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Chapter 187
~Valerie’s POV~
I blinked hard and reread the ssage. Then again.
No, no, no. I hadn’t ssaged him. I would rember doing sothing that suicidal. I don’t recall ever having his number or collecting it.
There was no older ssage from before, only Riven’s reply.
Frowning, I quickly exited that ssage thread and opened my ssage log. I searched for his na and found a ssage with his na on it.
I tapped back, only to see there was a text from to him.
I prayed it was a glitch or a prank by Solstice, but no.
There it was, clear and damning:
Riven,
I’ve been thinking about you... more than I probably should.
Ever since that day—you know the one when you stepped between and Kieran like I was sothing worth protecting... like I mattered.
That mont did sothing to .
It made see you, not just the silence or the danger, but the man behind it all.
Maybe it’s reckless, maybe it’s wrong... But what if it’s not?
So here it is. No masks. No gas, pressure, or expectations. Just a beginning... if you’re willing. I want to try.
Just you and .
et in private? Let’s see where this leads."
My heart dropped to my stomach.
"I didn’t write that..." I whispered, eyes darting around like soone would jump out and yell ’Gotcha!’
I could feel my pulse thudding at the base of my throat. My wolf stirred, confused and mildly alard.
Who sent this?
Why?
And how the hell did they hack my phone?
"Oh shit," I muttered, gripping the phone tighter as the countdown in my head began.
Five minutes.
Riven Alucard.
South courtyard.
My thumb hovered over the ssage thread, eyes wide as my brain scrambled to process what I was seeing.
There it was—bold, clear, and unmistakable.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL.
My pulse thundered in my ears. My first instinct was to scream at Solstice—because if anyone had access to my phone and a flair for mischief masked as "help," it was her.
But even she wouldn’t go this far.
Would she?
I cursed under my breath and glanced around. People were filtering out of class in droves. Laughing. Talking. Acting like the world hadn’t just flipped into a rom-com from hell.
I reread the text. This wasn’t just a casual ’hey, let’s hang,’ it was heartfelt and poetic—-way too poetic.
Not sothing I would have ever sent—not without dying from internal cringe.
And now... Riven.
RIVEN.
The Vice President of the Student Council.
The icy, untouchable, sharp-tongued enigma who barely said two words to anyone unless it involved murder or policy enforcent.
And now he thought I was confessing?
I had exactly four or no, three minutes and thirty-five seconds to decide if I was going to pretend it never happened or face it like a grown wolf with minimal pride.
Spoiler: Pride was already on life support.
And I had no idea what I was walking into.
But then again, my first thought was not to go, and maybe, just maybe, if I ignored Riven, he’d think I was just playing, or that I ant soone else.
At the sa ti, the mory of the day ca rushing back, and I swallowed an invincible lump in my throat.
"Oh shit."
My feet started moving on instinct, and before I knew it, I was headed toward the south courtyard. Every step felt like walking the plank.
I reached the wide-open space just behind the greenhouse, and sure enough, there he was.
Riven Alucard.
Standing beneath the trees in a pool of golden light like a cursed prince from so twisted fairytale.
The black uniform was pristine. Tie loose. Expression unreadable.
His eyes t mine the second I stepped into view.
There was no smile, or confusion just... interest.
Oh gods.
"Valerie Nightshade," he greeted in that sweet, low and smooth voice, like chilled honey. "You ca."
I wanted to laugh. Or faint. Or do both at the sa ti. Instead, I forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
"Uh... yeah," I said. "About that ssage—"
"You were brave," he cut in. "I wasn’t expecting it."
I blinked. "I—what?"
He stepped forward, gaze not once leaving mine. "Most people avoid . I like that you didn’t."
I blinked again, completely thrown off by the genuine softness in his tone.
"I... I think there’s been a misunderstanding," I blurted before I could stop myself.
His brows lifted.
Crap.
"I an," I stamred, "I didn’t—uh—I don’t rember sending that. I think soone might have hacked my phone or—"
He tilted his head, and for a mont, I thought I’d offended him.
"I see," he said slowly. "That explains the sudden courage."
Now that offended . "Excuse you?"
Riven’s lips twitched. Was that a smirk?
"It’s alright," he said. "Whether it was real or fake, I accepted the invitation."
"And why would you do that?" I asked, arms crossing. "You barely speak to anyone. Why accept sothing like that?"
His eyes darkened slightly—not in anger, but curiosity. "Because it’s you."
My heart slamd into my ribs.
"?"
"You’re the only one in this school who looks at people like you’re trying to read their soul. You see things. That’s rare."
I didn’t know what to say to that.
He took another step forward, and my breath caught.
"I don’t know what this is either, Valerie," he said. "But I’m willing to find out."
I... gods help , I actually blushed.
But before I could respond, a buzz in my pocket reminded of reality.
A text.
From Solstice.
"Don’t be mad. It was . And yes, I watched from the roof. You’re welco."
I groaned aloud.
Riven raised a brow. "Problem?"
"Just..." I sighed. "Family."
He nodded. "Ah. The kind that ddles with romantic prospects?"
"You have no idea."
Riven gave the faintest chuckle. "So, what now?"
I hesitated, then offered a small smile. "Now... we gotta go our separate ways."
To my surprise, Riven did not say, "And if I want to learn about you instead?"
I smirked. "Then I hope you have ti. I’m complicated."
"I like complicated," he murmured, motioning to the bench under the tree.
And sohow, despite the chaos and the awkward text confession... Even ones involving fake love letters and emotionally unavailable vampire royalty....
I was confused and needed a break.
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