“Don’t turn your back on me, Evelyn!” Victor chases me out into the hall. “I’m taking custody. Expect a call from my lawyer,” he calls after me as I saunter down the hall.“Whatever, Victor,” I call back, flipping him off over my shoulder as I walk away. “You have no rights, they boys are mine.”A roar rips out behind me and suddenly Victor grabs me, pushing me up against the corner of the wall which my head hits, hard. I gasp and cry out.“They’re not your children, Evelyn. By rights and by law, they belong to their paternal lineage. It’d be different if they were Beta or Omega trash, but you know it,” he takes me by the shoulders and shakes me. “They are Alphas, they need to be raised as such!”“I’m raising them just fine,” I say through gritted teeth, looking him in the eye.“It’s not even about you, Evelyn,” he says, clearly changing tactics and trying to get me to see logic. “I can give them a life you can’t – I have resources -”“Resources!” I laugh in his face, interrupting him
“Mama!” shouts Alvin, turning the corner and seeing Evelyn collapse on the floor. Her face is pale, her brown hair spread around her.Ian lets out a shriek and runs past his brother, throwing himself across the room towards Evelyn. Victor intercepts him halfway, catching Ian by the waist on instinct and holding him back. Victor reaches for Alvin as well, but misses. Alvin skids on his knees to his mother’s side, pushing back her hair. “Mama?!” he cries.“Alvin, stay back!” Victor calls after him, looking over Evelyn to make sure that she’s breathing. She is – peacefully, at that. She’s just fainted a little, too much emotional strain. Victor continues to hold back the thrashing Ian, who won’t do his mother any good climbing all over her.“You hurt our mother! You are a BAD man!” Ian shrieks, fighting to get out of Victor’s grasp.“What did you do to her!?” Alvin sobs, beginning to bare his teeth and betraying his usually-gentle nature. “You are a bully! You are bad!”Victor opens his
After the boys have been put to bed I stand in my kitchen, staring into the fridge. Milk, cheese…I’m not hungry, or thirsty. I just…have no idea what to do.I sigh and shut the door slowly, careful not to make a sound. Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and do the one thing I can think of that will give me some peace.Me: Are you up? I send the text.D: I wasn’t, until my phone buzzed on the nightstand. Thanks a lot, babe. What’s up? Me: Up for a drink? I can meet you at O’Leary’s.D: At this hour???M: Please.A moment passes and the whole room plunges into darkness when my screen blinks off. Then:D: Sure, anything for you. See you in 10 mins. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Jennings,” I whisper as I slip out the door, pulling on my second boot. “I promise they will be no trouble – they won’t even wake up!” I ramble, backing down the path.Mrs. Jennings merely purses her lips and shuts the door. She doesn’t like me – doesn’t approve of single moms - but she loves my boys. Plus, I shove
Victor’s entourage rolls up precisely at 3:00, as requested. Three cars, one black Rolls-Royce and two hummers, presumably filled with whatever Betas and lackeys Victor has brought with him. The boys and I are standing outside waiting for him, me in my favorite dress, the boys bright and tidy in their school uniforms.Victor steps out of the car into the sunshine, buttoning his blazer as he frowns judgmentally at my neighborhood. I grit my teeth behind my smile. Two short men in grey suits climb out of the car behind him, carrying stacks of paper. These guys have “lawyer” written all over them.Before they can get far, though, my boys rush forward, their knapsacks bouncing on their backs. “Daddy!” Alvin yells, wrapping himself around Victor’s leg as he did yesterday.“Hi, Dad!” Ian shouts, running and waving. Victor takes a step back, obviously surprised. Clearly, he was expecting a fight, not a warm welcome.I make my way slowly down the walk behind them, offering a friendly smile. “
I sigh, arms crossed, as I watch the cars pull away with my boys, saying a silent prayer. In my heart, I know Victor will keep them safe, but still – a mother’s fears run deep.After the car moves out of my sight I turn and head back into my house, shifting into counselor mode. I wasn’t kidding when I told Victor I had a big day planned – but it’s less spa and more work, unfortunately. I’ve got bills to pay.I head into my office and quickly straighten up some loose papers on my desk, nudging my grey armchair back into its place parallel to the green velvet loveseat where my clients sit. The boys must have been in here, fooling around.As I put finish up, I hear a knock on my office’s outside door. Susan, right on time.Susan rushes through the door as soon as I pull it open, a pink scarf draped over her head to obscure her face. Poor Susan – she’s always so ashamed of coming to see me for counseling, not wanting anyone to see her come in or out.“I don’t think anyone’s looking, Susan
I breathe deeply through my nose as rage takes over the terror in my body. Emily. Frickin. James. God, I thought I was finally finished with her drama – but apparently, she’s still out to ruin my life.Six months ago, I was having a totally normal therapy session with Emily’s boyfriend Keith, a Beta. He asked me for my professional opinion on some…spots, which had mysteriously appeared on his penis. I told him that hat was outside of my jurisdiction as a counselor and told him to seek medical attention.But then Keith started crying, saying that if he came down with an STD like moonpox they weren’t going to let him continue in his job. I bit my lip then, because he’s right – moonpox is very contagious, especially amongst Betas in a small pack who tend to share gear and clothing.However, it’s super rare. “It’s probably fine, Keith – you’re probably panicking over nothing.”“I think I’ve got it, Evelyn,”“Keith,” I said, putting out a hand and trying to soothe him. “Moonpox has a very
Finally, after what feels like an endless list of my credentials, I get Victor talking about his goals for the sessions use the opportunity to quietly freak out.I put my hand over the phone’s receiver and turn my face away, breathing deeply as my mind spins, trying to figure out my next step. I should, of course, immediately end the call before Victor tells me anything real about his life, his relationships, his intimacies.This is a textbook case of a conflict of interests. I definitely shouldn’t be Victor’s therapist because I’ve figured out his identity but he hasn’t figured out mine - it creates a power imbalance.Oh, and because we’ve slept together, and because he’s trying to steal my children, just to name a few other reasons.“Shit shit shit…” I mutter under my breath. I know I should hang up the phone but…Something inside me nudges me, telling me that fate has delt me a sweet hand here. Perhaps, just perhaps, I shouldn’t ignore this so quickly.Everything in this custody ca
When Victor opens the door, I burst out laughing.I can’t help it. Before me stands one of the most powerful Alphas in the country, his shirt covered in stickers and juice stains, glitter on his face and even a little purple marker smudged across his chin.He scowls at me mightily, filling up the frame, glaring at me in a way which I’m sure has cowed hundreds of men. But here, with what is clearly marshmallow fluff spiking up a piece of his hair, it just makes it funnier.I bend over, laughing so hard I have to put my hands on my knees to support myself.“Evelyn,” he says, stern and gruff, clearly used to more respect.“Evelyn,” I say back, crossing my arms over my chest and mocking him, still laughing. “Oh come on, Victor, get over it,” I say, pushing past him into his front hall. “You can’t intimidate me with apple juice and Paw Patrol stickers all over your shirt.”I am impressed, walking into Victor’s house, though I try not to let him see it too much. “Beautiful home you have her