“Mama,” Ian says carefully. “We know that this is not a trip.” Alvin nods next to him.I let my face fall and stare down at the floor. I love them, but god damnit, for one minute can my kids not be genius twins who see through my every lie? Can’t they just fall for it?“We don’t want to go,” Alvin s
That afternoon, Victor runs through the woods of the encampment. When he had originally purchased the land, it was all wooded with trees like these, but he’d had most of them cut down, repurposing the wood to build parts of the encampment and the barracks.But these acres of woods he left for Betas
When she had been ejected from her father’s pack, she had gone back to school to build a career for herself. When she had discovered she was pregnant, she had done everything she could – changed her name, gone into hiding – to keep those boys secret from the world.She had always known that no one c
Evelyn glances over at Ian as he fiddles with the car’s radio controls, trying to find a station that he likes. She can’t help but smile at him a little bit. When did he get old enough to have tastes in music? It was so strange, raising a child, watching them grow into a full person.He is technical
Headed for the beach.When they arrived, a few hours later, Evelyn could tell that Ian was pleased.“Woww,” he said, pressing his nose against the window. “Mama, I can see the ocean.”“Roll down the window,” Evelyn said, “can you taste the salt on the air?”Ian had done as he was told, letting the o
“What,” I say, my mouth hanging open as I stare between these two women – both incredibly important people in my life, but people I thought lived in completely separate worlds. “How the hell –““Come in,” Emma says, getting to her feet. “Let’s close the door,” she murmurs, peering outside to see if
Not exactly news I needed on today, of all days. “It’s true,” Emma says, beginning to wring her hands. “I wasn’t really surprised when you and Delia clicked – a little jealous, of course.” She pauses for a moment. “I would have given…anything. To be out of my house. Living that life with the two of
Victor stays in Alvin’s room that night. At some point, Burton had brought them up bowls of soup and rich crusty bread, but Victor hadn’t eaten his. He was pleased, though, to see that Alvin still had an appetite.The boy had been hungry and clearly was not nearly so devastated as Victor was. Victor
“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