Adele shook her head, her demeanor apologetic yet serious. “I wish I could intervene, but I don’t have the authority to disrupt tradition,” she explained, her tone regretful.
“What tradition?” Violet demanded, her frustration mounting. “What’s happening on Friday, Adele?”
“I can’t divulge that. The Alphas would have my head on a spike if I spilled their secrets,” Adele replied, her tone indicating the gravity of the secrecy.
Violet clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to contain her rising anger. Why was the damn school so full of secrets and twisted traditions? It was becoming unbearable.
Adele sighed, sensing Violet’s overwhelming frustration. “However, one thing I can tell you,” she added, leaning closer as if sharing a confidential tip, “if you get the chance to make the choice, leave the West House without hesitation.”
Realizing she had no luck with that one, Violet shifted the conversation. “Fine, then tell me about Lucille’s story.”
Adele let out a long sigh, her hand coming up to rub her temples as though Violet’s persistence was physically draining her. She stared at Violet with a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration.
“You really don’t let things go, do you?” Adele muttered.
“No,” Violet said firmly, her eyes blazing. “Especially not when my sanity, my safety, and my future in this godforsaken school seem to be hanging by a thread. So, spill it. Who is Lucille, and what happened to her?”
Adele’s voice turned distant as she began to recount the story. She leaned against the edge of her desk, crossing her arms as if bracing herself for the retelling.
“It all started in their first year at Lunaris Academy,” Adele said with a heavy heart. “Asher has always been a thrill-seeker, someone who thrives on pushing boundaries and breaking rules. For him, rebellion isn’t just an act-it’s a part of his identity.”
Violet leaned forward, hanging onto every word, her stomach twisting with unease.
“When the Alpha King announced that whoever became his heir would have to marry Elsie Lyka,” Adele continued, “it was like a bomb went off in Asher’s world. The idea of being bound to someone he didn’t choose, someone who represented everything he despised about the system, drove him mad. He hated the rule. He hated the expectation.”
Violet frowned. “So he decided to rebel against it?”
“Rebel isn’t even the right word for what he did,” Adele said darkly. “He wanted to tear the entire system down. And he thought he could start with his brothers, the cardinal alphas. He believed he could sway them to his side, make them his allies in his rebellion against the Alpha King.”
“And Lucille?” Violet asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Adele’s expression darkened further. “Lucille was his test object. She was sweet, naive, and utterly unsuspecting. She trusted Asher. She thought he cared for her. And he used that trust to mold her into his puppet. He manipulated her mind, broke her will, and bent her to his cause. Slowly, piece by piece, until there was nothing left of the vibrant girl she used to be.”
Violet felt a chill run down her spine. “And the other alphas? What did they do?”
“They weren’t on board with his plans,” Adele said. “Alaric, Griffin, and Roman, none of them supported his rebellion. But they didn’t stop him either. Maybe they thought it was just another one of Asher’s games, or maybe they didn’t realize how far he would go. By the time they saw the extent of the damage, it was too late.”
Violet’s fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. “What happened to Lucille afterwards?”
Adele hesitated. “You’d have to get the answer from the alphas yourself. It’s not my place to tell. I’ve told you enough.”
“So now he’s trying to do the same thing to me,” Violet said with fury.
Adele looked at her. “I don’t know to be honest. He could like you for real, after all, he let go of his grip on your mind. However, Asher has never been the best at matters of the heart. He has an unconventional way of loving and that is why I’m telling you this. So you know what he’s capable of.”
Violet nodded, her jaw set. ” I’m not Lucille.”
“Good,” Adele said, her voice firm. “Because we don’t need another Lucille.”
Violet left Adele’s office, exiting into the infirmary’s main corridor. The sterile, polished medical environment stretched out before her, and she couldn’t help but let her gaze wander.
So far, Adele’s office had been her only point of contact within the infirmary, but now, curiosity clawed at her now. What went on in the rest of the building? Why did they build this much space if Adele’s office was the only place she needed to get her wound healed?
Her eyes landed on the elevator just a few steps ahead, its sleek, metallic doors gleaming under the bright fluorescent lights. It stood out like a beacon, almost daring her to press the button.
Who had access to those upper floors? Were they reserved only for the elite students? Special cases? Violet was so damn curious, the mystery eating at her. Mary hadn’t spoken about that part of the infirmary either, and Violet found herself wanting to know more.
In the end, her curiosity won and Violet decided to take the bull by the horn and explore the area. Unfortunately, she barely managed to take two steps toward the elevator when a firm hand reached out, grabbing her arm. Violet spun around, her heart skipping a beat when she came face-to-face with a stern-looking Adele.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Adele’s voice was gravelly and sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Everything happened suddenly and Violet was caught off guard by the intensity in her tone. She couldn’t help but stammer, “C-check-up.”
“What?” Adele’s brow furrowed as she tightened her grip.
“I was supposed to have my weekly mandatory check-up today,” Violet clarified, her voice coming out smaller than she intended.
“At what time?” Adele pressed, her eyes narrowing.
“6 p.m.”
Adele glanced at the clock on the wall, her expression hardening. “It isn’t 6 yet, Violet Purple.”
Violet swallowed, unnerved by Adele’s penetrating stare. The woman had a way of making her feel like she’d done something terribly wrong, even when she hadn’t.
“I thought… I thought I’d check out the premises before my appointment,” Violet explained nervously. “It’s my first time after all. I wouldn’t want to get lost on my way here.”
Adele’s eyes narrowed further, disbelief written all over her face. “Well, it isn’t six yet, and you won’t get lost. Also,” she added, “I’m canceling your appointment today. I already evaluated you yesterday, and you’re good. There’s no need for you to come for any medical assessment. And if I’m not wrong, you should be on your way to class right now.”
Violet stared at her, frowning. Something wasn’t adding up. Adele’s tone was too sharp, too insistent. It was as if she were actively trying to get her out of the infirmary. Why? That was the question.
“What?” Adele snapped, catching Violet’s scrutinizing look. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
“You don’t want me here,” Violet said slowly, her voice probing. “Why don’t you want me here? Why? What’s going on?”
Adele ignored the question entirely, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she said, “It seems to me that you like punishment. Should I add your name to detention? Perhaps you’d enjoy a good time with the delinquents in this school.”
Violet held her gaze, searching Adele’s face for any cracks, any hints of the truth but the woman had such an impassive look that she couldn’t catch a whiff of anything. She was even worse than Asher.
Finally, Violet let out a resigned sigh and said, “Fine, I’ll leave for class. But don’t think this is over. I’ll get to the root of what’s happening in this school.”
But Adele snarled, “Perhaps, put that energy into finding a way to defeat Asher’s games.”
Fuck. That was a low blow. Violet went red in the face. Turning on her heel, she had already begun to leave only for Adele’s hand to clamp down on her arm once more.
“The next time you have a mandatory check-up,” Adele said, her tone cold and authoritative, “come see me, and I’ll take care of it. If I’m not around, go to any of the cardinal alphas. They’ll handle it. Do you hear me?”
Violet opened her mouth to argue, but Adele’s tone grew even more commanding. “Do you hear me?”
“Fine! Okay!” Violet snapped, her voice raised in exasperation.
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