We get to work, then, all of us. The boys gather firewood while I check our supplies in the tent. They went untouched by wildlife by some continued magic with which the forest blessed us. I gather some dried meats and granola bars to supplement the forest’s gifts and head back to the fire circle whe
I am less happy a few hours later when I wake up quite stiff after my night on the forest floor.“Ooof,” I groan, sitting up and stretching out my stiff muscles. “That’s it,” I declare to the men in my life, who each blink awake next to me. “I’ve had enough of the forest. I need to go home, where th
The ride home passes slowly, probably because I am distracted with all my thoughts. The forest was stressful in its own way – we had to do hard work uncovering and facing our deepest doubts, learning what we are to each other. But in many ways it had been a reprieve. Lots of people, I think, would
I know, I reply, grateful for him and his assurance. We’ll just take it one thing at a time.Victor gives me a wink and then turns his attention back to his Beta and the road before us. I pull Ian a little closer to me, giving him a hug, and looking back out the window, getting my intentions in orde
Before me, surrounded by what looks like a dozen empty pizza boxes and at least six drained bottles of whiskey, Rafe is dead asleep on his belly, spread across my living room rug. “Oh my god,” Alvin whispers eagerly, his hands pressed to his mouth. “Is he dead?”“No he’s not dead,” I scold, giving
“I thought you were dead, Victor,” Rafe insists, rolling onto his side to glare at his Alpha. “There was no word from you – that Beta reported that you ran out of food –““And so what,” Victor scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. I smile to see him do it, admiring the way it makes the muscles i
Victor is unfortunately wrapped in a towel, all finished by the time I get to the bedroom. I give him a pout and he chuckles at me. “Too slow,” he smirks. I move towards him, holding out my arms, but he dodges away from me. “No!” he cries out. “You’re still all forest-y – I just got clean –““Rude!
I kept busy as well, contacting the boys’ tutor to get them restarted with their lessons, calling my mother and Emma and Delia to let them know I’m safe. I also contacted Bridgette, but didn’t hear back from her. I gnaw my bottom lip, worried, as I think about Bridgette now, even though I’m wrapped
“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