My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212: I Can’t

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Chapter 212

~Author’s POV~

Whitmore moved to her chair, running a hand through her braid before sitting down with a heavy sigh.

"Send word to the Council. I’ll be present at the summit."

Ms. Heart hesitated. "Do you want to prepare a preliminary statement?"

"No," Whitmore said. "Not yet. First, I want the full seismic analysis. And I want to know if any student or staff member has gone missing or has been acting... unusually."

"We’ve flagged Titania for erratic comments. And Kieran has been oddly cooperative lately. Which is... suspicious in its own right."

Whitmore raised a brow. "Keep tabs on both. Quietly."

Ms. Heart nodded. "And what of the press inquiries? They’re flooding the school’s inbox. Some are asking if PSA is under attack."

Whitmore tapped her fingers against the desk, thinking.

"Tell them the quake was likely a terrain shift. Minor. Contained. We are investigating as a routine protocol. Nothing more."

"And if the Council asks for student testimonies?"

Whitmore’s eyes darkened.

"Then we give them what we know. And nothing we suspect—unless we have proof."

Ms. Heart closed her tablet and turned to leave, but paused near the door.

"Do you think this is the beginning of something?"

Whitmore looked out toward the courtyard once again. The students had no idea what gears were turning behind their smiling faces and practiced duels.

"It’s always the beginning of something," she murmured. "The question is—what? And how prepared are we?"

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~Valerie’s POV~

The morning sun burned hotter than usual, though maybe it was just me. My nerves had been fried since yesterday, and even now, every part of me felt tense—coiled like a spring waiting to snap.

I made my way into town, hoodie up and sunglasses on. I didn’t want to be noticed today of all days when my heart was still bruised from last night and my head felt like a warzone of memories and regrets.

I walked into the courier shop, the bell above the glass door chiming softly. The place smelled like printer toner and cardboard—organized, efficient, impersonal. Just what I needed.

Behind the counter, a young man barely looked up from his screen.

"I need to send this off," I muttered, sliding the old phone inside a padded envelope I’d already addressed to Ryan. His name and the pickup address were scrawled in thick black ink. "Next-day delivery. Trackable."

He nodded and took the package. "We’ll handle it."

He did not ask any unnecessary questions nor did he give me the weird looks just outrightly perfect.

Ryan needed to get that phone—it was hacked and I just couodn’t trust anyone at PSA anymore, not liek I used to.

I’d bought a new phone right after sending it off yesterday, from the last of my saved-up allowance.

It was simple, secure and entirely empty, which, somehow, mirrored how I’d felt since I left Solstice’s room.

With that done, I turned and headed toward the academy library.

I wasn’t looking for comfort. I wasn’t even sure what I was looking for.

Clarity perhaps?

Or answers about the scroll... maybe something that linked back to the old Nightshade hideouts. Something I could use.

The library was dim, quiet, and smelled faintly of parchment and moonflower-scented air freshener.

Rows upon rows of books stretched into the shadows. It was perfect. It didn’t ask questions. It didn’t look at me like Dristan and the others did.

And just as I moved toward the third shelf on magical histories, I stopped cold.

Ash.

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