My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Passed the First Test
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CHAPTER 353

~Valerie’s POV~

Did he not know about my mates or…

The call ended, the screen fading to black before he could pinpoint it.

I sighed, shoulders slumping as the weight of the conversation settled. But before I could pocket my phone, another notification popped up.

It was a message from Uncle.

My eyes scanned the words, and my pulse stumbled.

“I know about your mates. Anyone with the right connections would. I do not support it, seeing as it draws too much attention. I cannot say what the Moon Goddess is planning, but heed me: do not let them derail you from your mission or that will be the end. I will withdraw you from PSA, N.T. or not.”

By N.T., I knew he meant Nightshade Thorn.

My fingers shook as I typed a quick reply, assuring him I understood. Then I tucked my phone away, pressing a hand to my chest as though it could steady my fast beating chest.

I stepped out of my room, adjusting my backpack strap, when suddenly my eyes landed on the last person I expected to see.

“Astraea.”

Immediately, Astra growled inside me, claws itching as I stared at the friend turned witch.

My brows furrowed as I faced her. “What are you doing here?”

Her lips curled into that too-sweet smile. “Relax. I only came to pick up something I forgot… and drop off the room’s key.”

I gave her a cold look. She must have felt my silence was sharper than words.

Turning away, I walked toward Isla’s door and lifted my hand to knock, only for the door to swing open with Isla stepping out.

At once, her eyes narrowed instantly at Astraea. From the next door, Solstice emerged too.

Astraea smirked. “Didn’t take long for you to replace me. Guess it was easy.”

“Easy?” Isla’s voice was ice. “Can’t believe you have the nerve to complain when you clearly brought this on yourself.”

Astraea’s smirk twisted into a snarl. “It’s not my fault you all chose to be gullible bitches that—”

She never finished that statement because Solstice crossed the space in a blur and slapped her, the crack echoing in the entire living room.

Astraea’s head snapped to the side as red bloomed across her cheek.

Rage burned in her eyes as she straightened, glaring daggers at Solstice. But before she could lift a hand, another slap landed, harder than the first.

“Know your place,” Solstice hissed in a voice like thunder. I knew even though Astraea was the Fae Princess’s cousin, she was no match for Solstice.

Solstice’s dad and my mum were siblings and children of the former Alpha King, who had ruled the werewolf kingdom before it was disbanded.

Sadly, an attack on my grandparents’ pack further diminished the pack.

In the hierarchy, she still ranked higher.

“If she is the fifth heiress, do you think you’d be in any position to speak to her like that? No. So count yourself lucky that she isn’t.”

Silence ensued as everyone took in. Astraea’s gaze flicked between us—searching for support, finding none.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She pivoted sharply, intending to storm off.

“You forgot your stuff,” I called coolly.

She froze but didn’t turn. Instead, she threw us a final venomous glare before stalking away, heels striking the floor like gunshots.

Only when she disappeared around the corner did I let out the breath I’d been holding.

The door to Emerald’s room opened, and she popped her head out with a hair clip in hand and rather messy hair.

“What did I miss?”

***************

I reached school, leaving Emerald, Isla, and Solstice behind me. My head was too full to care about Astraea’s nonsense they discussed.

As soon as I reached the steps, I slipped my phone back out and quickly typed to Solstice, informing her of what her dad said.

Me: Your dad reached out.

Her reply came fast, the typing dots appearing before I even put my phone down.

Solstice: What did he say?

I hesitated, thumbs hovering. There was no way I was going to tell her everything.

Me: He wanted to know how you and I were doing. Nothing serious.

Solstice: So he reached out to you… but not me. Figures.

I bit my lip, sighing through my nose. “She’s still angry.”

Me: Guess he figured you wouldn’t talk to him. He asked me to apologise to you on his behalf.

Solstice: Wishful thinking. Since he can make an effort to talk to you, he should make a proper effort to fix us.

Me: You’re not going to forgive him?

Her pause stretched longer this time.

Solstice: Forgive? He went behind my back, Val. Our grandparents never did that to him or to your mum. But now he’s ready to control me like I’m some pawn? No.

I sighed, my fingers moving more slowly across the screen.

Me: I understand, but maybe…

Solstice: Don’t. Don’t defend him. What’s next? Does that mean he doesn’t know about your mates? Or is he planning the same for you?

I froze, my throat tightening as I read it. My reply came clipped.

Me: I doubt it.

Just then, Isla’s voice broke the silence. “Solstice! What are you doing? You almost walked into him!”

My gaze flicked up to see Solstice bump shoulders with some boy. She snapped her head up, startled, then muttered, “Sorry.”

Isla eyed her suspiciously. “Who were you chatting with? Was it Riven?”

Solstice stuffed her phone into her blazer pocket, shaking her head a little too fast. “No. Just… no one.”

I watched the way she closed off, then quickly tucked my own phone away as we reached the lockers.

I input my code and opened mine. The metallic clang echoed louder than usual, but what caught my breath was the slip of white wedged between my textbooks.

A folded note.

My pulse jumped. I glanced around to see the girls already walking down the hall—before slipping it into the shadows of my locker to open.

The handwriting was neat and they were written in bold letters.

NIGHTSHADE.

You passed your first test by keeping us a secret, Valerie Nightshade.

Now, for the second…

Come to the South Yard. Midnight.

ALONE.

The letters seemed to bleed off the page, the final word underlined so heavily it carved into the paper.

I slammed the note shut, slipping it into my blazer. My eyes darted up to the little mirror I installed inside and searched for faces in the hallway.

Nothing. No one suspicious save for…

My breath caught when I saw someone wearing a black face mask and sweater hoodie atop the school uniform, but before I could get a better look, they locked eyes with me and disappeared.

“What the…”

But as soon as I closed my locker door to get a good look, I jolted back with a gasp.

Ace’s face was right there with a grin tugging his lips.

“Ace! You—” I pressed a hand over my pounding chest. “Y-You scared me.”