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

know that I’ve hit the nail on the

it, noting the heavy canopies above that let in only a small portion of the sun’s rays. It creates, around us,

I murmur,

when the ghosts visited last

of. The boys were right – those ghosts

left eye with the back of his palm, a few tears leaking out

tight and upset. “Alvin threw dirt

just threw it up

pry Ian’s hand away from his eye, inspecting the damage. No harm done, just irritation. “Alvin, apologize. Ian, accept it.

don’t have the energy to deal with that

do as I say and then, shooting each other dirty looks, again

says, looking after them. “They’re always such pals. But

murmur, then nudge him with my elbow. “Come on,

and we

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

to the next question on my mind, glancing up at Victor’s broad

us make it? It’s very easy to make big sweeping romantic promises to each other in a time of crisis, and I have

it be enough? Will I be enough? Or, will he grow bored of me? Or me

gnaw at my lower lip, worrying about it for what feels like hours

Victor 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