Chapter 418

Violet and Griffin didn’t exactly have the time to talk. Not when Oscar, Griffin’s Beta, made his appearance and handed her phone to her. Alaric was the one who found it at Asher’s place and passed it to him to give to her.
“Where is Alaric now?” Violet asked after several failed attempts to reach her lightning prince. Each of her calls went straight to voicemail.
“The last time he was seen was at the hospital with Asher. No one’s spotted him since,” Oscar replied.
“My call’s not going through either,” Griffin said, lowering his phone with a frown.
Just like her, he’d only just gotten his phone back. Griffin had been using an alternative while they were at the East Pack, while Violet had been left with none. And though he had always let her use his whenever she needed it, having her own again felt reliving. As small as it seemed, it reminded her she was still her own person and not just someone’s mate, tethered to their convenience.
Violet glanced at Griffin, her voice soft with worry. “Do you think he’s safe, wherever he is?”
“If he’s hiding intentionally,” Griffin said, “then he’s good.”
Oscar cleared his throat. “The rest of the pack members here at school can’t wait to be officially introduced to Luna Violet.”
“I’m Violet. Not Luna,” she corrected him with a flat tone .
“You already are. Sooner or later, you’ll embrace the title, Luna.”
Violet rolled her eyes while Griffin shot Oscar a look that clearly said drop it. His mate had been through enough. She didn’t need more roles forced onto her especially ones she wasn’t ready for.
“About Alaric,” Oscar continued, “if he’s really that important, I can try to track him. Discreetly.” The way he said it hinted he knew more than he was letting on.
Violet and Griffin exchanged a look. She didn’t have to speak, her eyes were already pleading.
“Sure. Go on,” Griffin said with a nod.
“Alright, Alpha,” Oscar replied, giving them one final look before heading out.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Violet turned to Griffin. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Anything for you, mate,” Griffin said, gently brushing her cheek with his knuckles.
But Violet pulled back, almost immediately. “Now I just need to find Roman and make him see things clearly.”
“Whoah, slow down, Violet. You just got here. You haven’t even rested or moved your things,” Griffin said, stepping into her path.
But Violet countered immediately. “The mating fever already distracted me enough. I don’t need more rest. My things can wait, I’ll pack in later. Right now, I need to find Roman.”
She moved to pass him, but Griffin caught her wrist gently, but firm. “You don’t understand, do you? Everyone’s watching you. Reporters are still on campus, and any one of them could twist something and make it worse.”
He pulled her closer, his voice lower now. “Look, I get it. I understand how you feel. But those people out there? They don’t. Not about you. Not about us. A mate is supposed to be satisfied with their mate. If they catch you in a compromising position with Roman, Violet, they’re going to chew you up.”
“So what do you want me to do?” Violet snapped, her voice rising. “Sit still and wait for their approval? Just stay here and do nothing?”
“I’m not saying do nothing,” Griffin shot back. “I’m saying not right now. There are too many eyes on you—on us—right now.”
“And what about Roman? He’s probably out there, hurting, and you expect me to do what? Sit still?!”
“Well, that’s what’s supposed to happen!” Griffin’s voice rose to meet hers now, anger flaring behind his words. “The goddess mated you to me! Me, Violet! Me only!What do you expect Roman to do? Walk up and congratulate us? Roman loved you. As much as I love you. If the situation were reversed, I’d be hurting just the same.”
“Then if that’s the case, you shouldn’t be stopping me. Roman needs me. And I don’t care what the media ends up painting me as.” She yanked her arm from his grip, her glare blazing. “Apologies for dragging you into my mess by being your mate.”
She stormed toward the door.
“Violet—” Griffin called after her, but she didn’t stop or look back.
Violet opened the door, walked out, and shut it behind her.
She couldn’t believe it. Just days of being mated and they had their first fight already.
And just like that, reality snapped into place.
The mate bond wasn’t some magical fairytale promise of happily-ever-after. No, it was a soul-shattering connection. One that amplified every feeling they had for each other and bound their fates tighter than blood. But it didn’t make the hard moments disappear. If anything, it made them harder to ignore.
As Violet stepped outside, it didn’t take long for the members of the East Pack to spot her and greet her like she was royalty.
“Luna Violet!”
“Luna Violet! You’re glowing!”
Their voices rang with excitement, and their faces were lit up with awe, admiration, and the kind of reverence that hadn’t even existed just a week ago. But their smiles faltered quickly when they got a good look at the scowl on her face.
Violet’s expression was tight, and she looked irritated.
The couple of students exchanged confused glances, whispering behind their hands. Was something wrong? Trouble in paradise already? They hadn’t even finished airing the couple montage on Moonfeed and the goddess-blessed pair were already fighting?
Violet, of course, noticed the shift in the air but she didn’t care and kept walking.
But as Violet reached outside, she realized Griffin’s concern.
Not long ago, some students looked at her like she was an anomaly, a rebel who didn’t know her place, but now, everyone wanted to be associated with her.
“Violet!”
“Over here, Violet!”
People she hadn’t spoken to in her entire time at Lunaris were suddenly waving, and calling her name like she was a friend. Violet offered a small smile, but she never stopped walking. She had a destination, and it wasn’t for show.
Still, Violet wasn’t stupid. She couldn’t exactly stride across campus looking like she was off to find a forbidden ex-lover. Especially when even the wind had ears at Lunaris Academy.
So, she took the route to the shack.No one would question her going back there since it had once been her home. Most would assume she forgot something or felt nostalgic, maybe even a little sentimental. But definitely not that she was going to see another male that wasn’t her mate.
Violet kept checking her back every few steps just to be sure no one was tailing her. Werewolves were stealthy by nature, and trust was a luxury she didn’t have today.
Once she reached the shack, Violet slipped inside the room and waited a bit. She listened for footsteps or rustlings. But there was none. She was alone.
Only then did Violet come out and continue on her journey. There was only one place Roman would be and it was the treehouse.
It was the only place he always returned to when he wanted to be alone.
The only problem was Violet had no clue where it was.