My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 25: Shopping

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Chapter 25

~Valerie’s POV~

The next couple of days breezed past, and I did my best to avoid the Alpha heirs while trying to settle into the dorm.

Every time I sensed one of them nearby, I took another route, refused to make eye contact, and buried myself in my classes. It was easier that way—less complicated.

By Saturday, my wardrobe situation had become dire, which meant I had to do the inevitable: shopping.

As I sat on my bed, scrolling through a mental list of things I needed, Isla suddenly flopped down beside me out of nowhere, her blonde curls bouncing as she peeked at my phone screen. "Shopping?" she guessed.

"Yeah..." I drawled as my gaze darted over to the door. It was open. "I need new clothes," I admitted, letting my eyes finally settle on her face.

Astraea strolled in, dressed in a pleated short skirt and a white shirt with a sleeveless sweatshirt on top. She lounged on my bed, perked up. "Ooooh, let’s go into town! You haven’t been yet, have you?"

I hesitated. I had planned to go alone, but before I could say anything, Emerald leaned against the wall, folding her arms. "It’s settled then. We’ll take you to the best clothing store."

I blinked. "Wait, what—"

"We’re going." Isla grinned, already slipping on her shoes. "No objections."

I sighed but smiled a little. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad having them tag along. In the past, my sister, well, cousin, was always my mischievous pair. Having someone else do that with me was different.

Nevertheless, I needed to blend in and survive while finding out information about the Nightshade Thorn emblem.

"Fine," I said with all smiles, and they chorused a surprisingly loud ’yes’.

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Later—At the Clothing Store

As soon as we entered the store, the scent of new fabric and subtle perfume filled the air.

The place was lined with racks of stylish dresses, trendy tops, mad jean trousers, leather trousers, and several other varieties.

Rows of shoes gleamed under the fluorescent lighting in the left-hand corner of the store, leading into what seemed like an endless line of them.

"Alright, first stop: outing wear!" Isla declared, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the back.

But the moment we stepped further inside, my stomach twisted.

Because standing near the accessories section, flipping through a rack of clothes like she belonged there, was Brielle.

Ugh.

My jaw clenched as I stopped mid-step. Isla felt the tension in my arm and immediately tightened her grip on my wrist.

"We are shopping here, and that’s final," she hissed under her breath before I even got a chance to protest. "Don’t even think of backing out because of worthless trash."

Astraea and Emerald flanked me, their presence solidly reassuring.

I nodded, seeing as I had good friends beside me. It felt oddly more reassuring, more so than those mates of mine. "Okay. Let’s do this."

Lifting my chin, I strode past, not sparing Brielle a single glance. If she wanted a reaction, she wasn’t getting one from me.

But just as I brushed by, I heard a sharp intake of breath—Brielle’s breath.

And then, in a tone laced with disbelief, her voice cut through the air.

"She what?"

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~Brielle’s POV~

The moment I laid eyes on Valerie, my blood boiled.

She walked in with her little entourage, acting so high and mighty like she owned the place. But it was my world before she came along.

Mine.

And then, out of nowhere, my so-called friend, Claudia, let out a mocking snicker beside me.

"Look at her," Claudia sneered. "Acting like she’s something special, just because she’s the mate of Alpha Dristan."

My world stopped.

"She what?" I breathed, my throat suddenly dry.

Claudia’s smirk deepened. "Oh, you didn’t know? Well, even I was shocked. I overheard them talking two days back on my way to my room. Valerie is Dristan’s fated mate."

No. No, that wasn’t possible.

I swallowed hard as memories of that day surged back—the day I collapsed.

I had been walking through the hallway, cheering after sports class, when it happened. One second, I was with the others. Next, I was yanked into the shadows, my wrist caught in an iron grip.

Before I could react, my back slammed into the wall, knocking the breath from my lungs. I barely had time to cry out before I saw him.

Dristan.

My lips trembled, my heart raced. "A—Alpha..." I choked out. I dared not say his name

He was different that day. Colder. The air around him was suffocating, pressing into me like claws dragging down my spine. I had seen him angry before, but this wasn’t anger—it was lethal judgment.

My instincts screamed at me to run, but I couldn’t.

"You dare lay a finger on her?" His voice was a blade through the silence.

Her? Who—?

Then I saw it. That flicker in his gaze—dark, possessive, not from rage but something deeper and territorial.

Valerie.

I tried to explain, tried to tell him I thought I was helping him, but my words barely left my lips before his power crashed into me. My breath vanished. My knees buckled.

I clawed at my throat, but no sound came out.

Dristan tilted his head, watching me struggle. "Did I ask for your help?" His voice was silky, laced with cruelty.

Tears burned down my cheeks as he smirked.

"Then let me be generous."

His hand lifted, and the world shattered. Darkness swallowed me whole.

I was falling. Not physically. I was inside my own mind. Trapped.

The hallway was gone. I wasn’t in the academy anymore. I was somewhere else. Somewhere I thought I’d escaped long ago.

Memories, fears, nightmares—they all consumed me at once. Every insecurity, every weakness, every moment of powerlessness I had ever felt played on a torturous loop.

Cold chains clamped around my wrists, yanking me back into the depths of a nightmare I had spent years trying to bury. The scent of blood and damp earth filled my nostrils.

Whispers slithered through the dark, curling around me like snakes, voices I recognized but never wanted to hear again.

My father’s voice. "Useless girl."

My mother’s whisper. "Disgrace."

A broken sob tore from my throat as I shook, thrashed and tried to break free. But I wasn’t here. I was there, trapped in this horrible place I swore I’d never return to.

The ground beneath me cracked open and suddenly a pit of writhing shadows reached for me, clawing at my ankles, pulling me down.

I screamed, begged and wept, but no one could hear me. No one came for me.

The pain escalated in a sharp and unbearable manner. The voices turned to mocking, taunting, relentless laughter.

Then Dristan’s voice cut through the nightmare. "Let this be a lesson."

It was like a final, merciless whisper while the nightmares replayed again until darkness consumed me whole.

Blood trickled from my nostrils as my body crumpled forward, unconscious.

The next thing I knew, I had woken up in the school’s clinic. No explanation. No comfort. Just the suffocating emptiness Dristan had left behind.

And now—now, I knew why.

It wasn’t because I had disrespected him or toyed with his plaything. It wasn’t because I had overstepped. It was because of her—Valerie.

My breath came out in sharp pants as my fingers curled into a death grip around the fabric of the dress I was holding.

"Brielle?" Claudia’s voice was distant, barely reaching my ears. I swallowed, forcing my expression into something neutral.

But inside I burned. I had devoted myself to him for years. Tried to be perfect. Deserving. I had worshipped him.

And yet, that wench had walked in and taken what was supposed to be mine. There was no way I would let this stand.

Not now. Not ever.

I straightened, inhaling deeply as a slow, wicked smile curved my lips.

If Dristan wanted his little mate so badly... then I would just have to break her, piece by piece.

I straightened and turned to Claudia. "You want Dristan to notice you, right?"

Her gaze darted about in fear. Good. They all knew who he belonged to—me. "Why not put your loyalty to good use and frame her?"

"For theft?"

I shrugged lightly and smiled. "Do it in a way that will leave no trace on you or me."