My Alphas' Dark Desires
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CHAPTER 405
~Valerie's POV~
I forced out a laugh, though it sounded strained even to my own ears. "Heat? No, no. I'm just... ovulating. It happens to all girls; it's a completely normal hormonal thing."
Dristan's eyes narrowed, looking like he was studying her. "Valerie…"
"Really, it's nothing important," I interrupted quickly, waving my hand dismissively. "Just my body doing its monthly thing. I mean, you know how it is, right?"
I could tell they didn't believe me. The way they were all tensed and alert as they stared at me made that painfully clear.
But I pretended not to see that and plastered on my brightest smile. "Look guys, I appreciate the concern, I do; but I'm fine… really. I just want to go home and take a long, nice bath. We'll see each other later this evening, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Axel asked in a soft voice filled with concern. "We could walk you back. Make sure you're okay."
"I'm sure," I said firmly, taking another step back. "I promise. I just need some time alone to stop feeling… sweatyy."
"Why are you lying?" Astra's voice cut through my thoughts sharply.
"Because they don't need to know it's a lie," I shot back internally.
"Val..." Kai started, but I was already moving.
"Later! I promise!" I called over my shoulder, hurrying down the hallway before they could stop me.
I could feel their eyes on my back the entire way, but thankfully, none of them followed.
As I walked back to my dorm, it felt like the journey would never end. With every step, the ache grew stronger. My skin felt overly sensitive, and my core was throbbing with deep longing.
Other students glanced my way, giving strange looks as I walked by, and I focused on the ground, trying to walk quickly without breaking into a run.
At last, I arrived at my building, digging through my bag to find my keys.
"Almost there," I muttered to myself. "Just get inside, lock the door, and figure this out."
I pulled out my keys and jammed one into the lock, twisting it hard.
Nothing happened.
I frowned and tried again, wiggling the key. Still nothing.
"What the heck?" I glanced up at the door number to be sure I hadn't somehow come to the wrong floor.
My heart practically leaped into my throat.
This wasn't my dorm.
I was standing right in front of the Alpha Heirs' lounge.
"Wait, what?" I blinked rapidly, looking around in total confusion. "How… how did I…" I paused, looking around again. "How did I even get here?"
I distinctly remembered walking toward my dorm. I remembered climbing stairs. When had I turned around? When had I come here instead?
"Accept the truth, Valerie," Astra said gently. "You're in heat. Your body is craving your mates. It brought you here without you even realising it."
"No," I shook my head, backing away from the door. "No, no, no. I need to leave. I need to leave right now before they…"
Before she could finish the thought or even take a step backwards, the door swung open.
Ace, Xade, and Ashton were standing there, looking down at me with expressions that made my breath catch.
"Leaving before even getting here?" Xade asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
"I… I didn't mean to…" I stammered, taking another step back. "I thought I was going to my dorm. I don't know how I ended up here."
Another wave of heat rolled through me; this time, it was stronger. I gasped, my knees buckling slightly.
Ace was there in an instant, his hands steadying me. "Easy, Val. We've got you."
"Come inside," Ashton said softly, his hand gentle on my lower back. "You shouldn't be out here like this."
"Like what?" I tried to protest weakly, but my body was already leaning into Ace's touch, craving more contact.
"Val, you're burning up," Ace said, concern clear in his voice. "And your scent... it's driving us crazy."
They guided me inside, and I didn't have the strength to resist. The door closed behind us, and I saw Dristan, Kai, and Axel already there, standing as we entered.
"She came here on her own," Xade announced. "Found her at the door."
"I didn't mean to," I said quickly, feeling my face burn with embarrassment. "I was trying to go home, I swear."
"Your body knows what it needs," Dristan said, moving closer. "Even if you're trying to deny it."
Another wave of pleasure hit me, stronger than before, and I whimpered, doubling over slightly. The sweet ache was becoming unbearable.
"Val, you need to let us help you," Kai said gently, coming beside me. "This is what mates are for."
"I don't... I can't..." I couldn't even form coherent sentences anymore. Everything hurt and felt good at the same time.
"Yes, you can," Axel said, brushing my hair back from my face. "We're here, and we're not going anywhere."
They guided me to the couch, and I sank into it gratefully. But sitting down only made the throbbing worse. I shifted uncomfortably, pressing my thighs together to hold back the heat pooling down there.
"Tell us what you need," Ashton said, sitting beside me.
"I… I don't know," I whispered, my eyes filling with tears of frustration. "Everything feels too much. Too hot. Too sensitive. I… I can't think straight."
"That's the heat," Dristan explained in a low, soothing voice, despite the tension in his body. "It'll get worse before it gets better. But we can help you ease it."
"How?" I asked desperately.
"Let us touch you," Xade said simply. "Let us give you what your body is craving."
My breath hitched. "I... we haven't even..."
"We know," Kai said softly. "We'll go at your pace. We just want to help you feel better."
I looked around at all of them, seeing the concern mixed with barely restrained desire in their eyes. They were holding themselves back, waiting for my permission.
"Okay," I whispered finally. "Please. I need... something. Anything."
Dristan sat on my other side, his hand cupping my face gently. "We've got you."
Then his lips touched mine. It was soft and careful at first. But the moment we kissed, something in me exploded. I moaned into his mouth, grabbing his shirt with my hands and pulling him closer to me.
The kiss deepened, and I felt other hands on me. Ashton's fingers traced patterns on my arm. Someone else… Kai, maybe, was massaging my shoulders.
Another set of hands was on my legs. Still, it wasn't enough. I needed more.
I pulled away from Dristan, gasping for air. "More. Please, I need more."
"Easy, baby," Axel murmured, tilting my face toward him. "We'll take care of you."
His kiss was different from Dristan's, hungrier and more demanding. I melted into it, whimpering when his tongue swept into my mouth.
Their hands were everywhere now: touching my waist, my hips, my thighs. Nothing inappropriate yet, but it was enough to make my skin sing with pleasure.
Someone was kissing my neck. Another set of lips found my jaw. Hands were tangled in my hair.
"So beautiful," Ace breathed against my ear. "You have no idea what you do to us."
"Please," I whimpered, not even sure what I was begging for anymore. "Please don't stop."
"Never," Xade promised, his hands sliding up my sides. "We'll never stop taking care of you."
The world started to blur around the edges.
All I could feel was their hands, their lips, and their bodies pressed close to mine. The heat was still there, still burning through me, but it was bearable now. Manageable with them touching me, grounding me.
"That's it," Dristan murmured. "Just let go. We've got you."
"Oh, fuck," I moaned, the word slipping out of my mouth without any control at all.
Astra stirred inside my mind, purring with clear approval. "Let them in, Valerie. This is exactly what we need right now. Trust your body; it's calling for them."
Ace let out a low, deep growl, his strong hands gripping my thighs even tighter. He didn't wait for me to say anything else.
His fingers quickly found the zipper on my jeans and pulled it down in one smooth, firm motion.
"Time to get these off," Xade said, his voice sounding rough and low as he undid the button at the top.
Working together, they slid my jeans off my body in just a few seconds, and my soaked panties followed right after.
The cool air hitting my bare skin down there was a sudden shock, but it only made the throbbing ache between my legs grow stronger. I started shaking from the intensity of it all, my skin prickling with goosebumps as the exposure hit me.
Now I was naked from the waist down, wearing only my lace bra and lost in this foggy haze of heat that clouded my thoughts. My mind raced with flashes of need, memories of their earlier touches, mingling with the urgent pull in my core.
"Look at her," Kai's voice was filled with desire, almost like he was in awe.
I tried to curl my legs up to cover myself out of old habit, but Dristan's gentle hand on my cheek stopped me. He made me open my eyes and look right into his with a warm and reassuring touch.
"Don't hide from us, Val," he said firmly, his eyes burning with raw want. "Let us see you. Let us help you through this. You're beautiful, and this is natural for us."