She pauses, leaning back a bit. “Victor,” she says slowly, “We talked about this. We decided that I could have a little time, that I still need to finish my career – I’ve still got Paris runways booked this spring, and I can’t miss them - “ “Amelia,” he says, voice low. “If we’re going to be marrie
The elevator dings and, as soon as the doors slide open to reveal the ballroom, the boys sprint out. “Wowww!” Ian says, spinning around to take it all in. “It’s amazing!” “Yeah!” shouts Alvin, “It looks like a crystal palace!” Evelyn has to admit, it is breathtaking. The room looks almost as if i
Suddenly, there’s a clatter at the back of the room. Evelyn sits up and peers around, seeing that a bridesmaid has fallen down. She stands up, worried. “Oh my god, BETH!” one of the other bridesmaids says, but her voice is not full of anxiety, just of frustration. “Did she have too much champagne?
Victor stands at the head of the room, his groomsmen spread out next to him in a line. He forces a smile onto his face, mostly for the sake of the awaiting crowd. He is a happy groom, after all. As each of Amelia’s bridesmaids come down the aisle, he gives them a nod. Each of them lovely women, all
Victor snarls at him, ripping his arm from his grasp and taking two menacing steps in his direction. Who the hell did this man think he was? Amelia was Alpha born, but barely – her father was the leader of a new pack, barely twenty-five years old. He has no power, no legacy, and yet he dares to grab
Victor turns, slowly, to face Amelia at the door. “Evelyn,” his voice is soft; he doesn’t look at her as he speaks. “Are they okay?” He hears a huff behind him. “No, Victor, obviously they’re not okay –“ “Evelyn,” it’s a bark this time, his voice thick with command. “Do they need medical attentio
A sob rips from Amelia’s throat, the loudest sound in the room. But Victor turns his eyes from her, away from this woman whom he had loved, with whom he had shared so much. It was too much. Too much for his trust, his heart, to bear. He couldn’t marry someone so selfish that she couldn’t share the
Victor stands alone on a terrace facing the waterfall, a large glass of whiskey in his hand. He stands close to the railing, his eyes closed, savoring the feeling of the spray on his face. He does his very best, in this moment, to feel nothing, lest his emotions completely overwhelm him. He breathe
“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