Evelyn watches as Victor takes those three steps out onto the field, her breath coming fast as she stands precariously – so precariously – on the edge of the watch tower’s platform.Her eyes go to him instantly, as everyone else’s does. He’s standing alone in the field, ahead of his entire army, loo
Walsh’s voice crackles over the amplifier. “Move!” He commands, his voice failing to persuade his Betas. “Forward, troops!” Walsh’s troops grimace, but they hold their position of surrender. Some gunfire explodes from the watch tower at Victor’s troops but they shield against it expertly and hold t
When he gets to the bottom of the tower, his Beta scouts are ready to report.“Sir,” one says, giving him a salute. “We checked the footage and tracked some tire marks we found – Walsh escaped almost immediately after his Betas turned on him and joined our forces. They went west,” he says, gesturing
My father pulls me along with him as he storms through the back entrance of my childhood home, his hand wrapped around my upper arm.I gave up resisting at the car, when I had tried to pull free of him – to head back to the battlefield, to see what the hell happened after all those Betas had saluted
My father glares around the room at all of us, as if we’re as much of his enemy as Victor. Which, I suppose, some of us are. “Kensington turned my Betas against me,” he says, “he took control of them on the field.” I see Alvin and Ian’s eyes light up at this information, Ian’s ruse as the wounded
I sigh, quietly considering that nobody told me how boring a siege is. Alvin and Ian are sitting on the floor. They’ve turned the puzzle upside down and they’re so bored that they’re working on putting it together that way, without any picture to help them. Every few minutes they sigh and look at m
The Beta’s eyes flick to the eight men standing at my father’s table – strong, uninjured men, amongst the best-trained in the ranks. My father turns to them as well and growls, looking down at the table for a moment while he considers his options. “Fine,” he says, finally agreeing. “Go – all of you
I gasp as I hear someone scream and can’t help but spin to look – to see what the hell is going on – There, on the floor – Brent, his leg twisted unnaturally behind him, still raising his gun and working to aim when a Beta – I scramble backwards on the couch, pushing my boys behind me, doing every
“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