My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 210: Suspicions and Gift

Chapter 210: Suspicions and Gift

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Chapter 210

~Valerie’s POV~

My breath caught and everything froze.

The paper trembled slightly in my hands as I read it again. And again.

"I do not trust her... sis. Watch out for Astraea."

Astraea.

Of all the names, hers hadn’t crossed my mind, not like this.

If it had been Emerald, I would nod because she had openly opposed some of my decisions and called me out on a few things, but Astraea... the goody two shoes...

I thought her major flaw was being a cousin to Titania. But would she really...

She was too loud, too flashy, and too obvious to ever come off as dangerous. But maybe... maybe that’s what made her dangerous.

I inhaled. If only I could call Solstice and ask her what her reasons were, but I couldn’t.

I knew it would be futile, knowing my Uncle. In the past, after my maternal grandfather was killed and my mother kidnapped and their pack, the Golden Claw Pack, got destroyed, Uncle Zade had to train with my maternal granduncles. They were brutal and unforgiving.

It made him who he is to date, but when he found Mum after about twenty years, she softened him up again, she and Aunt Aira, Dad’s sister, Uncle Zade’s wife and mate.

However, losing my mother and my dad, who was his best friend, broke him again.

I swallowed, tucking the note into the pocket of my skirt as my eyes scanned Solstice’s room. If there was a warning... There had to be more.

That silver-plated key wasn’t just random. It had a purpose.

And it wasn’t real silver—of course not. That would’ve been harmful to any of our kind.

My gaze drifted, scanning beneath the furniture, when a faint glint caught my attention from under the bed. A dull shimmer... like light bouncing off metal.

I immediately knelt, lifting the bed up slightly to reach beneath.

"Gotcha," I whispered.

A small cold box, lightweight, steel with scuffed edges and a tiny floral carving at the top. Nothing ornate—just personal.

There, nestled on the front, was a tiny keyhole. I slid the key in and turned.

Click.

The lid lifted with a soft groan of aged hinges.

Inside was a folded note... and a small bottle of hair dye.

I stared for a moment, confused. But as I unfolded the note, my chest squeezed.

Val,

You were out, stuck with detention, and distracted by your boy drama. So I went to the market and got this for you. The dye you asked for when you said you wanted to look "less Valerie, you know who, and more like just... Valerie Nightshade."

I hope it works. I hope you smile. And I hope you figure out all the mess before it consumes you. If you’re reading this, it means I didn’t get to give it to you.

Good luck with the boys. And the secrets.

Your cousin, always.

—Solstice.

Tears spilled before I could stop them.

My hands curled tighter around the note, the scent of her—wild berries and the faintest note of cinnamon—still clinging to the inside of the box.

I climbed onto her bed, curling around the pillow that still smelled like her, and cried. Not the silent, graceful tears I’d mastered over time.

No.

This was raw, ugly and unfiltered.

I pressed my face into her blanket, soaking it with everything I hadn’t said to her. Everything I wished I had.

Time blurred. Minutes slipped by like water through my fingers.

Eventually, I sat up, swiping the tears from my face.

Solstice wouldn’t want me to break down. She would want me to think. To act.

And there was one more place left to check.

**************

The halls were quiet as I walked toward the school building. The night had thinned out the noise and the eyes. That was good. I wasn’t in the mood to explain myself.

I reached the locker hallway and moved straight to Solstice’s.

Of course, I knew the code.

My birthday. She always teased me about how easy it was to remember.

I turned the dial—click, click, click—and the locker sprang open.

A few textbooks. A note from one of her instructors. Lip balm. Snacks.

And tucked into the upper shelf...

A picture of us.

Both of us in uniform, mid-laugh. She had drawn cat ears on my head and written "grumpy gremlin" underneath. Typical Solstice.

I took the photo and stared at it for a beat longer than necessary before sliding it into my jacket pocket.

Beside it was a leather-bound journal. Hers.

I hesitated, then reached for it. Just as I did, my fingers brushed something soft—a black bandana.

It was perfect.

I wrapped the journal in the cloth and tucked it under my arm. Just as I turned to leave, footsteps echoed down the hall.

Crap.

I paused even as my heart raced, not bothering to run or hide. From behind one of the columns, a familiar figure stepped out.

"Hey," Isla said quietly.

Of course.

I straightened slowly, my body language guarded.

She offered a hesitant smile, but I said nothing. I didn’t have it in me to fake kindness tonight.

Isla inched closer. "I just... I wanted to say I confronted Dristan."

My jaw clenched.

"He didn’t mean to hurt you, Val," she added quickly. "He just thought—he thought if he acted fast, he could protect you before someone else got involved and you got hurt like what happened during the simulation again."

I still said nothing.

"And I left. After I heard the guys hit him. I mean... I heard the punches." She gave a dry, unsure laugh. "They really weren’t playing."

I remained silent.

Her smile faded, her voice trembling. "You don’t have to forgive him. Or me. Or anyone. I just thought you should know... He looked wrecked, Val. Like he hated himself the second you left."

I stared at her, keeping my expression void.

"I’m not saying it fixes anything. I just..." She looked down, then back at me. "I wanted you to hear it."

I nodded faintly, shifting my weight onto my other foot. My mouth opened to speak, but the words felt too heavy to lift.

So I turned.

"Valerie," Isla called behind me.

I stopped and inhaled, but my shoulders remained stiff.

"Don’t forget who your friend was before Silver arrived."

Her voice was small, almost drowned by the stillness of the hall.

I exhaled. "I remember," I said flatly. "But I also need to reevaluate my trust list."

I didn’t give Isla a chance for a witty comeback. I simply walked away.

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