My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 213: Who Put Your DNA

Chapter 213: Who Put Your DNA

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Chapter 213

~Valerie’s POV~

I didn’t look back even as the weight of his confession clung to my skin like mist, I kept walking. One foot in front of the other. That’s all I could do. That’s all I knew how to do right now.

The air outside was cooler than I expected. A gentle breeze tousled my hair as I stepped out into the fading sunlight. My hoodie stayed up, shielding more than just my face.

It was my armour and right now, I needed it.

I let my legs take me anywhere—nowhere in particular. Just... away. Away from Ash’s pleading eyes, away from the guilt, the confusion, the vulnerability clawing through my chest like it wanted to rip free.

Why did he have to say it?

Why now?

I wasn’t ready to let anyone in. Not when the one person I thought I could trust, the one I thought would see me and know me—Dristan—had ripped the ground from beneath my feet.

I reached the edge of the woods behind the academy, that quiet, forbidden path where students weren’t allowed without supervision. I paused then stepped forward anyway.

Thankfully there weren’t much students in school, meaning less security here... no one stopped me or even saw me.

It was better that way.

The trees welcomed me in, their shadows casting long fingers over the dirt path. Here, the world was quieter.

Still, I breathed deep, the earthy scent calming my nerves just a bit but I couldn’t stop replaying Ash’s words in my head.

"I’ve fallen in love with you, Valerie."

He said it like it was the easiest truth he’d ever spoken and it wasn’t dangerous or going to unravel the already fragile lines I had drawn around my heart.

Because if I let him in, what then?

What if he broke me too? What if they all did?

My fingers curled around the edge of my hoodie. I pressed my lips together, blinking hard as that sharp, traitorous ache built behind my eyes again.

I had been alone for so long... depending on myself, trusting no one asider from my cousins, Uncle and Aunt. Then suddenly, I was surrounded by people who claimed to care, who said the stars aligned us together. Mates. Fate.

What did that even mean anymore?

A twig snapped somewhere behind me and I spun instinctively, my heart thudding—but it was just a squirrel or maybe a rabbit and I didn’t wait to find out.

I turned back toward the academy, ready to run when I saw Erix crouched with a feet raised and a broken twig on the ground.

In his hands was a tablet, a headset on his head and a weird ’you caught me smile.’

I shook my head, wonering what troubkle he was getting himself mixed uo in now. "Stop acting like a little boy caught stealing. Come."

He straightened, cleared his throat and put up as little bravado face.

"Yes. I... wasn’t trying to sneak around or anything. I was just..."

"You were sneaking around," I interjected and winked at him.

"I... um..."

"It’s cool. I walked over to one of the rocks there and sat down. I patted the rock close to me. "Sit."

He seemed to contemplate his decision when I added, "What are you working on?"

At the same time, his tablet made a notification pop sound. I arched my brow at him, watching him lower his gaze from me to the tab.

As soon as Erick did, his eyes went wide, and then he looked away, his mouth opening just a little.

"What? What is it? Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

I smiled, even though my eyes narrowed at me like he was second-guessing whether or not to spill the deets.

Immediately, I tensed, my shoulders squaring as I attempted to calm myself, but even that did not prepare me for the words he said next.

"Val... I have found out who locked your DNA tests into the simulation tests."

Immediately, I rose to my feet, my fists clenched as anger flickered in my eyes. "Who?"

Erik bit down on his lower lip, his gaze held confusion, and I knew he was wondering if he should tell me or not.

"Erik!" I thundered, not ready for any delay and letting my emotions get the best of me.

"It’s Ms. Heart."

As soon as I heard those words, I felt my walls crumble, and I felt my stomach tighten as the very first time I laid eyes on her resurfaced.

"N-no. You must have been mistaken," I stuttered as i took a step backward.

"I wish. I first saw the result, but I refused to believe and ran more tests, only for them to show me the exact same thing. Ms. Heart tried to kill you, Valerie."

My brows creased as I tried to do away with the confusion. "WHY?"

Erik looked shaken to the core, and I felt bad for startling him. I inhaled, reached for his arm and gave him a gentle squeeze.

"I do not know. You may ask her or not."

I did not wait for him to finish. I held my cross bag tightly. "Don’t spill to anyone. I need to figure out why."

Quickly, I ran off, but I heard Erik’s voice call from behind me. "I wasn’t being serious about confronting her."

However, I did not wait any longer and ran off.

I knew I wanted answers, but knowing made me wonder and question everything I knew.

If Ms. Heart wanted me dead and helped to attack me, did that mean that Principal Whitmore knew about this, too?

And if she did, for how long?

If not, who was Ms. Heart reporting to and what did they know about me?

Did she also send that anonymous letter?

I was conflicted through and through as I ran, heading to my dorms to check everything, without knowing whom I could trust for help.

Just as I was about to cross the clearing, I took a sharp turn in the direction of the dorms, only to slam into something hard.

"Fuck!" I groaned and looked up at whom I had run into. "Xa..."