“I’m sure you will,” Bridgette replies, laughing as he takes both of her hands, spreading out her fingers and frowning. Then, Alvin looks up sharply and makes eye contact with Ian, clearly communicating mind-to-mind. “Hey,” Ian says, taking up Alvin’s questioning thought and looking between Rafe an
The day unfolds happily from there on out, with Bridgette and I spending most of the morning curled on the sofa, enjoying ourselves. The Betas come, of course, but we bribed Ian and Alvin with the offer of much candy to move Victor’s little command station into the kitchen, which they do with enthus
Victor comes to my side as we all listen to the reporter, taking my hand and squeezing it. I smile up at him, knowing that he, too, is relieved to see that they’re telling rather…well, rather a romantic story. This could have had a much more scandalous bent, marking Victor as a man who betrayed his
I lead Emma and Delia out to the front porch as Bridgette goes upstairs for a shower and Victor and Rafe begin to concentrate on their work today. As we settle into our chairs, I’m pleased to see Miss Georgia coming up the path. Good, I think, smiling and waving to her. Now the boys will be distrac
“First it was the life dad wanted,” Emma continues softly, “which I know you understand, Evelyn. And then, after that? It was…Joyce’s life. Joyce’s life, Joyce’s world, Joyce’s choices. I was…nobody. I feel like I completely lost myself, if I ever knew who I was to start with.” My sister hangs her
That night, Victor is quieter in bed than usual. I barely notice at first, exhausted as I am, but then, as I curl up next to him and open my book, I realize that he’s not dozing or looking at his phone but instead is simply staring at the ceiling. “Are you okay?” I ask, closing my book and turning
But now? With my father’s pack and Willards effectively gutted of leadership and already under Victor’s control? With his two sons set to inherit all three? Victor was, already, the most powerful Alpha in the nation. It could make sense for wolves to recognize that supremacy, to gather beneath his
All night long, I can’t sleep. Victor can, and I’m grateful for it – I’m up worrying about everything for the both of us, so I don’t want him to be as well. It’s not necessary for both of us to suffer. I drift in and out of a half-sleep state, the question Victor asked me a few hours ago gnawing at
“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