My Alphas' Dark Desires - Chapter 361

Chapter 361: Where is Dristan?
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CHAPTER 361

~Dristan’s POV~

When I left her office, my thoughts burned, and one image seared into my mind: Marianne’s pale face. Whoever was framing me would regret it.

Because I wasn’t the monster they thought I was. But I knew the kind of monster I could become if they pushed me far enough.

I was so angry from the accusations that I refused to return to class and instead headed to the Alpha’s house.

It was then that I overheard Xade and Valerie speaking about me and me. Heaven knew how angry I was, and that was how I ended up here, alone.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, glancing at the screen.

Father.

Even though I wasn’t scared, my heart skipped a beat instantly. Of course. Because this day couldn’t possibly get any worse.

I answered the call in a flat tone. “Yes?”

“Dristan.” His voice was clipped and authoritative as usual, devoid of any warmth. “Come home. Now.”

I closed my eyes, exhaustion washing over me. “Father, I’m in the middle of…”

“Now, Dristan,” he repeated, his tone brooking no argument. “This is not a request.”

And with that, the line went dead.

I stared at the phone in my hand for a long moment, then let out a slow, shaky breath.

This was going to be a very long day.

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~Principal Whitmore’s POV~

Morning light spilled through the wide windows of my office, cutting across the floor and the stacks of reports waiting on my desk.

The academy grounds stretched beyond the glass, quiet, deceptively calm as every student had gotten to their first class. My thoughts, however, were anything but.

I couldn’t focus as my mind kept on replaying my encounter with Dristan.

I was already mentally stressed with what Dristan said.

How could he be with the heirs, having an alibi and yet he was seen by the witches.

What did I not know?

A soft knock came, snapping me out of my reverie. “Come in,” I said.

The door opened, and Ms. Heart stepped in with her usual crisp posture. She greeted me politely before shutting the door behind her, her fingers fidgeting slightly with the file she held.

I could tell she had been waiting for the right moment to speakk. Her lips parted, then pressed shut again.

“Go on, Ms. Heart,” I prompted. “Say what’s troubling you.”

She drew in a quiet breath before blurting, “You know what the White Witches saw. They clearly saw Dristan Alexander hypnotising Marianne. He was there, ma’am. He’s the one who did it. He put her in that state, and now…”

I raised an eyebrow, and she faltered, swallowing hard. “And now?” I pressed.

“Well,” she said, clearing her throat, “now you’ve let him go. You didn’t tell him the full extent of what we know. He walks free thinking he’s only a suspect when he’s the culprit.”

I leaned back against the wall. “And risk him running off before we confirm it? Or do you not remember who his father is?”

“With all due respect, Principal,” Ms. Heart said carefully, though her tone carried a hint of frustration, “we cannot afford to tread this lightly. Rumours are already spreading. Some claim there were witnesses. Instead of letting politics cloud our judgment, I suggest we bring them in—interrogate them—and build solid evidence.”

Her words were on point but I knew better than that, that I had to thread carefully lest I anger Alpha Alexander.

And should this end up being wrong, I risk blowing it all up on my place.

Not just Marianne but my position and much worse would be at stake.

Nevertheless, I did not to leave this hanging. I needed something.

I turned back toward the window, watching the sunlight glint off the academy fountain below.

“It’s Dristan Alexander we are talking about here, Ms. Heart.”

“Yes ma’am. I am well aware of the fact that he is the Alpha’s son, a boy raised in power, pride, and danger. Still, a life and others were threatened by one of the kings’ heir. If wo…”

“Be careful what you suggest, Ms. Heart,” I murmured finally. “Some truths are heavier than they appear.”

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~Valerie’s POV~

Today had already been a long, dragging day, and it felt like it would never end. Much hadn’t happened between Ace and me either, which was unusual.

At one point, sitting alone by the courtyard fountain, I actually felt bad that I’d been so wrapped up in my own mess that I hadn’t even reached out to him properly.

Lately, everything around me felt off—like a storm building but never breaking.

There was still no official news about Marianne or who had put her in that state. Only rumours, endless whispers that slithered through the halls faster than wildfire. Some students believed Principal Whitmore had called Dristan in to help track down the real culprit.

Others were certain he was the culprit. And it didn’t help that the latest gossip—the one I didn’t want to believe—was spreading about Dristan hypnotising people.

I thought I knew most of the names being whispered, but my stomach flipped when even Titania, Astraea, and Lucy agreed to it. The way they said it, the certainty in their eyes—I could tell they weren’t lying.

Without waiting another second, I reached for my phone, my fingers tightening around it as the two girls next to me whispered like sparrows.

“Did you hear?” one asked, her voice pitched low but not low enough.

“Hear what?” the second shot back, her tone sharper than intended.

“I heard even Kieran—Alpha Xade’s cousin—claimed there are more victims of Dristan’s hypnosis. He told Xade but Xade covered it up.”

“Oh my gosh,” the other girl gasped. “How are we supposed to be safe if the heirs themselves are dabbling in dark magic?”

“Shh! Not so loud, their mate is here,” the first hissed, flicking her eyes toward me.

I didn’t say another word. I just glared at both of them, a warning in my eyes, before turning on my heel.

My heart thudded as I walked away, pulling my phone out again. My thumbs flew over the screen as I sent a message to my mates for backup, for help, for anything.

Because deep down, something about all this didn’t add up. The pieces didn’t fit anymore. And maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t Dristan at all.

My message was short but urgent: “Meet me now at the Alphas’ House. Something’s off.”

I didn’t wait long for replies. My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Ace: Where are you, Love?

Kai: On my way, hon.

Xade: Explain, little wolf.

Me: Meet and we discuss.

I shoved the phone into my pocket and started toward the Alphas’s House where we usually met when things went south.

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~Kai’s POV~

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when Valerie’s message came in. My gut had been uneasy all day, but seeing her name flash on my phone only made it worse.

I’d already heard the whispers about Dristan. Every hallway, every group of students seemed to have their own version of the story, and none of them made sense. I’d tried to find him earlier, checked his classroom twice, but he was gone. Vanished.

Skipping class had crossed my mind, but my uncle was the one teaching—and there was no escaping his lectures. So, I waited it out, pretending to listen while my mind churned.

After classess, I searched him out and found out he was no longer on school grounds.

When the final bell rang, I didn’t go home. I went straight to the training ground alone to let out my frustration. The familiar smell of metal and sweat helped me think, or tried to.

I was not deaf not to hear the rumours. Dristan wasn’t like that. He’d not do such a thing.

I drove my fist into the punching bag again and again until the chain rattled above. On the last blow, the bag tore open at the seam, sand spilling across the floor. My breathing was uneven, chest tight.

“Dristan wouldn’t do that,” I muttered, jaw clenched. He wasn’t perfect, but he wasn’t cruel either.

Frustration still burning through me, I grabbed my phone againn, thumb flying across the screen as I replied her.

“On my way.”

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~Valerie’s POV~

The evening air was cold against my skin. The buzz of gossiping students echoed behind me, fading with every step until I was alone again—or so I thought.

Ace arrived first, his footsteps quick, eyes sharp with concern. “Val? What happened?”

Before I could answer, Kai and Xade appeared from opposite directions. Xade’s expression was tense, unreadable. Kai’s eyes, though, flicked over my face like he was scanning for danger.

I looked around, we were still missing Ash and Axel.

No sooner had that thought crossed my mind, then the two guys emerged from inside the house to the porch.

“You were inside?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.

“Yeah, Ash and I met on our way when we got your text,” Acel replied.

“Now, we are complete,” Ash voiced. “Why the summon, mate, and where’s Dristan?”