Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

#Chapter 216 – Future Plans

The next morning, Victor and I make short work of packing up the tent. We send the boys off with a little H20 test kit to see if they can find fresh water, and they come back with a couple of bottles full. We quickly set the water to boil over the rekindled fire and then re-bottle it, slipping it into our backpacks for later use.

Then, ready for our day – and whatever new magical twists it brings – we head out along the trail.

It’s not really much of a trail, though, when I think about. We’re following what can best be described as a little game path, just a small winding clearing between plants in the woods, probably made by the routine travel of deer passing through.

What we’re really following, I suppose, is our instincts.

I sigh. More magic there, probably. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it like Alvin and Ian clearly are.

It was difficult, getting up this morning. My body dragged against the dawn, screaming for more sleep. When I was able to pry my eyes open, I found Alvin peering down at me, his face worried.

“Are you okay, mama?” he had asked. I had reassured him, as cheerfully as I could, that I was fine – I just didn’t like sleeping on the forest floor. But in reality, my breath was coming shorter, and I could feel my heart beating fast in my chest, even though I was resting.

We are short on time, my body is telling me. It makes every moment feel tense and precious.

Our progress through the woods is slow, the boys flitting around us like butterflies. I swear they run three times the distance that Victor and I walk, dashing ahead and then back to us, and then looping behind to re-explore before coming to tell us all about it. I envy them their strength, but am also glad that at least some of us are feeling up to the strain of this hike.

What’s perhaps the most frustrating, though, is that I have no idea where we’re going. I know that we’re on some kind of sacred journey, but honestly? Most of the time it just feels like we’re wandering aimlessly in the woods, which grates on my nerves.

Victor stops at around noon, turning and offering me a drink from the lukewarm water bottle. I grimace as I sip at it. I’m thirsty, but damn it, what I’d give for a glass of icy water.

He glances forward to where the boys are climbing over a rotten old log.

“Well, at least they’re having fun.”

my head on his shoulder. “Does it feel ridiculous to you? To be spending these…well, these final hours, wandering

I’ve hit the nail on the head. It feels

is dark, now, for noon. I glance around it, noting the heavy canopies above that let in only a small portion of the sun’s rays. It creates, around

murmur, frowning as I

last night?” Victor

boys were right – those ghosts were weird, but they weren’t…unfriendly. The vibe in this part

running back to us then, Ian rubbing his left eye with the back of

and upset. “Alvin threw

after him and glaring at his brother. “I just threw it up and it landed in

confusedly between the two. They never fight. I then lean down to pry Ian’s hand away from

the energy to deal with that today. It’s probably bad mothering but…god,

and Ian do as I say and then, shooting each other

looking after them. “They’re always

him with my elbow. “Come on,

and we

mind turning to dark places. The forest around me glowers, and so does my mind. I think about what it would be like

too horrible to bear, so I turn to the next question on my mind, glancing

make it out of this forest…would the two of us make it? It’s very easy to make big sweeping romantic promises to each other in a time

be enough? Will I be enough? Or, will

my lower lip, worrying about it for what feels like hours as we plunge

stops ahead of me and sighs. I blink, surprised, and stop in my tracks looking at him. Then he turns, shaking his head and glaring at