#Chapter 27 – Restless Nights

It’s two o’clock in the morning, and I can’t sleep. I sigh and sit up. I’ve tried everything I can think of – lavender oil, a glass of wine, counting sheep – but I just can’t do it. The house is too…quiet. Not that the boys have made much of a disturbance in their sleep since they were babies, but somehow I just know that they’re not here. And it’s killing me.

Sighing, I swing my legs out of bed and stand up, peering out the window at the back of my room. I can barely see Victor’s house through the trees. Tonight, though, in the darkness I can clearly see that Victor’s house still has its lights on. What the heck is going on? It’s two o’clock in the morning, it should be pitch black over there.

I frown. Did Victor ignore me when I told him that the boys have a strict bedtime of 9 pm? 10, at the latest, as a special treat? God, they’re going to bed dead tomorrow, and we have so much to do.

I storm down the stairs, grabbing a blanket off the couch to wrap around me, and head out the back door. Deep inside, I know that I’m not really worried about the twins being kept up late. But this doesn’t stop me from making my way across my yard, through the trees, and onto Victor’s property.

When I step into Victor’s yard, a figure steps out of the brush to my left. “Halt!”

I jump, suppressing a scream, as I realize that it’s just one of his Betas.

“I’m sorry,” I say, “It’s just me, it’s Evelyn. I’m just coming to check on my boys.”

The Beta has a quick, muffled conversation with someone through the speaker on his shoulder and then nods to me. “That’s all right.” He fades back into the darkness.

Shaking my head at this level of security, and how many jump scares they’ve put me through in the past two days, I make my way past the pool and up to the house.

Inside the house is quiet, and I’m ashamed, a little, at my consideration that Victor may have kept the boys up. Clearly, the house is asleep.

“Hey,” says a voice across the kitchen. I turn and notice Beta Edgar sitting at the kitchen’s wide island, a cup of coffee in his hands.

“Oh, hi,” I say, awkwardly. “Um, I came because…”

He smiles at me warmly. “Do you need a reason?”

I laugh a little and step closer to him, leaning on the far side of the island. “Well, knowing Victor, I probably do.” I lower my voice, imitating him, “What are you doing here, Evelyn? Did you make an appointment? Don’t know you my schedule is booked solid for the next five weeks?”

Edgar laughs a little and I grimace, “Sorry. I shouldn’t make fun of your boss,” I say. “That’s unfair.”

“No, it’s okay,” Edgar says, “he’s actually…a lot easier than some of the other Alphas. He’s strict, don’t get me wrong. But he’s fair, and he treats us like people.”

“Good,” I say softly. I look up the stairs, wondering about my kids. “So, how did tonight go? Are they okay?”

“They’re fine,” Edgar says. “There’s nothing to worry about. They pigged out, had a lot of laughs, and then Victor put on a movie for them in their room. Asleep by ten.”

say, raising my

see it,” says Edgar, matching my

next to him. “If everyone’s asleep, then why is this place lit up like

his coffee, “I just drew short straw tonight. And also,” he says, pointing over his shoulder

the door with

admiringly. “He put off some work so that he could spend the evening

“Does

Alpha,” Edgar says, shrugging. “He doesn’t go to bed until the job is

of Victor’s personality. He continues to surprise me. I think part of me always thought he was

interrupting my

I say, smiling at him and shrugging.

long time?” Edgar

grimacing. “I guess I’m not handling it as

let’s get you a coffee,” he says, standing up and walking over to the machine. “If you’re going to be

whispers to Alvin, narrowing his eyes at the man talking to their

“But I don’t

the house, as they always do –

see us” Ian

come see our new room, and our fort.”

Beta Edgar talking

away,” Ian agrees. They both nod and, as one, slink silently down the

amazing,” Edgar says, laughing. “I can see you there, as a

pennies didn’t buy much,” she says, shrugging, “just a couple of

at Evelyn, before saying, “well, I’m sorry you didn’t get to stay, but, selfishly…I’m glad you came back. Or else I never would

“Thank you, Edgar, I’m glad to have met you

you out? To hear more stories about Paris? About your life?” Edgar

standing there, his arms crossed, glaring at them. Edgar leaps

snaps his arms to his side. “Don’t you

says Edgar, turning on his heel and heading out the back

Evelyn, who still sits at his counter,

are you doing

the lights on. I came to make sure the boys were in bed, that you

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255