My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Worried Roomies

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Chapter 76

~Valerie’s POV~

The hallway leading to my dorm room felt strangely distant, like I was walking through a dream I’d once had a long time ago.

My boots clicked softly against the tiles, and even though I was back, even though I was technically safe now... nothing felt the same.

I reached for the doorknob.

The second I opened the door, voices filtered out—low, tense, hurried.

I stepped inside quietly, not ready to announce myself just yet and find out for myself what was truly going on.

The dorm’s shared living room was lit, but I immediately spotted Isla pacing by the bookshelf, one hand raking through her hair as she muttered something about maps and blind spots.

Emerald was at the counter, scribbling on a notepad with intense focus. Astraea, curled up in the armchair with her knees pulled to her chest, looked pale and shaky, her hands clutched tightly around a half-empty mug of chamomile tea.

"We can’t wait another day," Isla said sharply, whirling back toward Emerald. "If we move tonight, we might still find a trace of her scent. I can hack the outer perimeter alert rune and scramble it for seven minutes—long enough for a search."

Emerald didn’t look up. "And what if we get caught? It’ll trigger a breach alert if we’re off grounds for too long."

"I don’t care," Isla snapped. "I’m not just sitting here while Valerie could be out there—hurt. Or worse."

My heart clenched.

They were planning an escape... for me.

Before I could say anything, Astraea’s soft voice broke through. "But what if she’s already..."

"Don’t," Isla interrupted firmly. "Don’t say that."

"She’s strong," Emerald added, finally meeting Isla’s eyes. "She’s not gone."

They hadn’t noticed me yet. I just stood there in the doorway, watching them fight for me, worry for me, plan for me—and for the first time in what felt like days, my chest tightened with something warm.

Not fear or anxiety, but awe. In my life, although I had those who cared for me, I had no friends.

And then Isla spun around—probably to snap again—and froze mid-step when her eyes locked with mine.

The others noticed her pause and immediately turned in my direction.

The silence hit instantly and all three pairs of eyes widened.

A second passed and then—

"VALERIE!"

They rushed me like a tidal wave.

Arms wrapped around me from all directions, half-tackling me backwards into the doorway. Someone nearly knocked the air from my lungs. I couldn’t even tell whose arms were where.

"Oh my gods—"

"—We thought you were—"

"—When the dome—"

"—You disappeared—"

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?!" frёeωebɳovel.com

Their voices overlapped like a chorus of panic and relief.

I laughed, actually laughed—breathless and overwhelmed as I raised my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, wait! Let me breathe! One at a time!"

They finally backed off just enough to let me inside.

Isla didn’t let go of my arm, though. "It’s good to see you. Gods, it’s good to see you."

I gave her a tight smile. "It’s good to be back."

But then Isla tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly with a glint of curiosity. She looked me over, head to toe, then she smirked.

"So," she said slowly, "Dristan saved you, huh?"

I blinked. "What?"

She gestured lazily to the outfit I was still half wearing. "The tank top you’re wearing? That’s mine. I left it there a year ago when we visited his family’s mansion during winter break. And the buttoned-down shirt over it? That belongs to his mother."

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