Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 115 – Tactical Intelligence

Evelyn pushes open the back door to Victor’s house, holding it open so that Alvin and Ian can scamper in. “Hello?” she calls.

“Ah, Evelyn,” Henry Kensington rolls into sight from the living room, looking her up and down with a sneer on his face. “How good of you to come.”

“Pop pop!” Alvin yells, dashing over to his grandfather, Ian following closely after. Alvin puts one of his own feet on each of his grandfather’s wheelchair’s footrests, next to the larger feet already placed there, and uses the leverage to climb up, leaning forward to his grandfather can give him a hug.

Ian circles around the chair and climbs up the back to wrap his arms around his grandfather’s neck. “Hello, pop pop!” he says, laughing.

“Boys, really,” Evelyn says, moving forward, “get down – you’ll hurt the chair -”

“Don’t scold them, Evelyn,” Henry says – apparently not seeing the irony in the fact that he’s scolding her. “The chair has seen worse, let me say hello to them.”

He hugs Alvin and pats Ian on the arm while Evelyn crosses her arms and waits. After they have scampered off to the kitchen in search of a snack, she tries again.

“I received a note, from the Betas,” she says. “Asking me to come up here? What’s up?”

“The second trial,” Henry replies, turning his chair and heading back towards Victor’s office. “It is only appropriate for his heirs to be here to witness it.”

Henry rolls away and Evelyn rolls her eyes, realizing that Henry just assumes she will follow him. But, as she has no real other option, she calls to the boys and the three of them head into Victor’s office.

Inside, Evelyn is surprised to see a great number of people already gathered. Victor’s mother, brother, Bridgette, even Burton and several Betas are here to witness the event. The furniture has changed, too. Instead of Victor’s heavy desk in the middle of the room, there is only a simple table. Victor sits at it already, but Rafe’s seat is empty.

In the middle of the table, a marble chess board sits, ready for a game.

The boys run to their father. “Papa!” Alvin says, taking his hand. “What are you doing? What’s that?” He looks at the chess board curiously.

“You don’t know the game of chess?” Victor asks, surprised and curious.

“I think we’ve heard of it,” Ian says, resting his chin on the edge of the table and studying the board. “But we don’t know how to play it.”

“It’s a gentleman’s game,” Victor says, smiling at both of them. “So, you’ll certainly have to learn at some point.” He pauses to look at Evelyn. “This is an oversight, on our part,” he says. “We’ll have to get them a chess tutor as soon as we can.”

Evelyn shrugs, noncommittal. “If they enjoy it,” she says. Frankly, she always thought the game a little boring. She opens her mouth, intending to let him know that the boys are deft hands at poker, but then she reconsiders and closes it. It doesn’t seem a useful thing to bring up just now.

At that moment, Rafe breezes in, two steaming cups of tea in his hand. He places one at his seat and hands the other to Victor. “Black tea,” he explains to those in the room who look at him curiously. “Sweetened with cherries. An old trick of the Russian masters.” He gives the crowd a wink and settles down in his chair.

Victor whispers to the boys to go and stand with Evelyn, so they do, one on each side. Everyone settled, Henry rolls up to the table as well.

pack. The

of their chosen Lunas,” he says the word with a little sarcasm, Evelyn assumes because she is not actually Victor’s chosen Luna, “to assist him

test complete,” he says quickly, and Evelyn smirks at the fact that he doesn’t mention that she

each raises their cup of tea to each other, clinks them together, and then takes a

says, “as we all know, is a test of strategy and intelligence, both of which are important for an Alpha to master. The

white, makes the first move, moving a pawn forward two spaces into a

an event that’s likely going to take hours. Not like she didn’t have anything else planned today. The boys fidget next to her. “Mama,” Alvin whispers. “How long

long,” she say, leaning down and whispering

sleeve. “What do the little

the rest of the room is silent – when Burton suddenly appears at their side.

thought you might enjoy some light reading,” he says to them, his

they dig in. Evelyn gives Burton a broad smile and he returns it with a small bow.

predictably, takes forever. Most of the time Evelyn leans her head against the wall, counting the seconds as they pass, wishing it were over. Victor, she

at her sleeve. Looking down, I see Alvin’s little

turns her attention to

crowded with black figures. The game, it appears, is not going well

has a steel plate for a spine. He’s also pressing the bridge of his nose between his fingers, a gesture he only makes when he’s really frustrated, and he keeps

is wrong

right,” Ian says, frowning at his father. Evelyn nods in agreement

she says. “Are you

“Stand back, Evelyn. How dare you

hand

Henry

“I’m…” he takes a minute to gather his thoughts. Evelyn looks around the room, trying

that she, too, knows that something is up. Burton is likewise frowning. The Betas are stoic, not giving anything

Victor says, clearing his throat and

his arms and frowns, angry. “He’s not fine,

she whispers. “But

later, Rafe sits back in his chair, victory written all over his

dirty smirk. Victor looks up

deftly, slowly, flicks a finger so that Victor’s king falls

murmurs,