“And now, my life begins,” she says softly, taking a deep breath and turning away from me without another word. I can see the decision weighing on her as she walks away from me, over to her own car. But as she goes, I see her straighten her shoulders and lift her chin. Justice, I think as I watch
“Inside, Evelyn, please,” Victor growls, and Evelyn moves away from him. She looks between the two brothers for a moment, and though she would usually push against an order like that from Victor – or anyone, really – something, in this case, suggests that it’s best not to engage. So she simply move
But clearly… “You’ve got to figure it out, Rafe,” Victor says softly, all anger gone from his voice. Replaced, now, with disgust. “You have got to get it into your head that being Alpha is not about having complete control and shaping the world into what you want. It’s about building the world in w
The next morning the house is somehow…different. I can’t place my finger on it but…something is somehow not right. I look around, trying to figure it out. In so many ways everything seems…normal. The Betas are buzzing, moving around doing their work. Burton is here again – thank god – doing some ge
“Just because I am nice to you, mama,” Alvin says, pulling himself up on the bed to sit with his twin, “doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed with you.” “You’re disappointed with me?!” I ask, devastated, going to sit on Alvin’s bed, which is positioned parallel to Ian’s. I lean forward to look between
My mouth falls open and then I’m laughing, my shoulders shaking almost with hysteria, and I put my head in my hands. Twins. Twins! Again, twins! Oh my god. I’m still processing the news when I feel warm hands on my shoulders. I look up, then, into Victor’s serious face. “Please, Evelyn,” he murm
“I’m sorry,” I say to them all, my voice muffled by the closeness of Victor’s body – “I didn’t mean to keep a secret – or, well, I did – but I just wanted to be sure before I told everyone and we got all excited –“ “It’s all right, Evie,” Victor murmurs, pulling back from me and giving me a warm sm
The boys then throw their heads back, wailing harder and I… Well, I do something that, in retrospect, is probably very dumb. But I gasp and smile broadly, my eyes shining as I lean forward, my voice breathless with joy. “Girls!?” I ask Alvin, thrilled. “They’re girls!?” “See!” he shouts, staring
“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