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.”

such kindness in her face. “I know

go to pieces before his mother

strong,” she whispers, tugging firmly on his shirt in her hands. “For your

therapist, but it’s advice that best matches his instincts and experience as

today, with the media, and with your people. And your reputation has suffered over the past months, with Walsh and Willard interfering

mother, who has always talked straight to him. “I know, mother.

of Amelia was the first step.” She hesitates, and

his own brow raised, surprised. “I

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 may have called to you,

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, and I thought you should know.” He nods, grateful again

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

hackles rise. “Thank you,

says, brushing his cheek softly with her hand and then turning away. “No matter what, I am on

As she breezes off the terrace, his brother storms out, wheeling his

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

watching them as they swiftly approach, their

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

to be

should have done it in private, away

in 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

press waiting,” his father says, gesturing back towards the inside of the venue.

to anyone,” Victor says, taking a much-needed sip of his whiskey. “They’ve got enough to chew

narrative –“ his father

voice angry, “will become part of the narrative. I’ll issue a statement in a few days when things have calmed down. It is a circus now, and I will

his voice smug. “I’d make sure Amelia didn’t get

had to make a hard decision in his life. So

day – I don’t need to make any statements to stop her from scrabbling for whatever