Elijah took the device, his heart racing with intrigue as he pressed play. The video aired before him, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
There in the video was Roman kissing Violet in some store.
"What the hell?" he cursed, his voice rising in pitch. "Violet is mated to Griffin! So then, how...?" it was simply unbelievable. No, he was shocked out of his mind. This shouldn’t be.
Christian took back the tablet, his expression grave. "This was the only footage I could capture since the others were destroyed by your competent heir, Asher. One of the staff managed to record this on her phone."
Elijah fell silent, his mind racing as he tapped his fingers against the desk thoughtfully. The implications of what he had just witnessed were staggering.
"Look into Violet Purple," he commanded. "I knew there was something off about that girl. I need to know what it is."
"Okay," Christian replied, nodding. "At the moment, I have my eyes on them."
"Tell your men to back off," Elijah said. "Asher is too smart, and I wouldn’t want him to suspect I’m onto them. Whatever secret they’re hiding about the girl, I’ll find out. And keep me updated once they return to the academy."
As Christian nodded and left, Elijah relaxed back in his chair, thinking hard. While he was busy sorting out the mess on his plates, the alphas were keeping secrets from him? Fine, he’d see how that would work out for them.
East Pack Territory.....
Arion stood by the stove shirtless with Irene beside him. Her hands coated in flour, while an apron was tied around her waist.
"Now gently fold it in... ," Arion said, leaning closer under the guise of culinary instruction. His hand covered hers, guiding it, but it was his press of his hips that made the real point.
Irene snorted. "You’re a nuisance, you know that."
"And you’re distracting," Arion murmured, voice low in her ear as he rolled his hips again, this time slower, testing. "I can’t believe you’re an Alpha of such a large pack. You’re so easily flustered."
"I’m not flustered," she said, trying not to laugh as she elbowed him lightly in the ribs.
"Oh? What do you call that little twitch in your shoulder?" His grin was maddening.
Before she could retaliate, a cold voice cut through their drama.
"You both are disgusting."
Kaia stood in the doorway with her arms folded, her face a twisted portrait of teenage horror. Her nose wrinkled as if the domestic flirting physically pained her. She had come to check if dinner was ready, but now, the appetite was long gone.
Arion, unfazed, simply tossed a wink her way. "Hello to you too, sunshine."
Kaia didn’t answer. She turned on her heel with a dramatic scoff and stormed out, muttering something about needing bleach for her brain.
Irene sighed heavily. "One day she’s going to fall so hard for someone, I just hope the Moon Goddess grants her a mate who’s twice as annoying as you."
"I’ll drink to that." Arion chuckled, reaching for the salt like he hadn’t just been caught dry-humping her near the risotto.
Irene’s phone buzzed from her apron pocket. She wiped her hands on a dish towel and pulled it out. It was a message from Griffin, followed by several media files. Her heart missed a beat, hoping nothing had happened again.
Nonetheless, she clicked on the first one and promptly burst into laughter. "Oh Goddess."
"What is it?" Arion leaned closer and Irene turned the screen so he could see.
Griffin, stood in the middle of a fitting room in a black-and-white maid outfit. The outfit apart, the expression on his face was hilarious. Her son looked like he was contemplating his life choices.
Irene didn’t need anyone to tell her that this was Violet’s handwork. Griffin was kind but he had his pride too, and Violet was probably the only girl that could convince him enough to pull off something like this.
Arion whistled low. "Now that’s a sight. Should we start calling him Griffinette?"
Irene burst into laughter again. She would show Aeron this once he was back from his meeting. That husband of hers needs more laughter else his face wrinkled quickly from all the frowns.
Irene was already swiping through the rest of the images when she froze. There wasn’t just pictures of Voilet and her son, Griffin had also sent pictures of the other boys.
Her laughter faded slightly, her thumb hovering particularly over Asher’s picture. She didn’t exactly hate the boy but the apple doesn’t exactly fall far from the tree and she was skeptical about this boy being a part of that harem.
Nothing good ever comes out of anyone aligned with that surname, "Nightshade". She might not have been friends with Maria, but she heard what happened. If Asher turned out to be worse than his father, not just Violet, her son Griffin would be affected too.
Arion noticed. "They look happy," he said gently, nodding toward the phone.
"They do," Irene agreed quietly, though her eyes lingered. "I just hope the Moon Goddess knows what she’s doing. Because even I’m afraid, Arion."
Arion didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned down the stove and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind again. He was not teasing this time, just comforting her sincerely.
"She does," he said with conviction. "But even if she doesn’t, we’ll make sure to be there for those kids."
Irene pulled apart to say, "So our pack might as well start preparing for war?"
"I did not say that...." Arion sighed at the look she gave him. "We should just have a little faith. If the goddess have spoken, then she must be up to something."
"Then the goddess better protect my son, because if anything happens to Griffin in this game of hers, not even the heavens would be safe from me." Irene declared, her eyes flashing with grim determination.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence until Blaire’s voice rang from the passage way. "Daddy, I’m hungry. Where’s the food already?"
"Coming princess!"