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When Griffin roared, everyone listened.

Because honestly, who in their right mind would challenge that hulk of a man?

So far, Griffin had managed to keep his beast in check, but no one in that crowd doubted the nightmare it would be if he let it out.

Even now, standing there, he towered over every single one of them.

And with the way he glowered at the students, they backed off fast, their bravado shriveling like wet paper.

When the silence stretched on for more than a minute, Griffin finally spoke, his voice tight with restraint. "This is the last day of Parents Week, and I will not let any of you ruin that. Do you hear me? If anyone has a complaint after that, you can bring it up properly. Am I understood?"

Only a few mumbled their response.

That was until Griffin roared again, "Am I fucking understood?!"

"Yes, Alpha Griffin!" They chorused at once.

"Good." Griffin’s voice was nothing close to kind. "Now get the hell out of here."

Without waiting for another word, the students began to disperse, some faster than the others, stumbling over their own feet in their eagerness to escape.

So much for not being afraid of him.

To make sure his point was clear, Griffin added darkly, "And if I see any of you wandering near this shack without permission from the original occupants, me and you are going to have a problem.

And trust me..." His eyes flared yellow, his wolf creeping to the surface, his voice a growl that sent shivers through the air. "You don’t want a problem with me."

The few stubborn ones who had been glaring and dragging their feet to make a statement suddenly doubled their pace. It wasn’t long before the area was cleared, leaving them in thick, suffocating silence.

Violet let out a breath of relief. That was close and too much.

But then she caught Griffin’s expression. The hard frown on his face made her gulp.

"I didn’t plan this, I swear it," Violet confessed quickly, hands up in surrender.

But Griffin looked at her grimly and said, "This isn’t something one plans, Violet. It doesn’t happen overnight. It builds, festers, until boom, here we are and right now, an uprising is brewing under our noses."

"And now you think it’s Violet’s fault?" Lila cut in sharply, her tone hot with frustration. "Or have you forgotten it was your own precious Roman who tricked her into going rogue in the first place?"

Griffin didn’t deny it. "Yes, that’s what happens when Roman plans instead of Asher.

It always end up in disaster." He rubbed his temple.

"Roman might have tricked her, but Violet has always fought against the system. And like it or not, this rebellion was bound to happen. You can’t light a fire and expect it to stay a candle. "

"Or maybe the system was so flawed it needed to burn," Daisy shot back firmly.

Ivy added, her voice equally rising in volume, "And let’s not sugarcoat it, Griffin. You’re more worried about how this threatens your control over the school than about the actual consequences."

The tension was suffocating now, and Violet couldn’t take it anymore.

"Enough!" she roared.

The air snapped still, as if the whole world held its breath.

Breathing hard, Violet turned to Griffin. "You’re right. I’m responsible for this, but only partly. With the classism you guys introduced, this academy was always heading for a faction split. I just happen to be the poor girl stuck in the middle of it. If it wasn’t me, someone else would’ve risen."

Then she turned to her girls, her tone softer but no less firm. "We have to tell him. No, all of them. The truth."

She hadn’t said the cardinal alphas by name, but her friends caught on fast and their protests were loud.

"You can’t do this, Violet!"

"No, you can’t!"

"You fucking can’t!"

"What can’t she fucking tell me?!" Griffin barked, stepping forward, his patience snapping as he demanded answers.

But Lila ignored him, saying sternly, "This was our chance to change the system, and now, just because you’re fucking them, you’re backing down?"

That was it. Violet lost her patience.

She had been enduring Lila, telling herself this was all coming from concern. But she was done. Done with her belittling her choices. Done with the insinuation that she was the kind of girl who would abandon her dreams for a boy—or in this case, four of them. Lila should have known better.

"Violet?" Daisy called carefully when she saw the change in her demeanor.

"You should calm down, Violet!" Ivy rushed out, a concerned look flashing across her face.

But Violet ignored them both, striding straight for Lila, who stood her ground, her eyes fierce and unyielding.

When she stood in front of her, Violet told her coldly, "Now listen up, Lila. I’ve been taking your shit for long enough, and I’m done. So hear me, and hear me well."

Violet didn’t stop. "This isn’t a debate anymore.

We are going to tell the cardinal alphas what we have planned tonight.

Not because I’m fucking them—which, by the way, I haven’t yet, but plan to remedy soon, thank you very much.

It’s because this movement has grown beyond us.

And after what just happened, it’s clear as daylight that a rebellion is stirring among the students, and if we don’t act now, Lunaris Academy might as well burn in the chaos to come.

Like it or not, we need the cardinal alphas’ help. "

Violet swallowed, her earlier rage softening as she spoke, her voice filled with sincerity now.

"I get why you don’t trust them. I didn’t, either.

And yes, most of my reckless decisions back then were because I saw them as nothing more than entitled assholes.

But I’ve come to know them. Like really know them.

And they’re just like us. Just kids handed a crown too heavy to bear.

So please, just like me, give them a chance to prove themselves. "

She pleaded quietly, locking eyes with Lila.