My Alphas' Dark Desires-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.

Titania.

Her hair was let loose, flowing at her back as her skin glowed faintly even without magic. Her smirk was sharp, but the moment her eyes met mine, I groaned.

Of course.

Titania.

She bowed dramatically, arms wide, as though she’d just stepped out of a magical performance. I rolled my eyes. "Good. We have someone else to steal the spotlight for once."

She grinned, clearly hearing me, and made her way toward me. Instead, I headed in the opposite direction, going to see the coach.

"Valerie?"

I paused mid-step.

"I saw what you did there. That dodge was clean. Impressive," Titania said, but her voice was slick. Polished like glass with thorns beneath.

"Hm. Okay." I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to.

"But let’s be real," she added before I could take a second step forward. "You’ll always be behind me. Under my shadow."

That made me stop.

Slowly, I pivoted. My eyes locked with hers. "Don’t always be so sure."

"Ohh," she said sweetly. "Is that a threat?"

"Think of it however you like. But be smart."

The grin she gave me could slice glass. I smirked back.

"How about this," I said, stepping closer now. "We play a game. Basketball. Just us. First to five baskets in the other’s net wins."

Titania tilted her head. "And what’s the prize?"

"If I win," I said calmly, "you take back your words... and choke on it."

A few of the girls gasped. Titania’s eyes narrowed just slightly. "And if I win?"

"You get to set your own rules."

She smiled now. Fully and dangerously.

"Then it’s simple. If I win, you stay away from the Alpha Kings’ heirs."

Isla sucked in a breath beside me.

I just smirked without thinking too much. "Deal."

They may be my mates, but neither she nor anyone had the right to chase me away from them. Even if I wished to be separated from them, that doesn’t give her the right.

Titania held out a hand, and we shook. Her palm was warm. Too warm. Magic laced her skin like a subtle thread. A spell hidden in plain sight?

Of course. She was Fae. Some never played fair but even I could use some tricks to cancel her out.

The court was smaller than the main gym, but it was wide enough for a one-on-one match. The polished floor gleamed under the lights, and the hum of whispers circled around as students gathered to watch. Word had spread fast. Of course it did.

Me vs. Titania Estrella Sage. Fae Princess. Gymnast. Showoff.

Our coach didn’t seem pleased about the impromptu match, but after Titania gave one of her too-sweet smiles and I gave one of my too-determined stares, she agreed to supervise it—"For team bonding," she said, though I’m pretty sure she was just curious to see who’d survive.

We stood at centre court when the whistle blew.

Titania snatched the ball first, fast, her body light as she darted around me. She was quick, graceful—almost too graceful. Fae magic, maybe?

She jumped and took a shot from the side.

Swish.

1–0.