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.

help to determine which of my sons is most capable leader for the future of this pack. The first test, completed earlier this week, tested Rafe and Victor’s

that evening,” he continues, glancing at me and Bridgette, his face a little unhappy, “is the capacity of each of their chosen Lunas,” he says the word with a little sarcasm, Evelyn assumes because she is not actually Victor’s chosen

that he

the table. A bit ceremoniously, each raises their cup of tea

test of strategy and intelligence, both of which are important

first move, moving a pawn forward two spaces into

she has been called up here for 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

say, leaning down and whispering the white

sleeve. “What do

opens her mouth to encourage him to be quiet – the rest of the room is silent – when Burton

might enjoy some light reading,” he says

on the floor as they dig in. Evelyn gives Burton a

Evelyn leans her head against the wall, counting the seconds as they pass, wishing

later, Evelyn feels someone again tug at her sleeve. Looking down, I see Alvin’s little face

Evelyn turns her

squares are crowded with black figures. The game, it appears, is not going well for Victor, who is uncharacteristically slumped

doesn’t think she’s ever seen Victor sit in a chair without looking like he 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 blinking and

is wrong

at his father. Evelyn nods in agreement and takes a step

says. “Are you

“Stand

a hand to gesture at Victor.

Evelyn,” Henry

“I’m…” he takes a minute to gather his

too, knows that something is up. Burton is likewise frowning. The Betas are stoic, not giving anything away, and Bridgette just picks at

says, clearing his throat and shaking

the wall, gritting her teeth. Next to her, Ian crosses his arms and frowns, angry. “He’s not fine,

babies,” she whispers. “But he

sits back in his chair, victory written all over his face. Victor studies the board, his

Victor looks up at him, almost uncomprehending. “I’ve

frowns, looking down at the board. Rafe leans forward and deftly, slowly, flicks a finger so

Victor murmurs, admitting