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.”

at him with such kindness in her face. “I know it is not

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

hands. “For your people. I know it is hard, but

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

of face, today, with the media, and with your people. And your reputation has suffered over the

who has always talked straight to him. “I

rid of Amelia was the

her eyes, his own brow raised, surprised. “I always thought

be too selfish, too determined to

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

“Amelia has left, and I

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 what to do, Victor. But stick to your guns before

nods, feeling his hackles rise. “Thank

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

as always. As she breezes off the terrace, his brother storms out, wheeling his father’s chair before

looking everywhere for you, Victor. What are

as

head and looking away from Victor as if he can’t stand the sight of his face. “Rejecting that perfectly acceptable woman like that, in front

to be done,”

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

giving his brother a silent snarl. As if Rafe hasn’t done anything

towards the inside of the venue. “They want a statement, answers, that

Victor says, taking a much-needed sip of his whiskey. “They’ve

must control the narrative –“ his father

in a few days when things have calmed

I was you,” Rafe says, his

make a hard decision in his life. So excuse me,” Victor says, giving him a mocking little bow,

Victor continues, 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