When Victor returns through the series of doors that separate the cells from the front office, Ian is seated in a plain chair by the Beta desk, happily drinking a milkshake. “Hello,” Victor says, smiling down at his boy and nodding to the Betas behind the desk. “Where did you get that?” “From th
“Get out of my house!” a feminine voice shrieks. “I’ll shoot you! Get out!” “Bridgette!” I shout, half panicked and half furious, ducking my head and curling my body around Alvin’s as I press us both against the wall outside the cabin’s door. “Put the fucking gun down! It’s me! It’s Evelyn!” “Ev
About an hour later Delia and Emma pull up to the cabin, Delia shrieking and running for me as soon as the car is in park. I throw my arms around my bestie as soon as she pounds up the stairs to the cabin, laughing as she mumbles greetings into my hair. My sister takes a more sedate approach, carryi
Emma looks away for a moment, but doesn’t say anything. But when she looks back at me I give her a little smile. It’s water under the bridge for me, and I hope it is for her too. “Butler!” I call, breaking the semi-awkward silence. “We need refills on this wine!” I call, though my glass is still m
I’m scowling as I storm into the house, slamming the front door closed behind me. I feel a pang of guilt when I see Ian and Victor twitch awake on the couch, Ian’s eyes wide with surprise and Victor instantly on defense, ready to take on whatever threat came through the door. When he sees me, thou
“Is that so bad?” Victor asks, leaning forward to kiss my hair. “Closure, fine,” I respond, definitive. Then I look up at him. “But Victor, you know how sweet she is, and you know how manipulative he can be. I think that he picked her, specifically, because she’s someone he can control. And that i
Bridgette is standing in the doorway with a bag pressed tightly to her chest, Alvin’s hand held tightly in her own. Her lovely blond hair is golden in the backlit glow from the porch light. “Um,” she says, giving us all an awkward little smile. “Does anyone want some ice cream? Alvin and I made a…pi
“Bossy,” I murmur as I look towards the kitchen, where the boys are sitting on the table digging into the ice cream and Bridgette is taking a few tentative steps towards Rafe, his head lowered to look closely into her eyes. “Yes,” Victor agrees, running his nose against the soft skin behind my ear
“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