My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 112: Library Nerd

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Chapter 112

~Valerie’s POV~

There it was again. That feeling.

He knew, not everything, but something.

He turned back to the board like nothing had happened, continuing the lecture as if the whole room hadn’t just shifted.

I sat back slowly, trying to focus on his words, but my mind was already racing ahead.

Professor Anderlyn wasn’t just a teacher, he was either a piece of the puzzle... Or the one hiding the box it came in.

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I didn’t expect the library to be this quiet at dusk.

Even with the enchantments filtering sound at the archways, there was usually a hum—a whisper of turning pages, the soft creak of chairs. But tonight, it was like the entire building held its breath.

I pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.

I hadn’t come here to read. I came for answers. More specifically, answers from Professor Anderlyn.

I still hadn’t stopped thinking about the way his expression barely changed when I mentioned the sigils in my last class. Like he already knew what I was fishing for... and wasn’t surprised.

Not even a little.

The deeper I walked into the restricted wing, the colder the air became. Runes glowed faintly beneath my boots. Some were meant to repel noise. Others were much less friendly.

When I reached the far alcove where Professor Anderlyn’s private workspace had been set up—scrolls, neat books, stacked like fragile bones, and dusty old books lined up like soldiers—I slowed.

He was there.

So was someone else.

Ash.

He sat at the long table, sleeves rolled up, dark hair falling slightly over one brow as he leaned over a worn parchment, his thumb tracing a faded script like he could coax it back to life.

My gaze flickered to Ash. He looked... peaceful watching Professor Anderlyn.

Still powerful, yes—he was built like every Lycan heir I’d ever seen: tall, carved, quiet—but there was something in the way he read that made me pause.

It wasn’t intense or brooding. It was relaxed, focused, and gentle.

"You’re late, Miss Nightshade," Professor Anderlyn said without looking up. His tone was flat as usual. "Take a seat. I believe you’ll find today’s content... relevant."

Ash turned toward me then. His eyes caught the warm light close to me before settling on my face.

"She’s the one you told me you were expecting?"

He was expecting me?

My instincts were on alert immediately.

What the hell was going on?

"Yes." Finally, Professor Anderlyn lifted his head to look at me. "Although I was beginning to wonder if your little curiosity would lead you back to me for more, Ms. Nightshade."

The way he mentioned my name hinted strongly at whether he knew something, or it was just pure coincidence.

I shook that thought away. Solstice would not lie or get the wrong information. This spoke a lot about why none of us at home could find the emblem further after years of searching.

Those involved covered their tracks very well, and I discovered that one does not find the group but is instead found by the group.

But till now, I haven’t seen them.

"Nightshade?" I blinked when Ash called my name softly and stuttered briefly.

"Umm, yes?"

"Everything alright, Ms Nightshade?"

I smiled and swallowed. "Umm, fine, Professor."

Ash walked forward, stopping not too far from me. "Valerie," he said, his voice lower than usual. "Didn’t expect you here."

I lifted a brow. "Same. You’re helping Professor Anderlyn?"

Ash gave a one-shoulder shrug, leaning back slightly against a shelf. "I’ve been coming here since my arrival. I like it quiet. Though not everyone knew."

I hadn’t known that Ash liked books. Or that he volunteered in the library like this. Not that behind all the loud smirks and subtle protectiveness, there was this... layer.

He gestured to the chairs in front of Professor Anderlyn’s desk. I hesitated, then walked up to him before we slid into it, keeping my expression neutral.

Professor Anderlyn continued scribbling notes in his ledger, not bothering to acknowledge us again. He was good at that—ignoring people until it suited him.

"So," Ash said, folding his arms as I pulled out my notebook. "What brings you here?"

"Questions," I murmured, letting my voice drop. "About the old alliances. About what’s been erased."

Ash’s posture shifted slightly. "Still chasing sigils?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Still watching me chase them?"

That earned me the faintest smile. "Can’t help it. You get this look when you’re hunting something. Like you already know where it’s buried—you just haven’t decided who’s going to bleed for it."

My cheeks warmed before I could stop them. "Very poetic of you, wolf boy."

He tilted his head. "Very reckless of you, Nightshade girl. But tell me, what’s with the curiosity?"

I shrugged. "You said it yourself. Just curiosity. I always had this knack for history."

Professor Anderlyn coughed softly, giving us a silent warning. We both went quiet but seconds later, I leaned in closer to the table, scanning the scroll Ash had been reading.

It was covered in faded runes—some I recognised from old relic classes, others... not at all.

And then it happened—a soft, barely audible hum. My necklace warmed against my chest, just for a second.

Ash noticed it immediately.

His hand shot out gently, pressing against the scroll before I could touch it. His eyes darted to my necklace, then back to the scroll.

"Don’t," he said in a low voice. "That glow—something’s not right."

I blinked and whispered, "You saw that?"

"Yeah." His eyes stayed locked on mine. "And I don’t think it was meant for anyone to see."

He was close now. Not in a suffocating way but in that careful, guarded way that meant he was already thinking through the next three steps.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Professor Anderlyn, surprisingly, didn’t interrupt. If anything, I felt like he was listening more closely now—his pen hovering over the page.

I stared at Ash, at the way his eyes never wavered, at the fact that he was the only one who’d ever noticed when my necklace reacted to magic.

"You’re different than I thought," I said before I could think twice.

Ash’s gaze softened, but he didn’t smile. "So are you."

We sat like that for a few breaths too long.

Then I pulled back, and so did he, as if the moment had stretched too far and too fast.

"You’re right," I whispered. "Something’s not right with that scroll."

Ash nodded. "So we find out what it is. Together."

I blinked. "Why you?"

"Because you shouldn’t have to keep digging alone," he said simply.

"Besides, a little mystery hunt isn’t worth finding alone."

"You’re just making that up." Before I could speak further, he gently touched his lips to hush me. I wanted to retort when I felt a heated gaze on my head.

I gulped and turned to the side. Professor Anderlyn’s eyes were glued on me in a way that left me swallowing.

"Sorry."

"If you two do not have something better to do, go help me return those books to their respective shelves."

"Sir, I’m sorry. We..." I felt Ash’s hand on mine under the table, stopping me.

"Apologies, Professor A. We’ll get to it and not disturb you."

Ash gestured with his eyes for us to go but I felt grumpy at missing my chance to ask him question.

We stood up and left, but just as we got to a bookshelf, Ash pulled me to the side, slamming my body a bit against a shelf.

My eyes went wide, but before I could protest, he lifted the scroll between us, and almost immediately, I felt that small pulse again.