My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 344

Chapter 344: 1st Official Date
****************

CHAPTER 345

~Valerie’s POV~

When classes finally ended, I was mentally exhausted with beating myself up.

My friends noticed, but none of them approached me. Isla shot me a worried glance, but I shook my head minutely, silently asking for space.

Solstice, on the other hand, didn’t even try—which was exactly what I needed. She knew me too well. She always had.

Times like this called for Valerie Sapphire Violet Snow to revisit the drawing board and get my shit together.

Still, guilt pricked at me for neglecting her since her return.

I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and mouthed a soft “thank you” her way as I packed my bag. I needed to regroup. To think.

I exited the classroom quickly, hoping to avoid my mates—or anyone else, really—until I could breathe again.

But of course, fate wasn’t done mocking me.

I had barely taken three steps into the hallway when a hand grabbed my wrist and yanked me backward.

My body collided with a wall of warmth and strength, knocking the breath from my lungs.

The familiar, intoxicating scent assaulted my nostrils instantly—his lovely scent and something sharper that always made my stomach flip.

“Ace,” I whispered without meaning to, my heart lurching painfully against my ribs.

Astra purred in contentment in my mind. I did not let her chant her usual mate cheer and shut her out.

Ace turned me around to face him gently, holding me firmly but carefully, as though I might shatter. My mind screamed to pull away, to demand space—but my body betrayed me, melting against his touch.

And before I could think, before I could speak, before I could even breathe properly… Ace pressed his soft lips against mine.

And for the second time that day, I let it happen.

My classmates awwed and cheered while Ace kissed me right in front of everyone. I didn’t push him away—I didn’t even try. Maybe I should have, but after the draining day I’d had, the warmth of his lips was… grounding.

By the time he broke the kiss, his perfect blue eyes were shimmering as they locked on mine, unblinking, filled with something I couldn’t name.

“You’ve been ignoring me all day, babe,” he murmured, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “Is this how you want to start our first date?”

I sighed softly, lowering my gaze. “I’m sorry… today just hasn’t been the best.”

“I know.”

His voice was quiet but certain, like he’d already read everything I was feeling. I hated how easily he could do that.

“Technically, everyone in class knows,” Astra pointed out as I rolled my eeys at her.

“So…” I began, but Ace cut me off smoothly.

“So, you let your first official boyfriend take care of you,” he said with that infuriating, confident smirk. “Let me handle the mood swings and sulking. You just… breathe.”

“Ace, I can’t,” I said firmly, shaking my head. “I need to focus. My grades tanked and…”

“Valerie.” His voice softened. “You beat yourself up too much. You’re allowed to relax.”

His words landed heavier than I expected. Something about the way he said “relax” made my chest tighten.

Maybe it was the exhaustion talking, maybe it was him, but I found myself nodding slowly.

“Fine,” I whispered.

His grin widened in a wicked and victorious way. “That’s my girl.”

Ace’s grin widened, his fingers lacing through mine as he leaned closer. “Come on, babe. Let’s get out of here.”

I blinked at him. “Out? As in… cafeteria out or leaving school?”

“What do you think?”

“Leaving school?” My brows were lifted, not really knowing what he was planning.

“Exactly, Princess.” He winked. “Just for a bit. I’ll have you back before curfew, promise.”

I hesitated. “Ace, I—”

“No excuses,” he interrupted smoothly, tugging me gently toward the hallway. “You need a break, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

I sighed but couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at my lips. “…Fine. Just this once.”

“That’s all I need,” he said, triumphant. And with that, we slipped out together.

Within thirty minutes, I was seated in Ace’s car, now dressed in a sleek, thigh-high black leather skirt paired with a sleeveless, low-cut blouse that teased just enough cleavage. Completing the look were my six-inch heeled boots, their polished shine catching the faint sunlight.

I didn’t want to dress in my usual trousers, hoodie, or tanktop outfit.

I wanted to just be a bit free and wild.

My last joyful ride before full focus.

The sound of the engine vibrated softly beneath us as we drove out of the academy’s gates. The late afternoon sun was low, spilling orange streaks across the windshield, and the cool breeze from the half-open windows tangled through my hair.

“Where are we going?” I asked, finally breaking the silence.

“You’ll see,” he replied, flashing me one of his side-smiles that always made me suspicious.

Turns out, we ended up at a small ice cream café tucked into the middle of town. It wasn’t fancy, but it was cozy—the kind of place with tiny booths and soft, warm lighting.

Ace got a large parfait loaded with strawberries, grapes, cashew nuts, dates, chopped apples and pears, and yogurt. I, of course, settled for a simple chocolate ice cream cone.

“You’re boring,” he teased, spooning up an exaggeratedly big bite of his parfait. “Chocolate ice cream and just that?”

“Classic,” I replied with a shrug, licking my ice cream slowly.

“Predictable,” he countered.

“Consistent,” I corrected, and he chuckled.

We settled into a corner booth. Ace leaned back lazily, his parfait balanced in one hand as he studied me like I was more interesting than dessert.

“So,” he started, “tell me something about you I don’t know yet.”

I hesitated, nibbling at my cone. “Like what?”

“Anything.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “What drives you? What makes you tick? What’s Valerie Nightshade made of?”

I blinked at him. “You sound like you’re interviewing me for a documentary.”

“Maybe I am,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes but answered anyway. “I guess… perfection.”

His brow quirked. “Perfection?”

“I’ve spent my whole life chasing it,” I admitted quietly. “Grades. Combat. Training. Everything I do has to be flawless. My uncle… he always expected it from me. So I pushed myself until it became second nature.”

Ace tilted his head, studying me with a softness that made my throat tighten. “And does it make you happy?”

I hesitated, my tongue darting out to wet my lips before I whispered, “…I don’t know.”

He opened his mouth to ask something else, but the moment his next question left his lips, I froze.

“So… What exactly are you training for? And who’s supervising you?”

I stiffened instantly. “I… don’t want to talk about it.”

His expression shifted slightly, but he didn’t back down. “Is it dangerous?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Val, you’re sad. It isn’t…”

“My uncle,” I interrupted, my tone sharper than intended. “He supervises me. That’s all you need to know.”

For a second, Ace just watched me, those blue eyes searching for cracks I wasn’t willing to reveal. Definitely not about my parents’ death and my plan for revenge.

Then, thankfully, he let it go.

I forced a smile, desperate to change the subject. “So… Parfait guy, tell me something I don’t know about you instead.”

His grin returned instantly, playful as ever. “Fine. There’s going to be a Pre-Alphas’ Games mock exam coming up next semester.”

My brows furrowed. “What?”

“You didn’t see the notice on the board?”

I shook my head. “When?”

“Suspected as much. Lunch break.” He scooped up another bite of parfait. “Guess you were too busy sulking somewhere.”

I flushed. “I… might have seen a crowd but walked past it.”

“Well, you missed the big reveal,” he said, leaning in conspiratorially. “Starting next week, training gets a lot more intense. Morning drills before class, evening sessions after lectures. They’re testing us early for the final exam.”

I blinked at him, shocked. “And you’re okay with that?”

“Hell yeah.” His grin was boyish, a spark lighting in his eyes. “More reason for me to challenge you.”

I laughed, though a flicker of worry stirred in my chest. Challenge me? Against my uncontrolled powers? Not a chance. There was no way I wanted to be reckless and risk hurting him like I did those assassins.

“You won’t.”

“Astra,” I called silently.

“Yes?” my wolf purred lazily in my mind.

“Can I even risk training like that? What if—”

“You haven’t noticed, have you?” she interrupted softly. “Ever since you got the necklace, your powers have been calm. No tingling. No sudden bursts. You’re safe now.”

My fingers instinctively brushed the pendant at my throat.

With everything going on, I almost forgot.

“Earth to Valerie?” Ace waved a hand in front of my face.

I smiled faintly. “Just thinking.”

“Think later,” he said, standing and offering me his hand. “Date’s not over yet.”

I let him help me up, grabbing the remnants of my cone as he tucked his parfait under his arm. Back in the car, Ace leaned back, humming along to the music softly playing through the speakers.

“Feed me,” he said suddenly, pointing at my ice cream.

I arched a brow. “You have your parfait.”

“What’s yours is mine,” he said simply, lips twitching into a smirk.

Rolling my eyes, I scooped a bit and held it near his mouth. He parted his lips and took in the spoon.

Ace did a dramatic ‘humm,’ clearly enjoying my snacks.

“More, love.”

“Seriously, you aren’t a baby, Ace.”

“But I am your babe, your boyfriend, so I am your babe. More, please.”

I did, feeding him two more spoons, alternating between my ice cream and his parfait. And then when he hummed for one more, I bit back my chuckle, scooped a spoonful of ice cream, and then pushed it closer to his mouth.

As usual, he parted his lips to take in his treat, but at the last second, I pulled it back and popped it into my mouth.