#Chapter 224 – the Alpha and the Luna

Victor pulls his face away from me for a moment, still holding him close against him, looking down at me intently. A low growl builds in his chest.

And I want him, too, desperately. Want to tear his dirty shirt from his body and throw it to the forest floor – want –

“Where,” I hear myself ask, my mother’s instincts kicking in despite myself. “Where are the boys?” I wonder aloud, looking around.

I see Victor blink, suddenly, looking around and remembering them as well. He opens his mouth to call for them but I put a hand on his chest. “No,” I murmur. “Let them. This is…this is a good place. They’ll be safe. Can’t you feel it?”

He considers for a moment before responding. “Yes,” he whispers, and then laughs a little. “We’re starting to sound like the boys, frankly, but…yes. I can feel it. This is a good place.”

Victor sighs, then, gathering me close against him. “Evelyn,” he begins, “I’m so sorry –“

“No,” I interrupt, shaking my head and raising a hand to his cheek. “No, Victor, you don’t have to –“

“Please,” he begs, looking at me with such an earnest expression. “I want you to know, Evie – how clear it all is to me now.”

I nod, understanding, letting him know without words that I know precisely what he means. That I feel exactly the same. We sit there for a moment, marveling at each other, and in this instant I love him with such an intensity that I can barely breathe.

But it’s not the kind of lack of breath that I felt earlier, like the other days we’ve been in the woods…

I frown, suddenly, realizing something.

“What?” Victor asks, laughing a little. “I’m about to confess my undying love for you, and you’re frowning?”

“No,” I say, looking up at him, considering. “Victor, how do you feel right now?”

He stops and thinks about it for a moment, looking down at himself. “I feel…okay, I think?” He responds, not really able to put it into words.

“But you were running, all day,” I insist. “And Alvin and I must have walked hours in that fog to get here…”

“Fog?” Victor asks, his face twisting in confusion, but I shush him and continue to think.

“I think the forest gave us a little more strength. One last

you think

staring up into his beautiful green eyes. “I

a little at it. “I want to be close to the end of this. So that we can go back

face with my hand. “I think you should keep this stubble, though,” I murmur, running my thumb over three days’ worth of

into the pressure of my hand. “Whatever you want.” Then he considers me for a moment.

my hands over my head, stretching in his arms, remembering all the glorious food. “Ate!” I cry, laughing more. “We ate and ate and ate, until we were

Ate what? We left everything

urge, standing up from his lap and grabbing his hand,

house. “Is this…safe?” he asks, his voice

safer than it looks,” I respond, giving him a wink over my shoulder and tugging him by the hand through the

that the table inside has changed. Instead of the breakfast spread it presented earlier, the table now presents

cry out. “Oh look, it gave you

now covered in a variety of savory, filling dishes. Meat pies, and a roast, swimming in gravy – peas, and beans, and small stuffed hen. Victor in particular studies a plate loaded with roasted potatoes covered with salt and

know,” I say, shrugging and then mimicking the twin’s little pinging

says,

giving him a little

it,” he asks, glancing at me. “Is

die out here anyway. So, if the forest says

both move to the fire, me perching on the arm of the recliner so that I can sit as close to

do you think is next?” Victor asks between bites, looking up at

by combat,” I say casually, rolling my eyes a little.

work through his food. “We’ll have to bring the

towards the door. “Why do

he replies passively, paying more attention to his food than

they’re so smart,” I respond, frowning towards the door. “Intelligence is usually genetic, but they’re

he murmurs and I turn to swat him on the

you think they’d be really clever too? Like, are we doomed to always have kids we

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255