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CHAPTER 9
~Valerie's POV~
"You don't belong here, stray. Leave, or we'll make you disappear." I read the note over and over again as if looking for a hidden meaning behind the letter or as though I could figure out the sender.
My fingers tightened around the note. I could tell several reasons why anyone would wish that I disappeared in this school, but something about this note made it all the more personal and too real.
I knew for a fact it wasn't Brielle and her cheer squad, but still, who was this coward?
I had been issued a warning. Someone was making threats and wanted me gone, so I exhaled and shoved the paper into my pocket.
They could try.
Because I wasn't going anywhere, my mission had yet to begin, and this only proved that I was probably on the right track in finding out the truth of 10 years ago.
I exhaled, my mind already piecing together to see who it was that had sent the message, when suddenly an oddly familiar voice rang out.
"Valerie!" I spun on my feet to see one of my roommates, Astraea, walking over to me.
I gave the best of smiles and shuffled the letter into the pocket of my school uniform's jacket. "Astraea!"
She was extra chirpy, I noted. "What? Someone's not happy to see me?"
I shook my head. "Not that. I was just a bit tired after my training session today, and now, I have Advanced Pack Dynamics class."
"Oh, I see. Okay. I am having an Advanced Etiquette class now. So I'm going to head over. Catch you later."
Astraea winked, and for a second, I felt relieved and happy. Not everyone in this school completely hated me. It was great; all my roommates liked me.
Just as she left, I closed my locker after taking my next textbook and note before walking away, but I had barely moved two steps when my watch notified me.
My tracker had located the thief's whereabouts again.
My gaze flickered to the school gate through the window, and as much as I wished to ditch school for this, Uncle was right. I needed to lay low.
Without waiting for a second, I marked the location and saved the address. Then, I headed to class.
However, upon entering class, I met all four Alpha Kings' heirs seated at the back of the class in their respective seats.
I swallowed the huge lump that formed in my throat and greeted the teacher.
Mr. Draven nodded, accepting my greeting before I gave it and then gestured for an empty chair right in the middle of the four demons to sit.
"Sir…" I rethought my protest when his cold emerald-green eyes locked on me. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," I said stiffly and made my way there.
I noticed Axel's stifled chuckle, but I decided it was best to ignore him. I did not know why, but the next second, I felt something on my skirt.
I stiffened the moment I felt something cold and wet seep through my skirt.
Slowly, too slowly, I turned my head to see him.
Axel.
The bastard was sitting beside me, fumbling with an empty water bottle. I had no idea what to make of his hazel-green eyes.
"Oh, sorry," he murmured, lips twitching. "My hand… slipped."
I clenched my jaw at his half-hearted attempt at an apology. He did not just pour water on my damn skirt. If looks could kill, I would have killed him a million times as I felt the rage burn through me.
"Patience, Valerie. He is just being cute," Astra defended him.
"There's nothing cute about that asshole."
Kai, seated across from me, exhaled loudly, feigning boredom. "Honestly, Axel, must you be so childish?"
"It wasn't intentional," I heard him say. Like hell, it wasn't.
Dristan, on my other side, didn't say anything, but I caught the barest twitch of amusement, or was it concern in his cyan-blue gaze?
Xade?
That smug asshole was outright grinning. "You look uncomfortable, little wolf," he drawled. "Want me to warm you up?"
I inhaled sharply, biting down my burning irritation as I forced myself not to lunge at them.
Instead, I reached into my bag, yanked out a napkin, and dabbed at my skirt, pretending they didn't exist.
Ignoring them was the best course of action.
At least… that was the plan.
A few minutes into the lecture, Mr. Draven was speaking about pack hierarchies and diplomatic strategies, but I could barely focus.
Because they wouldn't stop.
Axel nudged my chair with his foot.
Xade twirled a pen between his fingers, flicking it at my notebook.
Kai? He was leaning back lazily, flipping through his textbook, acting like he wasn't occasionally tapping my chair leg with his boot.
Dristan, of course, was stoic and unreadable, but he didn't stop them. I gritted my teeth, my fury bubbling. Then, I felt a light tug at the back of my uniform.
My eyes snapped to Axel, who had the audacity to wave a lock of my hair between his fingers.
He smirked. "Soft."
I snatched it back. "Touch me again, and I'll rip off your fingers."
A few students gasped at my harsh tone, heads turning our way.
Axel just chuckled. "Feisty."
Kai sighed. "And here I thought you'd learn to behave after your little outburst in combat class."
That was it.
I slammed my hands against the desk and stood up so fast that my chair screeched back. "Enough!"
The entire class fell silent. The atmosphere felt heavy, and every student was now looking at me in surprise.
Axel raised a brow. "You good, sweetheart?"
Kai exhaled loudly, feeling annoyed. Dristan's expression tightened slightly, while Xade grinned like a mischievous little devil.
But the real problem?
Mr. Draven.
His emerald-green eyes—the same as Kai's—hardened.
"Miss Nightshade," he said coldly. "Sit. Down."
I swallowed, realising what I had just done. But I was too angry to care.
"They won't stop," I snapped. "They've been messing with me all class!"
Mr. Draven didn't even blink. "And you believe that excuses your outburst?" His voice was icy.
I clenched my fists. "I—"
"You have detention."
I blinked. "What?"
He arched a brow. "Unless you'd prefer a full week of detention?"
My lips pressed into a thin line. I glanced at the four smug bastards surrounding me.
They were enjoying this. I exhaled sharply, then dropped back into my seat, my blood boiling.
Mr. Draven gave me a long, disappointed look before continuing his lecture as if nothing happened.
Axel leaned in. "You're cute when you're mad."
Kai smirked. "Enjoy detention."
I forced myself not to stab them with my pen.
But I made myself a promise.
Next time?
They'd be the ones suffering because they did not know that Valerie Snow did not play fairly. I paid bad with evil and good with blossoming goodness.