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Chapter 127
~Author’s POV~
anwhile... Titania walked ahead, keeping her posture poised and regal despite the wild terrain. Marianne struggled to keep up, her boots sinking slightly into the mossy forest floor as they entered a quiet grove—bathed in soft violet light, a place that felt... suspended from ti.
When Titania finally stopped, she turned with a fluid sweep of her arm and looked down at Marianne.
"Show what you saw."
Marianne hesitated, then reached into the folds of her sleeve and produced a rough sketch, hurriedly drawn. On it was the tear-shapedgem—the necklace. She had traced its outline from mory.
Titania took it, staring at the image for a long mont.
Then her lips parted.
"It’s real."
Marianne frowned. "So... the rumours—"
"Are no longer rumors." Titania’s voice turned quiet but cold. "That necklace belonged to Valerie after she stole it from us. Which ans it likely contains more than we know ot seem to protect."
Marianne swallowed. "A core fragnt?"
Titania didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped closer.
Marianne’s heart pounded.
Titania’s eyes darkened. "If you want it so badly, then I suggest you change strategy.."
Marianne’s jaw tightened. "So what do you want to do?"
Titania leaned in, voice cold as frost. "Watch her. Stay close. And when the ti cos—retrieve the necklace."
"And the girl?"
Titania’s expression didn’t change. "We only need the relic."
Marianne blinked. "But... what if she unlocks it?"
Titania’s smile was razor-thin. "Then she’ll die for what she doesn’t understand. You, be prepared and leave the rest to chance and proper planning."
"As you wish."
"Good,’ Titania called out from the side before walking off. "Next ti, be subtle."
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~Valerie’s POV~
Later That Evening – Dormitory, Room.
Imdiately after I arrived from class, I only wanted to take a nice, cold bath to relax my nerves.
Training was hard and nice, but what I truly wanted to do was shift.
My first shift had not been so painful as it should have been, and it did not scare to want it to happen again.
Other than that, Astra wanted so much to co out and enjoy herself. I felt bad keeping her in but we were in a school filled with prying students and the last thing i wanted was for them seeing my streaked wolf.
I undressed quickly and stepped into the bathroom.
The steam from the bathroom still clung to the walls as I stepped out minutes later, towel wrapped tight around my chest, my skin flushed from the heat.
I reached for my robe, pulling it on slowly while drying the ends of my damp hair with a smaller towel.
My phone vibrated on the bed beside my folded clothes.
I blinked once when I noticed the caller ID was an unknown number.
I frowned, unlocking it.
et at the back gate. Near where you and I entered the other day. Alone.
No na showed up in the contact... but I didn’t need one.
Dristan.
Just beneath the ssage, he added a second line.
Dristan: You already know who I am, I presu, mate.
My brows shot up.
I rolled my eyes, grabbed my phone, and typed back quickly:
: et you for what?
The reply ca fast.
Dristan: You’ll see when you show up.
I sighed and stared at the ssage.
He was frustrating.
And yet... I was already wearing my bra and undies, pulling on a hoodie over my head and grabbing my shoes.
Sothing in my gut told to go. It wasn’t about curiosity—it was instinct.
Maybe even... hope.
When I stepped outside, the sunset was still beautifully displayed across the sky, and the breeze was crisp, hinting at oncoming rain.
I found him exactly where he said he’d be.
Leaning back against the side of his matte black car, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded like he hadn’t a care in the world.
His shirt was dark, sleeves rolled up, and that familiar devil-may-care smirk curved on his lips the mont our eyes t.
I stopped a few feet away, crossing my arms.
"What’s the aning of this?" I asked, motioning toward him with my phone. "Summoning like I’m so wolf to your whistle?"
Dristan’s smirk only widened. "Co on, Val, get in. We’re going out."
My brows rose. "Where?"
He shrugged, pushing off the car casually. "It’s a surprise."
I folded my arms tighter. "Nope. If I don’t know where, I’m not going anywhere."
I turned, fully ready to walk away.
Then a gust of wind blew through the trees, lifting strands of my hair into the air.
And suddenly, Dristan’s hand was on my wrist.
Before I could register it, he’d tugged back with swift precision, and I spun right into his chest.
Warm, hard muscles and steady breath.
My hands pressed against him instinctively, but I didn’t shove him. I didn’t move. My breath hitched as I tilted my head back, and our eyes locked.
I had wanted to protest and look him in the eyes while I defied him but suddenly, everything stilled.
I saw Dristan’s gaze flickered down to my lips. Slowly. Like he was drinking in the mory of them.
In the sa way, I rembered how close we’d gotten before.
The bond humd between us, and my chest rose with his. Dristan’s pupils dilated. Then, just when I thought he’d pull back...
"Screw it," he muttered.
And his mouth crashed against mine.
The kiss was nothing like the first brush of lips I imagined he’d try.
It was hot, fierce and all-consuming.
His hands slid up to cradle my jaw as his mouth moved over mine with devastating hunger.
My fingers clutched at his shirt before I could stop them. I felt him smile into the kiss, like he’d expected resistance and got surrender instead.
He deepened it, tilting his head slightly, his lips coaxing mine open. The mont I did, parting my lips for him, Dristan’s tongue slid against mine, and my knees nearly buckled.
This was no polite mating kiss.
This was a claim.
This was Dristan—Alpha Heir, warrior, and suddenly, a man who didn’t want to wait anymore.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine for half a breath. Our breaths were ragged, shared between the inches of air that now separated us.
His voice was lower than I’d ever heard as he stated firmly. "I’m taking you out on a date."
And with that, he stepped back, eyes gleaming like the moon itself had just answered him.
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