The next morning, Victor fights his exhaustion, giving Annabeth Prath all his attention. “Listen, Victor,” she says, crossing her legs and sitting back in the chair in his office. “I understand that you’re working to bring a lot of…” she pauses, choosing her words, “great things…to our Pack. But,”
“You go ahead of me,” I say, nudging them back towards the stairs, “I’ll be right up. Let me finish talking to daddy.” They scamper off. “So,” I continue, gesturing at all of the party supplies. “What, really, is the deal with all of this? I was just here last night – like, fourteen hours ago, and
The next weekend, the party honoring Annabelle Prath is in full swing in Victor’s back yard. The windows along the back of his house, between the kitchen and the pool, have all been folded back to create one big party area which Amelia has filled with tables, waiters, bars – even a small dance floor
“That’s not enough,” I say. “Two boys, one me. You need three pieces of cake.” Victor laughs and sits down in the chair next to me. “I knew they would be asleep. This is just for you.” I accepts the cake happily and dig in. It is absolutely delicious – the bitterness of the dark chocolate complime
“Come on, boys,” Victor says, walking unannounced into my kitchen the next day. Note to self, I think, narrowing my eyes. Get a deadbolt for the back door. “We’re taking the day off!” Alvin and Ian throw their hands in the air, shouting with joy and excitement. “No,” I say, my voice low. “Today i
“It was like floating!” Alvin pumps his hands in the air. “Let’s go again!” “No, something else!” Ian says. Victor puts a hand out for Evelyn, helping her out of her seat once she has un-buckled. He raises an eyebrow, deferring the choice to her. She laughs and shrugs. “I don’t really care, whatev
“Hello?” Victor’s mechanized voice scratches through the phone. “Hey,” I say. “It’s nice to hear from you.” Victor hesitates on the other side of the line and I realize, feeling stupid, that I’m talking to him like a friend. I clear my throat and sit up straight in my closet. “So, why don’t you t
“Leave it in the past,” I advise. “Ask her, honestly, about what your mutual timeline is for kids – make a plan. Then, if she doesn’t come through on the plan to which you both agree, then you can have a conversation about that. You don’t need to pin her to the wall for something which she may or ma
“Me me me,” he says, hardly able to contain his excitement. “My turn, mama. Please.” And he looks down, again, at his little girl. “Well,” I say, shifting her in my arms and leaning forward so Ian can better see her face. She frowns in her sleep, squirming a little and making me smile. “I was think
Several hours later, I’m changed and curled up more comfortably in my bed with Victor by my side, a baby in each of our arms, and our boys curled up like puppies at the end of the bed. Archie is on the bed too, cuddled between them. We sit quietly together, all still focused on the two little babie
“It’s all right, doctor,” I say, giving her a little smile and nodding towards the boys. “We found them.” “Oh my god,” she says, shaking her head and placing a hand over her heart. Then she frowns at them. “How did they…” “Window,” Victor says, gesturing towards it and sighing. “It’s all right. Th
“Come on, Evelyn,” the doctor says confidently as Victor squeezes my hand, his eyes darting between my face and the first baby, which the doula is now wrapping in her first swaddle. “One more push, and then you’ll be done, and you can hold your little girls.” “Okay,” I huff, sitting up and shifting
Slumped on the couch, Ian heaves a gigantic sigh. “What is taking so long,” he mutters, glaring angrily at the steps as if they’ve personally offended him. “You knew it would take a while,” Bridgette murmurs, running a hand over Ian’s soft brown hair and smiling fondly at her nephew. She sighs and
“Oh my god,” Victor gasps, instantly wide awake. “Oh my god,” he says again, grabbing my face and searching it like it has answers. “Are you – are you okay?” “Yes,” I say, nodding but then belying my answer with an immediate moan. I grit my teeth, my hand going to my stomach as I weather the contra
And between them, my three Alphas have kept me sane. Even though every other part of the end of this pregnancy has worked hard against that sanity. Very, very hard. Even though the TV is on, capturing both of our attention, Ian very suddenly turns his head towards my stomach, like a dog hearing a w
As it turns out…I cannot. I cannot spend 3 months in bed, waiting for my babies to be born. Two and a half months later, I’m basically climbing the walls, I’m going so crazy sitting here in this bedroom, waiting for my little girls to be born. I’ve done it this long, though. I’ve stayed in my bedr
“Why?” Victor asks, suddenly serious in the sea of merriment. “Evelyn, why aren’t you here? What’s wrong?” “Um…” she says, her eyes glancing away awkwardly. “Because…I went into early labor…and I’ve been put on bedrest…” The tablet cracks as it falls to the floor. Rafe gasps, reaching down for it