h4Chapter 464: Please Me/h4

    And just like that, the mood was killed.

    No one spoke. Not when the moment demanded silence.

    Asher’s words hade from a ce that was too raw to ignore and too honest to brush off. And once again, Violet felt her heart bleed for him. To imagine the horrors he’d endured at the hands of Henry made her veins pulse with so much fury. One day, Henry would get exactly what he deserved.

    Violet had half a mind to stand and hug Asher, to show him something real, and that she was with him.. But before she could so much as move, Roman spoke.

    "Oh, you think I have it easy?"

    "I don’t think that’s what—" Violet tried to cut in, but Roman wasn’t done.

    "If that’s the case, why don’t you try growing up with parents who care more about themselves than their own damn son? Do you know what it feels like to be the screw-up of the Cardinal Alphas?"

    "I didn’t say you’re useless," Asher shot back.

    Roman snorted bitterly. "You’re the perfect strategist with powers that could mess up the mind of anyone who crosses you. ric’s a lightning-wielding genius who probably invent stuff even while asleep. While Griffin is he strong and mated to Violet."

    Griffin raised his handzily. "I’m lucky to be mated to Violet, sure. But let’s not act like that’s solved everything. Not everyone is into the whole strong, macho guy," He didn’t have to say her name, they all knew he was talking about Elsie.

    ric spoke up as well. "My powers get out of control sometimes and I have to wear gloves so I don’t kill anyone by ident. My parents love me for what I can give them, not who I am. So yeah, you can go... oh—" he added immediately, remembering. "And yes, my mother also hates Violet’s ass and is probably nning to marry me off to a distant cousin." He finished, prompting silence as everyone realized how messed up his situation was.

    Roman’s shoulders sagged, some of that fight draining from his face. He let out a deep breath. "All I’m saying is,I don’t deserve to be envied. After all, all I can do is turn into some bunch of animals—but we can all pretty much do that with our wolves. Not to mention, I couldn’t even help when Violet was kidnapped. So yeah, it’s pretty much like a p in the face when you say you want to be me."

    Violet took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Asher doesn’t mean it as an insult. And like you just heard, no one has it perfect. And who says you’re useless? You are not at all. You have your strengths and your weaknesses, and I like you just the way you are. Matebond or not, you’re mine, Roman Draven." She gazed at them to punctuate her point. "All of you."

    For a moment, there was silence as Violet’s words seemed to prate into their hearts like Cupid’s arrow.

    Then Asher cleared his throat. "Alright. Group therapy over. It’s my damn turn." he said gruffly, snapping everyone out of it.

    Asher spun the bottle and it twirled, only tond on... Griffin Hale.

    Griffin burst intoughter. "Dude, you have to teach me how you’re doing this."

    But Asher only shrugged with a lopsided smile and went straight to business. "Truth or dare?"

    "Truth."

    Asher asked, "How does it feel to finally be able to mindlink with your wolf and pack?"

    And that was finally a question that got all three of the alphas turning toward Griffin with matching looks of curiosity. Even Violet couldn’t help it either. She knew that the inability to mindlink had always been the price they paid for wielding powers that were never meant to be theirs.

    "It’s amazing," Griffin exined reverently. "Like a feeling ofpletion, almost like the Matebond, but different. I’ve always belonged to my people, but now it’s like I’m finally part of the inner circle. Like Ipleted the rite to truly be one of them. I don’t just hear them, I feel them, their needs, their fears, their care when they let me in. And I understand the responsibility on my shoulders now, the things I need to do to make sure they’re safe and satisfied."

    "As for the link between my wolf and me, it’s still a work in progress. For starters, I have to differentiate the voice of my wolf from the beast. It’s a nice surprise that he’s not as aggressive as my alter ego. Maybe it’s years of suppressedmunication, but he’s not much of a talker either and I haven’t picked a name for him yet. Still, it’s like he’s an extension of me, just in animal form with his own unique personality. And yeah, I’m excited to get to know him better. So yes, it feels absolutely good."

    By the time Griffin was done, the boys were impressed, but there was no hiding the flicker of envy either.

    The mindlink hade as a result of mating with her. And Violet was pretty much determined to bond with the others too — even if she had to force the hand of the goddess herself.

    "My turn," ric said eagerly, picking up the bottle and giving it a spin. It twirled in ce before finally stopping on...

    "No way!" Violet shouted in disbelief when the bottlended on her again. "Not me again. This can’t be a coincidence anymore. I call foul! There’s got to be something you guys are doing that I don’t know about!"

    ric burst intoughter. Her reaction was so over-the-top it wasical. Nheless, he asked, "Truth or dare?"

    Perhaps because she was already worked up, Violet felt bold. "Dare," she answered without hesitation.

    For a second, it looked like ric was nervous. But then his expression hardened and he said, "I dare you to let us take care of you."

    That was putting it mildly, but Violet understood what he meant. And not just her. The others did too, because silence fell like a nket over the group. The only sounds left were the music on autoy drifting from the speakers, the distant chirping of insects, and Violet’s own pounding heartbeat.

    All eyes were on her, waiting.

    Violet leaned back on her palms and cocked a slow smile. "Sure, go on..." she said, spreading her legs just slightly. "Please me."