My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 324

Chapter 324: Date or No Date?
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CHAPTER 324

~Valerie’s POV~

The girls at my side felt it too. Emerald shifted uncomfortably, while Isla stood her ground, unimpressed by the oppressive pull of their dominance.

Her wolf was strong enough to withstand some of their aura. Solstice, on the other hand, lowered her gaze instantly.

I hated how easily my body betrayed me. My pulse quickened, my skin warmed, and that dangerous heat I thought I had under control clawed its way back up.

Just standing this close to them reminded me of their hands on my skin, their voices murmuring my name, the way they had helped me through my heat days ago.

That memory alone made my breath falter.

I snapped my locker shut, hoping the loud clang would ground me somehow. But it was too late to act unaffected.

The bond didn’t care about logic, pride or what I wanted; it pulled at me, dragging me under even as I tried to resist.

“Valerie.”

My name on Kai’s lips broke something fragile inside me as I remembered being under him, wanting him in every way a girl possibly could, and I hated that just his voice could undo me like this.

Every nerve in my body tingled, the weight of four pairs of eyes dragging me under.

“We need to talk.”

The others closed in behind him, forming a wall of dominance that shut out the hallway, the whispers, and the curious stares from passing students.

In that moment, it felt like the entire world had shrunk to just me and them.

I swallowed hard. “Now?”

“Yes, now. Please.” Dristan’s intense gaze locked on mine, but there was something else there too… desperation.

Before I could come up with an excuse to escape, a familiar voice cut through the tension. “There you are.”

I turned to find Ash striding toward us like he owned the hallway. His relaxed confidence clashed with the heavy aura around my mates, but somehow, he didn’t seem fazed by them.

Ash slid his hands into his pockets, stopping right in front of us. “Hate to interrupt your little alpha-circle moment, but Valerie and I have a date.”

The words struck like a slap.

Kai’s expression hardened instantly, and Dristan’s jaw flexed. Even Xade’s wolf seemed to stir beneath his skin.

“A date?” Xade’s voice was sharp, almost mocking.

Ash shrugged casually. “Yeah. And before you get all territorial, it’s school-related. We’ve got something to finish up for a project before class starts.”

“You can wait your turn,” Dristan said evenly, but there was steel in his tone.

Ash tilted his head, smirking faintly. “Or… I don’t.”

Before anyone could stop him, he stepped past Dristan, brushing shoulders without even flinching, and reached for my hand.

“Let’s go,” he said simply.

I blinked up at him, half in shock, half relieved. My heart hammered as he tugged me forward, but just as we were about to pass Kai, his hand shot out, wrapping around my wrist.

“Please, Valerie.” His voice was raw, almost pleading.

I froze.

For a second, my chest tightened at the sound of it. But then I shook my head slowly. “Let go, Kai.”

My voice was steady, even though my heart wasn’t. “You had your reasons… and I have mine. Right now, I need to handle this project. It needs my attention.”

His jaw clenched, but after a beat, he nodded stiffly. “Okay then… see you at the house.”

I hesitated, then pulled my wrist free. “No. I’m not going back.”

That got everyone’s attention.

“I’ll be able to move out soon,” I added, ignoring the sharp looks from all four of them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Isla shifting, but before she could speak, Dristan stepped forward.

“It isn’t safe,” he said firmly, his voice dipping lower, like he could force me to agree.

“Don’t worry,” Isla cut in smoothly, surprising him. “With Solstice back, Valerie can appeal to the Dormitory Head for a room change. Astraea hasn’t been staying there anyway, so it’s a win-win.”

Dristan’s scowl deepened at his cousin, but he didn’t argue. “Understood,” he said curtly.

Kai still looked like he wanted to say something, but Ash spoke first, tightening his grip on my hand.

“Gotta go,” he said lightly. “We’ve got about five minutes before lunch break’s over.”

Kai’s gaze burned into mine, but he didn’t stop us this time.

Ash pulled me away, weaving us through the crowd until we ducked into a quiet corner near one of the classrooms. Only then did he let go of my wrist.

“You’re welcome,” he said with a smirk, sliding his hands back into his pockets.

“Thank you,” I muttered, reaching up to scratch the back of my neck.

I didn’t like what was happening to me. My emotions and my body all felt like chaos.

Between my heat, my bonds, and this constant push-and-pull, I was drowning.

And now, thanks to all the tension, my dreams had become a nightmare of desire. Endless nights replaying Xade’s mouth on me, his fingers tangled in my hair, his voice whispering my name until I woke up breathless and aching.

I shoved the thought away.

“So,” Ash’s voice cut through my spiral, teasing, “it’s a date, then?”

“Huh?” I blinked.

“Just now,” he said with a grin. “I told them we had a date.”

“Oh… that.”

I didn’t answer, but he chuckled softly. “Relax. I’m not forcing you into anything. But I…”

“How did you even know I needed saving?” I cut in, narrowing my eyes at him.

Ash’s smirk softened. “I didn’t. Call it instincts. I just… felt something off when I saw you surrounded like that. So I came.”

My chest warmed despite myself. “Thanks.”

“I’ll only accept your gratitude if you buy me lunch or dinner,” he said casually.

A small smile crept onto my lips before I could stop it. “Deal.”

“Good. I’ll send you the location after school. You could use some fresh air anyway; you’ve been cooped up in this mess too long.”

I inhaled slowly, nodding. “Maybe.”

Then his tone changed to something softer and more serious than I had ever heard before.

“But Val… when you’re ready, you need to confront them about whatever got them looking like that. Otherwise, this thing between you all… it’s going to crush you. And judging by how drained you look, it’s already happening.”

For a moment, I just stared at him. Ash, the same guy who always teased Dristan and acted like the world was a game, was suddenly… grounded, mature.

“Just some advice,” he said with a shrug.

“You ended up saying more,” I teased lightly, trying to break the weight of his words.

“Oh, and one more thing,” he added, leaning closer with a conspiratorial smirk. “If you’re up for it, I still want to dig into that map hidden in your necklace and…”

His voice cut off as his gaze dropped to my neck. “Wait. Where’s your necklace?”

I froze.

Ash’s expression darkened instantly, and he reached forward, but I stepped back before he could touch me.

“It got stolen,” I admitted quietly.

“What?!” His brows drew together. “By whom? That thing wasn’t just random jewelry.”

“I know,” I said softly. “I don’t have proof yet, but… I think Titania, maybe Astraea, and a girl named Marianne are involved. It’s just a guess for now.”

His jaw tightened, but then his posture eased. “Alright. Relax. I’ll look into it, too.”

“Thanks,” I murmured.

“For now,” he said, straightening, “go grab something to eat and head back to class.”

“No need,” I sighed, glancing at the clock. “There’s only a minute left before it starts.”

“Then I’ll bring snacks to you,” he said easily, giving me that grin again. “Go on, Val. Keep your head up. You’ve got this.”

He winked, waved, and walked off, leaving me standing there with his words echoing in my head.

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School ended faster than I thought it would. I was still half in my head, replaying Ash’s words from earlier, when my phone buzzed the moment I stepped out of class.

Ash: Meet me at the school gate in 45 minutes.

I stared at the message, lips twitching despite myself.

“Subtle,” I muttered, shoving my phone into my pocket before heading to my dorm to freshen up and change. Then, I made my way toward the front gate.

He was already there, leaning casually against a lamppost, scrolling on his phone like he had all the time in the world.

When he spotted me, his grin widened instantly. “There she is.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You texted me literally thirty minutes ago.”

“And yet, here we are, not even up to 45 minutes.” He stuffed his phone into his pocket and straightened up. “Should I be flattered?”

“Or concerned about my terrible boundaries,” I muttered.

Ash laughed, brushing it off. “C’mon, princess. I promised you fresh air, and I deliver on my promises.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He motioned toward the road, already walking ahead like he expected me to follow.

I hesitated for exactly two seconds, then sighed and fell into step beside him. “If you’re kidnapping me, I’m warning you, I bite.”

“That’s fine.” His smirk deepened. “I bite back.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why did I agree to this again?”

“Because you secretly like me?”

“Delusional.”

He grinned wider. “I’m fun. Admit it.”

“I’ll admit you’re… tolerable.”

Ash pressed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Ouch. Right in the heart.”

“You’ll live.”

“Barely.”

I shook my head, hiding my smile. “Seriously, though, where are we going?”

“You’ll know when we get there,” he said, clearly enjoying keeping me guessing.