My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 357
Chapter 357: Confronting Isla
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CHAPTER 357
~Valerie’s POV~
On my way back to the dorm, I slowed when I caught the sound of muffled gasps, a breathy moan carried by the night air.
Curiosity tugged at me. Against my better judgment, I stepped closer, careful not to crunch the leaves underfoot.
At first, the shadows made it hard to see, but then the girl tilted her head back, and I froze. The hair, the scent, I knew them.
My eyes darted to the man pressing her against the tree under the covers of the night and the tree’s shade, fingers buried between her thighs.
His face was unmistakable, down to the faint scruff along his jaw.
And the moment she moaned, whispering for him to go faster, there was no denying it.
My breath hitched, and I stumbled back against the wall, praying they hadn’t heard me. But they were too lost in each other.
His hand gripped her hip possessively, the other driving between her thighs with an urgency that made her bite her lip until it trembled.
Her nails clawed at his shoulders, leaving faint red trails down his skin as if she couldn’t get close enough.
Heat flushed my cheeks. I should have turned away, but my body betrayed me.
The slick sound of his fingers working her, the way she arched helplessly into him, made my pulse quicken. It reminded me of my time with Ace, well with all my mates I had been intimate with, including Xade.
I caught the gleam of sweat on his neck as he buried his face against hers, his tongue slipping past her lips in a kiss so raw and hungry it almost hurt to watch.
A soft cry broke from her throat, and my legs threatened to give out.
I didn’t say a word. I just turned on my heel and walked away quietly, though my chest was buzzing. I stopped at the bend near the forest path and leaned against the wall, waiting.
Minutes later, footsteps padded quickly, and Isla nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw me.
Her lips parted, fumbling for an excuse, but no words came.
I tilted my head and smirked. “So… our Physics professor, huh?”
Her mouth fell open. “N-Neil and—”
“Neil?” I repeated sharply.
She shut her eyes like bracing for impact, then exhaled in defeat. “Yes,” she admitted softly. “That is his name. I… I found my mate, Valerie. Turns out he came earlier than I did. My mate is Neil. Our professor.”
I sucked in a deep breath and bit my lower lip.
“I know it’s…” she began, but her voice wavered.
Before I could answer, she cut me off, almost accusing. “You knew?”
I nodded. “You weren’t exactly subtle. I saw you the other day.”
Her shoulders hunched. Shame clouded her features, and she looked away.
I sighed, stepping closer and gently laying my hand over hers. “I’m not scolding you. And I’m not judging you either, Isla.”
Her gaze flicked back to me, searching. “Then… you understand?”
I nodded again, firmer this time. Relief washed over her face as she let out a shaky breath.
Her shoulders hunched. Shame clouded her features, and she looked away.
I sighed, stepping closer and gently laying my hand over hers. “I’m not scolding you. And I’m not judging you either, Isla.”
Her gaze flicked back to me, searching. “Then… you understand?”
I nodded again, firmer this time. Relief washed over her face as she let out a shaky breath.
“One doesn’t choose who their mate is,” I said. “Look at me. I have six—six—powerful, overbearing, ridiculously hot mates.”
Her lips twitched. “So you’re not mad?”
“No,” I admitted. “But I am disappointed in how you chose to handle it.”
That cracked something in her. Her expression hardened, words rushing out like a blade. “Disappointed? Are you one to talk? You have your mates, and no one hates you for it.”
I arched a brow. “Pretty sure people do. I literally walked into a hate room yesterday—my pictures plastered everywhere, darts stuck in them, and not-so-kind words scribbled across. Trust me, Isla, I’m hated.”
She froze, speechless. Then her shoulders slumped and she muttered, “I didn’t mean to be bitter. I just… I didn’t expect you to be disappointed.”
“Yeah,” I said gently, “but you didn’t let me finish.”
She sniffled, blinking rapidly as she fought back tears. “I’m not like you, Val. You can parade your mates, touch them, kiss them, laugh with them in public. All that PDA. But me? I can’t.”
I exhaled slowly and nodded thoughtfully. “I know.”
“Because of our social relationship. He is our Professor and I am his student. That’s why we sneak, but I can’t ignore the pull of the mate bond. I want him near. My wolf craves him too.”
I lifted my palms in mock surrender. “I get it. But sneaking like this—every time—it’s dangerous.”
Her brows knitted. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb, Isla. This is the third time I’ve caught you two. First in the forest, then in his office. And now here.”
Isla’s eyes widened in horror, like I had just peeled away her last layer of denial.
“Do you see what I’m saying now? Imagine if it had been Astraea or Titania who caught you. Think of the scandal. How much of a scandal it would bring for him and not you.”
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard.
“People could claim he coerced you, forced you. And before anyone learns the truth, he’d be ruined. Fired. Marked.”
“Now, you understand what I am saying? Imagine someone like Astraea or Titania herself; how much of a scandal would this be for him? He and not you.”
She shifted uncomfortably, but I pressed on.
“If PSA fires him, it goes on his record. What school would hire him? What family would trust him around their daughters? His life, his reputation would be gone.”
Her head snapped up, tears brimming in her eyes as she stared at the empty black sky, trying to hide her tears.
“In contrast, all you’ll mostly face is small backlash, blame and being called rotten, but he would face worse even after years have passed. Everyone would forget about yours in a couple of years, but his… no. Do you want that for him, to ruin his life?”