Chapter 105

#Chapter 105 – Amelia’s Return Victor began the work of incorporating Rogue wolves into his Beta forces immediately. The next morning, he received a call from Edgar letting him know that there were dozens of Rogues lined up outside the doors of his training barracks. Word traveled fast, and they were eager for the opportunity to prove themselves.

Excited by the news, Victor headed out from his home early and spent the day at his military encampment, speaking to his head Betas to see what they thought the best methods were for testing and incorporation. They spent hours coming up with a plan.

Only the best and most suitable Rogues would be accepted into military positions. Others, likewise worthy but perhaps less physically capable or inclined, could still find useful positions. Those with truly objectionable histories would be declined, but they agreed that everyone would be interviewed.

“You’re doing a good thing here,” Edgar had said to Victor, a little choked up. Victor had put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Edgar himself had never been Rogue, but had had some rough teenage years. A little longer, and he could have found himself in that position, but Victor had found him before he could fall through the cracks.

“I’d like you to take lead on this,” Victor had said, studying him closely. Edgar had nodded, pleased at the idea, and gone straight to work. Victor had watched him go, proud to have honored him with a program about which he was clearly passionate. He didn’t let himself consider that this also meant that Edgar would have less time to hang around at Evelyn’s house.

Edgar was going to be very, very busy.

That night, Victor comes home tired. However, it’s the good kind of tired which comes from knowing that good work has been done. As he walks in the door he takes of his suit jacket, handing it to a waiting Burton, and loosens his tie.

“Dinner in thirty minutes, sir?” Burton asks.

“That will be fine,” Victor murmurs, heading into the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of water.

As he drinks it, he sees motion out by the pool and leans towards the window to get a further look.

Liking what he sees, he smirks and heads out back.

“What are you all doing out here?” he asks, sipping his water and walking up to the two lounge chairs his mother and Evelyn are sitting on, next to the pool. He stares into the pool, shaking his head. “And you two are actually swimming?”

It’s not as cold as it was before, but it’s still late December. The two boys are splashing around in the pool in their summer swim trunks, both wearing goggles.

“One of the gardeners made a mistake,” Evelyn explains, “and turned up the heat on the pool to eighty-

eight degrees.” Victor gapes at this news and looks to see, indeed, that a small layer of steam is rising from the water, disappearing into the cold air above it.

“It’s like swimming in soup, papa!” Alvin says, laughing and splashing.

“We can never get out though,” Ian says, keeping his whole body in the water except for his face, which he floats at the top. “When we get out we feel like popsicles.”

His grandmother laughs and shrugs. “They turned the temperature back down, and it’s going to cost you a fortune, Victor, but we figured they might as well take advantage of a winter dip while they could.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “Something I’d never thought I’d see – a pool day before New Year’s Eve.”

The boys continue to tell him about the day and their adventures, his mother and Evelyn chiming in. At this moment, Victor considers how nice of an afternoon it is, with everyone getting along and enjoying themselves. He closes his eyes for a moment and tips his head back, catching the last rays of the setting sun on his face.

Everything seems to be going just fine, right now.

“Hello, Victor.”

He feels his spine tighten at the sound of that familiar voice. He presses his eyes closed, hoping against hope that he just imagined it. But the silence of his boys, his mother and Evelyn beside him, let him know that they heard it to.

Slowly he turns to see Amelia standing, arms folded, on his back porch. Two Betas stand anxiously behind her. “She insisted, sir,” one says. “We couldn’t stop her.”

“It’s fine,” Victor says, steeling himself and waving a hand to dismiss them. They nod and walk away.

“Hello, Amelia.”

“I want to talk.” Her voice his hard, letting him know it’s not a request.

“Fine,” he says, sighing as he takes steps towards the house.

“No. Here,” she says. “I want witnesses. And I have things to say to her as well.” Amelia narrows her eyes at Evelyn, who freezes.

“Amelia,” Victor says, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t really appropriate. Let’s go inside.”

“No!” She says, stomping her foot. “I will not be brushed away indoors, Victor, where I won’t be heard! I am the Luna of this pack, I have rights!”

“Actually,” his mother’s voice rings out. Victor turns, surprised. “You were Victor’s mate and his Luna, my dear, but never the Luna of the pack. Not without the wedding.” Her voice is gentle, perhaps too much so. The phrase kill them with kindness slips into Victor’s mind at the sound of it.

Amelia’s mouth falls open, and then snaps shut. “It doesn’t matter. What happened was a misunderstanding, you are my mate, Victor. It is our destiny to be together! I’m back now, to reclaim my rightful spot.”

The two boys have hoisted themselves half out of the pool, their arms folded on the edge, their little faces perched on top of their arms. They watch the whole thing like two eager little frogs.

Victor glances at them, wanting to save them from the spectacle, but Amelia won’t be moved. “Amelia, I have rejected you not only as my wife, but as my mate. You no longer have that position. Our bond is broken.”

Tears fill her eyes. It’s almost as if she hadn’t considered this as a possibility, though surely she must have known. “You can’t do that to me, Victor. I love you!”

“You used to love me, Amelia,” Victor snaps, losing his temper a little in his embarrassment. “You may love the me who you used to know, but I am a different man now. And the way you treated my children at our wedding suggests to me that you are no longer the woman I loved. Or perhaps you never were.”

He shakes his head, just wanting this to be over. “Please, Amelia. I’ll give you whatever you want. I don’t want you to suffer, I want an amicable break. I’ve arranged a generous dowry for you, in case you’d like to marry again –“

She stomps her foot again, making him grind his teeth in frustration. “I don’t want another marriage – I want to marry YOU –“

“AMELIA.” Victor’s voice is a roar now, a snarl ripping from his throat after he speaks the word. “This is FINISHED. You will leave this house! Now!”

Her lip trembling, Amelia stares at him with hate in her eyes. “I’ll never forgive you for this,” she says, hurt and shame in her voice. “I’m going to ruin your life, as you have done mine.”

Victor hangs his head, exhausted, wondering how it could have all gone so bad so fast.

“And you, you w***e,” his head snaps up as Amelia hurls her words at Evelyn. “Look at you, playing little Luna bride, slipping into my place so easily.” Her voice is mocking here and Evelyn shrinks back in her seat. “Ever since you came here, every step you’ve taken has led to this.”

Amelia passes a glare between Evelyn and Victor. “You may have stolen my man, but I swear it, if it’s the last thing I’ll do, I’ll take everything you love. Just like you did to me.”

Evelyn covers her mouth with her hands, horrified by the threat, as Amelia storms from the porch. She passes back through the house and they’re all so silent with shock that Victor hears the front door slam.

A long moment passes when nobody says anything. Then, Alvin’s tremulous whisper floats to Victor’s ears.

“Mama,” he asks, ever-so carefully. “What’s a w***e?”