My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214: Visit Home

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Chapter 214

~Valerie’s POV~

"Xa—"

The name barely made it past my lips before strong arms wrapped around me, keeping me from tumbling backwards.

Xander.

His scent assaulted me immediately—something earthy and sharp, with just a hint of spice. Familiar. Steady. The kind of scent that made you want to lean in and forget the chaos behind your ribs.

"Valerie?" His voice was low, concerned. "Are you okay?"

"No," I whispered before I could stop myself. My knees buckled, and he eased me down gently, guiding us to sit on one of the stone ledges near the path.

I didn’t want to cry now, and definitely not in front of him.

Xander had that big brother effect on me like Storm... And just hugging him, made all the bottled up pain resurface, all the betrayal... But I was spiralling.

"I wasn’t watching where I was going," I muttered, trying to get a hold of myself. "Sorry."

He shook his head. "You don’t need to apologise." His gaze washed over me. "You look... shaken."

I blinked up at him, trying to focus, trying not to break apart in his arms. "I just found out someone tried to kill me, Xander. And it wasn’t a stranger."

He could have laughed at the way I phrased it, but he didn’t.

"You remember the simulation?"

"The one where you were targeted? Yes, Valerie, someone wants you dead. Did you find out who?"

I wanted to walk away and not answer, but I smiled and did. "It wasn’t a stranger. Not even a student."

His eyes darkened instantly. "What?"

I nodded, my throat tightening as I recalled Erik’s words. "Erik found it. He hacked into the simulation system... tracked the DNA lock— and the culprit set the parameters that forced me into that spiritual lockdown. She hid the test results. My own results."

Xander’s jaw clenched as he absorbed the information. "That’s... serious. That’s attempted murder."

"Exactly." My voice cracked. "And now I don’t know who to trust. What if Principal Whitmore knows too? What if they’re working together? What if all of this—every near-death experience, every attack—was orchestrated by them?"

"Them, Principal and...?"

My fists curled tightly against my thighs. "What if I’m just... being played?" i asked, deviating from the main question.

He reached out gently, cupping my face in both hands and forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Stop. Breathe."

I inhaled at his command, a bit shaky, raw and reluctant. "I can breathe, Xander. I just..."

"Hey, relax and tell me, who hurt you. I’ll make them pay."

I shook my head. "No. I don’t want to involve you," I whispered. "I already made a mistake mentioning this to you. Y-You don’t have to—"

"I am involved," he cut in firmly. "And I want to be. You might not see it that way, but I’m already inside your mess, Val. I’m not going anywhere."

The sincerity in his eyes startled me. Xander had always been there—a calm, collected presence. But this... this felt different.

"You don’t understand," I said, trying to step back. "This isn’t a school drama. I’m unravelling something dangerous. I don’t even know who I can trust anymore."

His grip didn’t tighten, but his eyes held me in place. "I don’t care. I want to stay in it with you. I want to help you... protect you. You’re my friend, Valerie. One of the only ones I’d burn everything down for."

That silenced me.

I blinked, heart thudding in a strange, unfamiliar rhythm.

"I mean it," Xander added, his voice softer now. "And not just because of what’s happening. Because you matter and somewhere along the line, I stopped just being concerned as a friend."

I shook my head, stepping back. "Xander—"

But he moved closer, slowly, almost hesitantly. He wasn’t reckless or forceful. Just... there.

Then, in a breath, Xander’s lips brushed mine lightly and tentatively.

I froze, and so did he, as though his body had moved on its own. For half a second, the world stood still.

And then I stepped away, breath caught halfway in my chest. Xander didn’t stop me or forcefully hold me back. He just blinked.

"Xander..." My voice trembled. "You can’t. We can’t."

He exhaled and ran a hand down his face, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to—I just..." Xander exhaled once more and raked through his silver and violet streaked hair.

And just the sight alone brought a sense of familiarity within me. "I care about you. More than I even realised."

I shook my head, stepping back again. "That doesn’t change anything. You’re important to me, Xander. But this? It’s not the path we’re meant to walk."

"Valerie..."

"I need space," I said, more firmly now. "I need answers. I need to survive this."

I turned, already moving, forcing my feet to carry me away before the look on his face made me stay. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Valerie, honey..."

"I’m sorry," I called over my shoulder. "But we can’t... not like this."

And I left him behind—silent, stunned, and standing in the middle of a storm I hadn’t meant to unleash but got trapped in.

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~Xander’s POV~

She was gone.

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