My Alphas' Dark Desires

Chapter 394 394: Emotions and Control

***************

~Valerie's POV~

I wanted to believe Kai's words.

No, scratch that. I believed Kai's words and knew they were true. My mates loved me and I them. But that love felt like a blade held too close to my skin.

It warmed… and cut. It made me brave… and terrified me all the same.

And it hurt each time I tried to open up to them, and things didn't work out.

He was here for me… even now.

I breathed out slowly, masking my frustration behind a sigh as I stepped back, silently begging for distance, space, anything to untangle the tight knot in my chest.

But unlike what I expected, for Kai to leave me alone, or to step back, he didn't. He bridged the gap between us in one swift motion.

His hand rose, fingers brushing my cheek before slipping under my chin.

Before I could think—before I could stop myself—Kai tilted my face up and pulled me into a kiss.

A soft, deep, heartbreaking kiss. My entire breath left my body. Kai kissed me like he had been begging for permission to breathe, like he'd been holding this in for days.

And gods help me… I kissed him back.

My fingers curled into the hem of his shirt, pulling him closer for a moment I didn't want to end. But it had to.

I tore my mouth away, breathing hard. "Kai—"

"I know you care," he murmured, forehead resting against mine. "I know you're scared. I know you've been hard on yourself. And I know it hurts, Val… I see it."

He cupped my jaw with both hands, holding me like I might disappear if he blinked too long.

"But I chose to be here for you," he whispered. "Betrothal or not, circumstances or not, you're the one I want. I am not accepting the betrothal, and I need you to know that."

My throat tightened as I saw the sincerity in his eyes staring back at me.

But then I wondered, with my revenge plan, with what I wanted to do, would they still see me as the innocent girl they fell for?

I bit my lower lip, unsure of how to respond.

Kai continued, "You're the only one for me, love. And as much as I hated to admit it, it is the truth. I know the others feel the same. So please…" His thumb brushed my cheekbone. "Stop fighting us."

"I…" I swallowed. "Kai, I—"

"Kai?" the familiar feminine voice cracked the silence like a whip.

I stiffened as Kai's head snapped sideways.

Serena stood at the entrance to the training hall, arms crossed in an elegant posture, that practised smile perfected.

She stepped closer like she belonged in this space or anywhere near him.

I immediately stepped back. "I'll leave you two to talk."

"Valerie, wait…" Kai reached for my wrist, but I pulled away before he could touch me. Then stopped when I had gotten a bit far. "I'm sure you have so much to tell her if what you said to me was true."

Serena's hand slid onto his arm in the same second, tugging him subtly but possessively.

"Your father's been trying to reach you," she said sweetly.

I didn't look back because I didn't trust myself to.

I walked away, and thankfully, Kai didn't get the chance to follow, but why then did it hurt in my heart?

I rubbed at my chest subtly, my mind drifting far away to the early weeks when I first knew them.

*****************

The Next Morning — Breakfast at the Cafeteria

The cafeteria buzzed with the kind of morning chatter I normally found annoying but today, it was kind of comforting and yet, it grated against my skin.

Still, I forced myself forward, tray in hand, and joined Isla, Solstice, and Emerald at our usual table.

"Hey, babe," Isla said with a grin. "Your face says murder, heartbreak, and tax stress all in one expression."

I didn't answer, but I gave her a subtle polite smile as I just stabbed my food.

Emerald raised a brow. "That bad?"

Solstice wasn't left out either. "Val, sis what's wrong? Ypuc an tell us, you know."

Before I could reply, the atmosphere in the cafeteria shifted and immediately whispers buzzed around us.

I felt it before I saw it. Titania entered the cafeteria like she owned the damn building.

Serena flanked her right and Astraea to her left while Brielle trailing beside Serena with that smug little smirk she always wore.

One look and I easily described them as the new Mean Girl Council. Great.

They passed tables like royalty greeting peasants.

I wanted to ignore them but somehow, I watched seeing as they were healing for ours.

Serena slowed, smiling as if carved from porcelain.

"Well, well, well," she drawled as her eyes flickered over me, "looks like everyone's up bright and early. Even the betrothed stealer, Valerie."

I didn't move or speak, I simply rolled my eyes and returned to my food., not giving her the satisfaction.

"No need talking to peasants, Serena. She'll never be as good as us."

For a moment, none of my girls spoke until Emerald muttered, "I'd pay money to slap that expression off her face."

Titania snickered. Astraea ran her eyes over me shamelessly, like she was assessing prey. "Why not add liar to the list of what she is."

Serena lingered one more second, long enough to make a point, then turned as if I weren't worth another thought.

I exhaled slowly. Barely keeping it together.

I did not want to create unnecessary attention to myself and earn more sympathizing or annoying glances my ways, thanks to all the gossips going on around campus lately.

"Serena," Kai's voice rang out from where he stood freezing her in place.

Every head turned as he approached our table, his expression carved in frost.

Serena pivoted toward him, smile widening. "Kai. I didn't expect you to come…"

"Stop," he said sharply. "Whatever idea you have about parading our betrothal around campus…" His eyes narrowed. "Don't."

Her lips froze. "Excuse me?"

Kai's green eyes glistened with something dangerous. "The betrothal between us is null."