My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Something Different

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Chapter 79

~Valerie’s POV~

I obeyed, my body moving on instinct even though my mind was anywhere but here.

The letter—the name, my name—Valerie Violet Sapphire Snow.

I shook my head sharply, trying to dislodge the thoughts, but they clung like wet vines around my brain.

Kai noticed. Of course he did. He straightened slightly, lowering his hands for a moment. "You’re tense."

"I’m fine," I said, a little too fast, a little too sharp.

His gaze narrowed. "You’re lying," he said simply.

I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer. Inside my mind, Astra stirred.

"Tell him," she urged in a soft but firm voice. "He’s your mate. He can help."

"No," I snapped back. "Not yet. I can’t. You should know I cannot disclose my identity."

Trust was not something I could hand out right now. Not with someone clearly playing a deeper, more dangerous game against me.

"Valerie," Kai said, voice low enough that no one else could hear. "If something’s wrong, you need to tell me."

"I said I’m fine," I bit out, stepping back into my fighting stance. "Focus, Kai."

He watched me for a long moment, something flickering in his eyes—frustration, maybe.

Concern.

Then he nodded once, curtly, and the tension between us thickened.

"Fine," he said. "But don’t expect me to go easy on you."

The whistle blew and we moved. Kai was fast—faster than most—but I met him blow for blow, each strike of fist and forearm reverberating up my bones.

I welcomed it.

The sting—the sweat—the ache. They were all a welcoming distraction for me from the issue at hand.

It was the only thing grounding me right now. But halfway through the match, something cracked open inside me.

Kai feinted left, then went in for a grapple—and I reacted.

Too fast.

Too strong.

My palm struck his chest hard enough to send him skidding back several feet across the mat.

Gasps echoed across the room.

I stood there, chest heaving, heart slamming against my ribs.

Kai stared at me from where he crouched, wide-eyed, one hand pressed against the floor to steady himself.

For a second, neither of us spoke. The whistle blew again, signaling the end of the round.

I lowered my hands slowly, swallowing hard.

I hadn’t meant to hit him that hard. I hadn’t meant to lose control.

"You’re not normal anymore," Astra whispered, but I sensed a mix of pride and sadness. "And you never were."

Kai pushed himself to his feet, rolling his shoulder out casually like it was nothing, but his eyes never left mine.

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but I shook my head sharply and grabbed my bag.

I needed to get out of there before I did something worse.

I didn’t even wait for dismissal. I slipped out of the arena as soon as the instructor turned to bark at another group.

Outside, the hallway felt too bright and too loud.

I leaned against the wall, pulling out my phone.

There was still no reply from Storm. "Damn it, Storm." I bit my lip hard enough to taste copper.

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~Author’s POV~

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