The gods help her!
From the way they growled, Violet could tell they weren’t just tracking her. They were hunting her. They were the predators while she was the unfortunate prey.
Violet had no idea what they would do to her, but something told her she didn’t want to find out. She had underestimated the academy’s defenses, and now she was paying for it.
The wolves’ growls grew louder, closer, their heavy footsteps crunching through the underbrush as they gave her a hot chase. If anyone had told Violet she would be running through the woods this early morning, she would not have believed it.
The branches tore at Violet’s jacket, leaves and dirt scattering as she pushed herself faster than she thought possible. She didn’t dare look back, not when she could feel them closing in, hot on her heels.
Perhaps it was a cosmic joke from the gods, because Violet managed to see the West House from a distance. She followed it out of the woods, the light from her way illuminating her path enough to spot from the corner of her eyes she was being chased down by about four wolves.
Violet ran more strategically this time, deliberately heading toward obstacles only to swerve at the last second, forcing the wolves to adjust course and buying her an extra breath of escape.
Although a niggling feeling told her if the wolves truly wanted to capture her, they would have done it already. Violet had seen uncountable times they had the opening to do so, but they only seemed content with giving chase.
In truth, they had only chased her back in the direction of the West House. But the fear of those wide jaws with frightening teeth left Violet no room to pause or question their motives. Instead, fear propelled her onward, driven by instinct rather than reason.
The West House came right into view, and Violet barreled toward it, her lungs burning and her legs screaming in protest. Somehow, she reached the safety of the house, slamming the door shut behind her and collapsing against it.
Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her heart hammering against her ribcage. At that moment, Violet didn’t care if the house prefect caught her. The fact she was back here was a sheer reminder of her woeful failure to escape.
Violet sat there, trembling, listening for any sign of the wolves outside. But there was nothing. No wolf barreled into the door aggressively, wanting to storm in. There was nothing at all. Just silence. An odd one.
Perhaps it was some unspoken boundary or a fear of the Alpha within; she didn’t know. All Violet knew was that she was safe. Not that it comforted her in the least. By tomorrow, Asher would know what she had done, and that alone scared her as shit.
With that fear still lodged deep in her bones, Violet rushed back into her room. As soon as she shut the door, she stepped away from it, watching it as if expecting wolves to barge in at any moment. When nothing happened, Violet released a sigh. That was a close one.
Dragging her weary body toward her bed, Violet stopped suddenly.
The room had changed. She couldn’t exactly explain or point to, but the air felt different, and carried a strange charge.
At once, Violet’s skin pickled, her instincts screaming at her that she wasn’t alone.
Violet’s gaze danced around the room, her heart pounding as it had done minutes ago during the chase from the wolves. Perhaps it was her imagination but the darkness in the room was seemed almost alive.
Nonetheless, her muscles still locked up in fear. Her roommates were still motionless in their beds, undisturbed. Yet her gut told her someone was here with her.
Swallowing hard, Violet took another cautious step, her eyes never leaving the darkest corner of the room.
“Who’s there?” she whispered, trying to be brave.
But there was no response. Just the suffocating silence and her racing heart.
Violet had no choice but to reach for the lamp on her bedside table, her fingers fumbling for the switch. The light flickered to life, casting a soft glow across the room.
And there he was. The Alpha of chaos.
Asher Nightshade.
He sat casually in her own desk chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his arms crossed lazily over his chest. Those piercing gray, slitted eyes glinted in the light of her bedside lamp, holding her frozen in place. There was a casual ease to his posture, but the intensity in his gaze made her blood run cold.
Fuck her life.
“Welcome back, little purple queen,” he drawled, his tone low and mocking. “How was the run? I bet you had a good time out there.” A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, and Violet’s stomach churned.
She froze, her heart plummeting into her stomach. She had no idea how long he’d been sitting there, waiting. Watching her.
Asher must have had his eyes the whole time she came into the room because there was no way she would have missed those eyes that glowed in the dark. He must have done it intentionally so she could get into the room and not escape earlier.
Asher’s eyes roved over her, and Violet felt exposed under his scrutiny, her damp hair clinging to her face and her clothes still slightly disheveled from her failed escape.
“And those clothes,” he continued, “Not exactly running gear, are they? Especially that bag. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone was trying to escape.”
Violet’s blood ran cold. He knew. He fucking knew and was toying with her.
Well, fuck this!
Violet spun on her heel. Or atleast, attempted to. Because it seems Asher must have seen the decision in her eyes and he commanded right at that moment. “Don’t run.”
Violet gasped as the words hit her like a wall, and her muscles seized, her legs refusing to move no matter how desperately she wanted to flee.
Panic filled Violet when she realized her plan had been foiled by Asher. But not all of it. Surely, he couldn’t hurt her in the presence of her roommates.
So with the glow of the light guiding her, Violet rushed to Lila’s bed, shaking her friend by the shoulders.
“Lila, wake up!” she hissed, but Lila didn’t stir. Her breathing was even, her face peaceful as if nothing could rouse her.
There was a niggling suspicion in her mind yet Violet didn’t dare to acknowledge her. No, that would only mean he out bested her. Perhaps, Lila was a heavy sleeper after all.
So with anxiety gnawing in the pit of her belly, She moved to Ivy’s bed next, shaking her vigorously. “Ivy, come on, wake up!” But Ivy remained motionless, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Yet Violet wouldn’t give up. No, she couldn’t give up. That would mean admitting defeat to Asher and she couldn’t do that. He didn’t control her fate, she did.
Finally, Violet made her way to Daisy’s bed with desperation now, praying against all odds that her case was different.
“Daisy! Please, wake up!” She shook her with all her might, but Daisy, too, remained unresponsive, as if locked in some unbreakable sleep.
Violet had no doubt if she put a knife to her throat, the girl wouldn’t even feel the pain as she died in her sleep.
Violet strode toward Asher, her hand flying before she could think, and slapped him hard across the face.
“What the hell did you do to them?!” she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. “Don’t tell me you hurt them, you psycho!”
Asher’s head turned slightly with the force of her slap, and for a moment, he froze, touching his cheek as if stunned by her audacity. Then he slowly turned back to her, his expression unreadable.
Violet knew she was dead meat for slapping him. But she didn’t care. No one hurt Lila and went scot free. His tyranny couldn’t go unanswered.
“You think I hurt them?” he asked, his voice almost… hurt?
Violet was taken aback by his pained expression. She had not been thinking, she only acted based on what she had seen.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply