#Chapter 49 – The Deal

Victor’s car pulls along the gravel drive of the Walsh family home, a palatial estate in the British Georgian theme. The wheels of the car crunch to a stop and Victor’s Beta steps out first, surveying the scene and checking for threats. Seeing none, he signals Victor to come forward.

Victor steps out of the car, buttoning his suit coat as he straightens up. He has only brought two Betas on this trip, an appropriate number for a friendly visit to an allied Alpha’s home. But in his gut, Victor knows that it’s all show. This is no friendly visit.

Evelyn and the boys were distracted today, thank god. She has volunteered at their new school before the Thanksgiving break to help with some kind of pageant. Victor assumed he’d find out about it when he saw it.

Amelia was home, but didn’t seem to care where he was going. Victor counts his blessings for that and, Betas at his side, climbs up the sweeping staircase to the Walsh front door.

John Walsh is there to meet him.

“Kensington,” Walsh says, hands in his pockets as he looks Victor up and down.

“Alpha Walsh,” Victor says, offering the tiniest of bows to this man who is, politically at least, his equal. But Victor knows their shared history and knows that Walsh holds the events of five years ago against him.

“I suppose you’ll have to come inside so we can talk,” Walsh says, turning and heading into the shade of the hallway. It’s barely an invitation, but Victor nods and enters. “You’ll have to forgive me,” Walsh says over his shoulder. “There are no refreshments. I have dismissed my staff for the day. I don’t want them to hear anything about this. My wife and my daughter are likewise absent.”

“I understand,” says Victor, following the other Beta into the living room where they each take a spot on either side of the fireplace. Victor defers to Walsh to start the conversation.

“So,” Walsh says, leaning against the fireplace mantle. “I had thought this embarrassing business was closed, after you humiliated me five years ago in the media. With those pictures of Evelyn. Making it very clear what you were up to the night after her wedding.”

Victor refuses to blush, but meets Walsh’s eyes. “I have apologized for that, Sir. I stand by that apology. It was a mistake, and I…” Victor trails off here. He was about to say that he wished it never happened, but…now that he knows the results, he realizes that the old line is a lie.

Walsh gives a single laugh at Victor, seeing his thought process. “You don’t regret it anymore, do you? Not when it’s yielded you two fine sons.”

Victor stares at Walsh. He figured that Walsh knew – that this was the reason for the meeting – but hearing him say it…

“No,” Victor says. “The are fine boys. I can’t regret them.”

sure that they are,” Walsh says, taking his weight off the mantle and straightening up. “They come from good enough stock. Are you sure they are yours? You know, of course, that the marriage between Evelyn and Joyce was

hear Walsh speak so frankly about his daughter’s wedding night. “I am sure, sure. The resemblance to me and my

at the confirmation. “You’re better stock than Joyce. I would have chosen you to breed with Evelyn, if I had anything that would have tempted you into marrying her. At the time, I had nothing. Still, it looks like that little b***h finally did something

blinks at this, again shocked. His instinct is immediately to jump to Evelyn’s defense, but

get me wrong,” Walsh continues. “I haven’t spoken to her since the day of her banishment and I have no intention to change that. But now that I know that two well-bred males have resulted from that tragedy, I am determined to meet them, to bring them back into

“You won’t be

understand it,” John says, looking Victor dead in the eye. “That you’re keeping Evelyn on your property? Out back, in a second

look at John Walsh. Hearing

and down, seeking to understand this man and his methods. “They live in

Do you keep her

this. “Sir, no. Absolutely not. You – you misunderstand me.

laughs at Victor, low and mocking. “You fool,” he says, shaking his head. “If you had any wits about you at all, you’d take the boys

is an excellent mother,” he says. “The boys

over it,” Walsh says,

argument against him only a few months ago. How quickly things have changed. He regrets, suddenly, his cruelty to her, his

those boys’ life, to…” Victor stops himself, realizing, suddenly, that he was about to

bright, willful. She was my pride and joy, once, until she ruined herself with

this, Walsh’s face turns nasty and he points a finger at Victor. “But that b***h, she’s clever. I refused to let her wheedle her way back into

himself snarl, leaning forward at Walsh’s words,

Walsh growls, taking a step towards him, his own teeth bared. “Just because you’re stupid enough to let her through your door doesn’t mean you have a damn word to say to me. I called you here today as a courtesy, to let you know my plans.

last line brings Victor back to himself. He shakes himself and, with effort, steps away from Walsh, closing his mouth and willing himself to calm. Walsh is right – he is

the matter at hand. I’ve called you here to tell you that

face pales at this. How could he have not seen this coming? He thought he had time, that there

his pockets. “I married Emma to that useless Joyce after Evelyn was banished and their union was dissolved. But it yielded no pups, though I ensured that they

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