My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 62: Ban Lifted

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Chapter 62

~Author’s POV~

The sun was beginning to dip behind the western spires of PSA’s compound, casting the courtyard in a warm amber glow.

Ever since everything went down, the air was thick with tension.

Xade stood alone on the senior class balcony, his arms resting loosely on the railing as he stared out over the school grounds.

His usual sharp smirk was gone, replaced by a stern look that stretched across his face like a crack that refused to heal.

The breeze ruffled his collar, but he didn’t flinch. His thoughts were too loud in his head.

She was still missing.

And he hated how helpless that made him feel.

"I didn’t expect to find you brooding like a wallflower," a voice floated in, laced with amusement and just the right amount of venom. freewebnoveℓ.com

Xade turned his head slightly to see Titania standing behind him near the entrance.

The fae princess walked up beside him in her perfect posture, glowing faintly in the descending light like she always did—graceful, poised, and painfully self-aware of the attention she brought with her.

"You look troubled, Alpha Prince," she said casually, her eyes flicking toward him with curiosity. "Something on your mind?"

Xade scoffed under his breath and looked back toward the field. "You mean other than watching a girl nearly die during a simulation in my city, while the packs breathe down our necks, wondering if their children are safe? Nah, not much."

Titania blinked. "Oh. So you are worried. I thought maybe..." She trailed off, voice lilting with curiosity as she leaned closer, "...this was more about the missing girl. Valerie, right?"

He didn’t answer immediately.

Titania smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "She certainly knows how to steal attention. All that drama for someone no one even knew last semester. And now the Lycan princes, the Dragon, and even our Dristan seem unusually alert. She must really love having boys chase after her."

Xade’s jaw twitched.

Titania didn’t stop. "Or maybe she planned it all. Girls like that—they know how to play the game. Who knows, maybe she made herself disappear on purpose. Just for the spotlight."

"Watch your mouth, Titania," Xade cut in sharply.

Her brows lifted slightly, caught off guard by the sudden edge in his voice.

"I don’t care what games you’re used to playing in your shiny little palace, but don’t ever make the mistake of speaking about Valerie like that around me again."

Titania’s smile faltered.

"I’m warning you," he continued. "She didn’t ask for any of this. And she sure as hell isn’t chasing attention. So unless you want to find out how little I care for royal titles, walk away."

She studied him for a moment, lips parted like she had more to say, but this time, wisely, she kept it in. With a cool tilt of her chin, she turned and walked off.

Xade stayed still for a beat longer, his mind drifting again to the forest clearing, the broken simulation, and the sick twist of fear he felt when Valerie vanished.

He didn’t move until his phone buzzed.

Principal Whitmore.

He sighed. "Perfect timing."

~Principal Whitmore’s Office~

Arriving at her office, Dristan and Xade stood before her desk, both dressed in different outfits, clearly not their uniforms, but neither in a particularly good mood.

Whitmore leaned back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "Your probation is over."

Xade tilted his head. "Just like that?"

She gave him a look. "No. Not just like that. It was going to end in a week anyway, after we received intel on who actually started the fight."

Xade asked expectantly, "Then you will punish them?"

"No. They will get a warning for their actions. However, you are both Alpha King Heirs, and as such... You have to lead by example. I am not the only one who thinks that. The council of elders thought about that too which was why they are signed the disciplinary form before you all joined the school and before you say fuck that..."

Principal Whitmore halted in her speech, but Xade arched a brow at her foul language. He smirks. "Why, principal? I didn’t think you had it in you to be..."

"My Xavier focus."

Xade’s smile faltered. "What do you want from us? I know you’re not lifting it on a whim when it is not up to a week," Dristan said.

"I am not. But now..." She leaned forward, "...your help is needed."

Xade tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, brows raised. "There it is. The catch. What do you want?"

Her gaze moved to Dristan briefly—he was silent, arms crossed, expression unreadable. His indifference put her on edge more than she’d admit.

"Your first assignment as reinstated Guild Leaders," she said slowly, "is to locate Valerie Nightshade and Prince Xander Draco. Bring them back safely."

"Why should we?" Xade challenged and curled his lips slightly. "Because you asked nicely?"

"No. Because your reputations are on the line too."

Principal Whitmore rose from her chair and walked around the desk. "Imagine this. A student and an international royal vanish under your school’s nose. Inside a simulation. No traces left behind. What do you think the Elders will do when that news spreads?"

She didn’t wait for them to answer.

"Our entire security system will come under scrutiny. Our kingdoms will question our capabilities. And this region—your region, Prince Xade—will take the hardest hit."

Dristan finally moved. "Fine."

But Xade raised a finger. "Not just ’fine’. You owe us both a favour, seeing how this ties you down more than any of us. How do you explain to the council that the dragon prince is hurt or possibly dead, and his body just disappeared? What’s more, how do you explain the simulation going wrong?"

Principal Whitmore looked around, twisting ehr jaw in frustration as Xade continued.

"Additionally, you will ultimately spread fear at the heart of the kingdom. And the Council of Elders is already aware. If Xander is dead, or if anything happens to Valerie, their blood is on our hands."

Xade stepped forward, placing his hands on Principal Whitmore’s desk. "Face it, you need us more than we need you, and also... You’re in a deeper mess than we, Whitmore. You’ll drown in this long before we do. They’ll have your head for this, and believe me, I can sit and watch as it all unfolds."

Her smile turned sharp. "Which is why I’m calling for help."

"My point and conditions stand."

Then, just as she was about to say something to them, she paused briefly, then added one more thing with a tilt of her head.

"What about Valerie Nightshade?" she had that smug look on her face. "I do not know all, but I know you four or six seem unusually invested in Miss Nightshade. Which makes me wonder, is she mated to one of you? If so, which? And if not, why are all heirs interested in a simple girl?"

Dristan’s chuckle was soft, but laced with warning. "Valerie Nightshade is no ordinary girl. But her business is hers. Not yours."

"Not anymore. She vanished on PSA property. That makes it mine too," Whitmore replied, eyes gleaming. "And I bet your parents would be very interested in hearing how the heirs of all five regions suddenly got tangled in one girl."

Dristan’s jaw tightened, his fist clenched even more. Xade glared hard but kept his cool.

"Fine," Xade muttered, straightening. "We’ll find them. But you owe us. This isn’t a favour. This is leverage."

"Noted," Whitmore replied smoothly. "I suggest you move fast."

As the two left the office, neither said a word at first.

But when they stepped into the corridor, Xade glanced sideways at Dristan. "We’re not just doing this for her, right?"

Dristan didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

His silence was loud enough as he stomped ahead.

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~Valerie’s POV~

We’d been walking for about 2 hours. Maybe more.

The trees were thinning, but not fast enough. The forest was old, dense in places, open in others, and quiet in a way that made you constantly second-guess if someone was watching.

Xander walked beside me, silent but alert. He was always alert.

I kept glancing down at my wrist, thankful I still had my watch. The black leather strap was slightly scorched from the blast, but the small screen was intact. It had stopped working when the rune hit... but now... a flicker of movement blinked in the corner.

"Signal," I muttered, blinking at it. "Just a bar, but it’s something."

Xander looked over. "That’s good?"

"Very. It means we’re getting closer to the road." I squinted toward the horizon. "There’s a recreational zone just off the city outskirts. A club, actually. It’s small, barely legal, and kind of underground. If we make it close enough, I might be able to call for help."

"You know a lot about shady places," he said with a side glance.

I shrugged. "Let’s just say I don’t like being trapped in one place for too long. Also, I do not have a good history there. It brings back annoying memories."

"Such as?"

"Being paralysed and bullied by..." I shook my head. "It’s okay. Lesson learnt."

Xander’s lips curved slightly. "Clever."