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CHAPTER 5
~Valerie's POV~
The grip on my wrist was firm but not forceful as the girl dragged me down the hallway.
I barely had time to glance over my shoulder—just enough to catch the shock and irritation flashing across Dristan, Kai, and Axel's faces before we turned a corner, leaving them behind.
Well. That was satisfying.
"Not that I'm complaining," I said, matching the girl's pace, "but who exactly are you?"
She finally slowed, flashing me a wicked grin. "The person who just saved your ass."
I arched a brow. Bold. I liked her already.
She let go of my wrist and tossed her blonde curls over her shoulder. "Isla Storm. Alpha heir of the Golden Crescent Moon Pack."
Ah. That explained the confidence, I thought, but as soon as it did, I blinked before staring at her.
She either did not figure it out yet or she, like these rich kids, didn't bother, but she was my roommate, the room next to mine.
She studied me like she was assessing something. "You're Valerie Nightshade, right?"
I exhaled. "The one and only."
Her smirk widened. "Figured. You're all anyone's talking about. And now? You just made history, babe."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, let me guess. Because I dared to breathe in the presence of the Alpha Kings' heirs?"
Isla snorted. "Yes and no." I arched my brow, expecting her to explain and she did. "Because you somehow managed to get all three of them to claim you as their mate."
Her smirk widened, and I could see the glee in her eyes. Huh, a wild one.
I scowled. "Against my will."
She laughed. "Oh, I believe you. But trust me, rejecting them won't be that easy."
I wanted to ask how she knew, considering she wasn't close to us when Dristan snapped, but I figured as werewolves, they all had sharp senses, and some were way sharper than others.
I narrowed my eyes. "Why not?"
Isla crossed her arms. "For one? The bond is strong. You might feel like you hate them now, but the longer you resist, the worse it'll get. And second?" She tilted her head. "Those three don't lose. Ever. And they sure as hell won't lose their mate."
I groaned. "They can fight over me all they want. I'll be long gone before they win anything."
Isla chuckled, but her gaze turned more serious. "Just… be careful, Nightshade. The mate bond is powerful, but so is everything else in this school. You don't have to like them, but don't underestimate them."
I smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I never underestimate my enemies."
She grinned. "Good."
"Anyways, aren't you scared they'd come for you with the way you stole their prey?" I made invincible quotation marks in the air, and her smile brightened.
"Oh them… they won't do anything to me. Instead, I can't wait to taunt my cousin with how you insulted them, hahaha."
Cousin?
Moon goddess, bless my ears. Did I hear her correctly?
My stupefaction must have given me away. Isla's laugh echoed.
"Oh, yeah, you may not see much of the resemblance, but Dristan is my cousin, and he is tasked with protecting his dearest little cousin. He wouldn't dare touch me; else he answered to his parents, especially his dad. My mum is his dad's younger sister."
She leaned in close as if to tell me a secret. "He adores her."
I nodded, fully understanding exactly where her confidence came from.
"Now, let's get some lunch before those possessive babies come hunting you down."
I liked this girl.
Maybe PSA wouldn't be completely unbearable after all.
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Lunch—The Alpha Cafeteria
The cafeteria was a grand, open-concept space filled with round tables, plush seating, and a stage at the far end for announcements.
Most students sat in pack formations—territories even within the school. The elite wolves took the central area, their presence radiating dominance.
I grabbed a tray, intending to sit near the edge of the room, but before I could—
A body stepped in front of me.
Then another. And another.
The cheerleader Barbie pack.
At the center of them was Lip Gloss Barbie, Brielle, from earlier. She crossed her arms, her nose scrunching like I had a particularly unpleasant smell.
"You think you can just walk around here like you're important?" she sneered.
I blinked. "Uh, yeah. Because I can walk. And I'm here. So... what's your point?"
A few of the girls snickered, but Barbie wasn't amused.
I glanced around in search of Isla. I suddenly didn't feel her presence, only to see her placing her bag on a table, and then her gaze met mine, silently beckoning on me.
She apparently went to find our seats.
"You disrespected the Alpha Kings' heirs," Brielle hissed. "You're lucky they haven't put you in your place yet."
I arched my brow. "And let me guess... you, their lackey, are offering to do it for them?"
Her jaw clenched. "Know your rank, stray."
Stray? Did this nincompoop just call me a stray?
A hush fell over the cafeteria as people stopped to watch.
I smirked. "See, the funny thing about that? I don't have a rank. Which means I don't have to play by your little pack rules."
Lip Gloss Barbie's face flushed with rage. But before she could speak, a familiar deep voice cut in.
"Let it go, Brielle."
Dristan.
He was standing behind me with both hands tucked in his pockets.
Immediately, an uproar of murmurings filled the air. Most of which gave me the notion that they did not visit the cafeteria, yet they were here.
One glance from Kai and everyone hushed.
I swallowed, taking note of how Axel lazily placed his foot on one of the chairs while his attention was on me.
They all watched me like I was the most entertaining thing in the room.
Brielle swallowed hard, nodding before stepping aside.
Coward.
"You."
A shiver ran down my spine. Was he expecting a thanks? I shrugged off the thought and looked at him.
"I have a name. It's Valerie. Try to remember that. I doubt something as simple as my name can exclude your memory."
Glares and gasps were all around me, but my gaze fell on Isla. She looked pleased but right now I didn't care anymore.
Ignoring Dristan, I walked past without another word, but I felt their eyes on me the entire time.
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I needed air.
The cafeteria had been suffocating, and my entire body still buzzed with unwanted attention.
I wandered down an empty hallway, exhaling sharply—only to freeze when I felt it.
The same intense pull as those from this morning, only this time something warm enveloped the pull.
Immediately, Astra became restless.
A presence. Different from the others. Sharper. Lazier. More dangerous in a way I couldn't define.
Then—a voice.
"Didn't take you long to piss everyone off, did it?"
I turned.
Leaning against a row of lockers at the far end of the hallway, arms crossed, was him—the last of the Alpha Kings' heirs.
Xade Xavier.
Silver hair, crystal-blue eyes, tattoos peeking from beneath his uniform sleeves.
He was smirking. Not like Axel, who did it to provoke. Not like Dristan, who did it to hide something.
Xade? He did it because he was amused.
He took a slow step forward, his gaze languid, assessing, like a predator playing with his food.
I tensed. Something about him felt different. Unpredictable.
"Do you always lurk in hallways like a creep?" I muttered while trying to keep my wolf suppressed.
He chuckled. "Only when I find something interesting."
His gaze dragged over me slowly and deliberately, and he came to a stop close to me. And for some reason, my wolf stirred.
"Wrong. Wrong."
And then she snapped. The pull had been so strong it stole my breath away. Another mate bond and the final, I hoped.
I sucked in a sharp breath as heat exploded through my veins, an invisible tether yanking me toward him.
Xade's smirk didn't falter. Not even for the split second when his shock flashed in his eyes as his wolf synced with Astra.
My brows furrowed. Was he expecting it?
Xade simply leaned in, voice dropping to a murmur. "I was wondering when you'd show up, mate." His breath brushed my ear. "This is going to be fun."
Oh, fuck.
I stumbled back, heart hammering, but Xade just laughed, completely unfazed.
I hated how calm he was. How unaffected. How much control he had, while I felt like I was coming undone.
I stormed away, refusing to look back.
Four mates. Four possessive, arrogant bastards. And one truth that sent ice through my veins.
I was trapped with them.
"Fuck this shit!"