What caught Violet’s attention most, however, was a small, framed photo on the table, showing a younger Alaric, his white hair less wild but his eyes just as sharp. He looked really cute and it unknowingly brought a smile to her lips.
She continued looking around, acutely aware of the faint hum in the air, a tangible energy that made her hair stand on end. In this place, the air felt alive, as if charged with the unmistakable presence of lightning.
"Well," Alaric asked, "what do you think?"
Violet hesitated, unsure how to put her amazement into words. "It’s... impressive. You... built all this?"
"Most of it," Alaric replied, walking over to the workbench to pick up one of the papers without a purpose.
He was shy, Violet noticed but didn’t say a word. It was kind of cute to be honest. Dealing with Asher’s unsettling energy all day was tiring, hence being with Alaric’s less intimidating energy made it breathable.
He confessed, "This is where I come to think. And work. And get away from people."
"Hmmm," Violet admitted. "I guess I underestimated you."
"Don’t worry, I get that a lot. People look at me, and all they see is the cute nerd."
Violet watched his every move as he drew closer. The air between them seemed to crackle faintly, as though electricity was building up around him.
Alaric stopped just a step away from her, leaning in slightly as if sharing a conspiracy. "Can I tell you a secret?" he asked.
Then, without waiting for a response, he continued in a rambling manner, "Not that it’s a secret or anything, but most people don’t know. Neither do they ask. They just assume that the Alphas are trained on how to control to use our powers."
He paused, taking a deep breath as if to steady himself. Then, in a quieter voice, he said, "But the truth is I was not trained, I learnt it all by myself. It took a lot of practice, and sometimes... you need to push the boundaries to truly understand what you’re capable of."
Violet blinked, a nervous laugh escaping her lips. "Okay, that’s a nice sentiment, but what does this have to do with—"
Before she could finish, Alaric began to tug at the fingers of his gloves, pulling them off one by one.
Oh boy. She didn’t like this.
The sight sent warning bells ringing in Violet’s head. She instinctively took a step back, her pulse quickening as she recalled the sheer destructive power he wielded. The air in the room felt heavier, charged with invisible tension.
Trust him? Was he kidding her right now?Violet thought, but the words never made it past her lips. Her body refused to budge, and her mind was screaming at her to run. Yet, there was something in Alaric’s gaze that held her in place.
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