#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.

excited!?” Alvin comes up and wraps his arm around her leg, beaming up at her, little black lightening

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

Betas waiting quietly, two steps away, for their commands. Beta Frank comes forward, the one Amelia had been hoping for. She smiles at him and

what she hopes is a

Frank is a favorite of the boys’ and a good sport, always ready for their games. He’s also

some of the bleachers, raising her binoculars. She pretends to be taking into the parade,

time, two men step out from behind a lemonade stand, one knocking Beta Frank over the head, the other snatching the boys. The men work with minimum fuss and no disturbance to the crowd. Amelia smirks, pleased. Good. That’s what

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

Now this is more like it, Amelia thinks, accepting

Kids were definitely in their future – she had no doubts

sure. But he would get through it, and she would help. And if she had to move up

a good time?” Victor

nods enthusiastically. For the

boys?” Victor asks, looking

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

would die for

the front – people must already be heading home. She climbs out, her blue skirt swishing just below her knees, and scans the crowd, looking for patches of orange and

intended to stay home, but the sense that she was missing out on the fun got the better of her. I’ve been through a lot, these

familiar shriek that chills her to her bones. Evelyn’s head snaps and she starts to run toward the noise without even thinking, her instincts taking over. “MAMAAAA” the

his neck, his head constantly

from

“we’re receiving no response from Beta Frank. It’s been five minutes. He’s supposed to check in every

and snapping orders

– carrying one little boy on her hip, another walking by her side, his hand in hers. One boy has a bloody

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