#Chapter 20 – The Celebration

“Victor, it’s too much.” These were my first words upon walking up the path to what Victor calls The Cottage, the “little” eight-room house situated directly behind his, separated only by a small grove of trees.

Accepting this home went against all of my instincts for self-preservation, self-sufficiency, all of my pride at taking care of myself. But one look at Ian and Alvin, their joy at the house, their proximity to their father, their safety within its walls…I can’t deny that it’s the right choice.

Victor watched me realize this, smirking. I smacked his arm, fighting my own smile and admitting, internally, that this is a battle he won. “Thank you,” I said, softly.

“It’s yours,” he said.

“No,” I said, determined. “We will rent. I have the money. I’ll pay my way.”

He shrugged. “I’ll have the mortgage transferred into the boys’ name. Your money will pay it off, and one day they’ll own it.” I nodded to this, consenting. Then it will be a gift to them from both of their parents.

“And then,” he smirked, “when they get sick of you, they can kick you out.”

I scrunched my face, smacking him again in the arm, “they would never.”

“I know,” he said, laughing and tossing me the keys, walking through the back door towards his own property.

The boys are decked out in orange and black, the colors of Victor’s pack, and even Amelia can’t help but smile as they run around the closed-off main street in excitement, their faces painted, waving their flags.

Today is Pack Pride, the annual day when wolf packs come together in cities across the country to celebrate their lineage, their communities. This is the first year when the boys wear orange and black, their paternal colors.

Amelia is determined to enjoy herself. After all, she had loved Pack Pride day since she was a little girl, and especially when, as a teenager, she was crowned Teen Luna of the twenty-four surrounding packs. A title she heartily felt she had deserved.

Evelyn isn’t attending – too busy playing house out back, Amelia thinks, smirking bitterly. There had been a big fight, the day Victor told her he had moved his ex into the shed in the back yard.

Amelia could feel herself losing ground in her relationship. Victor continued to get what he wanted with no consequences. It was a slippery slope. Amelia had to find a way to get leverage, fast.

comes up and wraps his arm around her leg, beaming up at her, little black lightening bolts drawn on his

leg, where he is wrinkling her skirt. She likes this one better than the other, nastier twin.

Frank comes forward, the one Amelia had been hoping for. She smiles at him and puts a warm hand

smiling in what she hopes is a motherly way. “It’s such a special day, and they’ve been so

nods and calls the boys, who run over and climb all over him. Beta Frank is a favorite of the boys’ and a good sport, always ready for their games. He’s also the frailest of the Beta group, barely tall enough to have

some of the bleachers, raising her binoculars. She pretends to be taking into the parade, singing along with the music, but really, she

other snatching the boys. The men work with minimum fuss and no disturbance to

which would make it hard to follow the twins. And lots of Victor’s rivals here,

her, carrying two mint juleps. Now this is more like it, Amelia thinks, accepting the drink and smiling up at

their future – she had no doubts there – but not now, they had

get through it, and she would help. And if

having a good

enthusiastically. For the

boys?” Victor asks, looking around for

to the music, swinging her hips and laughing. She waves vaguely towards the food stalls. “They went to get a snack,

shrugs. His Betas are well-trained and would die for

to the front – people must already be heading home. She climbs out, her blue skirt swishing just below her knees,

better of her. I’ve been through a lot, these past weeks, she thinks as she heads toward

her to her bones. Evelyn’s head snaps and she starts to run toward the noise without even thinking, her

around his neck, his head constantly pivoting, looking out into the

notices unusual behavior with the Betas and breaks away from Amelia, who follows

It’s been five minutes. He’s supposed to

him, scanning the crowd and snapping orders that

and white top smeared with dirt and blood – carrying one little boy on her hip, another walking by her side, his hand in hers. One boy has a bloody nose, the other a

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