“I don’t know, baby,” I say, taking a deep breath. “He sent down all your presents, but he probably wants to spend Christmas with Amelia. She’s going to be his wife very soon, and they’re going to build a family.” “But we’re his family,” Ian whines. “I know, and you always will be,” I say. “But…th
Ian openly rolls his eyes, but Alvin hides his feelings a little better, looking back down at his train. “What’s a Luna, daddy?” I frown, surprised to hear him ask. I know that he already knows the answer. “A Luna is what you call an Alpha’s mate,” Victor says, and I can hear surprise in his voice
“No, no!” Amelia says, skittering across the driveway. “That box goes on top of the packages,” she says, a big smile pasted on her face as she redirects a Beta. “Very delicate things in that one.” The driveway is chaos, I think, as I stand with my arms folded across my chest. My two boys and I are
When we arrive over an hour later, the boys are thrilled, but everyone else is, I think, feeling the strain. The boys spent the rest of the ride continuing to needle Amelia about little things, despite Victor and my equal attempts at intervention. I may not like the girl, but it’s her wedding – she
I smile my gratitude at him, but pull the boys down nonetheless. I think I’m going to like this butler. “If there’s anything else, madame?...” the butler asks, bowing again. “No, thank you,” I say, crossing the room again the collect our luggage. He nods his head and starts for the door, but I sto
A few hours later, when the boys have been neatly dressed in their first suits of the weekend, there comes a knock at the door. I smooth my hands over my own black cocktail dress and go to answer it. I let out a whoosh of breath when I see that it’s Victor. “Come in,” I say, opening the door wide f
“Rafe,” Victor says, putting out a hand to shake his brothers. “I’d like you to meet Evelyn Ortega, and, of course, my boys, Alvin and Ian Ortega.” Ian boldy steps forward and holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.” Rafe takes Ian’s hand and laughs, charmed. “Well, very nice to meet you too,
“Oh, you poor baby!” I croon, taking a step forward and taking Rafe’s face in my hands, angling it to study his cheek. “I’m so sorry, I was so eager to get that horse fly off your face that I must have swung too hard.” I speak loudly enough that the people nearest us can hear, my face a mask of mot
“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