My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 195: Painful Sweet Memories

Chapter 195: Painful Sweet Memories

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Chapter 195

~Valerie’s POV~

Dad grinned, his teasing tone returning. "Your temper’s too hot. I’m afraid Valerie will take after you."

Aunt Tempest gasped in mock offence before her expression softened. "That’s why Aira will be a godmother too. Hot and cold. No offence, sweet sis."

"None taken, Tempest," said another voice, cool and serene. Aunt Aira came into view, kneeling beside Mum’s chair. "Isn’t that right, Vi baby?" she added, pinching my cheek softly.

"Sure," Mum said, smiling down at me.

"And that’s why having three godmothers is no big deal. It simply means she’s loved," a fourth voice or fifth—I lost count after Mum and dad, hehe—came out loudly as she walked closer.

"Welcome, Ella," Mum greeted sweetly as Aunt Ella moved closer with a baby bump in her stomach.

"You guys finally settled?" Ella laughed, brushing her fiery curls out of her face.

"Well, it was a cute fight," came a rich, deep male voice.

Soon, I was surrounded—wrapped in a circle of warmth, laughter, and love. Familiar faces leaned close. Cherished.

Golden God—Dad’s assassin friend, also known as Xavier Kael. Dare Devil—my father’s right-hand fighter, known as Uncle Ravyn Aragorn, who always smelled like steel and danger.

And then there was Uncle Jupiter Damien, the shadowy intel king with endless connections. And finally, Uncle Zade Gold, my mother’s only brother, who had once sworn to kill anyone who made me cry.

"I’ll call her Valerie," Uncle Zade declared, siding with Dad.

"I’ll call her Violet," Uncle Jupiter added, clearly siding with Mum.

"I’ll go with Sapphire," Xavier added with a sly grin, knowing he picked in between.

"I’ll call her baby Val or baby Vi," the voice that warmed me most during my pain-filled days, Storm’s.

"Hey, little Storm. You will be her big cousin," Dad cooed as he lifted him in his hands. Although big now, Dad always treated Storm as his own child.

"Daddy Snow, I love my baby sis."

"Yes, as you should. You’ll be getting one more, too. Look, your mum will give birth to a baby."

"Yay. I will have more little sisters to play with."

"And to protect. You are their older brother. Never forget?"

They all looked at each other, then burst into light-hearted bickering that I couldn’t understand in baby talk—but it warmed me.

Then, just like that, the colours began to fade. One by one, the smiles disappeared. The room grew quiet. The light dimmed until there was only memory and silence.

I stood in my mind’s eye again, a spectator to my own past, watching as the years sped by in bursts—hidden behind masks, sheltered by lies, kept from the very people who once held me with such fierce love.

And then came the day of my parents’ death. The world turned cold instantly, silent, still.

And in that haunting stillness, everything disappeared... until only a white light remained.

It beckoned to me and I reached for it.

And just like that, I was yanked back into the present. Warm air brushed against my face. Hushed voices buzzed nearby.

"Stop raising your voices," someone whispered. "You’ll disturb her sleep."

"She’s awake..."

A shadow shifted and then seven pairs of eyes surrounded me.

Their expressions were mixtures of stunned, relieved, overwhelmed, worried, and concerned.

"And she’s crying," someone said gently.

Tears streamed down my cheeks—and I didn’t even know why.

Maybe it was because I’d felt that love again.

Or maybe because... I’d remembered what it felt like to be whole from a memory I never knew I had.

Not by my full control, but more tears streamed down my cheeks and neck as I cried.

For a long time, the only memory that was distinct as clear as day in my mind was the death of my parents and nothing more.

The others had become a blur... all until today, until now, when I saw the beautiful moment Storm always told me about.

"Valerie, stop... stop crying, honey," Dristan’s cool voice broke through the fog in my mind.

And the only thing it yielded was warm wetness sliding down my cheeks before I even knew what was happening. I wasn’t sobbing, just... weeping. Silently.

Because the first thing I remembered was love and then loss and now more love but with a thought that anyone close to me would experience the same end—death.

"Shhh, hush, hush, love," Kai cooed just like my parents had done as he caressed my cheek softly. "We’re here. We’re all here, don’t be scared. Nothing can ever happen to you."

"He is right," Ash added. "You do not have to fear, Valerie. We would always protect you."

Their concern was evident in the different expressions on their faces. I blinked slowly, heart thudding and mouth dry, as I wiped the tears away.

And then my lips parted. I couldn’t stop the whisper that fell out.

"...Mum?"

Everyone froze. None of the guys said anything for a moment before slowly, they all exchanged glances.

"Mum?" Ace voiced. "Is she having some kind of concussion?"

"I hope not. I know she hit her head, but her wolf’s powers should facilitate her healing."

I shook my head and attempted to sit up. Quickly, hands were on m,e trying to help me up.

It was a wonder that no nurse was with me and instead my mates became my doctor and nurse.

"Where am I?" I asked after adjusting to the bed.

"You’re in the school’s hospital," Xade answered.

"And the nurse?"

"She stepped out because of their little grumbling and worry," Axel informed me.

I tried ignoring their stares and asked the one question plaguing my memory. "What happened?"

"The part of the earthquake or the part of your collapse?" My gaze darted to the voice, where Riven stood at the foot of the bed.

"Both."

My mates moved back a little, and everyone glanced around themselves before answering.

"You collapsed, and we rushed to the scene. You were quickly brought to the clinic, and your body was hot. We do not know what happened," Kai explained.

"Speculations are going on, though. Others believe you caused the crack in the ground," Ace informed me.

"And, others believe it was a quake, but we cannot explain the flames, given that there’s no active volcano nearby," Riven added.

"But what concerns us most is this," Dristan voiced as he leaned closer. "Valerie Nightshade, do you have powers?"

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