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All eyes were on them now, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. What house would the purple storm choose? They couldn’t wait to find out.

"What are you waiting for, drama queen? Pick a house already and stop wasting our time!" Elsie snapped with an impatient huff.

"Let her be, Elsie," Alaric told her off.

"No, Elsie’s right," Asher cut in, his voice edged with mockery. "It’s time for her to make a decision. We don’t have all night... or do we, little human?" His dark eyes gleamed as he fixed his stare on her.

Violet squared her shoulders, lifting her chin with forced confidence, her hands trembling so subtly she barely noticed, until Lila reached out and intertwined their fingers, squeezing gently.

When Violet turned to her, Lila offered a small smile, as if silently saying: No matter what, I’m with you.

The simple gesture strengthened her resolve. Violet sucked in a shaky breath, then let her gaze sweep over the alphas, reading each of their faces.

First was Asher, looking smug and composed, but Violet could see the tension beneath the surface. The bastard knew she was not going to choose him. Good for him.

Griffin was relaxed but watchful, giving her a friendly smile instead.

Roman looked intense, his gaze pinning her in place like a warning: Don’t back down now. Not after coming this far.

And then, Alaric. His eyes held pure, unfiltered hope, as if he was willing her to choose him but unwilling to pressure her.

Violet hesitated upon that look in his eyes, her chest tightening knowing she was about to break his heart. It was the hardest thing to do but Violet tore her gaze away. If she let herself linger, she might not have the strength to go along with the plan.

She took a deep breath. Then, blurted out, "I reject all the houses."

The reaction was instantaneous.

"What?!" Gasps and startled murmurs rippled through the crowd, voices layering over one another in disbelief.

Violet steeled herself, then repeated, louder this time, "I decline the offers from all the houses. I want to be on my own."

Silence crashed over them, thick and suffocating. It was the kind of silence that felt fragile, as if a single breath could shatter it.

The looks on the faces of the students were nothing short of horrified, as if Violet had just shot a silver bullet straight through the heart of their beloved cardinal alphas.

Ivy and Daisy looked bewildered, exchanging wide-eyed glances. They had never even heard of rejecting the packs as an option. What would happen now? What did it even mean?

Before they could process it, Lila stepped forward to say. "I also reject the four houses."

Another collective gasp rang out, the student’s whispers turning frantic. What was happening? What in the goddess name were they doing?

Lila turned to Ivy and Daisy, her expression expectant, waiting for them to follow suit.

"No, wait... let’s think about this," Daisy hesitated, her gut screaming that this was a bad idea.

But Ivy, never one to pass up a dramatic moment, stepped forward with a theatrical flourish. "I decline the honorable offer from the four packs. I think I’m better off alone."

Another round of murmurs emerged. More gasps.

"Ivy!" Daisy hissed, eyes darting between them.

Ivy nudged her. "Come on, don’t make us do this alone."

Daisy shook her head. "No. I don’t—"

"We made a deal, remember?" Lila reminded her, her voice gentler now.

Violet interjected, "No, let her be. I told you all not to follow me."

"But we’re supposed to stick together," Lila argued, only to flinch under Violet’s sharp stare.

"Fine..." Lila’s lips twisted into a dramatic pout. "Go ahead... leave us. Move on. Join your fancy new house, make new friends, gossip, laugh, eat, study—"

"Oh, for fuck’s sake—FINE! I’ll do it!" Daisy snapped, throwing her hands up.

One should have seen the grin that spread across Lila’s face like wildfire.

She was going to regret this. Daisy knew it, but she had no choice.

Daisy sighed in defeat, then stood tall. "All four of us reject the pack houses."

The murmurs became tumultuous this time.

"They’ve lost their fucking minds," someone muttered.

"Doesn’t rejecting the houses make them...?" another voice trailed off in realization.

"Rogues," a third voice finished grimly.

The word slithered through the crowd like poison and the moment it was spoken, a low hiss of disdain followed, as if the mere thought of rogues tainted the air around them.

But that was not the end.

A furious snarl ripped through the night as Asher lunged, his fist connecting hard with Roman’s jaw.

"You fucking fox! You did this, didn’t you?" Asher roared.

Roman wiped the blood from his split lip, flashing a grin through crimson-stained teeth. "Checkmate, puppet master. You’ve been outplayed."

The sheer rage that flashed across Asher’s face was scary.

Asher Nightshade had planned for everything. He knew Violet wouldn’t pick him, but that hadn’t mattered. He had another plan like always.

If an alpha wanted a member from another house, they could challenge that house’s alpha for them. His plan had been simple: challenge Alaric for Violet. Win and claim her.

And then Roman had burned it all to the ground.

With another enraged snarl, Asher lunged again, but Griffin shoved him back, standing between them.

While the alphas clashed, Alaric was already at Violet’s side. His hands cradled her face, his expression stricken with desperation.

"Tell me this is a mistake," he pleaded. "Tell me you misspoke, and we’ll fix it. The houses will understand."

Violet swallowed against the lump in her throat. The raw emotion in his eyes burned her, but she couldn’t let it sway her.

"I’m sorry," she whispered. "But this is the only way Asher can’t reach me. The only way you’ll be safe. I’m truly sorry."

She saw the light in his eyes dim — the moment her words crushed him.

His hands slipped from her face, falling uselessly to his sides. And just like that, she shattered his heart.