My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 63: It’s Not a Lie

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Chapter 63

~Valerie’s POV~

I didn’t answer. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I could finally feel my wolf shifting inside again.

Astra had been quiet since the explosion. Still. Dormant. But now her energy pulsed faintly under my skin, like a heartbeat aligning with mine.

"We’re close," she whispered, voice shaky but present. "I can feel the city again."

"We’re going the right way," I told Xander.

We hiked through another patch of undergrowth. Vines clung to our legs. Burrs caught in my trousers. Sweat slid down the back of my neck, and my body still ached in places from the earlier hit. But I didn’t stop.

I couldn’t. Not until we were out of this cursed forest.

"Who do you plan to contact when we reach the edge?" Xander asked.

"My cousin," I replied without hesitation. "Solstice. She’s the only one who won’t report it to the council or the school until I tell her to. She can get us transport—or at least shelter."

He nodded. "Good. Keep that watch close."

"I intend to."

We reached a small hill, and at the top, I paused, scanning the view below.

There, just barely through the mist and trees, I spotted the dull shimmer of car lights. Roads.

And maybe two miles from here...

"The club’s that way," I said, pointing south. "We just have to make it there."

Xander looked toward it. "Lead the way."

He didn’t question me. That was new. But I didn’t comment. I just kept moving, faster now, fueled by the single hope that the club would be open and someone—anyone—would be there to pick up when I called.

But even as we walked, something tugged at the back of my mind.

Because this still didn’t make sense.

The rune wasn’t designed just to explode. It was crafted to take. To displace. That level of magic didn’t belong in a training simulation.

Which meant someone powerful—someone with deep access—wanted me out of PSA.

Permanently.

I glanced at Xander again. He wasn’t asking questions, but I could feel them under the surface. Just like I knew he wasn’t telling me everything about that gem he used to teleport us here.

Fine.

One step at a time.

Get to the road. Call Solstice. Get back safely. Then find whoever did this.

And when I did... They would wish I hadn’t survived that blast at all.

Just as I wrapped my head around those thoughts, Xander’s voice broke my focus.

"Why were you sneaking out of school the other day?"

I froze in my steps, but before I could turn to look at him, he changed his question quickly. "No. Do you know of anyone who is willing to take you out in high places?"

I smiled and then turned to look at him. Judging from the shock in his eyes, Xander wasn’t expecting that reaction.

"No. I am just an inconsequential girl in the playing field. I do not know who wants me..."

I recalled Brielle, her friends, and Titania. But they could not do something like this, right? There was no way someone had figured out my real identity on PSA either. Meaning only a high-ranking person with a clearance level can.

"Well?" Xander asked impatiently.

I shook my head. "I just checked. No one I knew could possibly pull that stunt."

"I get it. Anyways..."

"Anyways, why did you appear and save me back that night?" I knew better than to let Xander lead with this conversation.

"Nothing."

I scoffed. I didn’t buy that shit at all. I tapped my shoes lightly.

"Okay, then why did you arrive at this school on time?"

Xander looked genuinely shocked for a second, and then his smirk grew. "That’s because I had an interest in you."

I froze completely. I had not been prepared for such an answer; I’m not going to lie. "Wow, that came out..."

"It’s not a lie," he countered.

"Okay then, if it is not a lie, then why? I haven’t met you before and you..." Suddenly, a thought ran through my mind, and I lifted my hands as I took a step backwards.

What if Xander was in on it too?

Did that make me paranoid or...

"I know what you must be thinking, but let go of your panic, Valerie, and think. Think clearly."

I did as he said and checked my thoughts. "Okay, so if you were out to hurt me, you could have let me get lasered that night, right?"

Xander nodded.

"But... that could also mean you were trying to gain my trust."

"And?"

"You were there for me at the simulation, which can make you their last line of attack but then again... You would have gotten us elsewhere. Why here?"

"I wasn’t thinking straight when I had to use the teleportation gem."

I let my hands drop to my side and sighed as I continued walking. Xander followed. "What do you want from me, Xander?"

He stopped again and this time faced me. His long silver and violet hair flying in the wind. "Because I care about your heritage, Valerie Nightshade."

My heart skipped several beats within thirty seconds as I stared at him.

The fear of being exposed ripped at my inside but as soon as it clung to me, a soft voice echoed in my mind.

"Dragons sense your fear and any emotions. It’s like a scent to them, so be careful when you meet one."

Mask your emotions! I chanted in my mind and smiled about a minute plus later.

"What do you want to know?" I finally asked, putting on a brave face even though I was feeling cautious and curious.

I noticed the appreciative look in Xander’s eyes, and how they lit up in appreciation. "About you, Valerie Nightshade. About your family and the likes."

My brows knitted. "Be more specific. Why am I...?" I immediately sensed someone’s presence and glanced in that direction.

But Xander seemed distracted or focused on me, not to notice, but I did.

"I’ll go straight to the point. I believe you are my..."

"There, a bike!" I announced, cutting Xander off as I stared off into the distance. "There’s our chance to get home."