My Alphas' Dark Desires-Chapter 134: Little Memories

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Chapter 134

~Valerie’s POV~

The warmth of her arms still lingered when I felt the tug of memory... a flash, bright and soft.

I remembered another time, years ago, maybe when we were both around ten.

We’d just finished sneaking into the Moonberry Festival—without tickets.

It had rained the night before, turning the whole field to mush, and Solstice had dared me to race her across the mud while everyone was distracted by the fireworks.

We were barefoot. Wild. Laughing like banshees.

"You won’t do it," she’d said, grinning with a mouth full of caramel.

"I just did," I shot back, lifting my muddy foot.

We were chased by a guard, scolded by a high-ranking elder, and grounded for two weeks.

But we spent every single day of that punishment camped out in the attic of the old pack house, playing cards by candlelight and plotting our next "brilliant" escape.

Even then, she was a storm I didn’t want to run from—the cousin who dared the world and pulled me into the whirlpool with her.

Just like now.

I pulled back from the hug, eyeing her suspiciously. "So... you really forged documents to get into PSA early?"

Solstice blinked innocently, brushing invisible lint off her hoodie. "Well. I wouldn’t say forged. That sounds so... illegal. I prefer the term accelerated my acceptance."

"Solstice." I gave her the cold glare, but deep down, I was proud of how her mind worked and her talents—talents that would soon land both of us in trouble.

"Fine. Maybe I edited a few application dates. I knew I’d get in anyway—it was just a matter of speeding things up."

I stared at her, unimpressed.

She smiled wider.

I groaned. "Does your mom even know you left early?"

Her face twitched. "She might’ve had an inkling... eventually."

"Eventually?"

Solstice sighed, pulled away from me and flopped backwards onto my bed. "Okay, okay. So... Aunt Tempest came to visit. I saw her text to Mum about stopping by to greet us."

I raised a brow. "And?"

"I moved the alert she sent to mom’s phone to archive before it pinged. It was easy, sloppy and easily hacked."

I covered my face. "Solstice!"

She peeked up from where she lay, grinning like the cat that ate the entire pantry.

"You think escaping while Aunt Tempest is in the same house is possible? Nah, girl. That woman’s nose is sharper than mother’s intuition. I had to bolt before she went full Bloodhound on me."

I dropped beside her, staring at the ceiling.

"And you didn’t think to at least wait until your room at the school was ready?"

Solstice shrugged. "Even my hotel. I had booked it in advance but that was slated for next week or a couple of days out."

I raised a brow.

"Well... I did try. But the nearby ones were booked solid. The closest availability was tomorrow. I had already shifted my transport and forged my class pre-approval letter. I couldn’t delay again."

I exhaled through my nose. "So... let me guess. You have nowhere to sleep tonight?"

She winced, then smiled sweetly. "You have a cosy room, and I brought my own blanket."

I gave her the most tired look I could muster. "One night. Just one. But tomorrow morning—up early, out fast, and blend in before anyone starts sniffing around."

She saluted. "Scout’s honour."

"You were never a scout."

"Well... rogue’s honour then."

I rolled my eyes. "You better not get me in trouble for this."

"Me?" She pressed a hand to her chest, feigning to be hurt. "Val, you wound me."

I leaned over, poking her side. "And tomorrow, we’re talking about what you meant when you said you were here to help keep my mates in check."

"Oh, that?" Solstice chuckled. "Don’t worry. I’ve got a whole plan. Phase one? Starts with keeping you emotionally unavailable."

"Solstice—"

"I’m kidding! Mostly, well before they start burying their faces between your legs to eat you out."

My eyes flew open before I groaned and buried my face into a pillow.

"Who spoiled you?"

"Internet, movies."

It was going to be a long night.

But... I didn’t mind it.

Not with her here. Not with her mischief and chaos.

Because somehow, with Solstice around... I always remembered how to breathe again.

—

I blinked my eyes open to the faint sound of humming.

The room was dim, warm, dim light slipping in through the blinds, and I thought—briefly—that I’d dreamt everything. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Until I sat up and nearly choked on my own breath.

Solstice stood directly in front of the mirror, wrapped in nothing but my white towel, her damp hair cascading in long blonde waves down her back.

She was brushing through it lazily, her reflection humming a familiar Zephyr lullaby under her breath.

"What are you—?" I croaked, voice still heavy with sleep.

She turned, smiling brightly and unapologetically. "Morning, sleepyhead. You snore, by the way."

I flopped back onto the bed with a grunt. "Do not."

"You do. Just a little. Like a tired wolf pup."

Before I could argue, I let my eyes fall shut again. "Give me ten more minutes..."

But when I opened them again, the towel was gone—and Solstice stood by the window, fully dressed.

And by fully dressed, I meant in my clothes.

Her hoodie was zipped halfway, revealing the familiar white tank top beneath it.

My white tank top.

The one with the faded V&S initials inked in silver—a gift we made for each other when we were fourteen and plotting to run away and build a floating castle.

"That’s mine," I muttered.

Solstice looked over her shoulder, completely unfazed. "I brought them for you from home, remember? A little nostalgia. But now that I’m officially crashing PSA... couldn’t help myself."

"You’re unbelievable."

She grinned in a way that made her look so darn right adorable. "Unapologetically."

"Are you ready to go?" I asked, sliding off the bed.

"Almost. Just hoping you’d walk me out."

I paused, looking at her again.

She looked older suddenly. Not by years, but by how she stood—shoulders squared, eyes holding a hint of seriousness beneath the usual sparkle.

I exhaled and nodded. "Yeah. I’ll walk you."