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.”

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

before his mother –

tugging firmly on his shirt in her hands. “For your people. I

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

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 Walsh and Willard

his mother, who has always talked straight to him. “I know, mother. I’m…becoming newly aware. I’ve got to get my house

“Getting rid of Amelia was the first step.”

his own brow raised, surprised. “I always thought

she turned out to be too selfish, too determined to privilege herself, to be the right one for you. Her person may have called to you, and

says the words as gently as she can, but there is steel to her voice as well. Victor nods, grateful for his confirmation

says, all business. She steps forward to straighten his tie. “Amelia has left,

him to make sure he passes muster. “They are going to pressure you to talk to the press, to

his hackles rise. “Thank

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

breezes off the

snarls. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you, Victor. What

nothing, watching them as

an embarrassment,” his father growls, shaking his head and looking away from Victor as if he can’t stand the sight of his face. “Rejecting that perfectly acceptable woman like

to be done,” Victor

in private, away from prying eyes and

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

back towards the inside

of his whiskey. “They’ve got enough to

must control the narrative –“ his father

narrative. I’ll issue a statement in a few days when things have calmed down. It is a circus now, and I will not

I was you,” Rafe says, his voice smug. “I’d make sure Amelia didn’t get

who has never had to make a hard decision in his life. So excuse me,” Victor says, giving him a mocking little

“I’ve ruined Amelia’s life enough for one day – I don’t need to