<h4>Chapter 277: Defended: Their Return to School</h4>


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    <strong>Chapter 277</strong>


    <strong>~Valerie’s POV~</strong>


    As soon as we arrived back at school and the heirs parked in their usual reserved spots, I opened the door and stepped out, taking in the familiar surroundings—the central courtyard, the tall arched buildings of PSA, the lingering chatter of returning students.


    It was strange how normal everything seemed... after everything that had happened.


    Thankfully, it was Sunday, which meant the horrors of school would be far from us for just some more hours.


    I turned to Dristan, Kai, and I. "Thanks for the ride, guys," I said softly, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "Imma head on to my dorm."


    But before I could take a step, Dristan reached out and caught my wrist gently, halting me. "Val...e stay with us."


    His voice was low, calm, but filled with meaning.


    I blinked at him. "What?"


    "Come stay with us," he repeated, stepping closer, his blue eyes locking with mine. "Just for a while. Until things settle, you don’t have to be alone in that room, especially not with her still there in there."


    Kai joined us, frowning deeply. "He’s right. Astraea might be quiet now, but we don’t know what she’s nning next. We can’t trust her."


    I sighed and gently pulled my hand back. "I understand. I do. But... I can’t just up and leave. It’s still my dorm. My space."


    Just then, I and Emerald strolled over, both of them still dragging their bags behind them, looking slightly tired but alert. I raised an eyebrow. "Of course you can, Val. Why wouldn’t you?"


    Emerald rolled her eyes. "Until Astraea files for a room transfer, it’s going to be extra awkward sharing that space with her."


    "Exactly. So," I added with a pointed nod, "go stay with the guys. You cane back once she’s out. One week tops. I’ll make sure her transfer request goes through."


    "And if someone reports me? It seems to be the order of the day around here now."


    "Anyone who dares would face my wrath," Dristan stated as he held my hand again.


    Immediately, I recalled everything Xade had said before and exhaled.


    I opened my mouth to argue, but Ace’s voice cut through as he approached us with azy, confident gait. "I hate to say this," he said with a shrug, "but they’ve got a point."


    He rubbed the back of his neck, his expression turning more serious. "You’ve got a lesser chance of getting bullied or spied on by one very specific creep if you stay with your mates. I’ve had my suspicions, but now it’s starting to click."


    My brows drew together. "What do you mean?"


    "The camera. That scandal. The footage. I’ve been thinking... only a fae could have snuck into your space undetected. And who better than the one sharing your dorm?"


    A chill rolled down my spine.


    Astraea.


    She’d been there from the start. Smiling,ughing, supportive—and all the while, stabbing me in the back.


    My stomach twisted. It all made sense.


    Ace continued, "But... as long as they agree to let me and Ace still visit our mate," he added with a teasing wink, "then yeah. Stay with them. We’re not giving up on you, Val."


    I looked around at all of them. At Ash. Kai. Dristan. Xade. Axel. I. Emerald. And even Ace, who gave a simple nod from a distance.


    I was surrounded by people who actually cared.


    The emotion tightened my chest, but I nodded, smiling slightly. "Okay... but let me go pack my main stuff first."


    "We’ll wait," Dristan said, stepping back toward the car. "We’ve got time."


    With that settled, I turned toward the main building and began walking with I and Emerald, our bags wheeling behind us. The halls were mostly empty, only a few students scattered around unpacking or chatting.


    The others were probably out of school in town or in their irrespective rooms.


    But as soon as we pushed open the door to our dorm’s living room, we all froze.


    There, seated cross-legged on the couch like nothing had happened, was Astraea.


    She was scrolling through her phone, legs swinging slightly, as though she hadn’t humiliated me in front of half the school.


    I let out a breath. "Look who hell coughed up."


    Emerald was right behind her, setting her suitcase down with a thud. "I hope your little betrayal was worth it. You lost every friend you had in this room. Every ounce of dignity."


    Astraea didn’t look up. She didn’t even flinch. Her fingers scrolledzily on her phone as she wore her tired expression but I knew better than to believe her facade anymore.


    "Still nothing to say?" Emerald pressed rather sharply. "What? You only talk when there’s a crowd to manipte?"


    Astraea’s thumb stilled on the screen, her lips curling into a cold, emotionless smile. "You’re so dramatic. I told the truth."


    "Oh spare me the martyr act," Emerald snapped. "You weren’t helping anyone. You were jealous. Bitter. Desperate for Dristan’s attention—"


    Astraea finally looked up from her phone, her eyes glinting with something sharp, almost gleeful in its cruelty.


    "Desperate for his attention? Please. I didn’t need to be desperate. He gave it willingly. You’re just mad because your precious Valerie couldn’t keep her secrets under wraps."


    Emerald scoffed, stepping forward. "Willingly? You mean the same guy who looked at you like gum stuck to his shoe? Don’t tter yourself."


    Astraea tilted her head. "And yet, here you are, ying her little guard dog. Did she reward you with a pat on the head, Em? Or are you still hoping to be included in her inner circle like a desperate little shadow?"


    "You’re unbelievable," Emerald hissed. "You yed victim while poisoning everyone around her. You smiled in her face and twisted the knife when she was vulnerable—"


    "Someone had to," Astraea snapped, standing now. "She was a ticking bomb of secrets and lies. Everyone tiptoed around her like she was some goddess just because the heirs had hard-ons for her."


    "Hard-ons? Were you that desperate to be fucked? Jeez, you’re even more pathetic than before. They are her mates, and if you don’t like it or are jealous, go and fuck your Erik and your other lover, wench."


    Astraea looked shocked, but it didn’t stop Emerald.


    "You don’t need to fuck them and pretend they are Dristan just because you wish the Moon Goddess gave you more mates like she did for Valerie. Be contented. And people don’t follow her because of the heirs. Stop your delulu, it’s not the solulu."


    "Well, at least I am not ashamed to say it. Yes, I love Dristan, and he is wasting his time on her. She is an even bigger whore. Just because we faked a text from her to Riven, look at how she included him in her harem. Bitch, please."


    "So you finally admitted to hacking my phone, I see," I couldn’t help but chip in, while folding my arms.


    "They all are wasting their time on you, Valerie. And you," she said, pointing at Emerald, "you neither have your mate nor the privilege to have fun or fuck who you want. You’re betrothed like some housewife of old, no wonder you want to befriend her by all means."


    "Is being betrothed to royalty what’s pricking your ego? Huh, or did you wish so bad to have someone who loves you and not those who want your body while you respond like some greedy whore eager for dicks."


    Astraea bit her lip, and I knew she was going to retort again, not wanting to let Emerald win.


    However, judging some of the energy Emerald was giving off, she too wouldn’t be backing down anytime soon, it seemed.


    "You don’t get to decide who’s worthy of love or not!" Emerald added with as much fire. "Especially not when you’re the one trying to dismantle it from the inside out!"


    "I did what none of you had the guts to do!" Astraea’s voice rose, sharp and cold. "I exposed her."


    "You humiliated her."


    "She lied."


    "She protected herself! There’s a huge difference. Even if she is who you say she is, how the fuck is that your cup of tea? She has her reasons, and in case you did not recall history, her family was murdered."


    "Not an excuse."


    "Oh, plenty," Emerald groaned, pinching her nose bridge. "If you were the one, as heiress of the South, after such a tragedy, would youe out in the open like some pageant queen? If you do, then you’re even dumber than I thought. And you guys are wrong. If she is the heiress, then she has more rights than any of you to be here."


    "I protected all of you!"


    "From what?" Emerald barked. "The only poison in this room is you, Astraea!"


    The room pulsed with tension, the air practically crackling from their rising voices and unspoken anger. My fingers clenched around the strap of my bag... enough—enough of this.


    "That’s enough," I cut in, stepping forward. My voice was firm.


    Both girls turned to look at me.


    "She’s not worth it," I said, brushing past them toward my room. "Let her pretend she still belongs here. I just want to get my stuff and go."


    Without sparing Astraea another nce, I stepped into my room, pulled the door shut behind me, and exhaled deeply.


    My chest ached. But this was the beginning of moving on... and reiming my peace.


    And it was great to have people like Emerald with that kind of reasoning. She gets it, and maybe, just maybe, my mates would too and they are ready.


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