My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 54: For A Reason

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Chapter 54

~Valerie’s POV~

Solstice nearly choked on her own breath. "What the fu—" she slapped a hand over her mouth, catching herself just in time.

Her eyes were huge, her jaw practically on the floor as she leaned even closer to the screen. "Six?! Valerie! Are you out of your goddess-damned mind? All four Alpha Kings’ heirs and..."

"The Lycan princes."

"The Lycan Princes of all people?"

I winced. "Yeah... pretty much."

"Oh, girl. No wonder you look like someone wrung your soul out and hung it to dry," she muttered, fingers combing through her long, golden braid. "Okay. Start from the top. How did this even happen?"

I shifted on the bed, drawing my knees up to my chest and hugging them. The comforter scrunched under me, and for a moment I just stared at the screen, wondering where the hell to even begin.

"The first time was Dristan, Axel and Kai," I said softly. "It happened on my way to the principal’s office. I tried to ignore it, but... Astra confirmed it."

"Right, right, your wolf. Got it."

"Then Xade not long after that." I glanced down at my fingers, suddenly nervous. "I thought that was it. But then the Lycans arrived... and I met Ash and Ace."

Solstice’s brows flew even higher. "Let me guess... instant bond?"

I nodded miserably.

"Goddess," she whispered. "You must be the Moon Goddess’ favourite or her biggest test subject."

"Feels like both," I muttered.

Solstice was silent for a second, just watching me. Her amused expression melted slowly as she leaned in again, her brows knitting together, serious this time.

"But you’re not smiling," she said quietly. "You’re not glowing like someone who found their fated. What’s wrong, cousin? Why aren’t you happy? I mean—yeah, six is a lot to deal with, but... there’s something else, isn’t there?"

I hesitated. Swallowed hard. Then let my forehead drop to my knees for a second before looking back up at her.

"Yeah," I said, voice low. "I... can’t reject them."

Solstice froze. "You what?"

"I tried." I laughed a bit bitter and broken. "I tried today, Solstice. I stood in front of all six of them and I said the words. I rejected them. But instead of the bond breaking, it rebounded and doubled down. Harder. Stronger. Astra said it’s... unbreakable."

Solstice sat there, stunned, her hand covering her mouth again. I could see the understanding click into place as her blue eyes softened.

"Shit, Val."

I nodded. "Yeah. A lot of things are messy because of it."

She straightened slowly, brushing her hair back. "How so? Have they figured out who you are?"

I hushed her quickly. "Shh—not so loud." I glanced toward the door, making sure Astraea wasn’t hovering outside.

Solstice caught on immediately and lowered her voice. "So... they don’t know yet?"

"No," I said. "And I need to keep it that way. At least for now. With all the political tension, the supernaturals’ treaty, the training evaluations, everything including the mission... I can’t afford distractions. Especially not this."

"I get it," she said softly. "I really do. You’ve always had the plan, Val. The goal. The bigger picture. But... that bond isn’t going anywhere, is it?"

"No," I whispered. "It’s not."

Solstice tilted her head, thoughtful. "Do any of them know how deeply this is affecting you?"

"Dristan might," I admitted, voice cracking a little. "But I screwed that up too I guess. He said some things before, but I couldn’t blame him entirely. However, my stubbornness made me lock him out when he came to me. Now, hopefully we won’t look at each other."

"Oh, that broody dollophead has always had the emotional range of a cold rock," Solstice muttered. "You’re better than that, Val. You don’t need to carry all of this alone."

"I know," I whispered. "But I feel like I am."

Solstice was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled—soft, real, and a little sad. "Well, for what it’s worth, I’m happy for you. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but at least you found your mates. I haven’t even found one."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Want one of mine? I’ll gift-wrap the whole set."

She laughed, and the sound was so familiar and warm that it made my chest ache a little less.

"That’s sweet," she said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye. "But I think I’ll wait for my own chaos, thanks."

I grinned at her. "Wise choice."

Suddenly, we both heard her name being called in the background.

"That’s Dad," she said, making a face. "Time for my ’pack heir duties’ and probably more frost training. Ugh."

"Go, Solstice. And... thanks. For calling."

"Always." She paused, then leaned forward, her expression turning just a little more serious. "Maybe think of it this way. Not having mates may be bad. But having multiple? It’s not a curse. It’s just... a path. One only you get to walk."

"Solstice?"

She smiled, . "The Moon Goddess gave them to you for a reason. What to do with them, or why—maybe you won’t know right now. But I believe it’s not by accident."

I swallowed, nodding.

"To everything," she said sternly, that sometimes I wondered if she was even her age or an old soul in a young body, "there is a reason."

"Love you, Aura," I whispered.

"Love you more, Vi," she replied with a wink.

And with that, the screen went dark.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the reflection of myself in the black mirror of my phone.

Then I sighed, dropped it on the bed, and leaned back on the pillow, one arm thrown across my eyes.

Six mates.

A bond I couldn’t break.

A fate I couldn’t run from.

But maybe... just maybe... I wouldn’t have to fight it alone anymore.

Not entirely.

Not while I still had Solstice—my cousin, my best friend, my only anchor.

I closed my eyes and let myself breathe. Suddenly, a message from Storm came on my phone, and I opened it to check.

Storm: Shit. You’ll just have to scale through, Val. And hopefully your cover won’t be blown if you stay under the radar. Also, think of this as one of your training sessions with Dad. You’ll do fine.