My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 203: The Party 1

Chapter 203: The Party 1

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Chapter 203

~Xade’s POV~

Right from when I left her room until this evening, my mind has not been settled with Valerie.

I kept replaying all the ways she would growl and complain to me or about what I did and preparing myself for the worst.

Valerie sat beside me in the passenger seat of my car, and for the first time in a long while, I couldn’t hear the engine over the rhythm of my own heartbeat.

She looked... devastatingly beautiful.

The thigh-high fitted white skirt hugged her just enough to command attention but not scream for it.

Her black jacket framed her shoulders in that perfect off-duty warrior look, and those boots—damn. They weren’t just footwear. They were a message: don’t mess with me unless you want to be wrecked.

Her hair spilled over her shoulders in loose waves, catching the dim light from the street lamps like strands of ink soaked in moonlight.

I cleared my throat and offered a half-smile. "You look incredible, Val. All of you do."

From the backseat, Silver gave a dramatic sigh. "Finally, some recognition. And here I thought we were just seat ornaments."

"I’ve always appreciated your sparkle, Silver," I replied smoothly.

Isla, seated next to her, didn’t speak. She’d been staring out the window since we left the dorms. She was dressed in a deep, above-the-knee emerald gown, slit high on the thigh with a back so low it was practically illegal.

But the tension in her shoulders said tonight wasn’t just about dancing and drinks.

I glanced at Valerie again. She tilted her head and offered a tiny smile, then turned to look at her friends through the mirror as the Killian residence came into view.

As soon as we pulled through the wrought iron gates, Isla stiffened. Her voice was soft but sharp. "Oh no."

I turned toward her slightly. "What?"

Isla didn’t answer me, nor did Valerie speak about it either. So I shut the fuck up and focus on my driving.

It wasn’t until we stepped out that I finally got another response from Isla. She gasped slightly and bit her lower lip.

"The place is big," Valerie noted, her gaze roaming the building. "Is this... someone’s house?"

I chuckled, trying to keep it casual. "You could say that, but yes."

"I see."

Silver, ever chirpy, immediately locked arms with Valerie and pulled her forward, leading them inside before I could lock my car doors.

Isla, on the other hand, still hadn’t said a word. As Valerie and Silver started walking toward the entrance. Isla didn’t follow.

Instead, she grabbed my arm and yanked me to the side with more force than expected.

Before I could groan out in complaint or even question her, her sharp voice challenged me.

"What the fuck are you doing bringing Valerie to the Killian residence?" she snapped in a hiss. "You brought her here? With him here?"

I sighed. "Isla—"

"Don’t you Isla me. You know what that phenomenon douchebag is like. If Valerie finds out, and it’ll be your head on the spike, not his."

"I can explain."

"Oh, I’d love to hear this one," she drawled, folding her arms.

I glanced around to make sure Valerie was distracted, then leaned in. "He begged me. He said he wanted to apologize. Kieran threw the party for her. That’s it."

Isla rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might stick. "How romantic. Absolute bullshit."

"Wait... Just give me a second—"

"No. I’m telling her right now." Isla ignored me and lifted her chin. "Valerie!"

I panicked. My hand flew to her mouth before I could stop myself.

Isla glared at me with wide, livid eyes. "What do you think you’re doing?"

"Stopping you from making this worse."

"Worse? Worse?! You mean worse than you bringing her to the Killian estate without warning her?"

Her voice rose. I tried to lower it with mine.

"He said it’s just an apology. He’s not trying anything—"

"And you believed him?" she growled, face-palming. "Moon goddess above! Why? Because you’ve always had such impeccable judgment when it comes to assholes?"

I faltered.

She caught it instantly. "Wait... Why did you help him? There must be a reason you are setting up your mate with that rapist."

"He is not a ..."

Isla glared, and I dared not finish that statement. "Go on, tell me why, Alpha Xade."

"I—" I hesitated again.

"Why?" she demanded, but I lowered my gaze instead. Isla hissed and walked away. "You aren’t serious. I’m telling her."

I blew out a breath, and just before she took three more steps ahead, I voiced, "Because of Dristan."

Isla’s feet halted. "What?"

"It’s the truth."

She half turned, her face twisted. "What does this have to do with my cousin?"

"It’s complicated."

"Uncomplicate it."

"Kieran knows something," I said, finally. "Something about Dristan."

"And you just took that liar’s words for it?" she snapped.

"No... not really, but..."

"Gosh, Xade. How stupid can you be? You trusted him over your friend?" She shook her head and shoved past me.

"No. I did not. It isn’t about trusting Dristan less. Kieran claims it is something involving dark magic."

That stopped her cold.

"What?" she asked without turning.

"He says Dristan’s been using dark magic. Or that he’s being used. I don’t know what’s true, or how much is bullshit, but... Kieran wasn’t bluffing. He knew too much."

Isla ran a hand through her carefully styled waves, frustration bleeding into her posture. "Don’t tell me you actually believe him."

"I don’t. Not fully. But until I can prove otherwise, I couldn’t risk it getting out. If there’s a chance Dristan’s name gets dragged—"

"Don’t. Just don’t." She raised her hand in my face. "You do believe him. You just don’t want to admit it."

"Isla. It’s not simple. Dristan’s reputation is on the line too, you know. Think of Valerie and how one wrong video gone viral made people call her all sorts of names. Should that happen with Dristan, who is an heir..."

Isla shut her eyes and exhaled slowly. "Still... You should’ve told Valerie."

"I didn’t want to bait her, but I wanted time to figure this out. That’s all."

Her lips thinned, and I could tell she wasn’t done. There was so much to say still, but then...

"Whoo! Are you all enjoying the party?" Kieran’s voice boomed from inside, piped through speakers that echoed across the courtyard.

My stomach dropped, and Isla’s eyes widened.

"Tonight’s a special night. One I plan on using to apologise to Valerie Nightshade!"

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