My Alphas' Dark Desires

Chapter 389 389: It is Done

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~Valerie's POV~

"Ah," he murmured in a low, dangerous voice. "I was wondering when the wolf would come."

I didn't respond. My eyes darted around as I stepped inside, my heartbeat drumming against my ribs.

The room smelled of whiskey and smoke. Clearly, he'd taken a whiff before my arrival, like someone bored with waiting.

I was guessing Storm had gotten to him and perhaps revealed the intentions clearly.

The air seemed to thicken as my aura stirred, silently announcing my presence.

Dominic's smirk deepened. "You're bolder than I expected. They must be desperate to send a pup."

I drew the dagger, the moonlight catching its blade as my fingers tightened around it. "This ends tonight."

He tilted his head, studying me as though amused. "You think you can kill me, little wolf?"

"I don't think," I whispered, raising the blade. "I know."

And then I moved.

The dagger cut through the air, whistling toward his throat.

Dominic sidestepped, fast, faster than any werewolf should be. The blade missed his throat by an inch, slicing through the edge of his collar. He grabbed my wrist mid-strike with an iron-like grip.

"Strong," he said through a grin, "but sloppy."

"Too bad these skills would kill you," I spat.

"You have fire in you," he said. "I like that."

I twisted, driving my knee up into his ribs. He grunted, his hold loosening just enough for me to tear free.

I swung again, aiming for his chest. This time, the dagger grazed him. A thin line of red opened across his shirt.

"Interesting," he hissed, "What are you?"

"Your executioner," I spat, and he looked down at the injury, then back up, eyes darkening to an unnatural crimson.

My breath caught. "What the…"

His smirk widened. "You didn't think wolves were the only monsters in town, did you?"

I barely got the thought out of my head as to what else he was aside from being a werewolf when he lunged.

Faster than before, too fast. He blurred, vanishing and reappearing behind me. His hand clamped down on my shoulder, and before I could react, he threw me across the room.

My back slammed against a bookshelf, and the wood splintered beneath me.

Pain radiated up my spine. I rolled, just as his foot came down where my head had been. The floor cracked under the impact.

My body moved on instinct, scrambling up, chest heaving. "You're not just a wolf."

"You might think of me as half, but I'm a full blooded wolf with mixed blood lineage," he revealed, stalking toward me, eyes glinting red. "My grandfather was a vampire, and my mother was a wolf. It's quite the advantage, don't you think?"

He lunged. I barely dodged, ducking low, sweeping my leg beneath his. He stumbled but recovered instantly, faster than I could blink. His fist caught my jaw so hard stars exploded in my vision.

I tasted blood within seconds. I knew once what trouble spelt like. I needed to match his speed and take him down, lest my dead body would be what was collected instead, and my identity exposed.

A low growl rumbled from my chest. Astra.

Astra's voice flared through my mind like a heartbeat. "You're holding back, Valerie. This is the real world. It is kill or be killed."

My knee drove into his ribs, hard, forcing him to release my jaw. As soon as he did, I

I staggered, breathing hard. "I can't, Astra. I…"

"Then I will."

Astra stirred in my mind, pushing forward to take control. As much as I wanted her not to, I knew I had to give in.

Something inside me snapped. Not painfully, but powerfully. My muscles tightened, my senses sharpened. Every sound, every movement around me came into clarity.

Pain shot up my spine when he threw a punch at my ribs before I could dodge the blow, sending my body staggering back.

"Know this. We are not equals."

I pushed to my feet, gathering my strength. "You talk too much."

"So do all killers," he replied, stepping to the side. "But you're not ready to be one."

"You're just a dead man walking."

Dominic laughed. "You've got bite. But tell me, wolf… who sent you?"

I said nothing. I rushed forward again, faster than before. My wolf's strength surged through me, bones and muscles igniting with energy.

I could feel the vibration of his steps before he even struck.

When Dominic lunged again, I was ready.

I ducked under his swing, caught his wrist, and drove my elbow into his chest. He grunted, stumbling back, and I followed through, slashing the dagger across his arm.

Blood splattered the floor. He hissed, his fangs flashing as his eyes turned yellow. "You're fast."

"I'm not the one you should be worried about," I muttered, circling him.

"You should be."

He attacked again, coming closer. I ducked low, drove my shoulder into his stomach, and sent us both crashing through the glass doors leading to the balcony.

The cold night air hit like a slap. We rolled across marble tiles before I kicked him off and rose to my feet.

"Still breathing?" I taunted, wiping blood from my lip.

He stood, chest heaving, his red aura crackling with fury. "Barely. But you'll regret not finishing me sooner."

He charged, faster, angrier, but I could read him now. Every feint, every shift in his weight, Astra mirrored with instinctive precision.

Dominic coughed, laughter bubbling through the blood on his lips. "You're stronger than I thought."

"And you're weaker than you look," I retorted, circling him.

He smirked, shrugging, "Still, you're shaking."

I was, but not from fear. My powers bubbled inside me, threatening to come out with every breath I took. "You don't scare me."

"You should," he asserted. "Because I've killed more wolves than you can count."

"Then one more won't hurt, right. Sorry, not today."

His punches came in quick succession, but I blocked, parried, and countered with a brutal kick to his side.

A snarl tore from his throat as he swung again, wild this time.

I ducked beneath the arc of his arm, slammed my palm against his jaw, and drove the dagger deep into his abdomen at the same time, not giving him any breaks.

Dominic gasped, his crimson eyes going wide.

"I told you," I whispered, twisting the blade and dragging it sideways as my eyes narrowed. "It ends tonight."

Dominic staggered back, blood soaking through his shirt. His breath came in ragged gasps, but even wounded, he smiled faintly. "You don't understand what you've done."

"Maybe not," I said, stepping closer, my eyes glinting darkly. "But I'll live with it."

"Killing me won't save you."

"No," I whispered. "But it'll save someone else."

I raised the dagger one final time as his eyes shifted into yellow again, but before he got his strength back, I drove it straight into his heart.

He jerked once, the smirk fading from his face as his body collapsed to the floor. The yellow glow in his eyes dimmed, flickering to crimson and then fading back to dull amber before going still.

For a moment, silence filled the room with only the sound of my heartbeat thundering in my ears.

I looked sideways, my gaze catching my reflection in the mirror.

Sharp red eyes stared right back at me with the face of a girl I almost did not recognise.

I just stood there, staring, breathing, while my fingers trembled. Just as reality dawned on me, Astra drifted to the back of my mind, letting me take charge of my limbs once more.

My chest heaved as sweat clung to my skin. Then I dropped to my knees beside him, pulling the dagger free. His blood clung to the silver edge.

"It's done," I whispered to no one but me, and I was sure someone from Nightshade was there. My voice cracked. "It's over."

I staggered to my feet, wiping sweat from my forehead. My chest rose and fell in uneven rhythm.

I started to walk away into the room before security came, when I suddenly felt a strong presence behind me.

I looked up at the wall of the mansion and saw a figure standing on the ledge, almost like a shadow come to life.

Dressed in a purple cloak with their hood pulled low, they spoke in a smooth, calm voice. "Congratulations, Valerie. You're one of us now."

My grip tightened on the dagger. "Nightshade."

They leapt down soundlessly, landing a few feet from Dominic's body. Their boots made no sound on the marble. "You've done well. Your third test is complete."

I swallowed hard, trying to calm my racing heart. "So… you were watching."

"Always," the figure said. "We watch all our initiates."

They crouched beside Dominic's corpse, checking the wound with a gloved hand. Then they stood and extended a plain white envelope toward me. "Your next instructions. Open it when you're alone."

I didn't move. "What happens to the body?"

"That," the figure said in a neutral tone, "isn't your concern."

"Then make it mine," I shot back. "If I'm doing your work, I want to know what happens after."

A soft chuckle followed. "Still defiant. I see why they chose you."

I folded my arms, waiting.

The figure sighed, brushing invisible dust from their sleeve. "Very well. To satisfy your curiosity, his body will be destroyed. Burned until nothing remains. The scene will be erased. No trace, no suspicion."

I stared down at Dominic's corpse. "So, it's like he never existed."

"Exactly."

Something in me twisted. I'd expected satisfaction, maybe relief. But all I felt was cold emptiness.

The figure took a step closer. "You've done your part, Valerie. Go home. Rest. You'll need it for what's coming."