Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 97 – Alone

Victor stands alone on a terrace facing the waterfall, a large glass of whiskey in his hand. He stands close to the railing, his eyes closed, savoring the feeling of the spray on his face.

He does his very best, in this moment, to feel nothing, lest his emotions completely overwhelm him. He breathes a sigh through gritted teeth, and then a laugh.

He is an Alpha, for god’s sake. He is supposed to be better at this, at controlling himself, his situation, his world. Or even, at the bare minimum, his emotions.

But he feels, truly, that if he feels even one thing in this moment, that the tumult of everything in his life, everything he wants to feel and has been pressing down, will overwhelm him, and he’ll just collapse.

Victor steels himself against this, imagining that his bones are titanium, and around them his muscles are iron, that he’s complete and indestructible and strong.

It helps. For now, at least, it helps. He feels like he can handle it all again, for this moment, at least.

Opening his eyes, he laughs a small, sardonic laugh. He imagines that his therapist, wherever she is, would tell him to let himself feel his feelings. That he’s just been through a very difficult and traumatic day and that he needs to recognize that, to give himself some grace.

He’s an Alpha, but he’s still a person, she would say.

Evelyn flashes to his mind in the moment and he smiles, knowing that she would probably say the same thing.

These therapists, all alike.

Still, the thought of her, smiling at him, giving him her own strength, fortifies him.

“Victor?” He turns, blinking, surprised to hear a voice. He asked not to be disturbed.

The past few hours had been a whirlwind – hotel staff wanting direction, Amelia’s father’s rage at being denied an audience, speaking briefly to Beta Stephen about the draft of a press relief. This is the first moment he’s been able to be alone, and he had savored it.

Still, he knows that voice, and is unsurprised to see his mother walking towards him.

“Victor?” she asks again, her voice worried. “Are you all right?”

He puts out an arm and his mother tucks herself into it, wrapping him in a hug of her own. He lets her hold him, for a moment, before straightening himself. “I’m fine, mom. It’s been…well, you know. It’s been quite a day.”

she says, looking up at him with such kindness in her face. “I know it

again. Part of him wants to go to pieces before his mother – he knows she would let him. But he has to pull

tugging firmly on his shirt in her hands. “For your people. I know it is hard, but you cannot let

the top of her head. The opposite advice of his therapist, but it’s advice that best matches his instincts and experience

is hard, Victor,” she says, pulling away from him. “But you’ve lost a lot of face, today, with the media, and with your people. And your reputation has suffered over the past months, with

to him. “I know, mother. I’m…becoming newly aware. I’ve

eyebrows and crossing her arms. “Getting rid of Amelia was the first step.” She hesitates, and then

brow raised, surprised. “I always

like anyone who loves my son, who is his mate. But in the end, she turned out to be too selfish, too determined to privilege herself, to be the right one for you. Her person

as gently as she can, but there is steel to her voice as well.

business. She steps forward to straighten his tie. “Amelia has left, and I thought you should know.”

your brother are coming out here in a minute,” she continues, surveying him to make sure he passes muster. “They are going to pressure you to talk to the press, to make big decisions.” She folds her arms and holds his gaze. “I won’t tell you

his hackles

his cheek softly with her hand and then turning away. “No matter what, I am on your side,” she calls over her shoulder as she heads in

as always. As she breezes off the terrace, his brother

his father snarls. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you, Victor. What are you doing,

them as they swiftly approach, their

his father growls, shaking his head and looking away from Victor as if he can’t stand the

to be

his eyes snapping to Victor. “You should have done it in private, away from

the knowledge that his father can’t see him. Victor’s lips curl back, giving his brother a silent snarl. As if Rafe hasn’t done anything but be an embarrassment

his father says, gesturing back towards the inside

a much-needed sip of

control the narrative –“ his father

issue a statement in a few days when things have calmed down. It is a circus now,

says, his voice smug. “I’d make

not me,” Victor shoots back at him, condescending. “You’re just the third son, who has never had to make a hard decision in his life. So excuse me,” Victor says,

turning away from them slightly, contemplative. “I’ve ruined Amelia’s life enough for one day – I don’t need to make any statements to stop her from scrabbling for whatever ground she