing how desperately she needed to let it all out until now.
It had all been a lie, every pretense of strength she clung to. Griffin’s hatred for her, seemingly without reason, hurt more than she wanted to admit. Asher’s unrelenting control over her life, like he was some untouchable god, terrified her. And above all, Violet was homesick. She missed Nancy, missed the trailer, missed the life she had left behind. Here she was in an unfamiliar world with no familiar face, no comfort, no safety net.
“Yes, just like that, little purple girl,” Griffin muttered softly, his tone soothing. His massive hand ran gently through her hair, and the sensation was unexpectedly heavenly. “Let it all out. It’s good for the heart. Let the feelings flow.”
And just like he ordered, tears streamed down her face, her sobs turning ragged.
“You’re safe,” he murmured, his voice dripping with sincerity. “I won’t harm you again.”
Even through her tears, Violet could feel the truth in his words. Griffin’s tone held no malice now, only a strange tenderness that she hadn’t expected from him.
Meanwhile, Alaric stood nearby, staring at the scene with a slightly horrified expression. Whatever was unfolding before his eyes, he had no name for it. Relief flickered across his features, at least there was no bloodshed. Not that he would have allowed it; even Alaric had his limits. Still, this? This was something else entirely.
As he observed Violet, a growing suspicion crept into Alaric’s mind. First Asher, now Griffin. It seemed like the girl had both of them wrapped around her finger in some inexplicable way.
Alaric didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Violet stood in front of the restroom mirror, staring blankly at her reflection. The tap ran on, cold water spilling over her hands, but she barely noticed. Her mind was a million miles away, still trapped in the whirlwind of what had just unfolded in that classroom.
She had escaped, mostly unharmed. Her scalp still tingled where Griffin had gripped her hair, but it wasn’t the lingering pain that unsettled her. It was the emotional vulnerability she had shown.
Her golden eyes seemed to stare back at her accusingly. “You cried,” they seemed to say.
Violet couldn’t believe she had let that happen. Crying in front of Griffin Hale? The brute of East House? It was almost laughable if it didn’t make her stomach twist with unease.
And yet, Griffin’s reaction had been…unexpected. After her emotional breakdown, all he had done was apologize. The sincerity in his voice still echoed faintly in her mind.
“You are right,” he had said regretfully. “I was a coward for facing you when Asher should be the one I should be interrogating. But don’t worry, I’ll surely get the truth out of his mouth one way or the other.”
And then, like some holy knight delivering a grand promise, he’d added with unwavering determination, “In case you ever need my help, or need to move into another house, don’t hesitate to come to me. I’ll fight for you and will be happy to welcome you into the East House.”
The memory of his words made Violet scoff quietly, water still running over her hands. Holy knight? You have got to be kidding me.
Griffin might have played the role of protector in that moment, but she wasn’t about to start seeing him as her savior. Still, she couldn’t deny that his demeanor had shifted drastically, almost disturbingly so.
But what bothered her more than Griffin’s sudden turn was the look Alaric Storm had given him before they left. That cold, distrusting glare.
Violet shuddered, her spine tingling as she remembered how the Lightning Prince’s sharp eyes had lingered on her, as if dissecting her very existence. It was crystal clear that Alaric didn’t like or trust her. Not even a little bit.
Well, he’s right not to.
Violet shut the tap off abruptly, gripping the edges of the sink as she took a deep breath. Her reflection stared back at her, showing eyes red and puffy from crying.
Violet bit her lip, hating herself for not having any makeup to hide the evidence. There was no way she could walk into her next class looking like this. The last thing she needed was for anyone to think she was a crybaby. She wasn’t weak.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a stall door creaking open. Violet’s head snapped up as a girl stepped out with an air of confidence that practically radiated off her. From the elegant sway of her hips to the sweet, almost intoxicating scent of her perfume, Violet instantly pegged her as one of the bluebloods, the wealthy elite that dominated Lunaris Academy.
And if there was one group Violet avoided like the plague, it was the rich and entitled.
The girl walked up to the mirror beside her, placing a small designer bag on the counter with practiced grace. She unzipped it, revealing an arsenal of makeup accessories that gleamed like treasure under the fluorescent lights.
Violet couldn’t help but stare as the girl pulled out a sleek tube of red lipstick and expertly applied it, the vibrant color accentuating her full lips. She popped them with a satisfied smile, radiating the kind of confidence that made it clear she knew she looked good.
She didn’t even wear her jacket and
her shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show off a red lace bra and the subtle curve of her cleavage. It was deliberate action, Violet noted. The girl intended to grab attention and she did. But Violet had no time to judge. Her gaze was fixed on the makeup bag as if it held the answers to all her problems.
She swallowed hard, internally debating whether to ask. Bluebloods were predictable. The girl would probably sneer at her, give her a condescending look, or outright ignore her. But the alternative was walking into class looking like a wreck. Violet shivered at the thought.
Her fingers itched with the horrible urge to snatch the bag and run, but she immediately dismissed the idea. This wasn’t her old school. She wasn’t a thief and being branded such would be a living nightmare. Gritting her teeth, Violet decided to take the risk and ask for help.
Before she could get a word out, the girl turned to her with a dramatic flair and said, “All you have to do is ask…” Her voice was smooth, teasing, as if she’d been expecting Violet to speak all along. She smiled. “And you shall receive.”
Violet blinked, momentarily taken aback by the girl’s unexpected response. She studied her closely now, taking in her attractive dirty blonde hair cascading in loose waves, sharp cheekbones, and beautiful hazel eyes. There was something familiar about her, but Violet couldn’t quite place where she’d seen her before.
“I didn’t think you’d help me,” Violet finally admitted, her voice cautious.
The girl raised a perfectly arched brow, her lips curving into a smirk. “And why wouldn’t I help you? You’re one of us.”
And just like that, Violet’s suspicions were confirmed. She was an elite student. And, apparently, she – Violet – had become one of them. Except for the title, she was still broke though.
Since the girl seemed to be feeling magnanimous, Violet decided not to waste her luck.
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