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
If I were to design a house, would it even have a pool? I mean, the kids enjoy it, but… And then, slowly, I turn towards the burned wreckage of Victor’s big house. The one that Amelia designed for them to live in, and the one he had built for her, and the one she burned to the ground in revenge for
“A castle, mama?” Alvin asks a few hours later, sitting on the kitchen table and combing through some of the plans I’ve sketched out on scrap paper with crayons I’ve borrowed from my boys. “To live in?” “Well,” I say, leaning back and considering. “Maybe castle isn’t the right word. But palace is t
“Really?” he breathes, his eyes shining as he looks at me. “Beta training? And helicopters?” “Sure,” I say, shrugging, “I guess that’s up to your dad though. But anyway, we need area to do all of that, and then meeting rooms for your dad to do business with all of the other packs and the councils,
Two months fly by then, with all of the work we have to do to get everything in order before Victor can make his bid for Supreme. “Well,” I say under my breath as I survey the incredible work that has been completed on our new home in that time. “It sure is nice to have money.” “Sure is,” Victor s
Grinning, I drop Victor’s arm and wrap my arms around Alvin as he rushes to hug me. Ian, growing a little more contained in his old age (and I roll my eyes to think of it) just takes Victor’s hand. “People are starting to get here,” Alvin says, grinning up at me and looking towards the house. “Rea
“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