My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 102: Failed Shopping Escape

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Chapter 102

~Valerie’s POV~

For some reason, I overheard girls discussing the new Alpha and how another new student was joining the sophomore class.

I also discovered he was taking all classes—elective, mandatory and core. But what surprised me most was the fact that yesterday he barely showed up for all classes, but the burn of his eyes on my back was something else.

The notice board near the East Wing cafeteria had become the unofficial battleground for announcements, event posters, and passive-aggressive notes about stolen potions.

This morning, it drew a crowd like moths to flame.

Astraea dragged me forward, her grip tight on my wrist. "Come on! Move faster, Vee. There’s something new."

"I’m already regretting this," I muttered under my breath.

Isla was already standing at the front, arms crossed, lips pursed as she read aloud from the bold, red-lettered flyer pinned dead center.

BLOOD MOON MASQUERADE

Hosted by the Academy Student Council

Theme: Blood Moon

Masks Encouraged. Dress to Devour.

Location: Crescent Hall Ballroom

Time: 8 p.m. till Moonset

Transport shuttles begin at 6.30 p.m.

Guest Performers. Open Magic Arena. Fireworks Finale.

At the bottom, in less elegant penmanship, someone had scribbled, Rumour has it the Alpha Kings are personally involved.

"Oh. My. Stars," Astraea gasped like she’d just been gifted a royal proposal. "This is going to be the party of the century!"

"I hope it involves fire-dancing fairies again," Emerald said, her gaze glittering. "Last time, one set a professor’s beard on fire. It was a masterpiece."

Isla turned to me, beaming. "You have to come, Valerie. Especially if the Alphas are organizing it, that means top-tier everything. Maybe even enchanted champagne, lol." She gave a wink.

I gave her a dry stare. "Pass. I don’t do fancy masks and magically enhanced hormones."

"But this could be fun," Isla nudged me. "A little mystery, a little danger. Maybe even a dance or two. Come on, it’s practically tradition."

"I’ll think about it," I lied. I already knew where that thought was going—in a prison inside my mind.

Emerald looped her arm around mine. "Nope. That’s code for ’yes, and I need a killer outfit.’ Let’s go shopping. Today."

I perked up at that. Shopping meant city access. City access meant detours. I’d been planning a stealthy return to the bar near Halebrook—a place I wasn’t supposed to step foot in again.

Perfect opportunity.

"Fine," I said boredly, trying to keep up my charade while hiding my insane delight at what I could do.

Finally, I will know more about the Emblem and no one could stop me.

I was already picturing the dark alley behind the tavern’s back entrance.

They lifted their brows and I could tell they thought I was just delighted in shopping with the girls more, which wasn’t entirely a lie, but duh...

Classes went smoothly that day, and since evasiveness is my best technique, I did not have a kissing encounter today.

At the close of school, we got ready to leave after rushing back to our dorm to change.

"I’ll get myself there. You guys go ahead."

"Actually..." Isla looked sheepish. "I might’ve... already asked Dristan to drive us?"

I blinked. "You what?"

Astraea squealed. "He said yes! Well, eventually. After Isla told him you were coming." Astraea’s tone changed slightly, but I was too busy with what Isla had done to care.

My glare turned to Isla instantly.

She held up both hands. "In my defence, it worked."

"No," I said. "I’m still taking my cab."

Emerald snorted as Astraea looked like she’d been personally betrayed. "You’d deprive us of a road trip with Dristan?"

"I’d deprive him of one with me," I corrected.

Before Isla could plead again, a deep voice cut across the courtyard.

"Fine."

Dristan stood a few steps away, car keys swinging in his hand. "If she won’t ride in my car, we’re not going in it. Let’s all hail a cab. Or better yet—public transport."

Astraea turned slowly, like a puppet string had been yanked. "Public what now?"

"I’m down," I said, far too cheerfully. "Public transport sounds amazing."

Emerald burst into laughter while Isla groaned into her hands.

And Dristan, he just smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

I smirked inwardly. Let’s see him dodge his fangirls in that mess.

Truth be told, exactly that happened.

The moment we stepped off the transport shuttle in the city square, a small crowd had already formed—like vultures scenting royalty.

Dristan’s hood did little to hide the sharp lines of his face or the golden mark at the edge of his neck.

Girls whispered. One bold brunette even tried to pass him her number—on a levitating scroll.

Fae—I rolle dmy eyes and Astra growled in anger.

"Down girl."

"Valerie, he is ours."

"I don’t mind."

"Yeah, those words would come back to bite you, I tell you."

I shoved Astra to the back of my mind. Meanwhile, I slipped further down the aisle, found a quiet seat between a retired vampire couple and a grumpy cat shifter, and enjoyed the chaos from afar.

Dristan didn’t sit for the entire ride, though and I loved his despair.

The boutique Isla chose smelled like roses and gold coins—somewhere between luxury and headache.

Glitter hung in the air like mist, and mannequins floated above us, rotating in shimmering masks and gowns. It was all too much.

I kept to myself, pretending to browse, while just whiling away time till the others were ready to go.

I figured I’d use that as an excuse to go shopping in a different store while convincing the girls to return.

After that, I simply take off to do my business.

That had been a perfect, foolproof plan until one of the attendants handed me a dress.

Knee-length, backless, deep black with silver veins in the fabric like cracked obsidian, the neckline plunged low, and the straps were thin enough to disappear once worn. It looked dangerous, but it also looked perfect.

It also looked like someone had handpicked it.

"Who chose this?" I asked the girl.

She pointed toward the sitting area, where Dristan lounged like a king with too much time. His smirk was already irritating, and his eyes locked with mine.

Without uttering any word to her, I marched straight over.

"You—"

He patted the space beside him. "Sit."

"I don’t take orders from—"

But his eyes narrowed just slightly, and I knew better than to finish my sentence.

"If you are going to speak to me, do so like a civilised student and not like some junkie in search of drugs or a nagging mother or wife."

I sat—grudgingly.

"I’m not accepting this."

"At least you didn’t say you are not wearing it." Before I could retort, Dristan leaned in, his breath brushing my ear as he whispered, "If you don’t want me telling your precious friends about our kiss—or the ones with Axel and Xade—you’ll take the dress. And wear it."

My blood turned to fire.

"You—were spying on me?"

"If you were doing such outside then it’s not called spying. You wanted the audience and i watched."

"Why you..." I gritted but Dristan didn’t answer. He just leaned back, smile still in place.

That infuriating, smug, punchable smile.

"Be wise, Nightshade," he said, standing like he hadn’t just blackmailed me with a mouth full of velvet threat.

I stared at the dress.

Then cursed him under my breath a dozen different ways. And went to try it on bevause between him a devil and my friends, I wasn’t willing to give them that information just yet.

"Urgh."