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Violet shivered under the steady stream of the shower, her body trembling even with the warmth of the water cascading over her.

However, the chill wasn’t from the temperature, but from her last encounter with Asher in the counselor’s office. And no matter how hard Violet tried to shake it, the memory clung to her like a second skin.

She could still feel the twist in her stomach, the way her anger had burned bright for a fleeting moment before being snuffed out by a cold, dark fear.

Asher was deadly serious. She had known from the look in his eyes, the way his hands gripped her wrists as though he was holding himself back from doing something even more dangerous.

Asher had not been making an idle threat. He meant every word. And now, those words echoed in her mind like a haunting refrain.

Your first time is mine. You’re mine. Defy me, and I’ll kill him myself.

Violet closed her eyes tightly, leaning her forehead against the cool tiles of the shower wall.

She had slapped him hard across the face before storming out, her hand still stinging from the impact even an hour later. But her anger hadn’t been enough to purge the gravity of his threat.

The first thing Violet had done was to run back to her dormitory in a haste to scrub away his scent and the lingering stain off her. And right now, with the shower beating down hard on her hair, Violet found herself questioning his threat once more.

Would Asher really go through with it? Would he actually kill not just an Alpha, but a cardinal alpha? Even when the implication was staggering?

Alaric wasn’t just a werewolf; he was a candidate for the Alpha king position.

To harm him would mean inciting war, chaos, not just with the Alpha but with his pack back home.

Surely Asher wouldn’t go that far. Especially not for something as trivial and barbaric as a claim on her virginity. .. right?

Unfortunately, Violet couldn’t ignore that

Asher was unpredictable. He wasn’t rational. He was a psycho, and Violet knew deep down that if he wanted to, he could end Alaric without a second thought.

He wouldn’t even need to bloody his hands. All he had to do was compel anyone to do his bidding, or even will Alaric to take his own life.

Alaric would be dead, and no one would ever suspect the truth. And just like that, he would reduce competition to the throne, even if it means leaving chaos and destruction in its wake.

The realization hit Violet like a punch to the gut: she had no choice. She had to end things with Alaric. If she wanted him to stay alive.

The thought made her stomach churn with guilt and heartbreak. Even though their relationship barely lasted a day, she likes Alaric. His sincerity, his kindness, the way he made her feel seen and cherished was eveything she ever wanted.

It was quite unfortunate their relationship would inevitably lead to a moment she couldn’t avoid. Violet knew she couldn’t put off sex with Alaric forever, not when a mere kiss makes her lose her senses.

Unless, of course, you gave yourself to Asher first, a sly voice whispered in the back of her mind.

Violet recoiled, the thought as revolting as it was horrifying. How could she even think of such a betrayal?

Alaric had been nothing but faithful to her, even when he was eligible—expected, even—to end up with someone like Elsie. How could she repay his loyalty by running to Asher, of all people?

As if you haven’t already cheated on him, the voice hissed again.

Violet’s face burned with shame as she remembered the way Asher had touched her, kissed her, reduced her to a trembling, breathless mess. And it frightened her the most that a small part of her had wanted it even if she hadn’t asked for it.

"Ugh!" Violet groaned in frustration, her hands tangling in her wet hair. What the hell had she done? Or rather, what the hell was she becoming?

Hot tears pricked at the corners of her and spilled over before she could stop them.

Violet swiped at her cheeks furiously, trying to force herself to stay strong. She couldn’t break down. Not here. Not now.

There was no way around it. She had to break up with Alaric even if the thought of it hurt like hell, her heart splintering at the mere idea of letting him go.

Alaric was her first real boyfriend, the one who had made her believe in love, yet he would be gone, all because of one ruthless, possessive asshole.

It’ll hurt. It’ll hurt like hell. But she’d get through it. She had to.

Violet convinced herself, or rather, the pieces of her heart she knew would shatter the moment she said goodbye to Alaric.

Violet stepped into her room after her shower, and quickly grabbed her P.E. from her wardrobe and slipped it on. It wasn’t the correct uniform, and Principal Jameson would undoubtedly dock points for her attire, but Violet couldn’t bring herself to care.

There was no way she could risk Alaric catching even the faintest trace of Asher’s scent on her. If he did, there would be no holding him back, and the fallout would be catastrophic.

Violet had to end things with Alaric, but it couldn’t seem like it was about Asher. No, she would have to play the heartbreaker, the cold and detached girl who had gotten bored of the thrill of dating a cardinal alpha. It was the only way to protect him from the truth.

Alaric would hate her for it, despise her for toying with his emotions, but that was the point. If he hated her, he wouldn’t pursue her. And if he didn’t pursue her, he wouldn’t discover what had happened with Asher. He wouldn’t go after him either.

Asher had claimed he would be the villain in this story, but no, it would be her.