Defy The Alpha(s) novel Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Power Like This

Ivy let out a distressed cry, "Goddess help me, my roommates have lost their minds!"

But Lila only grinned wolfishly, replying, "At least you still recognize us as your roommates."

Ivy shot her a glare, but it wasn’t half as fierce as it should have been; her defenses were already crumbling.

Daisy said, "Defeating Elsie won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible."

"How?" Ivy demanded. "Have you forgotten who Elsie is? She’s basically the mate for one of the cardinal alphas. She’s got the Alpha King’s backing. You? Us? We’ve all got none. She won’t even need to lift a finger; she’s got power, influence, and people to do her bidding."

Violet’s eyes flashed with determination. "Then we’ll cut off that backing. We’ll dismantle those influences one by one. Without them, she’s nothing."

Ivy scoffed. "And the Alpha King?"

"We’ll figure that out as we go," Daisy said with forced optimism.

"Thought as much," Ivy shook her head, unimpressed.

But Daisy persisted, "We won’t achieve this in a single day, but this is our plan for now, and we’ll work toward it. For the moment, we’ve got bigger worries, like finding a place to actually live." She glanced up at the rotting ceiling just as a drip of nasty water landed on her cheek, making Ivy recoil with disgust.

Daisy wiped it off, grimacing.

Violet told them, gesturing to the broken window where the rain wreaked havoc outside. "It’s still pouring out there. Even if we manage to hire workers, they can’t do repairs in this weather. And it’d take days, maybe weeks, to fix this place enough so we can start actually living in it."

At that point, Lila piped up, "I can help with that."

"You can?" three startled voices echoed in unison, their gazes snapping toward her.

Lila cleared her throat. "My magic can help."she said.

At that, Ivy’s eyes lit up. "So you can just... clean this place up?"

Lila’s brow furrowed, clearly offended. "What do you mean clean up the place? I’m not some witch about to chant ’bibbidi-bobbidi-boo’ while waving brooms and mops. I work with the elements, Ivy. Nature provides, and I merely guide its hand."

Before everyone’s eyes, Lila lowered herself, resting her palm on the warped, rotting floorboards beneath them.

"Like this. The woods were once strong here. I’ll call upon them to reinforce what was lost so that no one falls through."

And even the rusted gutter that had been clinging precariously to the eave outside? They heard a screech of metal that made them jump.

Then, through the broken window, they saw the gutter’s pieces shifting, shedding flakes of rust like an old skin. Though not fully repaired, it reattached more securely, no longer threatening to tumble down at the slightest breeze.

By the time Lila stepped back, wiping sweat from her brow, the difference was clear like night and day. Though the house wasn’t as grand as their previous rooms, especially with much of the paint still chipped, and the dull lighting, the worst of the decay had been tamed.

"Good enough?" Lila asked, her tone almost challenging as she glanced at Ivy.

Ivy’s gaze swept across the newly-stabilized floor, the receding cobwebs, and the sealed-up holes in the ceiling. "I—this is..." She swallowed, momentarily at a loss for words.

Daisy smiled, placing a hand on Lila’s shoulder. "It’s perfect for now. You’re incredible, Lila." she gave her a thumbs up.

But unlike the others, a cold shiver ran down Violet’s spine instead. Watching all this was like watching time rewind itself.

"I don’t think I can get used to this." She muttered.

But Lila waved off her concern. "Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. You’re the princess, after all, you’re supposed to do more than this." She declared it as if it were a blessing, not a burden.

Violet, however, shuddered. The gods only knew what she might do with a power like this.