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Chapter 154
~Valerie’s POV~
Solstice stood, brushing imaginary dust from her jeans. "I’ll go grab my official class log and drop it in the records office. If he checks, there’ll be proof."
"Good. And... thank you."
She paused at the door. "For what?"
"For not saying anything earlier. About the kiss. About being a ss."
Her lips curved slightly, and she winked. "Please. I live for ss."
Just like that, Solstice was gone, but the kiss still lingered even with the room empty again.
Kai’s words, warmth and presence seed to have been plastered all over
"I love you."
I let my fingers trail along my lips.
And for once, I didn’t feel like a weapon. I felt wanted.
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~Dristan’s POV~
I’d always been good at compartntalising—splitting myself into the wolf, the heir, the leader. Emotions had their place, locked tight in the corners of my mind.
Until her.
Valerie Nightshade had co in like a quiet war I never saw coming. And now she was everywhere—in my head, under my skin, between my ribs.
Even now, as I paced across the marble floors of the student council annexe, I could still taste her kiss.
Our kiss.
The one I never planned. The one I shouldn’t have given her—not when I’d purposely turned cold on her just hours before.
But I’d had my reasons. I always did.
The mory of my father’s arrival yesterday ca like a fist to my gut.
Alpha Alexander.
He hadn’t said much when he arrived on PSA grounds, but the command in his presence said it all. He’d dropped the assignnt without even blinking.
"Star City. Underground movent. Suspected smuggling ring. You’ll go in quietly and eliminate the problem. No loose ends. And no distractions."
I knew what he ant. Valerie was the distraction.
So I’d kept my distance. When I saw her crossing the courtyard earlier that day, my chest had pulled tight, but I ignored it. I turned my back like she was nothing.
That was the worst lie I’d ever told.
She didn’t chase after —not that I expected her to—but what I didn’t expect was how it would feel when she masked her scent, when I couldn’t find her after the conversation with my dad.
And I looked. Gods, I looked.
I hadn’t even realised how badly I’d wanted to explain until I couldn’t. And then when I ca to the bar, I was hoping to finish the mission quickly and return to school to speak to her.
Of all the cursed places, she walked into that one.
I’d been watching the suspects from the shadows, about to intercept the exchange when I caught her scent—faint but unmistakable. And then I saw her.
Valerie.
Black jeans. Black tank. Leather jacket. Fire in her eyes. She looked like danger and desire all rolled into one.
My heart—my fucking heart—stumbled. I’d seen her in her uniforms, seen her bruised and furious in training, but never like that. Never so... herself.
And the worst part? She didn’t even flinch when she saw . Her eyes slid right past like I was just another shadow in her path.
That should’ve made it easier. But instead, I felt sothing I hadn’t felt since I was fourteen and fighting for the attention of an older Alpha, my father.
I got to Valerie, asked her what she sought, but she played it cool like it was nothing. I had my suspicions, though, but still played along.
One thing led to another, and all I wanted to do was kiss her, kiss the life out of her.
My head went through all the monts with Valerie.
When Professor Draven announced her absence, I didn’t think. I just stood and left. I didn’t care if it was disrespectful. Let him report to the Council. Let my father hear of it. I did not bother. All I could think of was that Valerie, my mate, was hurt.
She wasn’t in class. She wasn’t okay. And none of them cared the way I did, not like this.
But when Kai didn’t leave right away, when he hesitated... and then he left too—I felt it.
I had sensed his presence when we were leaving the dorm and knew that that sly bastard was going to see her, but unlike the others, I had taken a detour and returned.
Then ca the scent. Not just his presence, but his claim, Valerie’s scent was on him too..
I knew what that ant. He kissed her.
And unlike , she had probably let him willingly.
I gritted my teeth and slamd my locker shut so hard the hinges rattled. The walls cracked a little.
Good, let everyone feel it because jealousy wasn’t sothing I allowed myself often. It was ugly and undignified.
But it was mine now, curled in my chest like a second heart. And I didn’t plan to hide it. Part of needed her to see and feel what she was doing to .
Valerie Nightshade wasn’t just another mate. She was mine even if she didn’t know it yet or if she kissed soone else.
Because I’d tasted her, I’d make sure it wouldn’t be the last ti.
"Ohh... did soone offend the mighty Dristan Alexander?"
My eyes darted to the sound of the voice only to see Riven Alucard standing not too far from where I was in the boys’ changing room.
"Beat it, Alucard."
Riven didn’t budge. Of course, he didn’t. That smirk of his widened like he was sipping the tension in the air like wine.
"Jealousy," he mused aloud, pushing off the wall with a lazy roll of his shoulders, "slls awful on you, Alpha."
I turned fully, the crackle of my aura rolling like thunder behind my eyes. "Watch your mouth."
He didn’t flinch. "Please. You’re one scent away from going full feral in here." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "What’s the matter? The little Nightshade didn’t save her lips just for you?"
A low growl slipped from my throat before I could help it.
"Easy," he drawled, hands up like he was innocent. "I’m not the one who kissed her. Or got kissed. That would be the sweet one—Kai, was it?"
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