ALPHA XAVIER POV

A mischievous smile played on my lips while I listened to Valerian talk and advocate for Isabel. I could have understood if he had only spoken about it and moved on to other subjects.

But he dwelled on the topic, passionately appealing for Isabel's course. "I have a question Val, and I'd be grateful if you'd answered honestly." A name I usually call him.

Valerian looked at me searchingly, I could see the desperation in his eyes as he tried to figure out what was going on in my head. "Okay, shoot." Valerian was never desperate, he came up with a mantra after we became young adults...