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Asher and Nancy headed to the outside of the building where they found a bench and sat down. There was an awkward silence between them. Nancy had no idea what the boy wanted to talk about, and to be honest, her heart was already racing in anticipation of bad news.

Asher Nightshade opened his mouth to speak, but the words got stuck on his lips, so his mouth simply moved with no sound coming out.

"Is something bad going to happen to Ezra?" Nancy asked, sensing that must be the issue.

"What?" Asher was stunned, then his gaze lowered to her hands on her lap and noticed the way she nervously fidgeted with them. Of course, Nancy wasn't stupid; she knew Henry had a hand in calling Ezra away.

"No. Nothing bad will happen to Ezra."

"Asher?" Nancy dared him not to lie to her.

He told her, "Henry might be an animal, but he's not stupid.

Ezra is one of the best alphas he has around.

My father's pride is hurt and the best way he knows how to deal with that is by oppressing others.

He'll probably punish him, but that would be all.

He won't go too far, especially with the other Alphas closely invested in this matter recently.

Ezra is a tough guy. He can take whatever Henry has in store for him. "

"That's nice to know." Nancy breathed, a bit of worry still in her voice.

"Don't worry, Henry won't murder your mate. Trust me."

"Thank you." Nancy smiled at the kid.

Asher was honestly stunned by that affectionate look, and it gave him the courage to say, "Actually, the real reason I wanted to see you was to apologize about yesterday's incident."

"Oh." Was all Nancy could say. Asher Nightshade didn't strike her as someone who rendered apologies.

"I understand you're trying to protect your daughter and I respect that. My mother was usually the one who did that for me, but she's gone. So yes, Violet was lucky to have someone who could at least stand up for her."

Nancy didn't know why, but her heart tugged at that statement. No kid deserved the kind of monster he had for a father.

"And that's why I'm also here to promise you…" Asher stood and then dropped to his knees before Nancy, startling her.

"What are you doing?" Nancy was bewildered.

But Asher ignored her, saying with determination, "I'll protect your daughter, Violet. I swear it. No harm will come to her, not as long as I live. So you have nothing to worry about. Your daughter is safe with me." He rephrased, "With us."

Nancy looked at him blankly before a smile crossed her lips "And I believe you.

" She let out a relieved sigh. "I've always worried about Violet, but it seems I don't have to do so anymore.

She has such amazing boyfriends, especially one who would put his life on the line for her.

" Her smile turned sad as she added, "It's such a disappointment your father doesn't see just how special you are.

But I believe Violet does, and I pray you both stay together for as long as forever.

Yes, you have my blessing, Asher Nightshade. "

Asher beamed. "Thank you, Nancy."

"I take it that is all, as I return back to the party. After all, this is the last time I might be seeing my daughter until the semester ends."

Nancy was already on her feet when Asher told her, "I think there's something else you need to know…. "

************

"...So sit back and enjoy the party." Principal Jameson finished her opening speech, followed by loud applause.

"This is beginning to get boring," Violet commented with a sigh.

"Only because you're in a hurry to expose the kinky secrets in our wardrobe." It was both a joke and a sassy retort from yours truly.

"Behave yourself, Roman," Griffin scolded him.

Yes, Griffin was back, and the good thing was that Irene was no longer mad at them. Although Violet had already suspected that after the woman helped them yesterday, it was nice to get confirmation from Griffin.

Right now, all four of them were seated, the only empty seat beside them obviously belonging to Asher. Although she trusted him, Violet couldn't help but wonder what he was secretly discussing with her mother.

"I think you're bored because you don't want to have fun," Alaric said, suddenly standing in front of her.

"What?"

But Alaric didn't answer. Instead, he bowed like a prince and stretched out his hand. "Would you have this dance with me, Violet Purple?"

"What?" Violet let out a bashful laugh. "No way. I'm a horrible dancer."

"Says the one who did that cheerleading dance," said Roman. And without caring for his reputation, he stood and twerked his hips exaggeratedly. "Something like that, eh?"

"I definitely did not dance like that!" Violet was dying from laughter. "Alright, alright," she said, "I'll do the dancing, but only if Griffin comes along too."

"Hell no," Griffin refused.

"Scared of a little rhythm, big boy?" Violet purred, dragging her fingers slowly up his arm. "It's just a dance."

"I see what you're doing, Violet. But fine, game on," Griffin said, his eyes shining with determination.

"Hell yes! Bring it on, people." Roman punched the air in celebration, already whipping out his phone to record the scene.

Alaric led Violet to the dance floor, with Griffin following. There were already people dancing, but their arrival still drew attention. Not that any of them cared.

As if the music had been waiting for their arrival, a new beat dropped. It was a fast, infectious beat and a choreography that every student at Lunaris seemed to know. Violet, not one to be left out, began to confidently dance between her two ridiculously attractive boyfriends.

To be honest, Violet didn't expect much. In Alaric's and Griffin's case, she figured she'd be dragging two stiff alphas around the floor. But that was until Alaric started moving.

Holy creator of the universe. Who in the world was this? Violet blinked.

Her quiet nerd Alaric Storm was nailing every step like he was born on stage. His footwork was clean, and nice. If she wasn't careful, she'd think he had actually practiced in secret a hundred times for this moment.

And then talk about Griffin. He was not as smooth as Alaric, but he had rhythm, just not the type meant for this light, graceful movement. But damn, he danced like a Greek god who could break the floor if he wanted to.

Violet laughed. Yes, she was having fun with her arms raised, hips swaying, sandwiched between both of them like she was in her own private music video. The three of them moved in sync, their steps matching beat for beat, turning, spinning, foot-tapping and gliding like a perfect trio.

At one point, the crowd around them started cheering. Someone even howled. She could feel the many phone cameras on them but Violet couldn't even bother to care. She was breathless, grinning, her body electric in that moment.

And then, there was the final count. Three. Two. One.

The music cut on a sharp beat, and all three of them struck their final poses just in time with Violet at the center, with Griffin and Alaric on either side, their heads turned toward her.

At once, applause thundered across the ballroom.

"Not bad," Violet told Griffin with a grin, patting his chest playfully as she caught her breath.

"Not bad?" Griffin echoed, clearly offended. "That was historic."

From the corner of her eye, Violet caught sight of Irene Hale. The woman simply lifted her glass to her in a silent toast before retreating into the crowd.

That was when the lights dimmed and the energy in the room shifted. The beat was dropped, replaced by a haunting violin-piano blend.

It was time for the slow dance.

Violet was still trying to catch her breath from all the movement when a familiar hand wrapped around her waist.

"My turn now," Roman said, unapologetically sliding in and taking her from the others. "She's mine now." He declared.

Of course it was. That fox must have intentionally waited for this moment when he could dance with her alone.

Violet didn't argue and simply fell into the rhythm with him, letting herself be swayed side to side in time with the romantic melody. Roman's hand rested comfortably on the small of her back, the other holding hers.

They moved as if they were the only ones in the room.

"Roman," Violet called quietly, feeling the heat of his gaze on her cleavage.

"Mmm?" he hummed, clearly enjoying the closeness.

"Eyes where I can see them?" she said with a teasing lift of her brow.

Roman grinned, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. "Umm, I think my eyes like it better here," he whispered without shame.

"You are unbelievable." Violet laughed, trying to push the heat away with humor, but it stuck to her skin like perfume.

Then, without warning, Roman dipped her and he was not gentle at all.

It was sudden, and so intimate that Violet gasped out loud, her back arched, hair brushing toward the floor. Roman's arm supported her lower back, while the other locked around her waist, holding her like she was something precious and breakable.

Her hands clutched at his jacket. They were breathless, with their faces so close now their lips almost brushed. His green eyes burned into hers, a thousand unspoken things swirling inside them. Violet felt her pulse hammering in her throat, her chest rising and falling in time with his.

For one second, she thought he'd kiss her. She wanted him to. God, she almost tilted her chin up and let it happen.

But Roman, the ever-flirtatious Fox, was already pulling her back up before she could decide. It was smooth and effortless as if the last ten seconds hadn't just stolen the breath from her lungs.

Their bodies were still pressed together and Roman was grinning, eyes full of mischief. He knew what he just did.

Violet looked at him, "You are one of a kind, do you know that?"She meant that sarcastically.

"Of course. I know." He shamelessly admitted it.

Violet felt Roman's hand trailing down to the dip just above her hip. His touch wasn't rushed, rather it was the kind of contact that made her entire body aware of itself. He was intentionally seducing her.

And she let him.

Their hips brushed once, then again, before he subtly guided her into a slower spin.

Her back was to his chest now, his hand firmly on her stomach, holding her in place as their bodies moved in perfect sync to the music.

She could feel every breath he took, every muscle in his body pressed against her.

"Roman…" she called his name.

His mouth hovered near her ear as he murmured, "Tell me to stop, Vi."

But she didn't.

Instead, Violet let herself sink into the rhythm of the music and the sweet pressure blooming low in her stomach. Although Roman's hands stayed put, the way he held her, possessive and gentle, screamed want.

And when he turned her back to face him, their lips were so close she could feel his breath on hers.

Fuck this. She was doing this.

But her lips had only brushed across his when Elsie's voice echoed in the hall.

"Hello everyone, welcome once more to another year of a successful parents week festival…. "

Violet froze at once.

It was time.