#Chapter 101 – Frantic calls

“It’s good to speak to you again,” Victor says the next evening, his voice metallic and mechanical through the old rotary phone.

“Yes,” I reply, twirling my fingers in the chord. “The agency let me know that you tried to contact me over the weekend. I apologize for being unavailable.”

“That’s all right,” he murmurs, dismissing it. “You are, of course, entitled to your life. You shouldn’t have to be on call for all of my emergencies.”

“But you have such interesting emergencies,” I say, laughing a little. Victor does the same.

I hesitated before taking this call. I know that I’ve got to end this charade soon – it’s so far beyond unethical, now, for me to be taking these calls. But still – I need to know where he stands after the whole wedding fiasco.

“How are you?” I ask, prompting him, hoping that he takes the reins for the most part.

“It has been…a difficult couple of days,” he says, clearly searching for words. I nod, understanding. He wants this to be anonymous, and will have trouble telling me details without revealing his identity.

“Please, continue,” I say.

“Well, my family has arrived for a visit. A rather, extended stay.” I blink, surprised that he wants to talk about this, rather than about the dissolution of his relationship. That was, after all, the reason he wanted to talk to a therapist in the first place.

“Oh? And are you close with your family?”

“No,” he growls. “Like many Alpha families, our relationships are…strained. Complicated. My mother is a wonderful woman, but my father and brother…”

I nod, understanding. My own family is similar, though I have no brothers to compare.

me in a complicated situation, threatening to take the pack from me if I don’t prove that I can effectively lead it. And because I was so young when I took the pack, they built a clause into the contract that means that they can do it, if I

deposed as the leader of the Kensington pack? Who would take over then

days, like I am losing control of everything I’ve worked so hard for.” I can almost feel him shaking his head with confusion, frustration. “It’s almost as if, when I was twenty-two, and single, it was…easier.

silently, my heart

as my…girlfriend came into the picture. As I discovered that I had sons, I think that my attention was torn in many different directions. I wasn’t

perspective on this,” I say softly, impressed by his ability to accurately

little. “Well, I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” he says, “and I think that talking to you has certainly given me

pulling up into a little half smile. “But you know, it shouldn’t…be like that,” I

you mean?”

being your children, the next being your relationship – then perhaps something is not

a little, considering

as I say this, wondering if

considering. “I’ve taken a step in that direction recently. My…relationship, with my…well, my mate. I’ve

I hope convincingly. “I’m very sorry to hear that.

a little lost in

for your life and your

He says, and my heart sinks at the doubt in his voice. “I don’t know. She has been part of my life for so long – I leaned on her, drew support from her, loved her. With her gone…it may eventually be better. If I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t have done it. But right now? I just feel

go to him, wrap my arms around him, encourage him, let him know that it’s all going to be okay. But of course, in this moment, I am his therapist, not his…well, whatever

But the call ends on rather a dead note and I stare at the phone in my hands, its steady dial tone ringing, wondering if there’s anything

that there’s not – he’s at a tough point in his life right now, and there’s nothing I can do to make it better – it’s not even my job to make it better, just to listen and perhaps give him some tools to help

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