Three Alphas, Fated To One, Played By One, But Mated To One-Chapter 115: Confession

Valerie’s POV

"I want to leave," I said finally.

Karl’s eyes lit up slightly.

"But not with you."

That light dimmed just as quickly.

"You’d rather go alone?" he asked.

"Yes. We are friends Karl, but you are also Mike’s friend and the two packs are friends and partners. I don’t want to cause a rift between you two. Whether Mike wants me or not, if you and I get involved, it would cause conflict. I don’t want anything to happen to you." I had to make my reason sound genuine and I knew Karl would believe me.

After all, I have played the role of a trusting friend for years now.

"That’s dangerous. I mean going into the world alone." Karl tried to persuade me.

"But so is staying." I shot back.

This time, he didn’t argue.

Because he couldn’t.

Because we both knew that I was right.

"You don’t trust me," he said.

"It’s not about not trusting you. If there is at least one person I trust in this world, it’s you. But I can’t get you into trouble."

I didn’t expect my act not to convince him.

"I know you better than that Val, I can tell you no longer trust me." Karl insisted and after looking at him for a long time, I decided to come clean.

"Yes, I don’t trust you. Not anymore." I said honestly.

His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Even after everything?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause before he spoke again.

"Why?"

I held his gaze.

Because he deserved an answer after everything he has done for me.

Even if he didn’t like it.

"Because I know about the bet."

His face morphed into a look of shock and his expression froze for a split second.

"You..."

"I’m not stupid, Karl," I cut in. "And I’m not blind."

His jaw tightened.

"How long have you known?"

"Long enough."

"Then why do you still talk to me?" He asked in confusion.

"Because no matter what, you were still the only person who gave me warmth when the entire world was cold to me. So, I can still manage a smile for you."

That seemed to hit him harder than anything else.

It seemed that he hadn’t expected my response.

"I won’t lie to you," he said finally. "The bet was real."

"I know."

"But things changed."

I didn’t respond and just watched him as he spoke.

"I started out wanting to win," he continued. "But somewhere along the way..." He trailed off.

"It stopped being just about that."

I tilted my head slightly.

"And what is it about now?"

He looked at me.

Really looked.

"Now," he said quietly, "I just don’t want to see you like this."

Something in his tone...almost felt genuine.

However, I would never trust him again.

Not after everything.

And not when I know what he is capable of.

"Then don’t," I said simply.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"What?"

"Don’t see me like this," I repeated. "Because I won’t stay like this."

A flicker of something that felt like respect passed through his eyes.

"You’re really leaving," he said.

"Yes."

"When?"

"The sooner the better. I don’t see the point of staying here when I am completely unwanted." I said with a sigh.

A long pause followed then Karl leaned back on the sofa.

A hand running through his hair.

"You’re stubborn," he muttered.

"I’ve been called worse."

A faint huff of amusement escaped him.

"I’m serious, Val. The outside world isn’t easy."

"I know."

"You don’t know everything."

"I don’t need to," I replied. "I’ll figure it out."

"That’s risky."

"So is trusting the wrong people."

That shut him up.

He knew he had lost my trust and he couldn’t argue with me.

"I’ll still help you," Karl said after a while.

I raised a brow slightly.

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"Call it... a bad habit."

I smiled at that.

He might have been awful with his intentions, but the help he provided before wàs real.

"Don’t," I said.

His brows furrowed.

"What?"

"Don’t help me," I repeated. "Not unless I ask."

"And if you never ask?"

"Then you don’t help."

He studied me for a moment.

Then nodded slowly.

"Alright."

I didn’t want to owe anyone anything. Especially not him.

And I didn’t want to depend on anyone.

"I should go," he said, standing up.

"Yes."

He hesitated for a second before he spoke again.

"Be careful, Val."

"I definitely will."

A faint smile touched his lips, then he turned around and walked out.

The room felt quieter now after Karl left.

I walked back to the desk slowly and sat down.

I turned my computer back on, feeling comfort from the familiar feeling.

My fingers hovered over the keys for a second then they moved. Confidently and steadily.

Because I had decided to leave and not just when to leave but how to leave as well.

And more importantly, who I would be when I did.

No more illusions.

No more dependence.

And no more waiting for someone to choose me.

I would choose myself.

And as the lines of code filled the screen once more, my determination increased.

No matter what happened after today, I wouldn’t look back.

Thinking of this, I decided to talk to my mentor the following day and have him by me a house in the city.

Since I was going to leave, I couldn’t be homeless.

I have made some money and can even afford a small villa in the human world.

Living in an apartment would have been better but as a werewolf, that would be too risky.

Especially during the full moon when shifted werewolves might not be able to control themselves.

So, I needed a place that stood alone.

If I locked myself in my own house, even if something happened during the full moon, I wouldn’t hurt anyone or be exposed.

Even though I didn’t know much about the outside world, I knew that werewolves and other supernatural beings were a well hidden secret that could not be exposed otherwise the world would be in chaos.