My Alphas' Dark Desires novel Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Quest: The Serpent’s Hollow

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~Chapter 363~

~Valerie’s POV~

I barely made it back to my room, my lungs burning as I pushed the door shut behind me.

I wasn’t initially planning the meeting with my mate but my restless thoughts and the rumours made me call for one.

That detour had taken up more of my time than expected, and I had almost lost track of time.

My eyes darted to the clock on the wall. Five forty-five.

Fifteen minutes. I had fifteen minutes to start the quest, but first, I had to figure out where this Serpent’s Hollow even was, and...

My breath caught.

There, on my bed, lay an envelope; the same deep purple seal and emblem.

Nightshade.

"How do they even get this in here?" I whispered, my heart hammering in my chest as I crossed the room in three quick strides.

My fingers trembled slightly as I tore it open. Inside was a single card, and the message was written in that same blood-red ink:

It’s Time.

Head northeast past the training grounds. Beyond the iron gate lies the old well. The Serpent’s Hollow awaits below.

"Valerie." Astra’s voice rang sharp in my mind. "Are we really doing this? This feels like a trap."

"It’s not a trap," I muttered, shoving the card into my pocket and checking my shoes. "It’s a test."

"A test that could get us killed."

"Then I’ll just have to... you know... not die."

I went through the motions automatically, like I was on autopilot: pulling on my hoodie, tying my shoelaces tight, and checking that everything was ready so nothing would slow me down.

"You’re impossible," Astra groaned.

"You love me anyway." I flashed a grin at my reflection before slipping back out the door.

—

The northeast path felt darker than I recalled. At this hour, the training grounds were empty, and the equipment loomed in the pale moonlight, casting long shadows.

I spotted the iron gate right away; it was rusty and mostly hidden by overgrown vines. It creaked loudly when I pushed it open, and the sound made me flinch.

"Subtle," Astra remarked dryly. "Very subtle."

"Shut up and help me look for this well."

It didn’t take long to find it. Just past a group of dead trees, there was an old stone well with crumbling edges. I leaned over to look inside, but I couldn’t see anything in the complete darkness below.

The words from the first letter replayed in my mind: For your Second Test, you shall partake in a quest tomorrow. At six p.m., retrieve the golden coin hidden in the Serpent’s Hollow. Beware its guardians. Only the brave survive.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

"There’s a ladder," Astra pointed out. "On the inside wall."

Sure enough, I could see iron rungs leading down into the darkness. Taking a deep breath, I climbed over the edge and started my descent.

The air got colder with every step I took, feeling thick and damp around me. The scent of dirt and rotting leaves filled my nostrils.

"I really hope there aren’t actual serpents down here," I muttered.

"Oh, I’m sure there’s something much worse."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

My foot hit solid ground sooner than expected. I turned, letting my eyes adjust to the dim light filtering from above.

The space opened up into a cave with walls that were wet and slippery. In the middle of the cave stood a stone pedestal.

On top of it sat a single golden coin, reflecting light from a source I couldn’t place.

"That’s it?" I breathed. "That’s what all this is about?"

"It’s never that easy," Astra warned.

She was right.

The moment I took a step forward, the ground trembled. A low, rumbling hiss echoed through the cavern, bouncing off the walls until I couldn’t tell which direction it came from.

"Okay... that doesn’t sound friendly."

Then I saw it.

Rising from the shadows at the far end of the chamber was a creature straight out of a... I was going to say horror movie, but even the producers would think twice about its audience. The creature was massive and snake-like, with scales that shimmered like oil in the darkness.

Calling it a terrifying creature would be an understatement.

But it wasn’t just the size that made my blood run cold.

It was the heads. This creature had three of them, swaying on long necks, each one bearing fangs as long as my forearm.

"A hydra," I whispered. "They sent me after a coin guarded by a gods-damned hydra."

"Run!" Astra screamed.

I dove to the side just as one of the heads struck, its jaws snapping shut where I’d been standing. The impact cracked the stone floor beneath me.

"Cut off one head, two grow back," Astra supplied unhelpfully.

"It breathes fire!" Astra yelped in my head.

"Now what?" Astra demanded.

"Valerie!" Astra’s panic flooded through me.

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