#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.”

will you, off to your new house, wherever that is. Suddenly I’ll be in this big house, all alone.” He sips

disruption from his mother or worse, but am surprised to see a man emerge. A man I recognize

a smile. “Burton!” I

his tray and my favorite blanket draped over his arm. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Madame,” he

of wine and the blanket, thanking him. He gives a

get here?” I say, laughing

He seems to have a rare talent for intuiting

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

that we agree,” Victor says, turning up the corners of his mouth just slightly. “I guess I was wrong before, I will at least have Burton here when you all

and lowering myself into the chair next to Victor’s. “You

small laugh and then closes his

still in the darkness of the porch. The lines of his face are cut as finely as glass, but I can see the sleepless nights, the

and smooth away the frown I see pulling at the corners of his mouth. I want to whisper comforting nothings in his ear.

glass tighter to further avoid the impulse to reach out and touch him. Then,

been thinking

and looks at me. He doesn’t say a

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

nods, considering. “And it will be several months, at least, until Prath Academy is ready

homeschooling for the

sure Annabeth could recommend someone suitable. But your next house –

laugh lightly. “Wait,

in the barracks. A locker full of

again, “I wonder if it would be too crowded. But your house,”

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