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For the first time, Violet experienced the most tense and suffocating ride back to the academy. Roman hadn’t even bothered with his usual flirtatious remarks or playful conversation. Instead, he kept his eyes on the road, his face impassive.

But even with the lack of expression, Violet could tell he was greatly bothered with the way his hands gripped the steering wheel hard till the veins on his hands bulged. Even the music he turned on was nothing but noise as it did nothing to ease the tension in the car.

Violet sat stiffly in her seat, counting the seconds until the ride was over. Her body was wound tight like a coiled spring as every nerve was on edge, making her unable to relax.

Hence the moment Roman pulled into the parking lot and parked the car, Violet didn’t even waste a single second. She flung the door open and got out with the speed of lightning.

"Thank you!" she said hastily, not because she was thankful, but out of fear and then vanished without waiting for a response.

If Roman had said anything, Violet didn’t hear it because she didn’t dare to look back. Although she felt the heat of his gaze burning into her back, the fear of meeting his wolf’s eyes again was the beginning of wisdom; she moved on.

Violet slipped through the smaller side door, avoiding the busier main entrance of the school.

Classes were already in session, and her schedule was free since she wasn’t attending her elective class.

She pulled out her phone and opened the Lunaris app, scrolling to find Mr. Richmond’s office location when a voice interrupted her.

"Hello, Violet," someone said.

Startled, Violet looked up, expecting to see a familiar face. Instead, it was a student she didn’t recognize, waving at her with a smile.

Violet’s brows furrowed at once when she realized the girl was greeting her. For sure, the greeting was polite but it was unusual, considering her usual interactions with the other students were far from friendly.

Still confused by the gesture, Violet gave the girl what could barely qualify as a brief nod and brushed it off, continuing to follow the directions on her phone. But then it happened again.

"Hello, Violet."

"Hello, Violet."

Her steps slowed this time as she turned to see two other students walk past her, waving and smiling at her. A tight frown made its way across Violet’s face. Since when did the students of Lunaris greet her like this?

Even with her high rank on the Lunaboard, it was obvious that the students looked down on her because of her status as the daughter of a prostitute. She was not up to the standards of the other elite students hence this sudden friendliness was highly suspicious.

"Violet!" A student shouted and rushed toward her, forcing her to stop abruptly. Violet stiffened, her instincts already bracing for an unpleasant interaction.

However, the girl didn’t seem to notice Violet’s unease, nor did she give off evil intentions.

"I have to admit, Violet, your kiss with Alaric was fucking mind-blowing!" she said in a rushed, chippy voice. Then, shielding her mouth with her hand, she whispered conspiratorially, "Even sexier than Elsie’s kiss with Asher."

Violet blinked, caught completely off guard. But before she could form a response, the girl already whipped out her phone and threw an arm around Violet’s shoulders as if they were old friends.

"Now, a picture to commemorate this meeting! Pinkies!" the girl chirped. The camera flashed before Violet had a chance to compose herself.

The girl inspected the photo with satisfaction. She had posed with a perfect wink, looking photogenic and confident, while Violet resembled a startled deer caught in headlights. The girl didn’t seem to care, not as long as she looked perfect and Violet’s face showed.

"That should do!" she announced. "See you around!" She air-kissed Violet’s cheek and disappeared as quickly as she had appeared.

Violet stood on the spot, utterly bewildered by the entire encounter. And it was at that moment that everything began to make sense to her. The reason everyone was suddenly friendly towards her. It was not out of her own achievements or merits but because of her dating Alaric.

Well, good thing she didn’t give a fuck about fame.

So Violet set her jaw and resumed walking, her usual resting bitch face firmly in place.

While students continued to greet her as she passed, the dark aura she exuded was enough to deter most of them from approaching her as boldly as the girl from earlier did.

Violet didn’t need their fake friendliness, nor did she have the patience for it.

Violet finally tracked Mr. Richmond’s office, standing right outside it. However, Just as she raised her hand to knock, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Letting out a small sigh, she pulled it out, only for her face to freeze as her eyes scanned the message.

"You love being a bad girl, don’t you?"

Her blood turned to ice.

Violet didn’t need to guess who had sent it—she knew instinctively. But the realization became even more horrifying when her eyes drifted to the contact name: "My one and only Alpha."

What the hell?

Her hand shook as she held the phone. There was no way she had given Asher her number, let alone saved his contact under such a ridiculous, possessive title. She wasn’t insane.

Then it hit her like a lightning bolt. That day... the day he had returned her phone. He must have added his number and the contact name while he had it. But how had he bypassed her password?

That fucking madman.

Anger surged through her veins, and Violet’s fingers flew across the screen, typing furiously.

"Go fuck yourself, bastard!" She wrote in mere seconds, hitting send with a shaky breath.

How did Asher manage to rattle her emotions so quickly? It was infuriating. She couldn’t let him have power over her like this. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and reached for the door. But before her hand touched the handle, another buzz from her phone stopped her.

The right thing to do would’ve been to ignore it, to walk into the office and let the counselling session drown out Asher’s toxic influence. But her curiosity got the better of her and against her better judgment, she opened the message.

"My hands in my pants already, thinking about you."

Violet’s face reddened with both rage and mortification, her breath hitching at the sheer audacity of the text. Her grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. That was it. She was done playing this game with him.

Fueled by anger, Violet forgot her manners entirely. Instead of knocking, she shoved the door open with more force than necessary, ready to vent her frustration to Mr. Richmond if need be.

But the sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks.

You’ve got to be kidding her.