Chapter 238

#Chapter 238 – Unfinished Business Victor is unfortunately wrapped in a towel, all finished by the time I get to the bedroom. I give him a pout and he chuckles at me. “Too slow,” he smirks.

I move towards him, holding out my arms, but he dodges away from me. “No!” he cries out. “You’re still all forest-y – I just got clean –“

“Rude!” I cry, my eyes wide with shock as I put my hands on my hips. “I gave you half my life force and you won’t even give me a hug –“

“I would love to give you a hug,” he explains, heading for the closet. “When you’re nice and clean and don’t smell like moldy rotten leaves anymore.”

I glare at him like the injured queen I’m pretending to be, promising death with my eyes. It just makes him smirk as he disappears into the closet. But honestly, I don’t really mind. A shower sounds like just about the best thing in the world anyway.

“Fine,” I call over my shoulder. “I’ll shower, but you have two naked sons running around the hallway who need baths. So you can take care of that while I take a nice soak.”

“Aye aye, captain,” I hear him murmur as I close the bathroom door behind me.

I take my time, not caring for a minute who needs me or what I have to do next. I take a brisk shower, getting the worst of the dirt off of me, and then I begin to fill the tub with hot, hot water, luxuriating in the miracle of indoor plumbing. As the tub fills, I wantonly add bath salts, balms, and oils until my cauldron bubbles to my liking. When it’s ready, I climb in and let it work its spell on me.

I sigh as I lean back in the water, breathing the scent of eucalyptus deep into my lungs. God, it feels good to just sit back, relax, and not worry about anything for a few minutes. I let my mind wander as I shampoo and condition my hair. As I pamper myself, my muscles unwind and I can almost feel any extra dirt sticking to me gently washing away.

Of course, like all things in the life of a mother of twins, my peace doesn’t last long.

An eager knock comes at the door, drawing a little sigh from my lips.

“Mama?” I hear Ian’s muffled voice call. “Are you done yet? Can we go outside and burn our clothes!”

“No!” I reply, my voice sharp. “Just a minute!” Then, I duck my head fully under the water, running my fingers through my hair, getting the last of the conditioner out. When I resurface, I return my attention steadily to the door, to my son, to my life. “Okay!” I call. “I’m ready! Go downstairs, I’ll come down when I’m dressed. And don’t burn anything!”

It’s a busy day, filled with visitors. Rafe slumps off somewhere – to the boys’ bathroom, I suspect, once they’re done with their baths – to overcome his six-day hangover. It’s better that he’s away, though, because the house rapidly fills with people. It’s Betas mostly, eager to see their Alpha and deliver their reports.

Victor takes these meetings in the living room at his makeshift little desk. As his men gather around him I frown a little, realizing that our days in this little house are numbered. The home that Amelia designed for them was a little excessive, but he really does need a larger space in which to conduct his business.

I begin to wonder what that house will look like, where it will be, but am interrupted by the sight of my boys, outside, heaping their hiking clothes in a pile a safe distance from the house.

“OH no you don’t!” I shout, dashing out the door after them just as Ian lights a match. God, when will I ever learn to watch my mouth around them?

Victor and I are exhausted, hours later, when the last of the Betas leave. He’d spent the entire day working with them, planning his next steps, contacting people to set up meetings and let the world know – however subtly – that Alpha Kensington was back and ready to resume his place at the top of the pack.

I kept busy as well, contacting the boys’ tutor to get them restarted with their lessons, calling my mother and Emma and Delia to let them know I’m safe. I also contacted Bridgette, but didn’t hear back from her.

I gnaw my bottom lip, worried, as I think about Bridgette now, even though I’m wrapped up in blankets in my bed and should be worrying about getting some sleep. Tomorrow, it all starts again.

Victor heaves a sigh as he sits down heavily on the bed next to me. He leans back against the pillows, draping a hand over his eyes, but I see a little smile on his lips as he anticipates the luxury of sleeping on a real mattress.

“Poor baby Alpha,” I coo, moving closer to him and patting him like he’s a delicate little thing. “Sleepy after his big day of talking.”

Victor peeks through his fingers at me, giving a little huff of irritation. “You forget, Evelyn,” he admonishes, “that I haven’t slept for thirty-six hours. I was driving your snoring self home.”

“Such sacrifice,” I mutter, putting my head on his chest. “It’s almost as big a sacrifice as giving half of your life force to someone –“

He laughs, dropping his hand from his face and wrapping his arm around me, tucking me under his chin. “Are you ever going to let that go? Will I ever be able to win an argument ever again?”

“No,” I murmur, reaching up to caress his newly-smooth cheek with my thumb. “Which is the only real reason I did it, to be honest. For the leverage.”

“Not because you love me?” he murmurs, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling of me stroking his face.

“No,” I whisper. “I am merely fond of you, after all. I’m only in this for the leverage, and because you make good babies, and I want six more just like the other two –“

“Six!” He cries, his eyes flying open as he moves suddenly, turning me over and pinning me back on the bed. I laugh as he presses me down against the mattress. “You can’t have six more, I refuse. Five, at the most.”

“Six,” I glare, challenging him as I slowly raise my leg, pressing it against his, letting him feel my smooth skin against him. “Because Lunas get what they want. Besides,” I murmur, looking upwards innocently. “I’ve heard a rumor that you’re very rich. You can afford six.”

“You’ll bankrupt me, woman,” he murmurs, falling back onto his side and pulling me with him so that our bellies are pressed together. Happy, I tuck my head back under his chin and let my fingers play against the soft folds of his tshirt.

Victor pauses for a moment and I can feel him thinking. I wait patiently, content to give him the time he needs to work through his thoughts.

“Evelyn,” he says eventually, his voice thoughtful. “What is it that you want?”

“Hmm?” I ask, truly curious now. I hadn’t known what he would say, but if I had to guess it wouldn’t have been that. I assumed he already knew.

“Really,” he says, looking down at me. “What is it that you want from your life?”

“Well, this,” I say, a little confused as I tug him closer to me, my hand on his waist. “I want to be with you, be with our family –“

“Well, I know that,” he says, shaking his head a little and working to be clear. “And of course, that’s what I want as well, but what do you want to do, Evelyn? I mean, do you want to start your therapy practice again? Do you want to go join another, maybe a larger one? You’ve got all of my resources at your disposal now – and my support, of course – you could really do whatever you wanted, really make a change in the world –“

“Victor,” I say softly then, interrupting him. He looks down at me and I can’t help loving him even more in that moment, if possible, for being so terribly supportive.

“Yes?” he asks.

“Would you be terribly disappointed if I told you I just wanted to be Luna?”

His mouth falls open a little bit in shock.