Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins
Chapter 286

Victor gives Bridgette a friendly nod and then takes me warmly in his arms, pressing a kiss to my hair and resting his cheek against the top of my head. "Did you think the other kids wouldn't like them?" "I don't know what I thought," I murmur, still watching my boys, a hand pressed against my stomach as well, half of my thoughts on my girls." Honestly, Victor, is it horrible if I...wanted them to be? A little bit?" "Well, at first blush, yes," Victor whispers, laughing a little. "But tell me what you mean."

"For six years, Victor," I explain, maybe realizing it for the first time myself, "they've been all mine - they didn't really have any friends at the human school, they were too advanced, and they were my little buddies, they hung out with me. Oh my god,"I say, laughing and wiping the tears from my eyes before they can fall on my cheeks. "I think a part of me did want the other kids to reject them so they'd keep hanging out with me."

Victor laughs harder now, hugging me close." Sorry, Evie, it's impossible. You raised funny, interesting, thoughtful kids. They're going to make friends. But don't worry, 'll always hang out with you."

I wail a little bit at this and Victor pulls away, simultaneously laughing and offended. "Hey!" he says, giving me a little shake. "What's wrong with that!?"

"They're funnier than you!" I reply, laughing and shaking my head at him. His mouth drops open, his feelings a little hurt, and I pull him close again, feeling a little bit bad, but not that bad. It's true, after all. "They're more fun but you're very nice in other ways," I

murmur.

"That's it," he growls, jokingly, against my ear. "I'm spoiling the girls. They're going to love me more.

I'm turning them against you."

"Good luck trying," I say, shaking my head and hugging my mate close.

"Um," a voice says behind us, and we both turn to see Rafe standing there, smirking at us a little ruefully. "If you two can take a minute to stop rubbing it in to everyone else how disgustingly in love you are," he says, making me grin. "It's time to cut the cake." "Sure, Rafe," I reply, unt ngling myself from Victor and moving over towards the kitchen table where people are starting to gather. "Could you stand back though?" I continue, looking at Rafe innocently. "I wouldn't want to get your jealousy all

Rafe smirks at me in response, moving to Bridgette's side and wrapping an arm around her waist. I smile as I turn away, knowing my accusation is baseless. Rafe and Bridgette? They've got nothing to be jealous about, nothing at all. I glance at the diamond again on her finger as I move to the counter to start lighting candles on the cake, happy that they, too, seem to be on the right road forward.

Our friends and family stay long into the night, gathered largely on the back porch drinking wine and whiskey and beer, gathered in small groups. I spend most of my time leaning against the banister and letting people come to me so that I don't have to spend a moment looking away from my boys playing flashlight tag in the yard with their new friends.

"They seem to be getting along well," Annabeth murmurs, coming up next to me.

"Well," I reply, grinning at her, "it seems to help that nobody knows the rules to the game, and no one seems to care."

"Ah, to be young," she sighs, resting her chin in her palm, "when all you wanted to do was run for the joy of it."

"Oh, I don't know," I say, smiling out at the kids *Chapter 256

Porthday Night

and then down at both of our swelling stomachs."

Being a grown-up has its perks as well."

"Indeed," she says, raising her eyebrows at me."

Especially if one is the Supreme Luna."

Iblush a little, laughing, still not used to the title.

It's not mine yet - not until the council vote goes through sometime - we hope at the end of the summer. But still, I'd better get used to it, hadn't I?

"Annabeth," I say, turning to her curiously, thinking of something I'm surprised I haven't considered before. "How come you didn't take it?

The Supreme position? You have the influence, after all."

She sighs and shrugs, looking out at the kids, thinking it over. "I think it needs someone like you, Evelyn," she answers. "I care about people - I want the best for everyone - but I don't want to do the work. I only want to help part time - the rest of it, I want to be home, comfortable, with my kids." She turns and smiles at me then. "And while you, Evelyn, will always be a mother first, I think that you really, really want to make this world a better place."

I smile at her, feeling very seen. "Thank you, Annabeth," I say quietly, reaching out to take her hand. "For believing in us. Maybe even before we were us."

"his my honor, Luna, she rephes, leaning forward do give me a kiss on the cheek. And then she claps to her chiltren, calling them back to the house, eitig them know it's time to go.

"Oh no" Alvin cries out, his shoulders slump in disappointment. "TI's not even late!"

"It's near midnight!" I reply, laughing as all of the kids come running back to the house. "Birthday's almost over."

"Can't they sleep over?" lan asks seriously, gesturing to all of the kids gathered at the foot of the stairs who nod eagerly.

Ishake my head at him fondly. "Maybe next time, baby," I say, and laugh when he frowns at me calling him baby in front of all his new friends. I'll have to check that next time. "Birthday's almost done. Besides, your dad and I have a surprise, just for the two of you." The promise of a gift is enough to motivate Alvin and lan to say their goodbyes, and the rest of the party fihers out soon after that. Rafe hesitates at the don - he'd stay later, I know, if he had the chance - but Bridget pulls him laughingly away, telling him to give us our time. Scowling, he complies, giving us our space.

"So what is it?" Alvin eagerly whispers, coming to my side. "What's the present?"

"Well," I say, grinning at him, just as eager."

Actually, I don't know!"

"What?" he says, frowning and blinking, confused.

"Well, yours I don't know," I say, crossing my arms over my chest and looking at Vitor and lan, who cross over to us.

"Why not?" Alvin asks, looking between all of us.

"Because your mom and I flipped a coin," Victor replies, smiling at his son, excited. "She got heads, which means she picked out lan's gift. And I got tails, meaning I picked out yours."

"Yesssss!" lan says, pumping a fist in the air.

Alvin's face drops in disappointment.

"What!?" Victor says, shocked. "Why -"

"Mom gives the best gifts," lan says, still dancing around in victory. "I win! Yes!"

"Dadddd," Alvin whines. "Why didn't you let mom get boooooth of themmmmm."

Victor's jaw drops and he just shakes his head at us. "We'll just see about that," he says, crossing his arms. "I did great this year."

Alvin just looks at me with sad eyes, disappointed.

I shrug at him. "You're the one who wanted a dad, kid," I say. "Now you have to pay the price."

"And I reap the benefits!" lan shouts, jumping onto the couch, still dancing.