My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 96

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Chapter 96: Are You Okay?

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Chapter 96

~Valerie’s POV~

The scent of warm toast, scrambled eggs, and sugared tea filled our dorm kitchen. Morning light streamed through the curtains, catching in Isla’s curls as she hummed along to the enchanted radio playing an upbeat fae tune.

Emerald flipped a pancake, her hair tied back, while Astraea lounged against the counter, nursing a steaming mug of coffee that smelled like hazelnut and trouble.

I sat unmoving at the end of the small round table with a fork in my hand. My eyes were trained on my plate—fluffy eggs, half-buttered toast, slices of fruit neatly arranged—and I hadn’t touched a single bite.

Instead, my mind kept looping back to yesterday evening after volleyball practice. Kai’s breath was against my lips, and his body was pressed to mine.

The weight of his wish. The ache that had settled so deep I couldn’t breathe right.

He hadn’t kissed me. But gods, Astra... I wanted him to.

"Valerie?" Emerald’s voice cut through my daze.

I blinked. "Hmm?"

She arched a brow and pointed her fork at me. "We asked what you’re doing after training today. You looked a million miles away."

I opened my mouth, and the words slipped out before my brain could catch them. "The kiss."

Every fork froze. The music stopped. Even the pancake mid-air paused before flipping (I imagined).

"What?" Astraea asked, eyes wide.

I blinked again. My heart dropped to my stomach. "I—" I swallowed, trying to backtrack, but it was already too late. "I did not kiss me."

The stunned silence that followed, then...

Isla gasped. "You kissed you? Were you using a mirror or did you shift into another form? I mean, I know you’re hot but—"

"I did not kiss him!" I blurted out, clearly mortified. My voice cracked at the end.

Astraea nearly choked on her drink. "Him? Who’s he?"

Isla leaned over the table with a wicked grin on her face. "So the kiss was that good it’s still playing reruns in your head, huh?"

I groaned and dropped my head to the table. "Please let the ground swallow me."

"You can be earthbound," Emerald offers helpfully. "Just open a small hole and crawl in. We won’t judge."

"Speak for yourself," Isla said brightly. "I need details. Tongue? No tongue? Was it gentle, rough—did you make the first move?"

I grabbed my fork like it might double as a dagger. "I’m not talking about this."

"Too late, love," Astraea sang. "You already started the fanfic."

"Ugh!" I sat up abruptly, nearly knocking over my untouched tea. "It’s 7:50 AM! We are going to be late!"

That got them moving.

I rushed from the table, ignoring the laughter behind me as I darted into my room. My bag sat by the foot of my bed.

I snatched it up quickly before bolting back out into the main area. "I’m going ahead!" I shouted, already halfway out the door.

"Tell him we said hi!" Isla called after me.

I slammed the door shut behind me, heat creeping all the way up my neck and down to my toes.

Gods above, I hated my life.

My feet hit the academy grounds minutes later, my breath still uneven from the run, not just the physical sprint, but the mental one replaying every last night’s cursed moment.

Kai’s eyes, his voice, the way I wanted him. I didn’t know what was wrong with me anymore, but all I needed to know was... I was avoiding them.

I didn’t notice Ace until he called, "Val—!"

Nope.

I turned sharply, pretending I did not hear him call me, and veered off the path, ducking my head and pretending not to hear. My boots hit the grass with a crunch, and I kept my eyes fixed ahead. Fast, clean, silent.

I turned another corner and ran right into Xander.

My breath caught. His dark eyes scanned me, lips already parting. Panic flared instantly. I did the only reasonable thing I could do at that moment because I couldn’t trust any of them now.

I ducked behind the stone pillar to my right and flattened myself against it like a fugitive in a bad play.

"Smooth," I muttered.

I peeked around the column. Xander looked around, confused, head tilting slightly as if he could smell my panic. To be fair, he probably could.

I waited, holding my breath until his gaze moved on.

And then there was Xade. freёwebnovel.com

He lounged in his seat like the throne was already his, that smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth like he knew something I didn’t. Like he always did.