Chapter 375: The Boys Left Behind

"What do you think Asher and Violet are up to right now?" Alaric asked no one in particular, his expression distant as he stared out the window, the cocoa mug untouched in his hand.

"Fucking, obviously," Roman replied, leaning over to stick his tongue into Alaric’s cup and lap at the drink like a dog.

"Dude, what the fuck!" Alaric recoiled, pure disgust written across his face.

"I licked it. It’s mine now." Roman showed no remorse as he snatched the mug and chugged it down. When he drained the last drop, he let out a deep, satisfied burp.

"Thanks, Momma Griffin," he greeted cheerfully just as Griffin walked in, an apron tied around his waist. "That was divine."

With Asher and Violet gone, Roman had been restless. Nothing—not even the company of his own pack—could soothe the strange ache in his chest caused by Violet’s absence. So, without thinking much of it, he found his feet dragging him to East House.

He hadn’t expected to run into Alaric in the foyer and the both of them froze mid-stride, locking eyes. Violet’s presence had been a balm over their constant feud, but now that she was gone, the scab had ripped right off.

Alaric, sensing Roman’s intent, sprinted for Griffin’s room like it was war. Roman, swearing under his breath, bolted after him. Alaric arrived first and locked the door behind him, triumphant, until Griffin, curious about the commotion, opened it moments later to a breathless Roman.

And just like that, both idiots were inside, and handed mugs of Griffin’s famous cocoa, the one that was almost, mark the word "almost" better than an orgasm.

"Really?" Griffin’s expression brightened, lingering between bashful pride and doubt. "You like it that much?"

Roman clutched his chest. "Like it? Griffin, I am obsessed. This cocoa didn’t just warm my stomach, it healed ancestral trauma. I took one sip and I saw my entire life flash before my eyes, except this time it was happier."

Griffin blinked.

"I’m serious," Roman went on, deadpan. "If Violet is the sun of my universe, you’re the soothing moonlight that reminds me it’s okay to feel things. I’m in love with it, and maybe a little bit with you. Not like Violet-love," he added quickly, "but you’ve definitely claimed whatever remains of my giddy, emotionally unstable heart."

Griffin looked stunned. Then, slowly, his face split into a grin so wide it could’ve powered the East House on joy alone. He looked like a kid who’d painted his first masterpiece and had it declared a national treasure.

Alaric’s jaw dropped, stunned by the sheer audacity of Roman’s flattery skills. He groaned, burying his face in his palm. "Don’t tell me you believed that? He’s so dramatic." he said to Griffin.

"Really, Alaric?" Roman said in a theatrically scolding tone. "Is this how you support your friends? No wonder they say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone."

Then to Griffin, he raised the empty mug in salute. "Dramatic? No. I just know when a man deserves his flowers. And cocoa. And maybe a slow clap."

Griffin looked from Roman to Alaric, then down at the plate of still-warm double-chocolate marshmallow swirl cookies which was his signature sweet tooth masterpiece.

Then he said, "You know what? Roman, have this."

"What?!" Alaric nearly choked on air. "But that’s mine!"

Griffin turned to him slowly, like a disappointed parent catching their child with bad grades. "Well," he said with a perfect raise of his brow, "not anymore."

Roman snatched the biggest cookie off the plate with glee. He bit into it, letting out an exaggerated moan of satisfaction. "Mmm. Tastes like betrayal and chocolate."

Then, with the cookie still between his teeth, he turned to Alaric and added with a devilish grin, "You heard him, big bro. Mama’s chosen. Your new favorite sibling has arrived."

Alaric looked like he’d just been kicked in the gut.

"I’m going to kill you today," he declared as he lunged at the south house Alpha.

His hands wrapped around Roman’s throat, but Roman, ever the drama king, just threw his head back and laughed like a madman, even as Alaric throttled him.

But that only made it worse.

Alaric’s patience snapped and he drove a fist into Roman’s gut, knocking the air clean out of him.

"Oof—! Okay, okay! He’s serious!" Roman wheezed, gasping as he doubled over.

Then chaos broke loose.

Roman tackled Alaric, and the two of them went crashing to the floor with a loud thud, fists flying. Their fight wasn’t exactly graceful and was more like two toddlers with testosterone.

Griffin sighed deeply like a tired mother at her wit’s end.

"I’m so done," he muttered, shaking his head.

He didn’t even try to intervene this time, instead, he sat away from them and took a bite out of his cookie.

Meanwhile, the two idiots rolled across the floor like deranged puppies and in the process sent a lamp flying, followed by the shattering of a decorative vase. While all this carnage was happening, Griffin didn’t bother. They’d pay for all of it later.

Finally, Roman managed to straddle Alaric, pinning his wrists above his head with a smug gleam in his eyes.

"Guess I’m stronger," he panted triumphantly.

Then a shutter clicked and both of them froze.

Roman and Alaric turned, only to see Griffin casually holding up his phone, camera still raised.

"Don’t worry," he said, oh-so-innocently. "You two looked so good together. I figured Violet might appreciate a little bonus content."

Roman grinned like the devil. "If that’s the case," he said, glancing down at Alaric with mischief burning in his eyes, "why don’t we give her a show? Say, a kiss, aye?"

"What?!" Alaric practically shrieked.

But Roman was already leaning in, eyes closed in full commitment to the bit.

Alaric’s brain nearly short-circuited. With a burst of electricity, he zapped Roman clean off his body.

"FUCK!" Roman howled, jerking away and twitching as he flopped onto his side.

Alaric dusted himself off, still fuming.

Roman blinked through the pain and wheezed, "At least you didn’t zap my balls, Evil Prince."

Right then, Griffin’s phone rang. He glanced down at the screen and immediately perked up.

"Violet!" he announced loudly, letting the name hang in the air.

Roman and Alaric’s head turned towards him so quickly it was nearly hilarious.

Griffin answered with a cheery, "Hey, Vee," but his face changed mid-sentence. The light drained from his eyes as a frown tugged at his mouth.

"What’s going on?" he asked, his voice serious now.

Even the electrocuted Roman sat up at once while Alaric’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing.

There was a pause. Griffin nodded slowly, said a quiet "Okay, we’ll be there," and ended the call.

Before he could rise, both Roman and Alaric were already on their feet, eyes locked on him.

"What happened?" They asked in unison.

Griffin didn’t sugarcoat it.

"Something’s happened to Asher."