My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Who Put Your DNA

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

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.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify