My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 237

Chapter 237: Caught Red Handed

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Chapter 237

~Valerie’s POV~

"I... I don’t know," I said honestly. "Everything was fine until—"

"Enough," he said coldly. "The practical is over for you."

I blinked. "But, Professor—"

"You’ll stay behind after the session and clean the lab," he continued, cutting me off.

"Every beaker, every station, and from now on, you will report to this lab every lunch break for the rest of the week to clean and restock. Consider this your little warning. Perhaps it will teach you care and precision."

"But it wasn’t..."

"Not another word."

Lucy whimpered behind him, her thigh already red and stinging as Maddie helped her sit. Avery, of course, stood calmly at her station, the perfect picture of innocence, while I stood there stunned by my undeserved punishment.

There was no doubt this was planned, and the accident affecting one of them was either collateral damage or planned as well.

Rather than groan or complain, I picked up my bag and left the lab.

As soon as I got away, I took off my lab coat, not wanting to explain anything to anybody in case they asked why I was there and not in the lab.

The bell had rung fifteen minutes ago, but I still hadn’t moved past the west stairwell.

It wasn’t even about the punishment.

It was the way everyone looked at me when the chemicals spilt and the way Lucy clutched her thigh and whimpered, while Avery pretended to be shocked and innocent.

I sighed and made my way down the hallway, hugging my books tightly to my chest. My plan was simple: reach the library, disappear between shelves, and pretend I didn’t exist for at least one hour.

But as I turned the corner near the west wing corridor, I came to a sharp halt when I saw Dristan.

He was tall, brooding, and leaning casually against the hallway wall like he’d been waiting for something or someone.

He straightened when he saw me.

I did the first thing that made sense. I turned around, pretending I hadn’t seen him.

"Valerie."

It was already too late.

"Valerie, wait."

His voice was firm, a bit low, and laced with something I didn’t want to name—concern, maybe, or longing.

I stopped walking, but I didn’t turn until he closed the distance and stepped in front of me.

"What’s going on with you?" he asked.

"Nothing." I forced a smile that I didn’t feel. "Just tired. That lab punishment is brutal."

He didn’t buy it.

"Valerie," he said again, softer this time. And when I tried to brush past him, he reached out and gently caught my wrist.

The second his skin touched mine, something in me snapped.

A jolt of electricity sizzled from my wrist to the base of my spine. I stiffened instantly, my breath caught in my throat.

Dristan’s eyes flicked down to where we touched. He had probably... No, he definitely felt it too. I could see it in the tension lining his jaw.

"I don’t want to leave you like this," he murmured. "Not when you’re shutting everyone out."

Xander.

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