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Chapter 150
~Valerie’s POV~
My throat tightened. I opened my mouth, ready to lie—sothing flippant, anything—but I didn’t get the chance.
Because just then—
"Valerie!"
A voice scread my na, and before I could answer, another voice followed sharply. Then a last, loud and clear.
"Vi, you in here?"
Before I could react, the suite door creaked again—because clearly no one believed in locks anymore—and Axel, Ash and Xade strolled in like they owned the place.
My eyes widened. I stared at the ceiling, debating whether I should leap out the window or fake a coma.
Instead, I just... face-pald.
"What the actual fuck," I muttered. "Is this a harem eting I missed the mo for?" I said louder, glaring at all three of them now crowding my room like it was so kind of royal visitation.
Axel looked sheepish.
Xade grinned. "So... this is what sick looks like, huh?"
"It looks good on you," Ash complinted.
"You’re not helping."
Dristan rose to his feet, stepping in front of like a shield. "She doesn’t need an audience."
"She doesn’t need you hovering either," Xade shot back.
"Don’t push ," Dristan warned.
Oh hell. Testosterone levels were rising. And I hadn’t even brushed my damn hair. No sooner had their verbal challenge occurred than Ace ca into my room, his eyes softening when he saw .
"You’re okay."
"Yeah, I..."
"What’s he doing here?" Axel asked.
"What are both of them doing here?" Xade questioned.
"None of you should be here at all."
"Enough," I growled, sitting up straighter, hands on my hips. "What is wrong with you people? Is there so mate radar I don’t know about that goes off the second I skip class?"
Axel lifted his hands in surrender. "We were worried."
"Well, now I’m really feeling better," I snapped, throwing them a look. "Ecstatic, even."
They went quiet.
Dristan exhaled slowly. "We’ll talk later," he said, staring at with sothing that wasn’t anger but definitely wasn’t peace either.
Then he looked over his shoulder. "All of you—out."
And like that, the battle lines were drawn.
And I was smack in the middle of it. In pyjamas. With dream-sweat still drying on my neck.
I threw my hands in the air in utter surrender. Perfect.
No sooner had I done that than a ssage popped up on my phone screen. I picked up my phone to check it when I saw Uncle Zade’s initials on her screen.
I swallowed, my grip on the phone getting stronger. I clicked on the ssage icon and opened it.
Just as my mind predicted it was concerning Solstice. She was missing nd furthermore, Uncle Zade was preparing to co to my school.
Shit!
Zade: Solstice has vanished. She didn’t leave warnings or state where she was headed. I am coming. I’ll reach the school this week in search of her. If she’s there and hiding, you’ll help us bring her ho.
I quickly typed a response, my fingers tense and tried to dissuade him.
: No. Please don’t co. I have eyes here. Storm can co instead. I’ll dig up sothing. Just—don’t risk exposing my position, and you could send Storm to check my school instead. If they see you here, they’ll know. Please trust ."
Uncle Zade’s ssage stared back at like a warning flare.
My throat dried.
Before I could send another text, a second ssage buzzed in.
I cursed under my breath and typed fast. My thumb hovered over the send button just as I felt it.
A presence, not loud or aggressive. Just... there. I lifted my gaze—and my breath caught.
Kai stood in the doorway, tousled hair falling into his face, erald eyes looking lost and worried all the sa, and his jaw clenched like he was holding sothing back, and that sothing sat heavy in the air between us.
I opened my mouth to speak, probably to welco him or tell him not to worry, but Kai didn’t wait.
With a single, confident step, he crossed the room, climbed into my bed with his knee, held my face in his hands and kissed .
It wasn’t rough or demanding. It felt silent and desperate all the sa. His lips crashed onto mine like he needed the contact to breathe, like the ache he felt in the bond had grown too loud to ignore.
I froze—only for a mont—then lted into it.
Kai’s hands gently held my face. I tasted warmth and sothing raw beneath it. Was it pain or fear?
And sothing else.
When he pulled away, his forehead leaned against mine. His breath was shallow. None of us spoke as we stared into each other’s eyes.
Because I didn’t need to, not when his eyes told more than his mouth ever could.
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~Kai’s POV~
I stood by the hallway, watching one heir after another pour out of Valerie’s room like goddamn dogs sniffing for blood.
Ash left first. Then Axel, followed by Xade and even Dristan, stord out looking like he wanted to punch sothing—but not before tossing a glare toward anyone who dared look at her door.
I’d stayed hidden by the corner, not from fear, but from restraint. I didn’t want to go and get into a fight with Dristan if he sohow had made Valerie not see us.
Kaiser—my wolf—was pacing, restless in .
"She’s hurting."
"I know."
"We should go."
"We can’t," I cautioned him, but he wouldn’t listen.
"We will. Now."
I didn’t argue anymore.
The second Dristan disappeared around the bend, I pushed forward. The hallway was still. The tension in my chest wasn’t.
I reached her door, didn’t knock. I just stood there for a breath, collecting myself, and then I walked in.
She looked up the mont I entered. Her face was pale. Her eyes were rimd red. But she smiled at like I was a lifeline. It wasn’t a big smile, but it was real.
That was all it took. I closed the distance between us and kissed her. Not because I planned to but because my heart and soul demanded it.
And Kaiser howled for it.
I wanted my mate, needed my mate.
And because Valerie needed it, even if she didn’t say it out loud.
Her lips moved softly under mine, hesitant, then certain—like she’d needed the connection just as badly.
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