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.”

kindness in her face. “I know it is not

to pieces before his mother – he knows she would let him. But he has to pull

on his shirt in her hands. “For your people. I know it

it’s advice that best matches his instincts and experience

with your people. And your reputation has suffered

for his mother, who has always talked straight to him.

Amelia was

her eyes, his own brow raised,

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, and I understand that but…she is

as she can, but there is steel to her voice as well. Victor nods, grateful for his confirmation of

She steps forward to straighten his tie. “Amelia has left, and

the press, to make big decisions.” She folds her arms and holds his gaze. “I won’t tell you what to do,

his hackles

away. “No matter what, I am on your side,”

the terrace, his brother storms out, wheeling his father’s chair before

been looking everywhere for you, Victor. What are you doing, hiding out

nothing, watching them as

growls, shaking his head and looking away from Victor as if he can’t stand the sight of his face. “Rejecting that

to be done,” Victor

father says, his eyes snapping to Victor. “You should have done it in private, away from prying eyes and the press.” He

Victor’s lips curl back, giving his brother a silent snarl. As if Rafe hasn’t done

waiting,” his father says, gesturing back towards the inside of the venue. “They want a

taking a much-needed sip of his whiskey. “They’ve got enough to chew on

control the narrative –“ his

now,” Victor interrupts, his own 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 not be

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

at him, condescending. “You’re just the third son, who has never had to make a hard decision in

“I’ve ruined Amelia’s life enough for one day –