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Violet’s eyes opened, her stomach grumbling even before her mind could fully recall where she was. The tantalizing aroma of food filled her senses, pulling her from the haze of sleep. She sat up abruptly, when she caught sight of the large figure standing at the foot of her bed.

"You don’t need to be afraid," Griffin said, his voice calm as he raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I promise, I won’t harm you."

Violet’s glare hardened, her tone sharp as she retorted, "You said those exact words right before joining the others in bullying me at that so-called scenting ceremony."

Griffin nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Guilty as charged. But that was tradition. I would never intentionally hurt you, Violet." He gestured toward someone else in the room, and only then did Violet realize they weren’t alone.

A young woman whose eyes were filled with curiosity, pushed a trolley laden with steaming dishes closer to the bed. Violet’s stomach growled loudly at the sight, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"I figured you might be hungry," Griffin said with a sense of accomplishment. "And it seems I was right."

Violet averted her gaze, trying to hide her discomfort. The girl pushing the trolley looked at her with poorly veiled intrigue, her eyes darting between Violet and the Alpha as if already piecing together a scandalous story.

"Would that be all, Alpha?" the girl asked, her voice tentative yet eager, clearly hoping for an explanation for Violet’s presence.

"Yes, that will be all," Griffin replied curtly.

The girl hesitated before turning to leave, but Griffin called her back sharply. "And Zora."

"Yes, Alpha?" she asked, straightening immediately.

Griffin locked his gaze on hers, his voice firm. "Not a word about this."

The excitement in Zora’s expression drained in an instant, replaced by disappointment. It was clear she had been hoping to spread the juicy tidbit of gossip knowing it would trend for sure.

"As you wish, Alpha Griffin," she mumbled, her tone subdued as she exited the room.

Violet exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "That still won’t stop me from making headlines on the Oracle’s post tomorrow," she muttered bitterly.

Violet could already imagine the scathing headlines. Bloodline doesn’t lie. From the daughter of a whore to a whore herself. Her stomach churned at the possibility. A mega whore, the Oracle might say, able to seduce three Alphas at once.

Perhaps they’d even include a picture of her humiliating moments with Alaric, Roman, and Griffin. The very thought made Violet want to disappear. If they write that, she might as well throw herself off a cliff.

Griffin studied her for a moment before speaking. "You’re scared for your reputation," he observed as he easily set up the bed table and placed a bowl of soup and a plate of bread in front of her.

Violet gave him a pointed look. "And you wouldn’t be if you were in my shoes?

" Then she groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh, right, you’re a man with patriarchal privileges. Even if you slept with a hundred girls at the same time, I’m sure no one would bat an eye.

Meanwhile, my gender gets persecuted for the smallest indiscretion. What luck you have to be born a man."

Her words were obviously meant to insult him, but Griffin didn’t take the bait. Instead, he chuckled, the deep sound reverberating in the room.

"What district are you from?" he asked suddenly.

Violet narrowed her gaze, instantly cautious. "Why do you want to know?"

Griffin took a seat by the bedside and sat down. He leaned back slightly, his demeanor relaxed. "Because it seems you weren’t educated properly on werewolf anthropology, or you’d know that the werekind are sometimes polygamous by nature."

Violet froze, her body going rigid at his words.

Griffin noted her reaction but pressed on, ignoring the tension. "You do know about the concept of mates, don’t you?"

Of course, she knew about mates. It was the cornerstone of werewolf culture, one of the most celebrated aspects of their kind.

Fated mates were soulmates, the other half of a werewolf’s being, said to be created by the Moon Goddess herself. The bond was revered and sacred, celebrated in stories and rituals.

Before the war, there had once been an abundance of fated mates, but after the near decimation of the she-wolves during the great War, many lost theirs. It was quite unfortunate that the loss of a mate was devastating, often leading to madness or death for the surviving wolf. And many did die.

Ever since then, finding a fated mate had become increasingly rare; it was nearly becoming a myth whispered among the younger generations. Some claimed it was the result of the Moon Goddess’s wrath, a punishment for wolves marrying humans, the very species that had played a role in their genocide.

There were rumors, of course. Stories of werewolves mated to humans, but Violet had never seen such a couple with her own eyes.

"Yes," she finally said. "What about them?"

Griffin studied her intently, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips as though testing her knowledge, or, her lack thereof.

"Well," he began, his tone deceptively casual, "you must know that, in the past, some werewolves had more than one mate. It wasn’t unusual for them to form strong bonds with more than one wolf."

He leaned forward slightly, closing the space between them. His proximity made Violet instantly alert. She didn’t believe Griffin would harm her—he’d done nothing to suggest he would—but after the recent incidents, any closeness was bound to put her on edge.

"And," Griffin added in a lower tone, his voice almost conspiratorial, "this wolf here might just have two fathers."

Violet’s eyes widened in shock, her jaw practically hitting the floor. Her mind raced with questions, too many to articulate at once.

Was that even possible? How? What did he mean? But Griffin, as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell, leaned back in his seat, entirely unbothered, and continued speaking with an air of nonchalance.

"So, perhaps you’re anxious over nothing," he said, dipping a piece of bread into the soup on the tray. "Werewolves have had many consorts throughout history. You’re no whore, Violet, it’s just the way of our kind."

Violet blinked, still trying to process his words. "But I’m not a werewolf," she said finally.

Griffin nodded in agreement. "Indeed, you’re not." He picked up the soaked piece of bread and held it up to her lips, his expression entirely innocent.

Violet gave him a strange look, reaching out to take the bread herself, but Griffin didn’t budge. "Come on," he urged. "Let me feed you."

With a reluctant sigh, she opened her mouth and allowed him to feed her, chewing slowly while shooting him an exasperated glare.

"In that case," Griffin continued, his tone still light, "if anyone dares to call you anything unsavory, just punch them. You’re good at that, anyway. And afterward, I’ll back you up. You can ride on my glory."

The words were said innocently enough, but Violet froze mid-chew. The phrase struck her in a completely different light, and she gave him a look that made it abundantly clear what she was thinking.

Griffin sighed, shaking his head in mock dismay. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Violet Purple," he chided, before feeding her another bite.

Violet blushed furiously, her face burning as she swallowed. She hadn’t meant to interpret it that way, honestly, she hadn’t. But her treacherous mind had gone there all the same.

She muttered something unintelligible under her breath, earning a soft chuckle from Griffin.

"However, if it comforts you, then you should know that everyone present in that classroom at the time of the incident will keep it a secret. The Oracle will spin her stories, sure, but it’ll all just be conspiracies.

No one else saw what happened. And as for Adele, she’s the least likely to talk about her patients. Confidentiality is her creed."

"Oh." Violet nodded, feeling a bit of relief settle over her. That was comforting indeed. But it still didn’t mean she wouldn’t remain on her toes, expecting the worst at any moment.

Griffin continued feeding her with an almost surprising amount of care and focus. It was as though he were ensuring she ate enough to regain her strength. It wasn’t long before another thought crossed her mind, and she voiced it.

"Isn’t there a way to shut down the Oracle’s business? You’re a Cardinal Alpha. Surely, you have the authority to do something about it, don’t you?"

Griffin paused for a moment, setting the bread down on the plate before answering. "Yes, I do have the authority," he admitted. "But it’s not that simple. The Oracle has spent years building a network so intricate, even we have to tread carefully around her."

"Why? What are you afraid of?" Violet asked, her curiosity piqued.

Griffin’s expression darkened slightly, his voice cautious as he replied, "Because she has each and every one of our secrets. Secrets none of us want to see the light of day."