I laugh, snatching his hand away and pulling him close against me. “You worry about your own face, baby,” I say, “leave me to my own.”“What’s wrong with my face?” he says, looking up to me and raising his hands to his own cheeks, prodding there. “Is it different?”“Oh yes,” I say seriously, looking
When we arrive home very late that afternoon, everyone is exhausted, unloading themselves from the van with slumped shoulders and bleary eyes. Even the Betas who work to help us out are worn low, I see. When I step out of the van I’m glad to see fresh troupes coming to replace them.I watch them, cu
I feel the pit drop from my stomach, then. This, really, is why I wanted to stay at Victor’s big house instead of heading immediately for my own. Trust me, my bed is definitely calling to me, but this…I feel a strange responsibility towards Bridgette, now. She is my friend but also, as Rafe’s fianc
“You invited my brother to stay with us? Here?” He hisses, his face suddenly red with exhaustion and anger.“I had to!” I protest, keeping my voice low and glancing to the living room, where I know our two little spies are surely listening.“Evelyn,” he says, exhasperated. “Rafe just betrayed me – b
Every piece of it, every choice in furniture and décor, in fabric – hell, even the silverware –It all has Amelia written all over it.“Um,” I say, wondering how to express this to him without hurting his feelings. Victor waits patiently. “Um, did you and Amelia…decorate this place? Together?”Victo
The first few days in the cottage are chaotic, to say the least, but Victor honestly can’t remember a happier set of days in his life. Every morning, he wakes with Evelyn in his arms to the sound of the twins pounding on the door, demanding to be let in. Today, they’re particularly insistent.“We
Burton gives Victor an apologetic look. “I believe,” he continues, “that he enjoys getting a rise out of you.”Victor sighs, shrugging. He’s used to it. “And his behavior towards Bridgette?”“He is…” Burton hesitates here. “Unkind, to Madomiselle Bridgette. At every opportunity. Sometimes I do not b
When Victor enters Annabeth Prath’s home, there’s a small stir at the door. The Prath family is influential, but their power comes largely from their long lineage and political connections. Victor banks on this when he walks in. He knows their meager Beta force has no real way to stop him. The Pra
“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