My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 214: Visit Home

Chapter 214: Visit Home

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Chapter 214

~Valerie’s POV~

"Xa—"

The name barely made it past my lips before strong arms wrapped around me, keeping me from tumbling backwards.

Xander.

His scent assaulted me immediately—something earthy and sharp, with just a hint of spice. Familiar. Steady. The kind of scent that made you want to lean in and forget the chaos behind your ribs.

"Valerie?" His voice was low, concerned. "Are you okay?"

"No," I whispered before I could stop myself. My knees buckled, and he eased me down gently, guiding us to sit on one of the stone ledges near the path.

I didn’t want to cry now, and definitely not in front of him.

Xander had that big brother effect on me like Storm... And just hugging him, made all the bottled up pain resurface, all the betrayal... But I was spiralling.

"I wasn’t watching where I was going," I muttered, trying to get a hold of myself. "Sorry."

He shook his head. "You don’t need to apologise." His gaze washed over me. "You look... shaken."

I blinked up at him, trying to focus, trying not to break apart in his arms. "I just found out someone tried to kill me, Xander. And it wasn’t a stranger."

He could have laughed at the way I phrased it, but he didn’t.

"You remember the simulation?"

"The one where you were targeted? Yes, Valerie, someone wants you dead. Did you find out who?"

I wanted to walk away and not answer, but I smiled and did. "It wasn’t a stranger. Not even a student."

His eyes darkened instantly. "What?"

I nodded, my throat tightening as I recalled Erik’s words. "Erik found it. He hacked into the simulation system... tracked the DNA lock— and the culprit set the parameters that forced me into that spiritual lockdown. She hid the test results. My own results."

Xander’s jaw clenched as he absorbed the information. "That’s... serious. That’s attempted murder."

"Exactly." My voice cracked. "And now I don’t know who to trust. What if Principal Whitmore knows too? What if they’re working together? What if all of this—every near-death experience, every attack—was orchestrated by them?"

"Them, Principal and...?"

My fists curled tightly against my thighs. "What if I’m just... being played?" i asked, deviating from the main question.

He reached out gently, cupping my face in both hands and forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Stop. Breathe."

I inhaled at his command, a bit shaky, raw and reluctant. "I can breathe, Xander. I just..."

"Hey, relax and tell me, who hurt you. I’ll make them pay."

I shook my head. "No. I don’t want to involve you," I whispered. "I already made a mistake mentioning this to you. Y-You don’t have to—"

"I am involved," he cut in firmly. "And I want to be. You might not see it that way, but I’m already inside your mess, Val. I’m not going anywhere."

The sincerity in his eyes startled me. Xander had always been there—a calm, collected presence. But this... this felt different.

"You don’t understand," I said, trying to step back. "This isn’t a school drama. I’m unravelling something dangerous. I don’t even know who I can trust anymore."

His grip didn’t tighten, but his eyes held me in place. "I don’t care. I want to stay in it with you. I want to help you... protect you. You’re my friend, Valerie. One of the only ones I’d burn everything down for."

That silenced me.

I blinked, heart thudding in a strange, unfamiliar rhythm.

"I mean it," Xander added, his voice softer now. "And not just because of what’s happening. Because you matter and somewhere along the line, I stopped just being concerned as a friend."

I shook my head, stepping back. "Xander—"

But he moved closer, slowly, almost hesitantly. He wasn’t reckless or forceful. Just... there.

Then, in a breath, Xander’s lips brushed mine lightly and tentatively.

I froze, and so did he, as though his body had moved on its own. For half a second, the world stood still.

And then I stepped away, breath caught halfway in my chest. Xander didn’t stop me or forcefully hold me back. He just blinked.

"Xander..." My voice trembled. "You can’t. We can’t."

He exhaled and ran a hand down his face, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to—I just..." Xander exhaled once more and raked through his silver and violet streaked hair.

And just the sight alone brought a sense of familiarity within me. "I care about you. More than I even realised."

I shook my head, stepping back again. "That doesn’t change anything. You’re important to me, Xander. But this? It’s not the path we’re meant to walk."

"Valerie..."

"I need space," I said, more firmly now. "I need answers. I need to survive this."

I turned, already moving, forcing my feet to carry me away before the look on his face made me stay.

"Valerie, honey..."

"I’m sorry," I called over my shoulder. "But we can’t... not like this."

And I left him behind—silent, stunned, and standing in the middle of a storm I hadn’t meant to unleash but got trapped in.

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~Xander’s POV~

She was gone.

Her footsteps faded into the shadows, but I remained frozen—right there on the gravel path—staring at the place where she’d just stood, where her warmth still lingered in the air.

My fingers drifted unconsciously to my lips.

I hadn’t meant to do it. Hell, I didn’t plan it. It just happened—like my body moved before my mind caught up.

One moment, I was holding her, trying to be the friend she could count on... the next, I was crossing a line I’d spent months building walls around.

A kiss.

A damn kiss.

And it wasn’t just soft—it meant something. That was the problem. It carried too much... too much of what I’d buried deep inside and tried to pretend wasn’t real.

I smiled bitterly and let my hand fall away.

"Stupid," I muttered under my breath. "What the hell did you just do?"

I turned, pacing a few steps back and forth, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins like wildfire. My thoughts were an unholy mess—scattered, frantic, contradictory.

It wasn’t just guilt. It was fear because I’d kissed Valerie.

And there was a chance—no, a very real, terrifying chance—that she could be... my half-sister.

My stomach churned at the thought. Every time I’d tried to reason it away, every time I told myself it was just maybe my imagination or some wrong thought... I pushed it down. But now?

Now it felt too real.

I’d always kept my distance. Played the friend. The protector. Just like Dristan or Kai might have.

But somewhere along the line, something shifted. I started seeing Valerie, the way she laughed when she forgot to be guarded, he sadness in her eyes when she thought no one was looking and the strength in her silence.

And I knew then, I was in trouble.

But that kiss... It felt like betrayal, not just to her, but to myself.

"I really need to do something quick," I whispered.

My hands dug into my jacket pocket. I found it—the shimmering jade gem threaded with energy—a single-use, teleportation gem.

My jaw clenched.

"I must see Father," I said aloud. "And confront him about Valerie. I need the truth. No more secrets."

I closed my hand around the gem and exhaled deeply.

Valerie might have been running from everything, but I wasn’t going to run anymore.

Her, the truth or even from the possibility that everything I was feeling... might be wrong.

Or worse, right.

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

I headed straight for the east wing checkpoint. It was easy enough—everyone had gone home, and few people were around, and definitely not here.

Security was more focused on the front gates. Good.

I kept my hood low until I reached the boundary wall behind the academy gardens. The back gate loomed ahead—ornate ironwork half-concealed by overgrown vines and enchantment glyphs meant to deter wandering students.

I didn’t stop at the gate.

Instead, I slipped my hand into my jacket pocket and pulled out the small jade-like gem etched with silvery runes.

This wasn’t standard teleportation magic, but it was tied to location and will.

I shut my eyes and exhaled slowly.

"Home."

I pictured it in my mind: the tiled floors, the towering pillars, the high-arched ceilings bathed in gold, obsidian, and pearl.

I summoned every thought I had about home into my mind and the particular room I wanted to be in.

The gem pulsed once.

Then silence swallowed me.

In the blink of an eye, the world spun and reformed.

By the time the smoke settled, I stood in a grand atrium, the floor beneath me a gleaming mosaic of interlocking gold and black tiles.

Columns stretched up to meet a domed ceiling adorned with moving constellations, soft light shimmering down through enchanted skylights.

Everything smelled of ancient power.

I was home.

I turned, slowly brushing a bit of travel dust from my sleeve, when a voice echoed from the far side of the hall.

"Welcome home, son."

I stiffened.

The voice was warm, but there was steel beneath it—like always.

I looked toward the grand staircase, and there he was.

Tall. Composed. Dressed in a tailored suit of midnight fabric embroidered with the family crest.

King Davion Draco, my father.

He descended a few steps, hands clasped behind his back, eyes locked on mine like he already knew everything I’d come here for.

And maybe he did because in House Draco, nothing was ever a coincidence.

And secrets, they were currency.

"Hello, Dad."