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The parents had begun to arrive, which meant that the once quiet ground was now transformed into a whirlwind of activity.

Lunaris Academy buzzed with life as students rushed across the lawns, flinging themselves into the arms of waiting parents, laughter mingling with tears, the kind that made your chest ache.

And Violet’s heart did ache. But not in a good way.

Seeing all the teary reunions and laughter made Violet feel all the more miserable.

It felt like everyone had a good thing going on for them in their lives except her.

Why was her own life so hard? And just when she thought things might just turn out for good, it ends up slapping her right in the face.

She had trusted Asher, and he went behind her back to investigate her background. Was he never interested in her as a person? Has it always been her mysterious lineage?

Alaric had warned her of the potential chaos Asher could unleash if he got to know what she was and worse, if it supported his cause. But she thought, just maybe, he would have a change of heart. That he would come to realize she was worth more than a weapon. But apparently, she was wrong.

Violet didn’t even dare to imagine what Asher would do if he got to know she had Fae blood running through her veins. Lila had warned her as well. Apart from her small group, no one else was to know. It was for her own safety.

But then again, she knew Asher’s secret too. She had unintentionally walked into his dream and seen everything he was. That was an invasion as well. Not to mention, she had even told the others.

God. Violet groaned, running her hand down her face in frustration.

Perhaps she had been a bit harsh and should have heard him out. But God, who knew what Nancy said to him, or even did to him?

Anger and revulsion filled Violet. Surely Nancy wouldn’t dare! Asher didn’t strike her as that sort of person. Hence, it was her mother she didn’t trust.

If Nancy had dared to lay a hand on her man—wait. Her man?Yes—no. Ugh, she really needed to talk to someone before she lost her mind right now. And she knew exactly who.

It was not hard to find Griffin Hale. He was in the cardinal alphas’ common room, speaking with not just members of his pack, but the other wolves when like a magnet, his eyes found her through the crowd and rested on her. The others noticed it as well and turned to stare at her.

Fuck. Violet felt like a spotlight had just been shone on her.

"Urm, just go ahead with whatever you guys were obviously doing before my impromptu arrival," Violet said, scratching the back of her head awkwardly.

Griffin smiled at her—a heart-melting, innocent, panty-dropping smile that vanquished all her problems in one sweep. Then he turned to the wolves and said, "We’d go as decided. If there’s any other alteration to the plans, I’ll let you guys know. Now I need the room to myself."

Without hesitation, everyone in the room began to move. Violet didn’t miss the curious glances—and the heated ones—thrown her way. Griffin really shouldn’t have ended the meeting so abruptly for her sake.

As soon as the room was emptied, Violet quietly walked over to him. By standard, Violet was quite tall for a girl, and yet, she still had to crane her neck to speak with Griffin.

"You shouldn’t have ended the meeting abruptly," she told him. "I was the one who came at the wrong time."

"Don’t care," he said, his arms already reaching for her waist and pulling her closer.

"When the Queen calls, we come along." He then sniffed her, adding with a chuckle, "You smell like Asher. What have you guys been up to?" He sounded as if he wasn’t offended at all that she’d been with another guy.

Violet had honestly thought this would pose a problem, despite all their claims that they were fine with it. But so far, they all seemed chill instead. Good. Because she could not bear it if all four of them fought to the death for her.

She breathed, "Can we talk?"

Griffin noticed the change in her demeanor immediately. "What’s wrong?"

Realizing they couldn’t just talk while standing, Griffin sat back down on the couch, pulling Violet along with him. He placed her on his lap like some baby, but Violet didn’t protest. Griffin always exuded that safe, cozy aura that grounded her.

If he wrapped some bibs around her neck right now, popped a feeding bottle into her mouth, and treated her like a newborn, she wouldn’t mind. Okay. Maybe that was exaggerated.

But this was a good position. She could look straight into his beautiful brown eyes and catch him try to lie to her.

"Tell me, what happened?" Griffin asked once she was comfortable.

Violet looked at him for a moment before asking straightaway, "Did you know Asher looked into my background? That he traveled to District One?"

At once, Griffin shifted in his seat with her on his lap, as if realizing this was a sensitive question that could land him in deep shit if he answered wrongly.

"About that, the thing is—"

"Don’t you dare lie to me," Violet told him sternly.

Griffin pursed his lips, then let out a sigh of resignation. He confessed, "Remember last week when he was missing from school? That was when he left."

"Of course. I should have known." It finally made sense to Violet.

She hardened her gaze at Griffin. "What else are you not telling me? Spill it now!"

"Calm down, spitfire," Griffin said, and Violet could feel his hand trailing to her exposed lap where he began to draw circles. The sensation felt good. And as much as it was a soothing gesture, Violet knew it was also a form of distraction. And yet, she let him.

"We don’t know much. Asher wouldn’t tell us the results of his findings. He said we should go work it out ourselves." He looked her straight in the eyes. "You’re mad he looked into your background without informing you."

Violet’s throat tightened. "Why is he so eager to know what I am? That’s my business, not his.

Asher told me once that I’m his rebellion.

Is that it? Is that why he wants all of us together?

So he can use me as a weapon in his twisted revenge against the Alpha King?

Because if that’s the case, I don’t think I’ll be willing to give a chance to this thing between—"

"Whoa, calm down, Violet." Griffin immediately cut her off. Perhaps scared that she’d slip through his fingers if he didn’t act fast, Griffin clasped her face in his big palm.

He said, "Asher Nightshade spurts a lot of nonsense. He likes to be feared, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he said that on purpose to scare you.

To rile you up and taste your response. The guy’s a little twisted like that.

Also, would you be so blind not to notice that the Asher from a few weeks back isn’t the same Asher you’re seeing today? "

Violet swallowed nervously. Griffin’s words made sense. Yet, there was still that small voice of doubt in her head.

"You’re right, but—"

"I like you, Violet," Griffin confessed so suddenly the breath hitched in her throat.

Before she could think of a response, he continued, "I honestly cannot explain this connection I have with you. It just doesn’t make sense.

However, even I have to admit that Asher’s dedication to you is borderline obsession.

You could literally stab that bastard in the chest and he’d still love you with his dying breath.

"So yes, I know what you’re scared of. But Asher would never hurt you.

That is, unless he doesn’t realize it’s hurting you.

I know the boy’s got issues. All of us know.

The point is, you have nothing to be scared of.

Also, you cannot give up on Asher now. On us.

I beg of you. Please, Violet," he said, giving her those pleading eyes.

There was no way on earth Violet could keep up the anger, not with that sincere pleading in his eyes, that slight pout on his lips, and that strand of hair falling over his face that she couldn’t help but reach out and tug away.

Yep, it was confirmed. Griffin was a weapon fashioned against her. A hot, sexy weapon.

"Okay," Violet breathed, and one should have seen the way Griffin let out a huge breath of relief, burying his face into her body.

Violet said, "Perhaps I was hasty to jump to conclusions. It just happened so suddenly, I guess I lost it." She breathed again. "Asher and I will talk. And I’m very much interested in knowing what he found out about me."

"That’s my girl," Griffin broke into a huge grin, pulling Violet in to kiss her cheesily on both cheeks in such a way that made her feel ticklish.

However, that seemed to give Griffin an idea.

"Someone does feel ticklish," he grinned with a cruel glint.

Violet’s eyes widened with realization. "Oh no you don’t—!"

Griffin didn’t give her a second to run.

He swooped right in and tackled Violet right back onto the couch, his fingers already dancing mercilessly over her ribs.

"Griffin—no!" Violet squealed, her laughter erupting in gasps as she twisted and squirmed beneath him. "Stop—stop, I’m going to die!"

"Die? Not yet, rogue queen," Griffin grinned wickedly, pressing a little harder, tickling with both hands now. "I haven’t even started."

Their loud laughter filled the room, full of warmth. Violet tried to fight back, her hands pushing at his chest, but he was too strong and far too determined. And without warning, the shift happened.

The laughter faded slowly as their gazes locked, and for a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Griffin dipped his head, and their lips met.

The kiss was soft at first, as if testing the waters.

But then Violet’s arms curled around his neck, and the passion ignited.

Griffin deepened the kiss, his body pressing more firmly into hers as he lost himself in the feel and taste of her.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, and his hands slid along her sides, one of them curling around her waist as if he couldn’t bear the thought of letting go.

Violet’s back arched slightly under the weight of him, and for a moment, nothing else existed. Until—

"What the hell is going on here?"

The both of them broke apart like guilty teenagers caught red-handed, breathless and disoriented.

Violet blinked rapidly as she looked up, her lips still tingling, and came face-to-face with a red-haired woman glaring down at her.

Well... crap.