My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Speculations and Truths

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Chapter 49

~Xander’s POV~

I didn’t turn back as I left Valerie standing with her friend, Isla, Dristan’s cousin as I heard.

I didn’t need to either. I could feel her eyes on me, heavy and conflicted. I could also smell hdr emotions from here. She was suspicious.

I would have been the same way, after whatever happened with the wolf heirs but I was not one of them.

Valerie, on the other hand, God, she’s smart, I’d give her that. Way too smart and that’s what made her dangerous.

But that flip—Goddess, that flip. My lips tugged into a slow grin as the image replayed in my head.

The way she moved across those spikes, landed on the edge like she had wings on her feet. My dragon purred in satisfaction.

"You’re smiling like an idiot." Zila’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharply and amused as always.

"Shut up," I muttered under my breath.

"You wanted to talk to her," he said, voice dropping low in my mind. "You were going to ask her, weren’t you? About her origins?"

"I can’t help it," I admitted, stopping beside one of the tall garden arches. "I sense something in her. Not just power. Something... older. Deeper. I feel a bond."

"Mmhmm." Zila made the sound in a low growl. "Are you sure you’re not just reacting to some good old-fashioned werewolf mate bond? Maybe you’re late to the party."

"No," I said out loud quickly, shaking my head. "This is different."

I leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly. "It’s not romantic. Not possessive. It’s more... instinctual. Like I need to protect her. Like... she’s mine. My blood."

There was a pause before Zila hummed again. "Interesting. Do you have a long-lost half-sister maybe?"

I chuckled without humour. "I wish. No matter how you see it, no matter how good looking Father is, he’s never cheated on his Queen. And Mother said once... that aside from her, he only ever loved one woman."

"Let me guess," Zila purred. "She didn’t love him back?"

"Ouch," I muttered. "Yeah."

"The mighty Dragon King Davion. Rejected?" Zila snickered in my head. "Spicy."

"Don’t let Father hear that," I warned. "He’ll sear your snarky voice into ash."

"If you don’t talk about it, he’ll never know."

"Exactly. So bribe me by being good."

Zila grew quiet for a moment, then spoke again. "So... who was she?"

I rubbed the back of my neck and let my mind drift as I halte din my steps. "A werewolf. Mother said she was strong. Proud in a good way. The only one Father ever bowed to. Not for power. For love."

"You don’t think they—"

"She turned him down," I said flatly. "End of story."

"Turned him down as her king, sure. But as a lover?" Zila countered smoothly. "You and I both know love and loyalty aren’t always the same thing."

I didn’t reply.

Because deep down, that was what scared me. That Father might have slipped—just once. That there might be something out there, someone out there... tied to him by blood but not by name.

And Valerie? I didn’t want to believe it. But I had to know.

"Shit," I muttered. "I need to look into Valerie Nightshade."

"You think she’s your sister?"

"I don’t know what she is," I whispered. "But if she is... then I’ll protect her. From everyone."

"Will you ask the King?"

"No," I said immediately. "His Majesty cannot know. Not until I’m sure. For now, I’m here for one reason—the peace treaty from eighteen years ago."

"Nothing more?" Zila sounded unconvinced.

"Nothing more," I said again.

But the doubt sat like a stone in my gut.

I moved to head back toward the dorms when someone caught my attention. Brielle.

She was walking past, head down, books clutched to her chest like a student desperate not to get called on. But something in her step made me pause. Timid. Careful. Obedient.

Interesting.

I tilted my head slightly, and just as if she felt it, she turned and met my eyes for a split second then she shuddered. Looked away and walked faster.

My lips curled into a small, amused smile.

"Looks like she remembers," I murmured in a dry voice.

"Remembers what?" Zila asked, feigning innocence.

I didn’t answer. But the memory danced through my head—Brielle’s terrified expression, her begging voice from days ago when she thought she could get close to Valerie and cross the line.

She tried to threaten her once. Just once.

And I made sure she’d never try again.

"She seems obedient now," I said softly. "And more importantly... she’s not bothering my sister."

"She isn’t your—" Zila started, but I cut him off, shoving his voice to the back of my mind.

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~Ashton’s POV~

And then—knock knock.

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