#Chapter 125 – Into the Woods

Just at the last gasp of dusk, Evelyn stands with the entire Kensington family at the edge of the forest. She looks up into the sky, noting that the stars are just starting to peak out into the velvety blanket of navy blue that coats the heavens. There would be no moon tonight.

Good, Evelyn thinks. Victor does well in the dark. Rafe will have no advantage there.

“The trial begins,” Henry says, his voice low.

As one, all twenty Betas who will participate in the trial snap to attention and salute the family. Rafe and Victor turn to salute each other. Then, they each take a moment to say goodbye. Both kiss their mother on the cheek, shake hands with their father. Rafe then moves to say a word to Bridgette and Victor goes to stand with Evelyn and the boys.

All day, the boys have been excited and cheerful. However, as the time drew nearer, they had grown more serious, their eyes filled with trepidation. Perhaps it is something about the reality of the forest at night, but Victor can see the fear in them.

Victor goes to one knee in front of his boys and looks at them seriously. “That isn’t fear I see in your faces, is it?” he says, perhaps more hard than kind in this moment.

The boys each lift their chins.

“No,” Ian says. “We’re not afraid.”

“We know you’re going to win, Papa.” Alvin continues, though his voice shakes a bit.

Victor nods, proud of them. “Good. I need you here, supporting me, being brave.” He flicks his eyes up to Evelyn, standing behind them. “Protecting your mom.” The boys nod seriously but Evelyn rolls her eyes. Victor can’t help but smirk.

He stands and shakes each boy’s hand and then leans down to give them each a kiss on their heads. Then, he moves to stand before Evelyn.

She crosses her arms and looks him up and down, unable to stop herself from thinking about how damn good he looks in his black tactical gear. She frowns in an attempt to make herself be more serious.

“What’s wrong?” Victor says, misinterpreting her expression as he takes another step forward and placing his hand under her chin, studying her face.

wanting to know, she laughs a little. “Seriously, Victor, I’ll tell you about it later. When you come home

at each other, then, trying to be discreet, but then Evelyn heaves a sigh and gives up. She throws her arms around

enough for Victor’s family to see, long enough to bolster his pride and his determination. When she breaks away,

One last look and then Victor turns. He and Rafe nod once more to each other and then

have disappeared into the darkness, Alvin tugs at her sleeve. “Mama?” he asks. “Can we

him, surprised. “Really? I thought you’d be staying up

is he going

at the forest again. “Honestly, baby, I have no

just sitting around waiting, maybe the time will go faster if I go to

self-restraint. “Well, that’s sound logic. Are you

us up if he comes back early? Then we could sleep

Her poor boys – they’re really too young to be experiencing this kind of anxiety. “Yes, darlings. I promise I will. Come on.” She takes

“Will you keep an eye on them, if I go to the fire?” she

the left says,

into a camping chair that has been left out for her. Marissa gives her an understanding smile and then pours her a large glass of wine from bottle that

she asks, passing the glass over into

says, sighing. “It’s just all so dramatic, isn’t it?” she says, looking exasperatedly at the two women sitting with her.

men,” she says. “If it’s not over the top, it’s not

head as she looks at Bridgette, inviting her to

Bridgette says, playing with her hair anxiously, “Is

frowns and sit forward. “What do

Bridgette shrugs. “Is this what it’s like to be an Alpha’s Luna? I thought it would be, like,” she wiggles her shoulders and gives her little tinkly

Bridgette had an upbringing much like her own. But now, she wonders. “What was it like

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