Page 378

The beeping sound was the first thing Violet heard when they entered the room, the slow, mechanical beat filling the silence with dread.

Then came the sight of Asher on the bed with wires everywhere. He had a breathing mask over his face, IVs in both arms, and monitors flashing numbers she didn’t understand.

Violet had never seen Asher look so pale. So fragile. So vulnerable. And it was all because of her.

This time, Violet didn’t cry out loud, she let the tears run free on her cheeks. Her knees hit the floor beside the bed as if her legs had forgotten how to hold her up. Then she reached for his cold and limp hands, and clutched them desperately like they were her lifeline.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Asher. Please don’t do this. Please don’t leave me. I’m sorry..." Violet said it over and over, like a prayer, like the words themselves could undo what had happened.

The boys hated hearing her blame herself, but this time, they said nothing. She needed to get it off her chest. So they let her. They stood by while Violet poured out everything she’d been holding in, crying until her chest stopped heaving and the tears ran dry.

Roman was the one who went to her saying, "I know you’re scared, but if Asher was awake right now, he wouldn’t want you crying like this. You know that."

Although her lips trembled a little, Violet nodded. Slowly, she forced herself to breathe and was able to pull it together.

Roman then cupped her face with a gentleness that surprised Violet, saying. "You need to leave, love. Go back to Asher’s place. Griffin will take care of you."

No way. Violet shook her head, frantic now. "No. I’m not leaving him. I won’t."

Roman’s hand didn’t move. "I’m sorry, but you’ve had a traumatic night. Right now, you’re hanging on by a thread, and if you stay here any longer, you’ll collapse. We can’t worry about you and Asher at the same time."

"I’m fine—"

"You’re not," he cut in. His eyes darkened, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "I can smell him on you. His seed inside of you. And it’s driving my wolf insane with the urge to claim you too."

Violet’s breath hitched.

As if to prove his words, Roman’s pupils dilated, glowing faintly gold, the light humming beneath his irises before it vanished as if it never came.

Dear lord. It dawned on Violet that Roman was fighting his wolf right now.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t know" she whispered, ashamed.

"I know you didn’t." Roman took a shaky breath. "But it’s not just me, Violet. It’s all of us. You are driving us crazy."

That was when Violet turned and discovered Alaric standing stiff in the corner. He deliberately turned away when he caught her staring, his hand clenched at his side. Griffin himself was silent, his jaw tight.

Violet was stunned. How could she not have noticed this?

Roman gave her a strained smile. "Griffin has the strongest self control amongst us trio. He’ll keep you safe tonight. I promise."

"And Asher?" she asked.

"He’s not going anywhere," Alaric said. "Roman and I will stay. We’ll watch over him."

Violet’s throat tightened, but she nodded. "Thank you."

Impulsively, she leaned in to kiss Roman’s cheek, but he stepped back with a feral hiss.

"Not now, Violet," he warned with a hoarse voice. "Maybe later."

Violet nodded again in understanding before she turned to Griffin. He opened his arms and she walked into him, letting him guide her with a hand on her lower back.

Before they left, Violet paused by the door and looked back at Alaric. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yes," he said quietly. "Tomorrow."

And then she was gone.

The ride back to Asher’s place was an awkward one. Griffin didn’t say a word, and neither did Violet. He just kept his eye on the road, hands tightly clenched around the steering wheel in restraint.

When they finally arrived, Violet informed him. "There are two rooms inside, the master and the guest. I’ll take the guest."

Griffin hesitated. He wanted to be near and offer her comfort. But then, he also knew what that closeness might stir, what his wolf might crave.

Violet wanted Griffin, that was for sure. But after everything that had happened, she wasn’t ready for any intimacy. Not when she was tormented with guilt over Asher’s condition.

"Good night, Griffin." Violet turned away before she let her emotions get the best of her.

Once inside, Violet headed straight for the bathroom, stripping off the clothes that still carried Asher’s scent. She clutched her phone tightly, unsure how far werewolf hearing really reached, so she turned on the faucet to muffle her voice before dialing Lila.

The phone barely rang before Lila answered, speaking as if she’d been bracing for this exact moment.

"Please tell me Asher hurt you so I can finally have a reason to punch that idiot."

Her insensitive words hit Violet hard. The pain she’d been holding in cracked open, and a loud sob escaped her lips as her knees hit the cold tiled floor.

"No," she choked out. "He didn’t hurt me. I hurt him."

There was a beat of silence before Lila asked in a serious tone. "What are you talking about?"

Violet swallowed and explained through hiccuped breaths.

"We were having sex. Really good sex. And then, Asher looked at me like he wasn’t seeing me anymore, but something else.

And then he just... started convulsing. The doctor said it was a brain aneurysm.

Lila—he could’ve died if he wasn’t a werewolf. "

Tears slid down her cheeks, hot and relentless. "The doctor said it wasn’t normal. Said it came too fast...Like something attacked his mind. And I think—I think I did that. I think I almost killed him."

Violet waited one second. Then two, and finally a minute for her response.

"Lila?" she whispered. "Are you there?"

When Lila finally spoke, her voice had become weary.

"What your mother feared is starting to happen."

"What?"

"Queen Seraphira locked it away," Lila continued slowly. "But your powers, they’re surfacing, and they’re doing what they were meant to do."

"Lila," Violet said, confused and breathless, "what are you talking about?"

"We’ll talk tomorrow," Lila said. "How soon can you return to the academy?"

Violet hesitated, her mind spinning. "Seven. I’ll leave by seven."

"Good," Lila said. "There’s a lot we’ve kept from you. More than you can imagine, Violet. But you were right. It’s time you knew everything.

For now, just stay calm. Whatever powers you have, they’re tied to your emotions.

So don’t get angry. Don’t get too excited.

Don’t feel too much—and definitely, no sex.

Just hold on, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow. "

The line clicked off.

Violet sat there, alone in the silence of the bathroom, and for the first time, she felt it.

Something was stirring inside her and it was terrifying.