My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 123: All of You

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Chapter 123

~Dristan’s POV~

The silence that followed was deafening.

The number still sat at my feet, untouched.

Kai stared after the fading streak of light in the sky, then looked at me. "What do you say we call her and try to talk? Hopefully, she’ll listen. Or..."

"Or we chat her privately. Individually," Axel said, his voice quiet, more thoughtful now.

Xade exhaled and looked at me. "What do you think, Dristan?"

I didn’t answer right away.

My eyes were locked on that small piece of paper. It might as well have been a lifeline—or a blade.

Finally, I looked up. "I need to see Valerie."

Kai blinked. "Let’s call her out?"

"No." I shook my head. "She’s not in the dorms."

They all frowned.

"What do you mean?" Axel asked.

I nodded once. "Xander left more than her number. He left a trail. A clue. I could smell her on him."

All their eyes snapped to me.

"She was with him?" Kai asked, incredulous.

"Yes," I said. "But not like that. I know Valerie’s scent. It was recent, strong. But mingled with something else—pine, damp earth. Forest."

Xade raised his head, catching on. "East wing."

"She’s in the eastern woods," I confirmed. "Probably near the training glade."

Kai’s fists clenched. "Let’s go. Before she leaves."

We didn’t hesitate.

No more delays.

No more waiting.

Valerie was slipping through our fingers—and I wasn’t going to lose her again without a fight.

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~Valerie’s POV~

The wind was gentle today.

I leaned back on the cool stone beneath me, one leg stretched out, the other bent, as I balanced atop the large moss-covered rock nestled in the east wing’s forest clearing.

The sky above me was brushed with streaks of orange and soft gold, and the sun was beginning its descent.

It was peaceful, too peaceful. I did not know how to navigate and handle four of them, to be honest.

I had no reason to feel unsettled... but I was.

I stared at the clouds with narrowed eyes, ignoring how my chest tightened.

"You’re being too hard on them," Astra whispered, voice fluttering in my head like the breeze through the leaves. "Dristan especially."

"He needs it," I replied flatly. "They all do."

Astra huffed. "Still, maybe give them a break? They’re trying."

I scoffed under my breath. "Trying too late. And too wrong. I’m not going to chase after a man, Astra. Not even a mate. If he doesn’t use the brain the Moon Goddess gave him, then he’s of no use to me."

She whined, a soft ripple of protest. But I wasn’t done.

"Don’t defend Dristan," I said firmly. "I need them to learn. If the Moon Goddess marked me as their mate, then she better expect them to grow into it."

Astra quieted.

I let my head tilt back again and let the silence stretch. Until I felt it.

Heat—shifting power, familiar auras approaching.

I didn’t move yet and waited till their footsteps broke into the clearing, slowly at first. The pressure of their presence settled around me like a shadow falling over light.

I finally lifted my gaze.

Dristan stood in the front, flanked by Kai, Axel, and Xade. He looked... different. Intent and purposeful in a way.

His voice cut through the forest. "Hello, Mate."

I blinked. That word... Mate.

He didn’t say Valerie or you. Just one word, and it silenced everything inside me.

Even the others glanced at him, startled. For once, none of them interrupted.

I sat up straighter, watching him. "Are you here to talk or just good at titles?" I asked coolly. freewёbnoνel.com

Kai stepped forward first, his hand out slightly. "We came to say we’ll do better. We... messed up. We admit that."

"We’ve got your number now," Axel added quickly. "We’ll respect your space but we also want to talk—properly this time."

I stared at them, then at the paper in Kai’s hand. My expression didn’t change.

"For a bunch of guys who claim to be brilliant strategists and cunning," I said, sliding off the rock and dusting my hands on my black jacket, "you’re all dumb when it comes to women."

Xade blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You really think it’s about the number?" I said, turning slowly to face them all. "You think giving me a call and saying let’s try better and chat will fix this?"

They were quiet now.

I folded my arms, levelling them with a look.

"If this is how you handle things—running in a pack only after the prey’s halfway gone—then I’m glad we haven’t marked each other."

A few of their faces twitched. Kai looked away. Axel flinched slightly.

"There’s still so much to learn," I said sharply. "And the worst part? You haven’t even started."

I turned, already done with the conversation.

"If you’re not ready for a mate, don’t waste my time either, trying to claim or kiss me."

I had taken two steps and turned when Dristan’s voice called out.

"Valerie—wait."

I paused but didn’t turn. I just waited.

But all I got was silence, cold, deafening silence.

Then... a collective gasp.

I slowly turned, brows furrowing to see what had happened to shock the others.

And stopped cold.

Dristan was on one knee.

His head was bowed, blond hair falling around his face, lips parted slightly like he was working through words he never thought he’d have to say aloud.

The others stood back, silent, almost stunned.

He looked up at me, and the intensity in his eyes knocked the wind from my lungs.

"I’m sorry," he said, voice low but steady. "I haven’t been the mate you deserved. I let pride, fear, all of it, get in the way. He was right. It is not about the number, nor can getting your line fix this mess. We—I, did not prioritise you well."

He shifted, still kneeling. "And I know I can’t speak for all of us, but I want to try. I want to know you better. We want to. Not just chase what the bond tells me to want."

I stared at him.

"And if you’ll let me—let us, we ’ll do it right this time," he added. "No marks. No assumptions. Just time and real effort."

Something inside me cracked.

The corner of my lips lifted into a slight smirk, but it softened into something tangible. Something warm.

I stepped closer, tucking my hands in my jacket pockets.

Then I smiled—wide, genuine, and eyes gleaming.

"I forgive you, Mate."

I did not wait for Dristan or the others to say anything before pivoting on my heels and walking away peacefully.

No one spoke or said a word; they all seemed dumbfounded.

Astra’s voice whispered as I turned. "That was beautiful, Val. I’m proud of you."

I exhaled softly. "They needed to feel it, not just hear it. That’s their second chance."

"You really think they’ll use it well?"

I didn’t stop walking, just tucked my hands deeper into my pockets. "They better. If they mess it up again, I won’t wait for a third."

A pause, then Astra giggled. "Spoken like a true Alpha Queen."

I smiled slightly, boots crunching the leaves beneath me.

However, I paused a couple of steps afterwards, and without turning, I lifted my chin toward the sky, letting the moment’s weight settle.

"All of you."

I didn’t need to see their faces to know I’d just shaken their entire world.