My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 369

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~Kai's POV~

My mind blanked for a full second.

"Me?" I repeated, almost laughing because it sounded absurd. "You think I hurt Marianne?"

Principal Whitmore's stare didn't waver. "I said you're a suspect, Ms. Nightshade. There's a difference. And unless you can prove otherwise, you'll stay on that list."

The words sank in slowly, almost to a suffocating state. My pulse stuttered. A dull ringing filled my ears. I'd come here to help, to clear things up—to defend Dristan and Xander—and somehow, I'd become part of the mess.

Well, guess I was always part of… no at the centre of this mess.

Xade immediately stepped forward. "That's ridiculous, Principal. Valerie was with us… most of that day."

"Most," Principal Whitmore echoed, arching a brow. "Not all."

Xade swallowed. "Well…"

"Principal, Xade would not know because he was busy annoying her that period. Also, he wasn't in school until later that day. So no, Xade cannot vouch for her."

My throat went dry. Principal Whitmore's gaze was sharp, like she could read my heartbeat. I did not know how to get angrier at Dristan than this.

He wasn't helping matters either.

"However, I believe my cousin, Isla, Astraea, and Solstice can vouch for her."

I did not know what to say at this point.

One time he was siding with me, and at another, he was tossing me to the flames.

"Valerie has nothing to do with anything. If there's anything wrong, Marianne stole the necklace from her. I collected it back and returned it but that was several days back," Ash defended me.

Principal Whitmore massaged her temples.

The fact that the heirs from the Lycan and Dragon kingdoms were tangled in this mess made it all the more stressful for her.

"Valerie?"

"What?" I blurted, stunned. "I didn't even—"

Dristan cut in, chuckling. His arms were folded across his chest, but his eyes didn't quite meet mine. "You always seem to be in the midst of trouble when things blow up."

His words sliced deeper than I wanted to admit.

"Dristan, stop," Kai warned, but Dristan only scoffed, shaking his head.

Principal Whitmore's eyes flicked between us, unimpressed. "Enough. No one is accusing anyone yet. But from now on, all seven of you are under close watch until this case is resolved."

"Wait, what?" Ace's brows furrowed. "We're being treated like suspects now?"

"You're heirs," she replied flatly. "Which means you hold more influence—and responsibility—than any other student here. If any of you were involved, even indirectly, it threatens the balance between packs, clans, and courts. You'll cooperate."

Silence settled again. "In that case, the Fae court should be held accountable seeing as Titania aided Marianne in Valerie's necklace theft," Ash explained.

"Why does this keep getting worse?" Principal Whitmore exclaimed.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. "Principal Whitmore, I didn't take that necklace from her. It was mine."

"Perhaps," she said simply, then leaned back in her chair. "Or perhaps you're the one hiding something."

My lips parted, but no words came out. I could feel everyone's eyes on me—Xander's guilt-ridden, Kai's worried, and Dristan's… unreadable.

The sting in my chest spread until it burned. "I came here to help," I said quietly. "Not to be treated like a criminal."

"Then prove it," Whitmore replied. "Until you do, no one is above suspicion." The finality in her tone sealed the room like a lock clicking into place. "Dismissed."

For the first time since I walked into that office, I wished I'd never come.

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~Author's POV~

Meanwhile, chaos brewed through the academy halls like wildfire after the first period, spreading faster than whispers could catch up.

Students huddled in corners, exchanging theories in hushed voices. Many of which were baseless lies.

Some claimed Valerie had been dragged into the mess. But no one knew the truth hid in the shadows, where no sunlight ever reached.

In one of the offices in the laboratory, Neil's lips brushed against Isla's jawline in a slow, calculated trail that made her shiver.

He murmured something low—too low to catch—as his mouth descended to her throat.

His teeth grazed her skin before he sucked gently, leaving a fresh mark just above her collarbone.

Isla's breath hitched. A small, involuntary moan escaped her lips as her fingers curled into his shirt.

"Neil…" she whispered, her voice trembling between pleasure and restraint.

He smirked against her skin. "You should be careful saying my name like that," he teased her.

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