#Chapter 102 – To stay or to go?

I walk slowly up to the house, surveying the scene, not wanting to run into members of his family. I meet a few Betas in the woods between houses, but they merely nod and smile as I pass. I return the gesture, glad to know that they’re there.

The house itself is quiet, though. Lights are on in various spaces, but there’s no sign of life in the kitchen or anywhere on the first floor.

Frowning, I come around the pool and stand by the edge of the back porch, trying to see if Victor is sitting somewhere close, maybe reading –

“Looking for someone?”

I jump at the voice, panic flooding me. But when I look in that direction, I just see Victor, sitting in an Adirondack chair in a dark corner of his porch.

“No, I just came up here looking for someone to scare the hell out of me. So, thanks for that little jolt to my nervous system, so kind of you.”

He gives me a low chuckle. I climb up the three short steps to the porch and walk over to him. He’s got a warm blanket spread over his knees, a glass of whiskey resting on the floor next to his chair.

“What are you doing out here?” I ask, wrapping my arms around my body for warmth. “It’s getting cold.”

He shrugs. “It will be too cold to come get fresh air at all soon, so I thought I’d take advantage of what could be my last night. Plus, I wanted to get away from them.” He uses his head to indicate his family inside of the house.

“Are they so bad?” I ask.

He rolls his eyes at me, just a little. “It feels like I’ve gone back to high school. I’m the Alpha of this pack, but somehow I find myself taking the trash out for mom, listening to my dad lecture me on the fact that my tie is too loose.”

He heaves a sigh and shakes his head. I purse my lips, hearing again the frustration that he expressed over the phone.

“They’ll be gone soon,” I say softly, trying to be encouraging. “You’ll find a new normal.”

gone, what will it look like?” He says, thinking aloud. “They’ll be gone, and so will you, off

his mother or worse, but am surprised to see a man emerge. A

breaks into a smile. “Burton!” I say, laughing. “What are

my favorite blanket draped over his arm. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Madame,” he says softly. “I took the liberty of fetching you this glass of wine, so that Alpha Kensington is

thanking him. He gives a short bow,

here?” I say,

He seems to have a rare talent for intuiting people’s needs. So I offered

of my wine, happy, and wrap the blanket around my shoulders. “Good, I really liked him.

just slightly. “I guess I was wrong before, I will at least have Burton here

my eyebrows and lowering myself into the chair next to Victor’s. “You two are going to get

huffs a small laugh and then

cut as finely as glass, but I can see the sleepless nights, the anxiety, the weight of his increasingly heavy world pressing on

to see him strained so. I want to reach out my hands and smooth away the frown I see pulling at the corners of his mouth. I want to whisper comforting nothings in his ear. I want to run my hands through his hair and say sardonic things; I want

my wine glass tighter to further avoid the impulse to

Victor, I’ve been thinking

looks at me. He doesn’t say a word,

really want to send them back to a human school,” I say, “Not after my father took them away so easily. But there are so few schools

at least, until Prath Academy is

the spring? And

enough. I’m sure Annabeth could recommend someone suitable. But your next house – will it be spacious enough to have both a home office

laugh lightly. “Wait, what’s

think of them all as living in the barracks. A locker full of weapons and bullet-proof vests, I guess,” he says, pinching

if it would be too crowded. But your house,” I look

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