My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 37: Saved, Again

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Chapter 37

~Valerie’s POV~

I exhaled and rubbed my forehead. The last thing I wanted was to put myself out there for someone like Emerald to be watchful of me. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to zone out."

"You don’t have to apologize," she said softly. "I get it. A lot happened today." She paused, studying my face. "I know you act tough," Emerald continued. "And you are tough. But that doesn’t mean you always have to be okay."

I looked at her and chuckled softly. "When did you get so wise?"

Emerald grinned. "Been spending too much time with Nova’s philosophy books."

We shared a laugh, and it helped, even for a moment. But after that, shit became awkward.

Although I had always had my eyes on Emerald and how she either supported or did not support me at times, I didn’t want to shake my alliances right now.

"Umm..." Her eyes darted to my laptop, and before she got the chance to speak, I spoke too.

"Yeah, uh..."

We both laughed, and Emerald pointed at me. "You go first," she offered, and I smiled.

Bingo!

"Just a random question though."

Emerald shrugged. "Any is better at this point." She chuckled cutely. And for the record, you and I haven’t really bonded or, you know, hung out."

"Then what are we waiting for?" I laughed in return.

I loved the fact that she came to me. It showed me something, but as a Snow, that meant guard up until I chose to be open to you and let my guard down. So now, I’m searching for slip-ups.

I wasn’t naive. My family’s death flashed before my eyes and I inhaled.

"Waiting for you," Emerald stated.

I smiled back and nodded. "Do you ever wonder if all this... fate, you know, mate bonds, guild wars—it’s just one big trap?" I asked suddenly.

She blinked, then nodded slowly. "First of all, I didn’t expect this."

"Yeah, me too."

"You’re weird," Emerald laughed, "but yeah, all the time. Like we’re playing roles in someone else’s game."

"Exactly. For me, I would say it’s the Moon goddess’ game."

Emerald leaned forward, resting her chin on her knee. "But you know what? If we are pieces on a board, then I say we move ourselves. Flip the table if we have to."

I smiled at that. "True. Thanks, Em."

She smiled back and stood. "Anytime. Now, get some rest. Or at least pretend to. Night, Val."

"Night."

She closed the door behind her, and the warmth from our conversation slowly faded.

Once I heard a room door close, I reopened my laptop. My fingers moved swiftly across the trackpad, but the site was gone.

"What?" I whispered.

I refreshed. Nothing. The link was erased. The emblem—the only lead I had—was gone.

There’s no way. How... who the hell does that?

"Urrrgh!" I groaned, shutting the lid with more force than necessary, and flopped back onto my bed. My phone slipped from my fingers and landed beside me.

There was only one place left.

That club.

The underground one where whispers of dark trades, relic dealings, and forbidden histories were as common as the drinks they served, but unlike last time when I let Xade sway me off, I won’t this time.

I knew who I had to be on the watch for. Unlike the rest of the Alpha Kings’ heirs, Xade had more reason and justification to be outside.

This was his region, not theirs.

I didn’t hesitate.

Throwing off my dorm tee, I changed into black jeans and a snug hoodie I had newly bought and pulled on my boots. I tied my hair back, slipped a dagger into my boot, and stepped out.

I barely made it to the common space when Isla appeared from the corner, her eyes narrowing the second she saw me.

"Going somewhere?"

I blinked. "Night run," I lied smoothly. "Couldn’t sleep."

She studied me a moment, like she knew I wasn’t telling the whole truth—but she didn’t push. "Just be careful out there, okay?"

I nodded without missing a second beat. "Always."

Then I was gone.

Sneaking past the usual hall patrols wasn’t hard. I’d done it before. I knew the camera blind spots, the sensor patterns.

But when I heard a creak behind me and turned to check, I didn’t see the faint red laser grid stretching out just beyond the treeline near the back fence.

I took one more step, and a butterfly flew right into the lacer the same second a strong arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward just in time.

My back hit a solid chest.

Before I could react, a dagger flew through the air from beside me.

Thunk!

It struck a small box buried near the base of the fence and immediately sparks flew, and the lasers vanished.

The hand around my waist didn’t let go. I looked up and froze.

My first thought was that it was Dristan.

Of course. Of freaking course. It had to be him, but then a pair of violet eyes stared back at me.

He was clearly not Dristan.

Not Xade.

And not any of the Alpha Kings.

My breathing halted for a second or two there.

He was taller than I expected, built lean but strong. His grip around my waist was firm but effortless, as if holding me were second nature.

His face was sharp, almost ethereal. He had high cheekbones, a perfectly carved jawline, and lips that were slightly parted, like he was about to say something but had changed his mind.

His hair—gods, his hair—was silver, but at the roots, near the tip, were streaks of blue shimmering like starlight on water. Two tones, woven together like a spell in motion.

The very same type of hair as mine.

He looked... otherworldly, and at once I already had my suspicion on who he was—a dragon.

Then he smiled.

Not cocky. Not forced. Just a simple curve of his lips that made everything else around us blur out.

I blinked, still frozen in his arms, as my heartbeat thudded deeply and loudly. I thought my eardrums would burst out of my chest or something.

Astrid stirred within me.

It wasn’t like the matebond I felt with the Alpha Kings’ heirs. This was different and somewhat special. "Who the hell are you?" I whispered before I could stop myself. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom