CHAPTER 282: HIS STAND

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Chapter 282

~Valerie’s POV~

I blinked as the air thickened instantly.

And just like that, the question I had avoided crashed into the room.

"Xade, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing. I was just passing by when I heard..." he began, but I cut him off.

"Were you spying on me?"

"No." His brows creased as his shoulder tensed up immediately like a child caught in the wrong. "I was only coming to check on you, and then I heard..." His expression turned serious. "Don’t deflect, Valerie. Answer my question. Why are you seeking them out?"

"Nothing much..." I began with a shrug, keeping my voice casual. "I just got curious, that’s all."

Xade didn’t look convinced. His eyes darkened just slightly as he crossed his arms and took a step further into the room.

"Curious?" he repeated slowly, like he was testing the word in his mouth. "That doesn’t explain why you, of all people, are searching them up."

I lifted a brow. "Why? You think I want to join them? Okay, yeah I am searching for Nightshade because I want to join them."

The words came out light, almost teasing, but the effect was instant.

Xade’s aura burst into the room like a crash of ice and thunder. The lamps flickered slightly, my skin bristled, as the air grew cold.

"Be serious, Valerie," he growled, the edge in his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. "You don’t joke about them. Ever."

I blinked once, twice, and then sighed, dropping my shoulders.

"Okay, okay. Don’t get your wolf all tangled up. I was kidding. Honestly."

I gestured vaguely toward my laptop. Xade and Xander glanced in the direction before I realised my slip.

My shoulders shrugged casually.

"It just... feels like a witch hunt. You know? A chase for something hidden. Secrets. Answers. That kind of vibe. And maybe—just maybe—those answers would explain a lot about... everything and they wouldn’t be secret anymore. But that’s it."

Xade studied me for what felt like an eternity. I could feel the weight of his stare pressing into my skin. But after a long moment, he finally nodded.

"Well," he muttered, "any research on Nightshade is off-limits by order of the Council of Alphas. It’s tied to the murder of the Southern Alpha King ten years ago. You dig into that, Valerie... you’ll be digging your own grave."

Both Xander and I blinked as we stared at him.

And then I chuckled as if I wasn’t taking it seriously.

"Understood," I said quietly as I waved my fingers.

But even as I said it, I could feel Xander’s eyes on me—watching, observing.

He hadn’t spoken since Xade entered. And just as I glanced his way again, he smiled softly.

’If it’s a witch hunt you want, his voice echoed in my head, I’ll do it for you. Or with you.’

My heart skipped. Dristan did this before, speaking to me via a mind link when we weren’t marked to each other and now Xander too.

Was it me or was it them?

I didn’t respond aloud. Instead, I sent back a thought just as quiet. ’I do. I’d love that.’

Xander’s smile grew before he turned to Xade.

"Don’t scare her," Xander said with a grin. "But I think I’ll give you the room to bond."

I tilted my head. "You can stay, you know."

He shook his head. "Nah, Xade looks like he needs the space. I’ll see you in school tomorrow."

Xander winked at me before bumping fists with Xade briefly, and then Xander was gone, leaving just the two of us in the room. Silence fell like a heavy cloak between us.

Xade stood there, gaze lingering on me, in that blank, neutral expression.

And in that moment, I realized something. Whatever he’d said, however strict or harsh he was... he wasn’t trying to hurt me.

But still, it didn’t change the fact that this mission—this war of mine—was personal. And Xade had just made it clear which side he stood on, at least for now.

"Umm..."

"I want to sleep," I said quietly, avoiding his gaze.

Whatever he had expected me to say, it wasn’t that. His expression cracked.

Immediately, he moved closer, sitting beside me on the bed and gently taking my hand in his.

"Hey, hey... I’m sorry. I know I took things too hard—or too rigid—but please, Val... it was for your own good."

He squeezed my hand.

"If you start digging for fun and the council finds out, they won’t be interested in your reasons. They don’t care if you’re just curious. They’ll shut you down—permanently. I couldn’t let that happen. I just... I panicked."

My chest clenched.

"No need to protect me, Xade," I murmured. "Not like that."

He shut his eyes and let out a shaky breath. And when he looked at me again, his eyes had softened, almost blurry. "I’m sorry. Please. I didn’t come here to argue. I came to spend time with you."

I finally met his gaze and nodded, letting him have the moment.

"Okay," I whispered. "Then stay. But I just want to lay down."

He smiled faintly and nodded, moving slowly as he laid beside me on the bed, careful not to touch unless I allowed it.

For a while, neither of us spoke. Then his voice broke the silence again.

"Did you ever... talk to Kai and Dristan?" he asked.

I glanced at him. "Talk to them? About what?"

"Their deepest pains," he explained slowly, as if unsure if he should bring it up. "Their fears. Their regrets and the reason for the blue eyes."

I frowned. "No. Not really. I didn’t think that was the right way to get to know someone. That was my mistake before—thinking bonding was about forcing confessions."

He hummed, thoughtful. "Maybe..."

But before either of us could say anything more, another voice chimed in from the doorway.

"Nonsense."

Both of us turned our heads sharply.

Kai stood there, arms folded in front of his chest. "Pain. Love. Joy. Laughter. Sorrow. You know people through every thought and emotion, not only the good ones."

He pushed the door open the rest of the way and walked in, shutting it gently behind him.

"So if you want to know anything..."

he said, eyes locking with mine, "all you have to do is ask."