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"You shouldn’t read those," a familiar voice said, rousing Violet from her thoughts.

She looked up sharply, startled to see her roommate, Daisy Fairchild, standing beside her bed, her brunette hair still slightly disheveled from sleep. However, Daisy’s keen eyes were locked on Violet’s screen, her expression completely blank as she peered over at the article.

"Why?" Violet asked, her tone defensive. She clutched her device closer as if shielding it. "Why shouldn’t I read them? You think I’m affected by it?"

"Aren’t you?" Daisy challenged, one perfectly arched brow raised in skepticism. Her head tilted slightly to the side, giving her an inquisitive, calculating air that unsettled Violet.

There was something about Daisy—the way she spoke, the way she looked at one as if she could see straight into their soul—that always put her on edge. The girl was too smart for her own good.

Violet stiffened, feeling irritation rise within her. "You don’t run away from your fears. You face them," she snapped back, her voice firmer than she intended. To prove her point, she turned her screen towards herself and boldly clicked on the comment section.

Daisy didn’t reply, only folded her arms and watched in silence as Violet’s eyes began to scan the responses pouring in.

And, as expected, the students of Lunaris didn’t disappoint her.

"OMG, Violet dreams about Asher?! Lucky b*tch! I wish the Alpha would invade MY dreams too! #AlphaGoals #DreamVisitor"

"Violet is such a WHORE! First Alaric, now Griffin, and let’s not forget Asher. She’s literally throwing herself at the Alphas who are WAY out of her league. #StayInYourLane #GriffinDeservesBetter"

"LMAO, Violet can try all she wants, but no one’s taking Elsie’s crown. Nice try, PurpleShit. #TeamElsie #QueenOfLunaris"

"Asher mentally messing with her? Yeah, right. She’s just making up lies to get attention. Classic pick-me behavior. #NotBuyingIt"

"At least Roman isn’t falling for her tricks. The guy’s too smart to be dragged into this nonsense. #RomanIsTheBestAlpha"

"If Asher is visiting her in her dreams, it’s because she’s pathetic enough to beg for his attention. #DesperateMuch #AlphaAsherRules"

"No matter what this human tries, Elsie will ALWAYS be the queen. Violet can chase all the Alphas she wants, but she’ll never beat Elsie. #KnowYourPlace #TeamElsie"

"The fact that this girl is involved with FOUR Alphas at once? She’s literally living a reverse harem fantasy. Disgusting. #PickAStruggle #AttentionSeeker"

"Anyone else think Violet’s just lying about the dreams? Probably just trying to make herself sound more interesting. #FakeDrama #NotImpressed"

"Violet can’t seriously think the Alphas want her for real. Like, they’re probably bored, and she’s a shiny new toy. She’ll be tossed aside soon enough. #TemporaryEntertainment #SheDoesntBelong"

"The Oracle really outdid herself with this one. But let’s be real, Violet’s downfall is just beginning. #GrabThePopcorn #DramaNeverStops"

"Griffin and Amanda were PERFECT together. I can’t believe he dumped her over Violet. This purple-haired disaster is ruining EVERYTHING. #BringBackAmanda #GriffinDeservesBetter"

To be honest, Violet was affected unlike what she claimed. She was human after all and the comments were vile, bullying and outright humiliating, making her chest tighten. But then she caught sight of a comment that made hope and an unfamiliar emotion rise inside of her.

"Y’all are so quick to bully Violet without even thinking—what if she doesn’t WANT this? What if it’s the Alphas chasing her? Ever thought of that? Stop blaming the victim. #ThinkBeforeYouSpeak"

Even in her dreams, Violet could recognize the telltale signs of her loyal yet flawed friend: @LilaDDefender.

Lila and her endless bot accounts, tirelessly defending her at all costs. But this time, Lila had made it obvious, so much so that others had caught on and figured out her identity.

"Where’s Lila?" Violet asked aloud, scanning the room and noticing her empty bed.

Daisy looked around and replied, "She didn’t sleep here last night. Probably thought you’d return and didn’t want to face you."

Violet frowned. "And Ivy?" She turned to see Ivy’s bed similarly unoccupied. Surely, the stoic and often cold Ivy wouldn’t be avoiding her too?

"She left early this morning while you were still asleep. Probably off on one of her runs." Daisy shrugged, her tone casual but laced with disdain. "You think Ivy cares about what happens to you? She’d probably thank her gods if you fell off your high horse."

"It’s not about that," Violet muttered, rubbing her forehead. She already had so much on her plate already. "I was hoping she might know where Lila is. The girl tends to talk too much, and God knows where she ended up last night."

Daisy snorted. "Lila has more friends than you give her credit for. She’s probably at one of their places. Don’t start blaming yourself for something you didn’t do. She talks too much, Violet. She has to learn that words have consequences."

Daisy’s words struck a chord. She was right.

Lila had to be held accountable for her actions.

But Violet couldn’t ignore the pang of guilt in her chest. Despite her flaws, Lila was loyal, and Violet had never been one for making friends, let alone finding someone as steadfast as Lila.

The girl had her faults, but who didn’t?

Even Violet knew she wasn’t perfect. At all.

As if summoned by their conversation, the door creaked open. Both Violet and Daisy turned their heads, and there she was: Lila was standing in the doorway, her face pale and her eyes rimmed with red.

They stared at each other in silence, the air thick with tension. Then Violet sighed, her anger long gone, replaced by exhaustion. Perhaps it was the absence of fury in her expression that emboldened Lila, because in the next instant, her eyes watered with tears, and she rushed forward.

Before Violet could react, Lila threw herself into her arms, tackling her onto the bed.

"I’m so sorry!" she sobbed into Violet’s shoulder. "I’m so sorry... I didn’t mean for it to happen this way. I swear I didn’t..."

Violet lay frozen under her friend’s weight, the awkwardness of the moment washing over her. But as Lila’s genuine sobs filled the room, Violet felt her hardened resolve begin to soften.

Even the coldest heart couldn’t withstand the sight of Lila’s tears. Slowly, almost reluctantly, Violet wrapped her arms around her crying friend and murmured, "It’s alright. I forgive you."

For a moment, the room was silent except for Lila’s quiet sniffles, and Daisy’s soft sigh of disapproval. She clearly wanted Lila to suffer more and learn her lessons.

But Violet knew, despite the flaws, that Lila’s loyalty was something she couldn’t afford to take for granted. Especially now, she had so many enemies around her at Lunaris.

When Lila finally calmed down, wiping the remaining tears from her face, she looked up at Violet with an expression of fiery determination.

"I swear to you, Violet, I will never sabotage you. Never. In fact, I’ll do everything in my power to help you get revenge on those bastard Alphas. They won’t know what hit them."

Daisy arched her brow, saying sharply . "Careful there, the walls have ears, Lila."

But Lila didn’t care. Before Violet or Daisy could process what she was about to do, Lila suddenly dropped to her knees, bowing her head low in an exaggerated kowtow.

Violet’s eyes widened in shock as she stared down at her. "What the hell are you doing? Get up, Lila!" she demanded, her voice tinged with panic.

But Lila remained where she was, her posture rigid and unyielding. She raised her head slightly to look at Violet, her expression deadly serious as she said.

"I belong to you now, Violet. My life is yours. I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth, through fire and storms. Whatever you need, I’ll do it. I swear it."

Daisy, who had been observing the entire scene with increasing amusement, let out a small laugh. She rolled her eyes and returned to her bed, muttering, "With the way things are going, one would think we’re back in ancient times. A little over the top, don’t you think?"

Violet, however, did not reply and could only stare at Lila in stunned silence.

She was unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

How could someone like Lila exist? Neither had she done nothing to deserve this girl’s unwavering loyalty, yet here she was, swearing fealty like a knight in some medieval tale. It didn’t make sense at all.

"You’re insane," Violet finally said, shaking her head, although she no longer sounded mad.

Unfortunately, there were many insane people at Lunaris Academy and perhaps, she needed one like Lila at her side. Even though she didn’t deserve her. At all.