My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 42: The Race

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Chapter 42

~Valerie’s POV~

I stood still among the sea of bodies, hands folded behind my back like every other senior cadet, but my mind? It wasn’t here. Not at all.

Principal Whitmore’s voice flowed like wind in my ears—loud but meaningless. Words about discipline, tradition, honour, and something training expectations... I didn’t catch half of it. I couldn’t care less.

Because the only thing on my mind right now was survival.

Not just physically—though, considering my mate drama, that was now a daily concern—but mentally, emotionally, and strategically.

Six mates. Six powerful, unpredictable, possessive males from different kingdoms, all tied to me like some cursed string of fate.

And now, four of them were here. One is already in my guild, the others were about to be.

I barely registered the murmuring crowd until Principal Whitmore’s voice shifted into something more... interesting.

"That will be all, students. Now, the four royals shall be split into the four guilds."

My eyes snapped up immediately as my heart thudded.

"As such," she continued, "there shall be a drawing of lots to determine which of these guilds they belong to."

Of course.

I bit the inside of my cheek the exact second I locked eyes with Ash across the field.

That stupid smirk pulled at the edge of his lips, and with the most arrogant expression I’d ever seen, he mouthed,"I’m coming for you."

I immediately looked away. Nope. Not today, Satan.

One of the instructors stepped forward with a small, eerie-looking red bowl in his hand. It shimmered oddly, glowing faintly with guild paper containing numbers inside, no doubt.

Titania stepped up first when Principal Whitmore called for her. She looked regal, calm and almost glowing. She dipped her hand inside, pulled a parchment, and unfolded it slowly.

"Guild Two," she announced with a soft smile.

It wasn’t mine, sadly. I would have hoped the little princess came here and, hopefully, had a crush on Dritsan to derail him from me.

Ashton was next. He walked with the lazy confidence of someone who didn’t need to try to be intimidating—he just was.

He reached in, rolled the parchment between two fingers, then grinned as he read aloud, "Guild One."

My stomach dropped.

I didn’t even need to look to know he was already glancing my way.

Xander, the Dragon Prince, went next. His gait was smooth, calculated. His hand dipped into the bowl with zero emotion on his face.

"Guild Four," he announced simply.

Ace followed last. Unlike his twin, his grin was playful, charming—but I didn’t trust it for a second.

He yanked his lot like he already knew what it would say—well, we all did. But I wondered if it would be Guild 5, just to throw us off and have the others fight for him.

Too bad reality did not play any sick prank and I was the only one it chose to fuck with.

"Guild Three," Ace said, voice light, but his eyes glinted red for a second as he locked onto me. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

I had no idea if I should groan or be thankful.

Ash was here. In my guild with Dristan. And now... me.

Just kill me.

When Principal Whitmore dismissed us, our guilds began to separate again, and I made sure to walk next to Isla without looking at a single heir—Alpha or otherwise.

Dristan stepped to the front of Guild One, hands behind his back, expression unreadable as always.

I wasn’t ready. Not mentally. Not emotionally. And definitely not for a 7-mile race through every kind of death trap this academy had to offer.

But here I was.

The training field had transformed into a wild stretch of slopes, uneven terrain, mud patches, ditches, even hidden trap triggers marked only by the drones floating overhead. It looked like a war zone designed by a madman with a grudge against sneakers.

"Guild One," Dristan began in his usual ice-cold tone, his voice carrying smoothly across the group. "Today’s training is a test of endurance, control, and restraint. There are no powers. There is no shifting. Just your body and your brain. This is about physical stamina, not strength, just endurance. You’ll be timed. And watched."

He glanced upward at the black spheres in the sky. "Drones will be tracking your every movement, and three instructors will be stationed at the finish line. Seven miles. Three winners. The terrain is designed to test you. Fail, and you’re out. Cheat, and you’re disqualified."

A hush swept through the field.

"Don’t worry, play fair or don’t. Your choice." Then he added, "The top three finishers will receive a reward at the end of the day’s course. Don’t ask me what it is. Just know it’s worth it. There will be tagged lines on your path, signalling every mile leading you to the finish line."

I rolled my shoulders and kept my gaze straight ahead. Ninety-eight students. All of them looked ready. Some were more eager to impress than others. A few were trying way too hard to flirt with death.

A small ripple of excitement passed through the group. The challenge had been set.

Dristan stepped aside. "On the line."

We all filed forward to the start. Isla cracked her knuckles beside me, Emerald bounced slightly in place to loosen up her legs.

Ash stood on my other side. Of course. He leaned in a little, whispering just low enough for only me to hear. "Try not to get distracted thinking about me while running, Snowball."

I rolled my eyes and shook out my shoulders. "Keep dreaming," I muttered.

"Positions," a voice barked from the side. One of the instructors raised his arm. "No powers. No shifting. Run clean. Any prank or trick shall be accounted for and you shall be dismissed."

"If seen," Marcus stated behind me, and of course, I knew that bastard would be up to no good. "Watch out, Nightshade," he mused and fell silent.

At once, Ash turned around, glaring daggers at him, and I suddenly felt Marcus gulp.

"Good. It looks like having these Lycans as mates is a good thing."

"Who knows just how insufferable they can get. Focus Astra. It’s bonding time," I warned my wolf.

A hush settled across the starting line. Everyone tensed.

"On your mark," one of the instructors called out.

I stepped into place.

"Set..."

A deep breath.

"Go!"