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.

of guilt and gratitude and love and joy and fear. God damnit, how

his eye then, looking up from the table with a smirk on her face. Then, very simply, she sends him the mental image of a ridiculously large diamond poised

that he had

moments of his life. She turns her attention back to the boys, that smirk still on

wanted to wipe that smirk off her mouth with his own, with a kiss that told her just how grateful

impossible, no matter how big the diamond. He will be forever in her debt and will

live long enough to do

then, turning away from the 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

his face Alpha-serious and not burst into the smile that’s lurking beneath. He’s been thrilled all day at the change in his brother’s

Rafe tosses the papers on the desk, flopping himself in a chair pulled up close, one

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 you need a

says, 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 still

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, and she wants

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

quiet, watching Victor thumb through the

says after a few more moments of contemplation, “is that we have…absolutely no

his mouth to the side and nods ruefully. “She’s had time, Victor. Our forces were distracted – we 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

leans back in his seat. “It won’t last,” he murmurs. “She’ll show her face again. The problem is, if we give her enough time to do it, she’ll attach herself to another pack, another Alpha, and get their protection. Maybe even make us

“So, what

turns his head to his brother and shrugs ruefully. “Honestly, should we get Burton on the case?” He shoots a glance at

likewise looking at the enigma in the kitchen. “It can’t hurt,” he