Page 76

Griffin Hale entered the East House, the grand foyer greeted him with polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and beautiful chandeliers hanging above.

It must have been the break period since some students had made their way back to the dormitory and they glanced up, their conversations halting as soon they noticed their Alpha carrying an unconscious Violet.

Their curious eyes followed Griffin as he ascended the staircase with ease, carrying Violet higher and higher without feeling even a bit of her weight.

Only until he was out of view, did they continue their gossip and it was all about Violet. None of them could understand what was happening right now? What was Violet doing in the East House and why was Griffin carrying her?

Meanwhile, Griffin reached the top floor, to be precise, his personal domain. Unlike the other floors, this one exuded an air of exclusivity. After all, it was where he lived with his beta, Gammas and deltas.

He pushed the double door open with his shoulder and went in. Griffin’s room was an extension of his personality, spacious, luxurious, warm and filled with personal touches.

An Alaskan king mattress, which was about nine feet by nine feet, dominated the room. It was larger than most standard beds, with a sturdy mahogany frame and adorned with rich red-and-gold bedding.

It was a bed that suited his size and presence — designed precisely for his beast form — exuding comfort and regality in equal measure.

It was flanked by large windows that offered a sweeping view of the academy grounds. While a leather sofa and a mahogany desk occupied one corner, and a massive fireplace roared in another.

The walls were adorned with shelves and displays that spoke to Griffin’s passion for cars. Sophisticated model cars were arranged meticulously on custom-built shelves, each one of them a replica of iconic vehicles.

The models ranged from classic muscle cars to sleek modern sports cars, the collection vast and impressive, showcasing his love for speed even though physically, he wasn’t built for it.

A connecting door led to another room and beyond that to the restroom. Griffin crossed the threshold, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet.

Gently, he laid Violet on the bed, her smaller form contrasting starkly with the vast expanse of the bedding. Her peaceful face was a sharp counterpoint to the chaos that had brought them here.

Not entirely satisfied, Griffin adjusted the covers, pulling them up to her shoulders to ensure she was well-covered, then stepped back to observe his handiwork.

Wrapped tightly in the oversized sheet, Violet resembled a mummy, a sight that made Griffin pause. It wasn’t winter, but the air had begun to chill at night. He pondered the temperature, considering it wasn’t actually nighttime and she might be overheating under the heavy covers.

Moving to peel back the sheet, Griffin hesitated. As a werewolf, his body temperature ran higher than a human’s, so he rarely felt the cold, but Violet was human and might need the warmth. Yet, what if she was sweating beneath the heavy layers?

Griffin groaned in frustration. What was he doing? All he wanted was to make sure Violet was comfortable. After all, she was his guest, he told himself firmly.

With a sigh, Griffin turned his attention to his room. He was the messy type, but in a strangely organized way. Papers, books, and car models were scattered about, giving the room a lived-in feel without veering into chaos.

Feeling a strange sense of urgency, Griffin began to clean up.

He straightened the stacks of books on his desk, gathered the stray car models into a neat line on their shelf, and tossed the forgotten shirt he had worn the night before into the laundry basket.

Griffin had no idea why he was doing it, but he felt an inexplicable need to make his room presentable.

It was Violet’s first time in his room and when she woke up, he wanted her to have a good impression of his space. It was just common courtesy, nothing else. He told himself, ignoring the unusual energy driving his actions.

It was quite unfortunate that by the time Griffin was done, Alaric was still not back.

Could it be that Adele refused him and he was seeking another alternative?

Adele was a tough woman after all. Griffin reached for his phone and called Alaric, except the phone kept ringing without answer.

It was unusual for Alaric not to answer his calls, they were buddies after all.

After the fifth call, Griffin let it be.

Alaric couldn’t leave him alone with Violet, that was for sure. He would be back.

Speaking of Violet.

Griffin sat on the edge of the bed and watched Violet sleep.

She was interesting to watch and it was in the process he noticed how beautiful.

His gaze fell on her lips and as if it were happening again, he felt the heat of her lips on his again and Griffin swallowed as a certain part of his body rose in response.

Perhaps, it wasn’t a bad idea thinking about that kiss.

Griffin wasn’t in love with Violet, but there was no denying her allure. She was strong, resilient, and unflinching—qualities he admired in a woman. If it weren’t for Asher’s tangled web of games, Griffin might have even pursued her. But he wanted no part in whatever the mad Asher had planned.

Moreover, even if he dates Violet, it would be only for a while. Elsie might choose him by the time they graduate and he didn’t want to create such a mess which is why he can’t fall in love with any woman other than Elsie.

There was no other way out. He wanted to be Alpha king. The next Alpha king could only marry Elsie Lyka Lancaster. No one else. Not even this strangely purple haired girl.

Unable to help the pull anymore, Griffin leaned down and took Violet’s hair in his hand. It was not dyed, he noticed. It was strange. Humans didn’t have purple hair. She was almost like Roman with his unique green color trait.

Griffin leaned in and sniffed her. Werewolves could always smell and tell apart their kind. But for Violet, there was nothing. She smelled human. Perhaps she was a human after all with such unique hair — and scent.

Even while asleep, Violet still exuded her enticing pheromones from earlier and now, he was hooked on it. As if that was not enough, Violet’s eyes popped open at that moment, catching him off guard.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze as their gazes locked.

The tension between them was palpable, thick with unspoken desires.

Violet’s lips curled into a wicked grin, her expression one of a huntress who had cornered her prey.

Slowly, she arched her back, pressing her chest against him in a silent invitation.

Griffin’s resolve wavered. He should fight this—he knew he should.

But as her lips parted slightly, beckoning him closer, he leaned in, the magnetic pull between them impossible to resist. The brief brush of her lips against his sent a jolt of pleasure coursing through him, and he groaned at the electric connection. He wanted more.

"Griffin!" A sharp voice cut through the air, yanking him back to reality.

Griffin’s eyes cleared as he registered Alaric’s shout. He pulled back immediately, his heart racing as he tried to regain control. But Violet wasn’t ready to give up. With a feral snarl, she lunged forward, determined to claim him.

Griffin reacted swiftly, placing his hand over his mouth just as her lips made contact with his palm. Her frustration was evident, but before she could try again, Alaric tackled her onto the bed. The two struggled briefly, but Alaric easily overpowered her.

At that moment, the healer, Adele, entered the room, and moved toward Violet with her hands glowing with green energy. "Don’t worry," she murmured soothingly. "It will be over soon."

Adele pressed her glowing hand against Violet’s forehead, and almost instantly, Violet’s thrashing subsided. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her body went limp as the green energy spread through her.

But before Violet faded away, the last thing she heard was Alaric saying, "I’ll kill that bastard, Asher."

Yes. She too. Violet thought hazily. She’d kill that conniving bastard when she gets her hand on him.

Alaric let out a deep sigh of relief as Violet’s body relaxed into unconsciousness. He ran a hand through his hair, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. That had been close. Super close.

Turning his gaze toward Griffin, he leveled him with a pointed look.

Griffin shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "What?" he asked, his voice edged with unease.

"You swore you wouldn’t touch her," Alaric said, his tone calm but laced with quiet accusation.

Griffin rolled his eyes, crossing his arms defensively. "You took too long. Not my fault,"

Alaric was speechless. So much for trusting him. Apparently, no Alpha could be trusted around Violet.