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"Moreover," Asher continued, "does it even matter who was at fault? In the end, the strongest side won. That’s the only lesson worth learning."

Violet retorted. "Yes, the strongest side—which was the humans—won. In case the were-kind hasn’t fully grasped that lesson yet."

Instantaneously, all the werewolves in the classroom tensed and it was not hard to see that considering the way Asher’s gaze locked onto Violet with a piercing intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Oh, we very much learned that lesson, Mrs. Purple." His words were calm, but the dark edge in his tone was unmistakable.

It wasn’t just the use of her surname for the first time that unsettled Violet, but the weight behind those words. They weren’t just a response, but a warning. A promise Infact. If humans and werewolves were to face off again, history wouldn’t repeat itself.

The silence in the room was deafening, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Even the other Cardinal alphas seemed to pause, their usual smug expressions briefly replaced with something more serious.

For the first time, Violet felt as though she might’ve touched a nerve she wasn’t entirely prepared to deal with.

Professor Alwen clapped his hand, drawing everyone’s attention. "Strength alone doesn’t make one victorious, Mr. Nightshade. After all, wisdom and unity was what rebuilt the ashes of the war. However, valid points from all sides,"

"Good thing, we have history to remind us that every action, no matter how justified it seems, has consequences. The Great War wasn’t caused by one person, it was the result of fear, prejudice, and a failure to communicate."

He returned to his desk and swiped through his tablet computer saying, "For your next assignment, you’ll work in pairs, preferably your current seat neighbour, to analyze the events leading up to the war and propose an alternative course of action that could have prevented it.

I expect detailed arguments supported by historical evidence. "

The classroom instantly filled with groans of dismay. Everyone, except the cardinal alphas, collectively voiced their displeasure at the prospect of such work. Violet rolled her eyes at the dramatic reaction, already planning to team up with her buddy, Lila.

She turned toward her friend, about to ask, when she felt a gloved hand clasp her wrist.

"You’re with me," Alaric said coolly, leaving little room for negotiation.

For a split second, Violet stared at him, speechless. Then her expression shifted to one of incredulity, as if saying, Are you kidding me right now?

She immediately tried to pull her arm free, but Alaric’s grip was firm, his gloved hand keeping her in place with an almost casual ease.

She arched a brow and said through gritted teeth, "My friend is right here. Go find someone else to bother. Besides, you’re smart enough to do this alone, aren’t you?" Her tone dripped with sarcasm, recalling his previous stunt in biology when he took all the glory for himself.

"The teacher specifically said to work in pairs. Your friend can find someone else." He claimed.

Violet scowled, refusing to back down. "You have other friends. Go pair up with one of them."

"They’re not as smart as you," Alaric said smoothly.

"Flattery won’t work on me," Violet shot back. She yanked her arm again, but Alaric’s grip was strong, barely noticing her resistance.

Lila, clearly uncomfortable, looked between the two and hesitantly spoke up. "Violet, maybe you should just work with him. It’s fine, I can team up with someone else."

But Violet shook her head and glared at Alaric. "No. Friends before dicks," she declared loudly enough that several nearby students turned to look, their expressions ranging from amused to shocked.

"Let’s resolve this the simple way," Alaric said. "Let fate decide."

Violet narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"

"A game of rock, paper, scissors," he said with a wolfish grin.

Violet blinked at him, stunned by the childish suggestion. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"It’s not a bad idea," Lila chimed in, trying to mediate. "I’m not bad at it either so he can’t cheat me."

Alaric gestured toward Lila. "See? Even your friend agrees."

Violet groaned, her suspicion still lingering, but she reluctantly nodded. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."

Alaric and Lila faced off, hands at the ready. Violet crossed her arms, watching intently. And they began.

The first round ended in a tie as both had thrown out paper. Violet’s heart began to race, praying and hoping for Alaric to lose. She was rooting for her friend. The second round ended in another tie, both of them opting for scissors.

By the third round, tension hung thick in the air to the point that even some of the students were watching them. Lila hesitated slightly before throwing out paper, but Alaric’s hand came down with scissors. He won instantly, and a triumphant grin spread across his face.

"Yes!" Alaric pumped his fist in celebration.

Lila sighed, looking slightly defeated, and Violet groaned aloud, sharing in her friend’s loss.

"Great," She muttered sarcastically. "Now I’m stuck with him."

The bell rang at that moment, signaling the end of class. Alaric rose from his seat and looked down at Violet with happiness. "I’ll expect you later tonight," he declared.

Violet shot him a glare. "Don’t hold your breath. There’s no way I’m showing up at your place. I’m not giving the Oracle more fodder for another scandalous article."

Alaric’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "Don’t worry. I have a private workshop. We’d be alone."

"That’s the scary part of it all," Violet muttered under her breath.

"See you tonight, Violet," Alaric said, ignoring her protest as he walked away, leaving her dreading what lay ahead

As soon as Alaric disappeared, Roman appeared, his signature smirk firmly in place as he leaned casually against the desk beside Violet. "That was an intense showdown with Asher. Care to do it every day? I loved it."

"Fuck off, Roman." Violet glared at him.

Roman laughed heartily at her response, clearly unfazed by her sharp words. His laughter rang in the room, drawing more attention than Violet cared for.

But before she could retort further, Asher appeared out of nowhere, his hand grabbing Roman’s shirt collar in one swift motion. The smirk on Roman’s face faltered momentarily, replaced by both amusement and mild annoyance.

"Alright, alright, I’m leaving," Roman said, chuckling as Asher began to drag him away.

Asher’s piercing eyes briefly met Violet’s. His expression was unreadable,neither did he say a word. Instead, he turned his attention back to Roman, dragging his cardinal brother out of the room.