My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Basketball Challenge

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Chapter 55

~Valerie’s POV~

The sports hall reverberated with thuds, squeaking shoes, and the sharp ping of volleyballs being spiked across the court.

As I stepped through the double doors, the scent of polished wood, rubber, and faint sweat filled my nose.

I wasn’t particularly here to show off. I just wanted a distraction—something that didn’t include brooding alphas, twisted bonds, or... fate.

Since Isla and I decided to join the sports club, this was the best way to relax while forming true connections.

My eyes scanned the open space. Several girls had already gathered around, some practicing serves, others chatting in huddles.

Among them stood a tall, sleek figure with a high ponytail and a perfect posture that screamed confidence.

Brielle.

Of course, the Cheerleader Barbie was here.

She spotted me at the same time and rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might pop out.

Immediately, memories of her not being so tough at the shop the other day, replayed in my head.

Brielle’s two ever-present shadows—Blaire and Lina, I think—flanked her like a cheap version of a security detail, trying to look busy bouncing a ball between them. Emphasis on trying.

I kept walking toward the registration table to speak with the Sports Professor when a familiar voice called out.

"Valerie!" Isla jogged up beside me with Emerald trailing right behind her.

"I didn’t know you were joining," Isla said with a grin, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

"We said we’d both join, remember?" Isla looked lost for a second there before she smiled and nodded. "Figured it’s time to start playing a game to get myself distracted with other things, rather than people, for a while," I muttered.

"Well, you’ll have some competition," Emerald added dryly, nodding toward Brielle.

Great.

"Ah, more of you?" Brielle’s sugary voice floated over. "Let me guess—you came to gossip on the sidelines? Or maybe be cheerleaders?"

I ignored her. Classic Brielle.

But that only seemed to fuel her.

"I hope you don’t think being here makes you one of us, Nightshade. This isn’t the street corner where you practice your rogue kicks or whatever it is you do. Try not to slow us down."

I said nothing. It wasn’t like I wanted to be one of her side-roaches in the first place.

I just kept walking until a ball flew through the air straight for my head.

I didn’t flinch. My body reacted on instinct. A subtle twist of my waist and my upper body shifted sideways as the ball whizzed past my ear.

I heard a few gasps before the whack of the ball echoed off someone else.

Only it didn’t hit.

The girl who caught the ball hadn’t just avoided it—she’d flipped, literally.

She spun into a graceful handstand, let the ball bounce off her foot mid-air, then flipped upright again, balancing the volleyball on her bent knee.

The other girls burst into applause and startled laughter.

Isla whistled. "Well... damn."

Emerald blinked. "Was that gymnastics or acrobatic-craft?"

The girl straightened, casually tossing the ball into the air and catching it behind her back.

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