Chapter 28

#Chapter 28 – Annabeth The next morning, Victor fights his exhaustion, giving Annabeth Prath all his attention.

“Listen, Victor,” she says, crossing her legs and sitting back in the chair in his office. “I understand that you’re working to bring a lot of…” she pauses, choosing her words, “great things…to our Pack. But,”

she spreads her hands and smiles pleasantly. “I’m just not convinced that we have the same vision for the future.”

“Annabeth,” Victor says, leaning across his desk and putting a hand out, seeking to stop her as she stands up and lifts her bag. “Please, if you could just listen-“

“I think I’ve listened enough, Victor,” Annabeth says, walking to her door, followed by her two gigantic Betas. “The question is, are you listening. Really, thank you so much for a such a pleasant morning, the tea was divine.”

Annabeth gives a little wave and slips out the door while Victor slumps in his chair and scowls.

There’s a short rap on the door and then Amelia slips in. “So, how did it go?!” she says, excited. “I just saw Annabeth Prath leaving – god, she’s so fabulous. Did you see her bag? It’s the new Birkin –“

“It didn’t go well, Amelia,” Victor interrupts, frustrated.

“What? Why not?”

Victor shakes his head and spins his chair so that he looks out the window. “I don’t know. We just…

don’t see eye-to-eye on the Pack’s future. I don’t know what she could want besides increased security and investment – that’s clearly the future of our Pack…” he says, fading off and staring out the window.

“Maybe she just didn’t feel sufficiently courted,” Amelia says, crossing the room to slip into Victor’s lap, where he wraps his arms around her. “You know big-shot women like Annabeth like to be made to feel important. They were belles their whole lives, with people clamoring after them, and then – once they marry their Alpha and pop out a few kids – people don’t pay as much attention to them. Their job is done.”

Victor looks up at Amelia, wondering if this is the future she sees for herself. “I don’t know if that’s true – people care a lot about what Annabeth says. Not only is Henry Prath the Pack’s Treasurer and Head of Council, Annabeth is on three committees herself –“

“Yeah, I know,” Amelia says, rolling her eyes, clearly bored. “But I think the fact is, that Annabeth isn’t going to give you her endorsement just because you have good ideas. You have to give her something too.”

Victor considers this and nods. “That’s true. The pack’s welfare should come first, but she wouldn’t be the first politician to put their own desires ahead. What do you think she wants?”

Amelia takes Victor’s face in hers and gives him a peck on the lips. “Like I said, show Annabeth that you appreciate her for who she is, not for her husband. And I know just the way!”

“Let me guess,” Victor says dryly. “You want me to let you plan a party.”

Amelia laughs and puts her forehead against Victors. “Not just any party,” she whispers. “A really BIG party!”

“Wow, what’s all this about?” I ask, wading through the sea of boxed cutlery and rented chairs that fill Victor’s kitchen.

Victor shrugs and shakes his head, “I don’t know,” he says. “To me, it’s chaos, but to Amelia…she’s got some sort of plan for it.”

“Are you having a party?” I ask, looking around at the sea of blue and silver materials, enough for a banquet. “Or…is this for the wedding?”

“It’s a party,” Victor says, sighing, as the boys catapult down the stairs yelling for the mom. They wrap themselves around her, giving her hugs and telling her about their night, but Evelyn keeps her attention on Victor.

“I’m courting the endorsement of Annabeth Prath for my bid for Alpha,” he says, “I want to get it in the press before I announce my paternity of the boys.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Annabeth Prath,” I say. “Wow. That’s a big deal, and not a bad plan,” I consider my two boys, smiling down at them. “It’s probably going to cause a stir, when you publicly acknowledge them. It will be good to have her on your side.”

“Yes,” Victor says, leaning against the kitchen island. “That’s the idea. Madam Family Values, on my side, when I announce myself as the father of two illegitimate boys.”

I nod, patting down any rage that builds in me at his implications here. Victor is, after all, a business man and a politician. He’s just looking at this realistically, and he’s been more than fair, never suggesting in any way that the boys are anything but a blessing. A complicated blessing, yes, but one which he has truly embraced.

“Mama,” Ian says, “do you want to see our new room?

“You know I do,” I reply, smiling at both of them. Alvin tugs at my hand, trying to pull me to the stairs.

“It’s amaaaaazing, mama,” he says. “We are spacemen when we sleep in there!”

“You go ahead of me,” I say, nudging them back towards the stairs, “I’ll be right up. Let me finish talking to daddy.” They scamper off.

“So,” I continue, gesturing at all of the party supplies. “What, really, is the deal with all of this? I was just here last night – like, fourteen hours ago, and this kitchen was empty.”

“It’s Amelia’s plan,” Victor says, shaking his head. “We’re throwing a party here in Annabeth’s honor, giving her some award for excellence,” he waves away the details with a flippant hand. “Amelia’s handling it all.”

I nod and purse my lips. Victor watches me, unnerved, I think, by my unusual silence. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say, shrugging. “it sounds like a really nice event. Very…elaborate.”

He narrows his eyes, suspecting – correctly – that there is more behind what I’m saying. “Evelyn,” he commands, “tell me.”

“Well,” I say, laughing a little. “I don’t want to step on any toes, but…a party? An award? Annabeth goes to parties and gets awards all the time. What makes you think this will make her endorse you, over any of the other people who have given her awards and parties?”

“It’s a quid-pro-quo,” Victor says, crossing his arms – a gesture I’m starting to get used to from him, the stern Alpha. “I recognize her for her accomplishments, those outside of her role as an Alpha’s wife and the mother to Alpha sons. In exchange, she recognizes me for my plan for the future.”

My face scrunches in confusion. “But what’s so wrong with acknowledging her as a wife and a mother?

Doesn’t she put that at the front of her own political platform?”

“Yes, but Amelia suggested to me that Annabeth, herself, is being overshadowed by it.”

I shrug and look up the stairs, ready to spend time with my boys. “Look, nobody is as in-control of her image as Annabeth Prath. If she thought she was being overshadowed by being a wife and a mother, she would change her image.

“If you ask me,” I continue, “you should listen to how she’s presenting herself, and respond accordingly.” I make my way past him, towards the stairs, but stop when he puts a hand on my shoulder.

“Wait, Evelyn,” he says, “what do you mean by that?”

“Look, I don’t want to get involved,” I say, wary of getting in over my head. “But if my whole political platform was motherhood, and a single Alpha with no wife and no kids – apparently – was asking me for his endorsement? I’d want him to show me what his plans are for mothers and for children. I’d want him to show me that he cared.”

“So, as a mom,” Victor says, genuinely considering me. “What would you do, in my place?”

I shrug again. “I don’t know, Victor, I’m not a politician. But as a mom? What am I looking for from my pack? An investment in programs that help my sons. Like…I don’t know. Education.”

“Thank you, Evelyn,” he says, looking off into the distance – an expression I’m starting to recognize as him learning, processing. “That’s…very good.”

I flash him a thumbs up as I run up the stairs. “Anytime!”

The next morning, the boys are groggy as I get them ready for school. They spent all day at their dad’s house, playing in their new room, pigging out on leftover pizza and the rest of the crazy amount of ice cream Victor bought for them.

“Come on, spirits up!” I say, clapping and holding out their backpacks. “Bright eyes and bushy tails, boys! Time for school!”

“We don’t wanna go to school,” Ian complains, slipping on his backpack anyway.

“We’re not allowed to play on the computer all day at this school,” Alvin says, bitter.

“That’s because the teacher is actually educating you,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Instead of just letting you teach yourself. It’s good for you!” I say, grabbing my keys and dancing out the door to the car.

“Have a nice day ma’am, boys,” I hear from behind me as we cross the porch. I turn, surprised to see a Beta guarding the front door.

“Oh, hi,” I say, giving him a tentative smile. This Beta is short and stocky, but his face is friendly. “Um, where is Beta Edgar? I thought he was assigned to…us.” I say, faltering, gesturing towards me and the boys.

“It’s a rotating position,” this Beta says, “My name is Pete. Edgar is at the office for now, he’s been temporarily reassigned. But don’t worry,” he gives me a big smile. “We’re all dedicated to making sure you and the boys are safe.”

“Thank you,” I say, genuinely. “I appreciate your help, Pete.” I give him a wave and head to the car. As we pull out the driveway, though, I’m surprised to find that I feel…disappointed. That Edgar will no longer be hanging around outside my house.