Defy The Alpha(s)-Chapter 337: Out Of Lunaris

Roman sat beside Violet at the edge of the bed, unusually quiet as he focused on her injured hand, the first aid kit with its contents laid open between them.

Violet watched him in silence, noticing the way he handled her hand with so much care that a small smile crossed her lips.

"I didn't think you'd be this good at this," Violet said. "I usually assign medical competency to Alaric."

Roman gave a short laugh, glancing up at her. "Yeah, he'd probably love to hear that."

She tilted her head. "So? Where'd you learn?"

Roman's smile faded slightly, replaced with a more serious expression. "I didn't exactly have a choice. Growing up with Leon and Alexa, they weren't what you'd call involved parents. They were mostly distracted with their own needs and personal lives. So, I figured things out on my own."

Violet didn't say anything and let him talk.

Roman continued, his voice lower now. "I didn't grow into my powers easily either. People think it's all instant. Like, poof, I see a new animal and I become it. But it wasn't like that. Not even close."

He looked down at her hand, wrapping the last layer of bandage carefully.

"Sometimes I'd try to shift into something I'd seen, and only half of me would change. Like, one side of my body would be the animal, the other side still human. Bones cracking the wrong way. Skin not adjusting. I'd collapse half-shifted, bleeding all over the place. It was a mess."

There was a quiet bitterness in his voice. Not self-pity. Just the truth.

Violet reached out with her uninjured hand and gently touched his knee. "But you overcame it. Look at you now, Roman. You're in control. That's what matters."

Roman paused. Then slowly, he looked up at her.

"I don't deserve you," Roman said, his voice raw. "Not after the kind of life I've lived. Not after the things I did to you." His words were soaked in remorse, with no smugness left in them.

Violet held his gaze. "It doesn't matter anymore, Roman. The past is in the past."

Something passed in his eyes. Relief? Gratitude? Or maybe even disbelief.

"Thank you," he said softly.

"There's nothing to thank me for," Violet replied and then glanced down. "And it looks like you're done."

Roman nodded, brushing a thumb over the edge of the bandage. "Yeah. That should hold until Adele takes a proper look."

Without thinking, Violet leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, doctor," she teased him.

Roman froze for just a second. Then, with sudden intensity, he grabbed her face and kissed her full on the mouth. Violet didn't hesitate and melted into the kiss, her hand sliding into his hair as he deepened it.

The room tilted without warning and her breath caught as her back hit the bed, and Roman's body followed, his mouth still on hers, kissing her like he needed her to breathe.

There was heat everywhere. That wild energy Roman always carried crashed into her, making her want to forget everything else.

She would have let him. Violet was dangerously close to letting go. But then his phone rang, the sound slicing through the moment like cold water.

Roman pulled back, breathing hard. He reached for his phone without looking, answered it in one word, then hung up.

"Adele's done," he announced. "We should head back."

Violet blinked up at him, her breath still shaky. The warmth that had been curling in her belly vanished, replaced by a new concern for Asher.

She sat up quickly, her heart thudding in a completely different way now. Roman stood and offered her a hand which she didn't hesitate to take.

It was late, which meant most of the parents had already left and the students were back in their dorms. Just like earlier, when they stepped onto the path, the students' eyes followed them, murmurs rising at the sight.

But something was different now. The students stepped aside, clearing the way, not out of fear of offending their Alpha, but out of respect.

Roman and Violet exchanged a glance but said nothing. Right now, their only priority was Asher.

They reached the East House in record time, and to Violet's surprise, Nancy and Ezra were waiting right outside Griffin's door with her roommates. It was almost as if they were waiting for her.

"Nancy?"

"Violet?" Nancy came over quickly and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank the gods you're safe."

"Yes, I'm obviously safe..." Violet started to say, but Nancy's eyes caught her bandaged hand, and her face tightened with concern.

"You're obviously hurt."frёewebnoѵēl.com

"It's just a small fracture," Violet explained. "Adele will heal it if she still has energy left. If not, I'll wait until tomorrow. But I'm fine, I swear it!"

Then her gaze drifted to her friends, who were unusually quiet, their faces solemn and downcast. The air felt heavier suddenly, like something was wrong.

Her chest tightened. "What happened? Why does it feel like something's off? I don't like this."

Nancy and Ezra exchanged a look, and neither of them spoke right away. It was the kind of silence that only came before bad news.

Violet's nerves prickled. She shifted on her feet, more anxious now, and said firmly, "What's going on, Nancy?"

Then Nancy took a deep breath and said, "After today's incident, Ezra and I have been talking, and we don't want you here anymore."

"Excuse me? I don't understand." Violet blinked. It just didn't make sense.

Nancy spoke again, this time with finality. "I'm sorry it's sudden, Violet, but we're pulling you out of Lunaris Academy."

"What?" Violet wasn't sure whether it was her or Roman who shouted that. Or maybe both of them did.

"No. No." Violet shook her head, her voice rising. "This must be a joke or something." She gave a short laugh, but none of her friends were smiling. Their expressions were quiet and mournful.

The laughter died in her throat.

Her face changed instantly. She stared at Nancy, stunned.

You have got to be kidding her.