Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 204 – Preparations

Closing his eyes, Victor takes a deep breath as he settles back into the chair at the little makeshift desk in the living room – the same makeshift command room that he and Alvin had set up before going away to war on Walsh.

God damnit, how long ago had that been, when his son had helped him organize his papers? When Evelyn and Ian had been horribly gone, and he had wondered if he would ever give them back?

Victor shakes his head, working to dismiss the memories, but they’re persistent. So he leans his head back on the chair and works to take a few cleansing breaths, clearing his mind.

Damn it, but he was tired. Bone tired.

Of course, he feels infinitely better than he had felt yesterday, and the days before that, when he’d been dying. But this current state…it wasn’t strong. This morning, when he’d awoken with Evelyn, he had felt like he could move worlds, had felt so happy and revived.

But now, in the late afternoon of that first day back to himself, he’s coming to realize just how weak his body really is. Gone is the vigor of his Alpha strength, which used to carry him for hours on very little sleep.

Now, he feels like he could sleep for days and still not feel replenished.

Opening his eyes, Victor looks into the kitchen where Evelyn is sitting with the boys, calmly chatting with them over cups of cocoa. She’d spent the entire day within an arm’s reach of them, not able to get enough hugs and kisses and pats and passing touches to fill her weary heart.

Guilt pangs through Victor as he realizes this. Evelyn hadn’t left his side for days – for more than a week. The boys had been stoic, of course – had borne the lack of their mother and father as bravely as two six-year-old boys could.

But now, seeing her wrapped up in them, Victor realizes how much she gave him in these past days. Just how much she was willing to sacrifice to pull him through.

Those children were her world, and she had left them to be by his side.

And then, what she had done last night…what she had taken on, half of his illness, giving him half of her life – risking everything just to give him the chance to live.

damnit, Victor thinks, fighting back tears of guilt and gratitude and love and joy

smirk on her face. Then, very

can’t help the laugh that echoes through him at that. He hadn’t been aware that he had broadcasted his thoughts to Evelyn in that moment – he’d have to be

was grateful, again, for her ability to make him laugh even in the darkest moments of his life. She

wipe that smirk off her mouth with his own, with

his head ruefully, knowing that paying her back – ever – is impossible, no matter how big the diamond. He will be forever in her debt and will spend the rest of his

hopes that they’ll live long enough

macabre thought. There’s work to be done, no matter how tired he is. Rafe strides through the front door in that moment and Victor is glad to see him. Rafe’s appearance means news and Victor is glad of the

keep his face Alpha-serious and not burst into the smile that’s lurking beneath. He’s been

voice causing Rafe to break and laugh. Rafe tosses the papers on the desk, flopping himself in a chair

million years, so don’t hold your breath on that one, Victor,” Rafe says, giving up all the pretense of Alpha formality. He frowns, then, studying his brother’s weary face. “Are you all right? Do

shooting him a little glare before reaching for the papers. He’s not fine – he knows that he’ll need to rest before long – but there’s

minute,” Rafe says, looking towards the door. “The press is going a bit wild, you know, reporting on the fall of the Walsh and Willard packs. The rumors are getting out of hand,

He’s not ready to brief the press – not yet. Not until he gets his strength back. Let them spin their stories and their rumors. But Annabeth – letting her in on the details will be productive. She can

quiet, watching Victor thumb through the papers, quickly assessing

from this,” Victor says after a few more moments of contemplation, “is that

left almost no one assigned to these alternate projects while we went to war. She was either lucky or she planned it that way. She just slipped through the

attach herself to

considering. “So, what

shrugs ruefully. “Honestly, should we get Burton on the case?” He shoots a

enigma in the kitchen.