My Alphas' Dark Desires
Chapter 196: Saved... and Challenged

Chapter 196: Saved... and Challenged

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Chapter 196

~Valerie’s POV~

"Valerie Nightshade, do you have powers?"

I blinked when Snow asked the question.

It wasn’t a smart move on my part, not when I was surrounded by people who weren’t stupid—no, far from it.

These weren’t ordinary guys. They were Alpha heirs, sons of some of the most powerful bloodlines in our realm.

A quake like that wouldn’t just randomly happen and vanish into thin air. They knew it. I knew they knew it.

But I had to lie. I had to try.

For now, I could only hope and pray that my answer, flimsy as it might be, would be enough to push past their suspicions.

Because I was bound by one law—one terrifying, absolute truth that governed my entire existence:

Do not let anyone know the truth about you.

If I told them I had powers—real powers that could shift earth and manipulate forces beyond understanding—then my secrets would unravel.

Who I really was would come to light. My past, my bloodline, my enemies... all of it.

And until I found out who those enemies were, I couldn’t let this news go out. Not even to them.

"Hey, Val," Xade and Ace said softly at the same time, their voices in perfect harmony. Their tone was calm, like they were speaking to a wounded animal, like they didn’t want to scare me off.

"You can tell us," Ace added, his icy blue eyes filled with so much concern it nearly made me cave.

"We can help you," Xade followed, eyes searching mine like he was willing to carry the burden if I just gave him a name to fight.

I wanted to believe them. I really did.

But Kai blinked slowly from the corner, like he was analysing me and reading me.

Dristan held my gaze; the intensity in his eyes was almost too much to bear. It was like he could see into my very soul—and for a moment, I felt naked under that stare.

And Riven... gods, that Vampire was worse than all of them combined. His crimson gaze pierced me like he already knew the truth and was just waiting for me to say it out loud.

He didn’t blink, and I almost thought he didn’t breathe. He just watched.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

No. Not yet.

"I..." I parted my lips, ready to speak—to lie, or maybe even confess.

But then the door burst open, crashing against the wall with a loud bang.

"Valerie!" A familiar voice rang out—worried, breathless.

Thank the stars.

Solstice.

Every head whipped around as she froze in the doorway. Her bright energy faltered under their stares, but she held her ground.

"Valerie?" she repeated, her eyes bouncing between me and the Alphas like she’d walked into a sacred ritual.

She looked unsure for a second, wondering if this was the right time—but then our eyes met, and I blinked three times in quick succession.

YES.

She caught it.

Her lips curved slightly to the side in acknowledgement. Message received.

She stepped further into the room, walking confidently to stand at the foot of my bed. Her gaze flickered over the room, assessing the charged tension hanging in the air.

"Alphas," she said with a nod.

A few of them groaned under their breath. Some muttered something inaudible. None of them moved.

Solstice didn’t care.

"Umm, I know you guys care," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "but Valerie needs air. Do you all mind stepping out for some minutes, please? Let her breathe."

"Get lost," Dristan snapped coldly.

"Huh, nope," Solstice shot back with the same energy.

"She’s our mate," he growled. "She needs us right now. Not you."

Solstice raised an eyebrow and folded her arms with a look that could freeze time. "Well, I’m her friend. A female friend. Unlike you lot. You all only care about who gets her, not how she feels or what she needs. So here’s a wild idea—how about you take a chill pill, actually court her properly, get to know her, take her on a damn date maybe, and behave like decent gentlemen?"

I winced slightly at the explosion that followed her words.

"But until then," she added firmly, "do not dare question my friendship with Valerie."

"I already did," Dristan voiced.

"Maybe do a better one then."

I could feel the way their anger simmered. Some of them were clenching their fists. I knew if they let their Alpha aura slip, even a little, it would crush her. She didn’t have a wolf to push back like them.

So I spoke up, voice dry but calm. "Please, guys. She’s concerned. And I’m guessing none of you have let anyone in since I collapsed?"

"Nope. Just the nurse," Solstice answered, glaring at them with that same fiery protectiveness.

A guilty silence followed.

Kai was the first to move. "As you wish, Valerie." But even his voice was laced with reluctance.

"But we’ll be the ones taking you back. And tonight, you’re sleeping at our house," Dristan added, leaving no room for negotiation.

I caught the slight tension in Riven, Ash, and Ace. They clearly wanted to argue but didn’t. Maybe because, deep down, they agreed it was safest for now since they were staying in Dorms.

"Fine," Solstice sighed. "As you wish. But don’t eat her."

The guys blinked.

"No promises, kiddo," Dristan smirked. "But I’ll definitely be having her."

I opened my mouth to warn him, but before I could, he turned sharply, walked back to my bed, and pressed a kiss to my lips.

It was firm, possessive and carried a clear message.

"We still need to talk, Nightshade," Dristan whispered.

Immediately, jealousy kicked in, and the others followed like clockwork.

"Be safe and think of me, little wolf," Xade enunciated, pecking my lips softly.

"No, think of me," Axel countered, aiming for my cheek.

"I love you," Kai added, and unlike the others, his kiss was deep—his tongue brushed briefly against mine before he pulled back, leaving my heart thudding in my chest.

I swallowed thickly.

"You’re not leaving us out," Ash said. "Ace and I will get our kiss. Something deep and meaningful. But until then—forget the rest of them."

He pecked me near the corner of my lips, and I blushed despite myself as his hair brushed my cheek.

Ace leaned in, brushing his knuckles against my forehead. "My first kiss with you ought to be beautiful," he said, "so I call first before Ash. Rest well, and think only happy thoughts and not of these wolves."

He kissed my forehead, lingering just a moment too long.

And then there was Riven.

He didn’t kiss me. Didn’t touch me. He only smiled quietly, dangerously, and magnetically.

"I will earn the right to be yours," he said. "And I will have you be mine. I shall steal you from them all." All the guys rolled their eyes.

"Get to the back of the line, Vamp," Kai voiced.

Riven ignored him and added, "I’ll always be watching, Nightshade. No one will harm you while I live."

His eyes flashed blood-red as he stepped back.

And then they all left together. A line of Alphas retreating reluctantly, casting final glances as they went.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Solstice turned, locked it, and pressed her back against it.

Both of us exhaled in unison.

"That," she said, sliding to the floor dramatically, "was way too close."

I couldn’t help but laugh softly, even though my voice shook at how close I was to giving myself away.

It was the most alive I’d felt since waking up.

"So, shall I inform Storm?"

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