Chapter 47: Speculations and Truths_My Alphas' Dark Desires

<h4>Chapter 47: Spections and Truths</h4>

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 Chapter 49

 ~Xander’s POV~

 I didn’t turn back as I left Valerie standing with her friend, I, Dristan’s cousin as I heard.

 I didn’t need to either. I could feel her eyes on me, heavy and conflicted. I could also smell hdr emotions from here. She was suspicious.

 I would have been the same way, after whatever happened with the wolf heirs but I was not one of them.

 Valerie, on the other hand, God, she’s smart, I’d give her that. Way too smart and that’s what made her dangerous.

 But that flip—Goddess, that flip. My lips tugged into a slow grin as the image reyed in my head.

 The way she moved across those spikes,nded on the edge like she had wings on her feet. My dragon purred in satisfaction.

 "You’re smiling like an idiot." Z’s voice cut through my thoughts, sharply and amused as always.

 "Shut up," I muttered under my breath.

 "You wanted to talk to her," he said, voice dropping low in my mind. "You were going to ask her, weren’t you? About her origins?"

 "I can’t help it," I admitted, stopping beside one of the tall garden arches. "I sense something in her. Not just power. Something... older. Deeper. I feel a bond."

 "Mmhmm." Z made the sound in a low growl. "Are you sure you’re not just reacting to some good old-fashioned werewolf mate bond? Maybe you’rete to the party."

 "No," I said out loud quickly, shaking my head. "This is different."

 I leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly. "It’s not romantic. Not possessive. It’s more... instinctual. Like I need to protect her. Like... she’s mine. My blood."

 There was a pause before Z hummed again. "Interesting. Do you have a long-lost half-sister maybe?"

 I chuckled without humour. "I wish. No matter how you see it, no matter how good looking Father is, he’s never cheated on his Queen. And Mother said once... that aside from her, he only ever loved one woman."

 "Let me guess," Z purred. "She didn’t love him back?"

 "Ouch," I muttered. "Yeah."

 "The mighty Dragon King Davion. Rejected?" Z snickered in my head. "Spicy."

 "Don’t let Father hear that," I warned. "He’ll sear your snarky voice into ash."

 "If you don’t talk about it, he’ll never know."

 "Exactly. So bribe me by being good."

 Z grew quiet for a moment, then spoke again. "So... who was she?"

 I rubbed the back of my neck and let my mind drift as I halte din my steps. "A werewolf. Mother said she was strong. Proud in a good way. The only one Father ever bowed to. Not for power. For love."

 "You don’t think they—"

 "She turned him down," I said tly. "End of story."

 "Turned him down as her king, sure. But as a lover?" Z countered smoothly. "You and I both know love and loyalty aren’t always the same thing."

 I didn’t reply.

 Because deep down, that was what scared me. That Father might have slipped—just once. That there might be something out there, someone out there... tied to him by blood but not by name.

 And Valerie? I didn’t want to believe it. But I had to know.

 "Shit," I muttered. "I need to look into Valerie Nightshade."

 "You think she’s your sister?"

 "I don’t know what she is," I whispered. "But if she is... then I’ll protect her. From everyone."

 "Will you ask the King?"

 "No," I said immediately. "His Majesty cannot know. Not until I’m sure. For now, I’m here for one reason—the peace treaty from eighteen years ago."

 "Nothing more?" Z sounded unconvinced.

 "Nothing more," I said again.

 But the doubt sat like a stone in my gut.

 I moved to head back toward the dorms when someone caught my attention. Brielle.

 She was walking past, head down, books clutched to her chest like a student desperate not to get called on. But something in her step made me pause. Timid. Careful. Obedient.

 Interesting.

 I tilted my head slightly, and just as if she felt it, she turned and met my eyes for a split second then she shuddered. Looked away and walked faster.

 My lips curled into a small, amused smile.

 "Looks like she remembers," I murmured in a dry voice.

 "Remembers what?" Z asked, feigning innocence.

 I didn’t answer. But the memory danced through my head—Brielle’s terrified expression, her begging voice from days ago when she thought she could get close to Valerie and cross the line.

 She tried to threaten her once. Just once.

 And I made sure she’d never try again.

 "She seems obedient now," I said softly. "And more importantly... she’s not bothering my sister."

 "She isn’t your—" Z started, but I cut him off, shoving his voice to the back of my mind.

 I didn’t want to hear it.

 Because right now, I wasn’t sure if I wanted Valerie to be my sister... or if I was just praying she was.

 Either way, I had to know.

 Before someone else figured it out first and before I got too attached to something I wasn’t allowed to im.

 But, if she wasn’t, then I had a chance to chase her as my lover and possibly future queen.

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 ~Ashton’s POV~

 I mmed the door behind me, the vibration rattling through the room. My nose throbbed like hell even though Aero’s power was already healing me. Werewolf healing or not, the pain was a lovely little reminder of Dristan’s punch.

 Son of a bitch got a lucky hit.

 Ace tossed his shirt across the room,nding it cleanly in theundry bin like it was some damn basketball hoop. He turned with that annoyingly smug grin on his face. "We found our mate."

 I grunted, rubbing my nose. "I know."

 He flopped onto my bed as we were in my room, hands behind his head like he had no care in the world. "What does Aero think?"

 "My wolf?" I rolled my eyes, tossing myself onto the edge of my bed. "He’s thrilled. Bastard’s wagging his tail like a pup on a full moon. But also pissed as hell. He wants to rip Dristan’s eyes out."

 Ace snickered, tapping a finger to his temple. "Apex is thrilled too. But unlike you two hotheads, I’ve got strategy. I don’t give a damn about her previous mate bonds. All I care about is making a solid impression... and iming her before those four overgrown mutts do."

 "She’s not marked." I sat up, eyes sharpening. "You noticed that, right?"

 Ace nodded. "Obviously."

 "No bite. No mark. No im." I smirked. "That means she hasn’t epted anyone. Not fully. Which means we’re still in the game."

 "She’s fair game," Ace agreed, his eyes shing gold for half a second.

 And then—knock knock.

 We both froze, not bothering to answer as one thought crossed our mind—who had entered our dorm room without permission.

 We had our answer soon enough when the door creaked open without waiting for an answer.

 A lean man stepped inside, head low, posture rigid and deferential. The sleek ck coat he wore was typical for Shadow Operatives of the Lycan Courts, but he had no aura. Just that eerie calm.

 "Your Highnesses," he greeted with a bow.

 "Scorpion," Ace drawled, turning toward him with azy stretch and a grin. "Took your sweet time. Where the hell were you?"

 "I had an errand to run for your father," Scorpion said without raising his head.

 "How is the old man?" I asked, flexing my knuckles. "Did he get the report of our arrival?"

 "Yes," Scorpion said, monotone as ever.

 Ace strolled up to him slowly. "Now what exactly," he said yfully, "did you tell him?"

 I watched my brother, amused. This was always his game—charming one second, chilling the next.

 "Did you say the werewolves attacked?" Ace asked, tilting his head.

 "Umm... no," Scorpion replied. "I said there was... minor tension. A bit of heat between the princes. Nothing rming."

 "Oh... I see." Ace smirked. "So you didn’t want to trouble Father. How noble of you."

 Scorpion hesitated. "I... I did not think Alpha King Kaid would appreciate unnecessary rm."

 "We are the old man’s sons."

 "I also do not think your father would love you calling him that. He seems picky about his age, you know," Scorpion cautioned my brother like we were kids he once trained.

 "He’s my father. I can refer to him however I wish," Ace replied smoothly but soon enough his eyes rxed but remained stern. "And you did well, Scorpion. We don’t need the council sniffing around here over a little scuffle."

 "As you wish, your Highness."

 "Good." I stepped up beside my twin, matching his stance. "But know this—" I said calmly, "from now on, you only report what we want, when we want it. Nothing more."

 Scorpion bowed again. "Understood."

 "Rise. You may leave," I added, waving him off with a flick of my hand.

 The door clicked softly as he exited.

 Ace nced at me, his smirk only deepening. "So... what kind of chaos shall we cause next?"

 I leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "I want to make it clear—Valerie is not theirs. Not Dristan’s. Not Kai’s. Not any of those puffed-up heirs."

 Ace’s eyes darkened slightly, and the gold in them pulsed. "Agreed. We need to get in her head. Make her see. Make her feel the bond."

 I arched a brow. "Psychological warfare?"

 Ace grinned. "Exactly. If they’re gonna fight us with brute strength, then we’ll y the long game. She’s ours. One way or another."

 My jaw flexed. "Then we do it our way. No holds barred."

 Ace bumped my fist. "To the next battle, brother."

 I grinned. "Let’s break their will before they even know they’ve lost."

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Chapter 47: Speculations and Truths