Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 197 – Awake

On the morning of the fifth day, my eyes fly open when I hear a hiss.

Victor has his eyes pressed shut, his jaw clenched together.

The tube was removed from his throat yesterday and he can breathe on his own now, but he’s been sleeping the entire time I’ve been here.

“Oh my god,” I say, leaning forward, grabbing his hand, my own neck and back twinging at the sudden movement from my chair.

Victor’s eyes peek open when he hears me. “It’s okay,” he says, his voice scratchy, probably from the intubation. “I just…tried to turn my neck.”

“Don’t move,” I say quickly, glancing around. “I’ll get the nurse –“

“No,” he says, tightening his grip on my hand. “Evie, no. Just…” he sighs and his eyes close again.

I hold my breath, squeezing his hand back, waiting.

“Just…” he says again. “Let me sit with you. For a moment.”

I can’t help the trembling smile that crawls over my lips when I hear that. I’m completely exhausted – haven’t been catching more than a few hours of sleep for days – but the sound of his voice? Telling me he just wants to sit with me?

I feel, suddenly, like I could sing and run and dance for days.

“How are you,” I say gently, leaning forward to smile at him. “Does it hurt?”

He takes a moment to consider. “What, my body? The whole thing?”

I nod, curious.

He laughs, then, and winces at the pain of it. “Yes, frankly. My whole body feels like it’s been through a meat grinder. What…what happened to me?”

I c**k my head to the side, curious. “What do you remember?”

He frowns, thinking again, looking up at the ceiling. “I remember being shot, of course. But then I think I passed out – and then, being downstairs, with you.”

He turns gaze back to me. “I remember our conversation, every moment of that. And the boys coming down.” He smirks at me, remembering them. “Clever boys. Are they here?”

shake my head slightly, not taking my eyes off him. “No. They…they get upset, when they come, and see you just laying there. They’re with Rafe and Bridgette, at the cottage. My mom is

a cozy crew, isn’t it,”

little. “You don’t remember anything

shakes his head, frowning. “It went quiet, after you and the boys went upstairs to…to finish things. And then, I guess I passed out again.

little and again winces

and press the button for the nurse. I hate seeing him wince like that, at

when I turn my attention back to him. “With…Walsh. Joyce.

as the pack community. Alvin and Ian will inherit, and we’ll appoint a regent, but…there’s time for all

lips turning up. I can see that he is pleased.

I ask,

He winces after each cough and I can see a tinge of blood on

comes in at just

She presses her hands to his shoulders, working

pain. She glances at me and I can see

going to get the doctor,” she says, her voice calm. “He’ll be

lightly, his coughing fit finished, but his breathing

to keep him calm,” she says lightly. “No

turn my eyes back to

I put my hand

is so, so not all right. I need him back, need him

to my unspoken thoughts. I

comes in then, his face sunny. He greets Victor, looking him over, listening to his pulse, measuring some vitals and checking the machines. I watch Victor closely as he responds to the doctor’s questions. His mind and spirit

clammy and an ashen grey, like someone who has one foot in the

that no matter what happy act the doctor is putting on…it’s bad. It’s

use more rest. I’m

really necessary, doctor?” he asks. “I just woke

frankly, Alpha Kensington,” the doctor says slowly, “it’s that catching-up-on-things that I do not want you to do at the moment. The only thing you should be concentrating on right now is resting. It’s that serious. You

at him. I don’t think Victor has, for a moment in his life, prioritized relaxation and healing over keeping up

taking a different tack. “Are Alpha Kensington’s affairs generally in order? If he sleeps for a few more hours, will it truly affect his life

my eyes going wide. Then I look between the two of them and shrug.

so does

me as well. “And Ms. Ortega, now that you’ve seen