My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 261

Chapter 261: Rare Species

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Chapter 261

~Valerie’s POV~

"Alright, students," Professor Winnie clapped her hands, the sharp sound cutting through the low morning chatter. "Time for today’s group assignment."

Groans echoed from every corner of the clearing. No one liked being split into groups. Especially not when it meant traipsing through the wilderness.

"You’ll be divided into five groups. Each will collect five rare plant specimens. You’ll find them growing naturally within this zone."

She tapped the hologram map hovering in front of her. "Your list: Crimson Veil, Fae Lantern Root, Moonshade Petals, Grim Ivy, and Starcap Mushrooms. I suggest you review your notes before stepping into the collection zones. Some of these are poisonous if handled incorrectly."

The students began shuffling into their assigned teams as she called names from a digital tablet.

"Group One: Kai, Dristan, Isla..."

I blinked, waiting.

"Group Two: Valerie Nightshade, Axel Grayborne, Xade Dravien, Emerald Thorn, Astraea Lune, Rain Eastwood, Nolan Crest..."

Axel and Xade?

I barely had time to process before Astraea gasped dramatically beside me. "We’re with both your Alpha hounds," she whispered with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Emerald leaned over with a teasing smirk. "This trip just got fun."

"I regret all my life choices," I muttered under my breath.

"I’m getting a vision," Emerald whispered dramatically. "One of shameless flirting and hot tension."

I rolled my eyes. "Stop." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Axel met my gaze with that usual lazy smirk. "Fate’s playing favourites again."

Xade raised a brow. "Or maybe she’s just tired of watching us tiptoe around each other. Either way, you should be honoured."

"Should I?" I raised an eyebrow at him, and he smirked.

Professor Winnie waved us toward the left path. "Stay within your boundaries. Collect carefully, no shortcuts, no cutting the roots wrong. I’ll know. We all meet here in 3 hours."

Axel gave a nod, adjusting his gloves. "Let’s make this efficient. I’d rather not be in the woods longer than needed."

With that, we set off.

The forest was just starting to wake up. Sunlight filtered through the trees in soft beams, and the air smelled fresh, with the scent of damp soil and leaves.

We moved deeper into the woods, where the colourful trail markers began to disappear. Before long, the sounds of nature surrounded us: birds calling, leaves rustling above, and the faint bubbling of a stream we couldn’t see.

Professor Winnie had warned us that this zone was untouched, unpredictable.

"What exactly does Crimson Veil look like again?" Emerald asked, flipping through her scanpad.

"Blood-red leaves grow low to the ground, usually at the base of Silverwillow trees," I answered, already scanning our surroundings.

"Look who came prepared," Xade muttered behind me.

"Comes with the territory of being a ’smart ass,’ remember?" I shot back.

Axel chuckled. "She’s got you there."

We split into sub-pairs to cover more ground, each person within calling range. I kept walking ahead when a flicker of movement near a fallen log made me pause.

My eyes narrowed.

There was something wrong with the air.

"Guys?" I called, but it was too late.

Something whipped out from the underbrush. It was fast, green, and coiled like a snake. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed what it was... a carnivorous vine. It was moving quickly and aiming straight at me.

Move!

But I wasn’t fast enough.

Before I could react, Axel moved like lightning, summoning his elemental blade and slicing clean through the vine.

The thing shrieked, a high-pitched screech that made my ears ring, sending the severed plant wriggling like a dying snake into the nearby foliage.

The way she looked at me, filled with fear, anxiety, and guilt, told me everything I needed to know.

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