Ch. 101..105: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 101-105

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 101

3rd Person

“Eve, what have you done?” A man’s voice penetrated the thin walls of the pups’ prison, reaching their young ears as easily as water through a sieve.

“l know that voice!” Riley exclaimed, “It’s the ‘tective!”

“Shh” Parker hushed her, “I want to hear!”

“I did what anyone with half a brain would Eve told her lover, glancing at the cellar door where Jane’s brats were locked safe and sound. They walked right into my hands, I would have been a fool to turn such a golden opportunity down” A golden opportunity was putting it mildly. It had been an absolute blessing. She didn’t have any particular plans when she went to Ethan’s home, only to watch and try to figure out what to do next. Then the little idiots walked out the door like lambs to the slaughter. It had been only too easy to get them to do what she wanted, once she grabbed the runt.

She hadn’t figured out how she was going to get rid of them yet. Every time she tried to get her hands on one long enough to inflict some damage, the other three lept on her like a pack of vicious monkeys.

Eventually she could wrestle one of the girls away long enough to hold them hostage against the others and make them stop attacking, but she was going to need to plan much better if she wanted to end all four of their lives.

This isn’t what we discussed” The investigator growled. “Every man, woman and child in the pack is going to be looking for us now.”

They were going to be looking for me anyway.

Eve reasoned coolly, “And now I can finally get rid of the little monsters.

“I thought you didn’t want him anymore?” The detective hissed. “There’s no reason to harm them. You have me now. You have our baby.”

“1 don’t want him.” Eve replied. “I want my years back. She declared, with a catch in her shrill voice. “All the best years of my life, that I wasted trying to make him love me. I did everything in my power to make him see that I would make the most perfect Luna, and he only ever had eyes for Jane. She could do no wrong, even after the attack! He just kept her inside where the pack couldn’t see how much he still loved and doted on her”

“Killing them won’t give you your youth back, Eve.”

The detective raised his voice so loudly the pups reeled back from the door. “If we run right now, we might have a chance to escape. We can start our lives fresh someplace new, but if you kill those pups Ethan will hunt us down and he will never stop. He will not give up until we, and our child, is dead.”

They deserve it!” Eve countered, “That runt foiled my plans every chance she got, and the others helped her once they found each other.”

“So what?” The investigator replied, “You want to ruin our lives out of spite, you want to let a pack of toddlers steal your future?”

“If you’re this much of a coward, why did you agree to help me in the first place?” Eve quipped cruelly. “I thought you and l were on the same page.”

“We were!” He shouted back. “Until you decided to throw our lives away. I helped you because I love you and I hate what the Alpha put you through. You deserved so much better than his indifference and derision, but I can’t support this, Eve.”

The pups jumped when Eve’s voice rose to a shriek,

“Don’t you dare walk out on me!”

“Why?” He roared back, “Because you want me to stay? Or because you’re afraid of what l’ll do?”

“What are you going to do?” She snapped.

“Well, I suppose that answers that question!” The detective bellowed, charging outside and slamming the door behind him.

“Kieth wait!” Eve cried, rushing after him.

As soon as her footsteps receded, the pups turned to one another. “They’re gone!” Ryder exclaimed, “

Paisley, give me one of your hair pins.”

“Why?” The little girl replied, pulling a couple of b0bby pins from her dark hair even as she questioned the point.

“1 saw this in a movie once.” Ryder shared, jabbing the thin metal prongs into the keyhole. “If you jiggle them around enough, it can open the lock.”

“Are you sure there’s not more to it than that?”

Riley asked skeptically, watching her brother clumsily bang the pins into the locks.

“Well I dunno, I’ve never tried ‘afore” Ryder answered.

“Tha’s not ‘portant.” Parker declared, “if there’s a chance it can work, we have try.”

“Parker’s right” Paisley agreed, “but for da record, I thinks you’re doing it wrong, Ryder.”

“Tha’s not helpful Paisley.” Ryder bit back.

“Maybe one of us should try.” Riley suggested.

“Fine.” He sighed, handing the pins over to his sister.

Riley caught her tongue between her l!ps as she concentrated on the lock, carefully threading the prongs into the keyhole and wiggling them about. She moved them more deftly than Ryder had, feeling the door’s internal structure and listening for the various little clicks and clangs.

“I thinks I almost got it.” She announced after a few minutes of struggling.

“Good job, sissy.” Paisley praised, “just keep trying.

Don’t give up.”

After another minute, a loud click filled the air, and then the door sprung open. However as soon as it did, so too did the front door, and Eve reappeared, her eyes red and streaming with tears. Her jaw dropped open as soon as she saw the four pups framed in the cellar doorway. “How did you get out?”

“Cuz our brains are bigger than yours.” Riley sniffed haughtily, looking between her siblings with a suddenly mischievous grin. “Charge!”

All four pups raced for Eve, throwing their arms out towards her legs and tackling her with all their strength. Eve went flying, hitting the ground hard beneath their small bodies. She wailed in fury as they scrambled up, racing out the door while she was still trying to catch her breath.

Eve clumsily scrabbled to her feet,”No, come back here!”

The pups ran onto the street, not pausing to look around before choosing a direction, but simply tearing off into the night. They held hands as they ran, determined to stay together at all costs. As Eve chased after them, they looked around for anyone who might help, but it was so late now that the streets were all but empty.

“She’s gonna catch us!” Parker exclaimed as she drew closer, speeding up more and more as she recovered from her tumble.

“That’s right you little demons!” Eve told them, and when I do l’m going to rip you to pieces!”

“Don’t stop!” Ryder cried back, pulling harder on Paisley’s hand as she started to fall behind. Her heart was still recovering, and not as used to being put to such hard work. Her breathing was coming in great gasps, and all her siblings could tell she wouldn’t be able to keep up for much longer.

Riley scanned the path ahead, and her heart leapt when she saw a cluster of garbage bins on the curb, rolled out by the street’s inhabitants for sanitation workers to empty in the morning. She nudge her brothers and shot a pointed look at the bins. The boys nodded in understanding, and as soon as they passed the black containers, they stopped, turned back and toppled them over.

Garbage exploded onto the pavement, and Eve went flying for the second time that night. She screamed as she went down, her limbs colliding with the hard ground as her body rolled and bounced. Trash bags broken open around her, sending all manner of waste over her clothes and skin. The pups only paused long enough to look back and enjoy the sight of her sprawled among the refuse, bruised and humiliated.

“Come on!” Parker urged them after a beat, “she’ll be up again soon!”

With that they fled, rushing away as fast as their little feet could carry them and not stopping until they were all completely exhausted. They decided to hide in an alleyway until they were sure Eve hadn’t followed them. Bent over double and gasping for air, they exchanged relieved smiles.

“That was amazing” Riley laughed breathlessly.

“I’ll never forget the look on her face!” Paisley giggled, still picturing the hilarious sight.

“Shhh” Parker cautioned, even though he too couldn’t contain his amusement.

Only Ryder seemed to realize they weren’t home free yet. He was looking around the mouth of the alley and the strange surroundings beyond its edge with worry and confusion. “Guys where are we?”

The other pups looked around, their laughter dying away little by little. “l dunno.” Riley and Paisley answered in unison.

“How… how are we gonna get home?” Parker asked.

“I dunno.” Ryder repeated his sisters’ words. “I think we’re lost.”

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 102

Jane

“Luna, you should really try to rest.” The police commander advises, sitting on the sofa while l pace back and forth across the living room. “You’re going to exhaust yourself.”

“And you really shouldn’t call me that” | say in return.”Ethan and I aren’t married anymore.”

“Well whatever your title” He amends, “you killing yourself with worry isn’t going to help your pups.”

“Spoken like someone who doesn’t have children.”

I grumble. “And by the way, I didn’t see you showing this kind of concern for the Alpha. Why is he allowed to race off and hunt down murderers, but I can’t even pace without ‘exhausting myself” I mock, holding up air quotes.

“I’m sorry.” He concedes, “you’re right, I don’t have pups, and I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. I didn’t mean to be patronizing”

“That isn’t helpful either!” I snap, “l don’t know why people think it’s comforting to say they can’t imagine another person’s pain. Just make the effort and practice some empathy, rather than pointing out how horrible it is to me” It’s not until I hear myself, that I realize how loudly I raised my voice. The commander is looking sheepish now, and l can’t help but feel guilty for taking out my fear and frustration on him. “I’m sorry.

“I sigh.”l didn’t mean -“

“It’s okay.” He tells me, raising his palms in concession, “emotions are high right now. Trust me, it’s nothing new when you’re in this line of work.”

His understanding only makes me feel worse for lashing out at him. “Be honest with me,” I request, “in these cases, how often do you actually find the pups?”

“When the abduction was reported as quickly as it was? And when we know precisely who has them?” He clarifies, “There’s every reason to be optimistic, Jane.”

“You’re not just saying that?”l press.

“I don’t believe in giving people false hope,” He shares, “| learned better many years ago. If l thought they were done for, l’d be telling you to prepare yourself for the worst.”

“Thank you.” l exhale, sitting down for the first time since we came upstairs.

Of course, the moment I do, a knock sounds on the front door. I’m on my feet and hallways across the room before the commander can stop me. “Wait! It might be I swing the door open without a second thought, and reel back when I see Detective Smithers standing on the òther side.

“You!” I snarl, launching myself towards him with a vicious growl. Unfortunately before l can land a single blow to the wretched man, arms like iron bars loop around my middle, pulling me back.

“Let me at him!” I order, “he helped her try to murder my baby! He tried to ruin our lives!”

“And he’s also the only person who might be able to lead us to Eve now. He can’t very well do that if your hands are around his throat, my lady.” The commander scolds, setting me on the ground behind him.

“We don’t know that for sure” I mutter, “It’s worth testing, at least”

The commander glances over his shoulder, shooting me an exasperated look. “Or, we can ask him why he’s here.”

“Fine” I bite, looking past him to the disgraced investigator.”What the hell do you want?”

The man sort of deflates, but he doesn’t look guilty or ashamed for all he’s done, only resigned. “I’m sorry – about everything.” He says gravely, “you have no idea how much I regret what’s happened.”

“Bull.” I cut down the lie before he can say another word. “You forget l’m a mother, detective. I know a real apologý from a fake one, and I know when a person is truly sorry versus when they are just trying to escape consequences.”

“She has a point, Smithers.” The commander points out. “One has to imagine that if you truly felt guilt for your actions, they would have stopped before you got caught.”

“Fine” The disgruntled ex-cop mutters, “You don’t have to believe me, but whether l’ve repented or not, I have information to trade.”

“Can I hit him now?” l ask the commander, getting angrier by the minute. “You know I truly believed you were just corrupt-I didn’t think anyone could possibly be so stupid” I inform him. “But if you think it is a good idea to tell me you have information about my pups, and expect me to give you something for it without r!pping your head off first, you’re even dumber than l imagined.”

“What information do you have?” The commander speaks over me, throwing out his arm to stop me from lunging forward again.

“I can lead you to the pups.” The detective offers, but I want immunity.”

“Immunity?” The commander repeats, “from what? Being charged in the kidnapping?”

“From being charged with anything” He corrects. “I want my freedom.”

“Have you lost your mind?” The commander scoffs, “you’ve committed countless felonies. You attacked the Alpha’s own family.”

I want to tell him that Ethan will kill him sooner than let him walk free, butI have enough sense to keep my mouth shut. Telling him he’s doomed will hardly convince him to spill his secrets. The fact remains that this man has information I desperately need, and I will promise to pay any price on earth in order to extract it from his l!ps.

“And you are running out of time.” The investigator threatens, as if reading my mind. “When I left Eve, she had your pups locked in a basement and was trying to figure out how to kill them. lt won’t take her too long to figure it out.”

So what, you left a group of defenseless toddlers to her mercy so you could come here and bargain with us, when you could have knocked her out and freed them then and there?” I inquire.

“I couldn’t hurt Eve” He objects, “she’s the mother of my child. I don’t agree with what she’s done, but I still love her.”

I didn’t realize how badly I needed to hear his confession about the paternity of Eve’s pups, until a little knot unwinds in my chest. I realize now how badly I let Eric get into my head, how thoroughly I let myself be fooled by the man I thought was my friend.

Still, I don’t have time to think of that now. “I think the words you’re looking for are: I’m a spineless waste of space too whipped to stand up to a woman half my size.” I suggest.

“Where are they?” The commander adds, “I won’t promise you immunity, but I can promise you things will be much worse for you if you don’t tell us. If she lays a hand on those pups, it won’t just be attempted murder of obstruction of justice charges you’re facing.

You’re talking about the Alpha’s pups – how do you think he’ll react if he finds out you could have helped them and didn’t? If we’re running out of time, so are you.”

The investigator grimaces. “Maybe so, but the decision isn’t up to you.” He argues, gesturing to me.

It’s up to her. How much time are you willing to waste, Jane?”

The commander looks to me for guidance, but| stare straight past him. “You can have your immunity.” I promise.

“But -” He objects.

“I’m Luna, remember?” l growl pointedly, “what I say, goes.”

The commander blinks at me, his eyes widening almost imperceptibly as my words sink in. I have no power to promise the detective a single thing, and we both know it. Turning back to his former investigator, he orders, “Take us to the pups.”

I grab only my cell phone and my keys as the former detective leads us downstairs, and text Ethan as we walk. I explain the situation as briefly as I can, and tell him to track my phone so he can know our location.

With any luck he’ll arrive only moments after we do.

The disgraced investigator takes us to a corner of town I’ve never seen before, a sector of the city that looks like it’s been completely left behind. Half the businesses are closed, and everywhere we look sketchy figures skulk around corners and scuttle out of sight as we draw near. I can’t believe Eve would deign to come to such a place, but I suppose she doesn’t have an choices anymore. I simply pray my pups are safely locked away while she continues to plot.

As we draw nearer, the ex-detective urges us on, it’s just up here”

I speed up my pace until l’m almost running. I can smell Eve now, I can smell my babies, and I leave the men behind. My heart is pounding in my ears, but when I come to the doorway where their scent is strongest, it stops completely. The door is standing ajar, and it’s dark and silent inside. I know, before l even go inside that we’re too late. Eve has already moved them… or worse. I’m still standing there when Ethan arrives a moment later, and when he sees the look on my face,I know I don’t need to say a word. I simply shake my head, and fall into his arms.

They’re not here.

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 103

3rd Person

In the end it was a good thing that Jane collapsed into Ethan’s arms, because if he hadn’t been occupied with comforting her, he probably would have killed the investigator. “Where did they go? Where would she take them?” He demanded, his harsh voice as far a cry from his tender treatment of Jane as possible. He rubbed her back and k!ssed her hair, all the while snarling threats and demands at the pale-faced man behind them.

“I don’t know!” The former detective exclaimed in a panic. “I swear they were here when I left. Eve must have known I was going to turn her in, she must have moved them.”

“Call it in.” Ethan ordered the police Commander, who hovered just behind his ex-employee as if he expected him to make a run for it. “I want every tracker on the force out here, now.” Glaring at the investigator, he pressed. “You have no idea where she would go?

Other hideouts? Escape plans? Even the smallest hint could help.”

“If l knew l would tell you.” The detective insisted.

I don’t know anything.”

Smothering his frustration, the Alpha looked down at Jane as she wept inconsolably into his collar.”Janey, look at me” He instructed, unsurprised when she did no such thing. “I need to find their trail” He explained regretfully, “I have to leave you for a little while.”

“No!” Jane argued, his words jolting her out of her despair. “I’ll go with you, we’ll have a better chance of finding them if we’re together.”

He nodded, not wanting to let her out of his sight anyway, and understanding her need to help. “Do you know which way Eve brought them in?” Ethan questioned the investigator.

“Probably the same way we did” He shared, shrugging. “She was coming from the same place after all.”

Ethan nodded, scenting the air around them. The pups’scent was trailing off down the street in the opposite direction, and his pulse spiked as the first stage of the chase commenced. In some ways it was no different from tracking a deer in the woods or some faceless foe- at the end of the day a hunt was a hunt.

However this time was more important than any hunt he’d ever taken part in before. His entire world was on the line if he failed, and the adrenaline pumping through his veins was stronger than any he’d ever felt.

“This way.” He growled, taking Jane by the hand and leading her away from the hideout. “Keep him here.

“He called over his shoulder to the commander, “But take him inside, just in case Eve comes back.”

The commander did as he was told, absconding with the detective before they’d even rounded the corner. He had no idea how far Eve might have taken them, but he knew every second counted. “Let’s shift.”

Ethan decided, “Our wolves will be better at this than we are.”

Jane silently agreed, not bothering to strip off her clothes and simply shredding them as her wolf burst out. Ethan did the same, and together they broke into a trot, their noses pressed to the cold ground. After a few blocks they came to a series of toppled garbage bins, with refuse spilling over the street and Eve’s scent heavily mixed into the chaos of smells.

Ethan and Jane exchanged confused glances, and the Alpha began to wonder if the pups hadn’t escaped and forced Eve to chase them. Their distinct scents were not part of the acrid blend of waste, decay and Eve. Further, there was a smear of b***d on the pavement Ethan was certain belonged to the horrible she-wolf. Blinking at his mate, he didn’t know whether to be more agitated or hopeful by the idea the pups might have gotten away. He didn’t want them with Eve, but he didn’t want them roaming this area alone either.

Jane whined and leaned her weight into the Alpha, clearly thinking the same thing. What had happened here?

Ryder, Riley, Paisley and Parker squinted into the darkness, deep frowns consuming their young faces.

They’d been so focused on getting away from Eve that they’d fled without any thought or plan. Even if they had been able to plan a route, they didn’t know where they started out, let alone where they were now.

“What do we do?” Paisley asked anxiously, her slight limbs beginning to tremble.

“We should ask someone for help.” Ryder suggested, sounding far more confident than he felt.

Still,he remembered his Mommy’s rules for getting lost, which were easier said than done in their current predicament: stay put, stay together, and tell a grown up who looks trustworthy.

“There’s no one out here and ‘aside, I don’t trust strangers.” Riley argued, she could already tell they wouldn’t be able to find anyone who fit Jane’s criteria for trustworthiness. No parents were taking their pups out this late at night, and no businesses were open either. “We should stay here and wait for Mommy and Daddy. They’ll find us.”

“No, we have to keep moving.” Parker insisted. “lf we stay here Eve might find us, she’s prolly tracking our scents right now.”

Then how do we get back?” Riley responded. “I don’t have any idea where we are. Paisley, do you recognize anything?”

“No, I’ve never been to this part of the city” She answered sadly, “but I don’ wanna stay in this alley, it’s scary.”

Even as she spoke, rustling footsteps sounded from somewhere deeper in the narrow passage. “Wait, I think I hear something!” Ryder whispered nervously.

The eerie noises grew louder then, and the frightened pups huddled close together. “It’s behind us.

” Parker murmured, taking his sister’s hands, “We have to get outta here.”

Before they could take a step, something large and furry burst out of the darkness and darted past them, making all four pups yelp in surprise. It was only a raccoon, a huge raccoon made fat by feasting nightly in restaurant dumpsters, but a raccoon. nonetheless. The pups sighed with relief, huffing a few relieved laughs as they turned back towards the street.

However as soon as they shifted out of the alley and into the dimly lit thoroughfare, they were met by the towering figures of three grisly looking shifters.

They were tall and their muscular arms inked heavily with swirling black tattoos, their faces and hands bore scars from fighting, and all three wore the haggard expressions of men who had led very rough lives indeed.

The frightening figures blocked the pups’ path completely, and the man in the middle offered them a smile – at least, that’s what they thought it was. In practice it looked far more like a grimace. “Hello there, what are you little ones doing out so late?” He asked.

“And in such a bad part of town ?” One of his companions added, sounding more excited than concerned.

“We’re just waiting for our Daddy.” Riley lied swiftly, the idea spilling from her tongue in a flash of inspiration. “He’s just around the corner.”

“He left you here?” The third man asked curiously,

“Well maybe we should go find him. This is a very dangerous neighborhood.”

“No.” Parker objected, “He told us not to move and that he’d be back in a second. He just forgot his cell phone in the car.”

The men exchanged skeptical glances. “Well in that case, we’ll wait for him.” The first man offered, “We wouldn’t want you to be all alone here. There are all sorts of ne-er-do-wells about who would love to snatch you up.”

Riley, Ryder, Parker and Paisley instinctively closed ranks, squeezing close to each other and taking comfort from their siblings’ closeness. They might have only recently been reunited, but their innate bond worked in their favor, making their intuition one in the same. They could all sense that these men had no interest in helping them, and they understood that they needed to find some way to put distance between themselves and the strange shifters.

“That’s okay.” Ryder replied, “he’ll be back any minute now.”

“Will he?” The biggest wolf clarified. “Are you sure you aren’t out here on your own? Don’t lie to us now, we can’t help you if you lie to us.”

“You don’ wanna help us”‘ Riley accused hotly, linking her arm with Paisley’s. Her little sister seemed to be tongue-tied, too afraid to voice her own protests.

You should leave before Daddy comes. He’s an alpha and he won’t like it if you’re here.”

She didn’t know why she didn’t mention that Ethan wasn’t just any alpha, but the Alpha. Perhaps she thought they wouldn’t believe her, or that it would make them think they were more valuable. Either way, her threat fell short. The men laughed. “Well you’re a ballsy little thing, I’ll give you that.” The man in the middle observed, bending down to look Riley in the eye. “But you see, I don’t think you’re being honest.

Your Daddy isn’t here, you’re all alone.”

“Is your funeral.” Parker told him, crossing his arms over his ch3st.

The men laughed again, but when their humor faded, any sense of light heartedness slipped from their faces completely. When the tallest man spoke, his voice was cold and without mercy, “Take them.”

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 104

3rd Person

By dawn a red alert emergency order was spread through the Nightfang Pack on every TV screen, radio station and webpage. The Alpha’s pups were missing, believed to be kidnapped by Eve Mechant and in grave danger. The entire pack was ordered to be on the lookout for any of the children or Eve, with search parties quickly filling every corner of the territory.

Far from Eve’s hideout on the city’s outskirts, the pups huddled together in the back of a windowless van, their young ears tuned to the conversation happening on the other side of the locked doors. It was hard to focus on what was happening: they were tired, hungry, frightened and desperately needed a restroom, but they were also curious and on the lookout for any opportunity to escape.

The men who took them from the alley had been callous and rough with the children, but otherwise hadn’t harmed them. After shoving them into the van they didn’t say another word or even acknowledge their existence, instead starting the engine and speeding off into the night. They’d been driving form what felt like hours, and when the van finally stopped the shifters jumped out and left the pups on their own.

The air smelled a bit salty and every now and then they heard something which sounded like a foghorn blaring in the distance. If only they could see outside!

Soon after the kidnappers disappeared, they returned with a fourth partner, hovering outside the van and speaking in low voices. The fourth member was a woman, and from the sound of it, she was the true ringleader of the gang. Unlike her colleagues, she’d seen the kidnapping alerts blaring on every news outlet, and she had the sense to realize that the four children in the back of the van were very likely the Alpha’s missing pups.

“What do you mean, you found four pups in an alleyway?” She was asking, “you didn’t take them, did you?”

“Of course we took them! It was too good an opportunity to turn down.” One of the kidnappers answered, “they were right there like lambs for the slaughter.

“Those lambs probably belong to the Alpha!” The woman informed them angrily, “it’s all over the news that his children are missing.”

“One of the girls did say their father was an alpha.”

The tallest man, distinctive for his unusually deep voice, noted.

“She said an alpha, not the Alpha.” One of his compatriots argued. “Besides, what would the Alpha’s pups be doing alone in that part of town – and in the middle of the night no less.”

“They were kidnapped, they probably escaped.”

The woman gritted out, “Where are they? I want to see them.”

After a moment of muffled shuffling, the double doors at the back of the van clicked open, swinging outward as the kidnappers gradually came into sight.

Standing in front of the three thugs from the alley, was a fierce looking cat shifter dressed in black leather, with her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She didn’t look as frightening as the others, but she also didn’t look friendly either. She took in the sight of the wide-eyed pups, then whipped around to berate the men.

“You idiots;” she hissed, “you didn’t notice their resemblance to Blackwell? You didn’t recognize the little one? She’s been in the tabloids since she was born!”

“It was dark!” The men answered helplessly.

“lt was dark?” She repeated fiercely. “Is that what you’re going to tell the Alpha when he finds us, ‘Oh, we’re sorry we kidnapped your children, the lights were out. Honestly, how many sets of quadruplets do you think are in this city?”

“It’s not our fault, they didn’t tell us.” The third man argued weakly.

“1 don’t understand’ The tall man admitted, “isn’t this a good thing. The Alpha is the richest man on the continent, we can ransom those pups for their weight in gold.”

“Gold won’t do you any good when you’re dead”

The woman bit back. “The Alpha will kill you for laying your hands on them, without a second thought. You know his reputation.”

“But we didn’t know! We can give them back and say we found and rescued them. He might even give us a reward.” The first man insisted.

“I swear, you three dumbasses are going to land us all in a grave” The woman cried, throwing her hands up.”They’re children, not lost pets who can’t explain what happened. They’ll tell their parents everything – they’ll tell them you took them.”

“We won’t!” Ryder exclaimed, drawing their attention. “If you take us home, we won’t say ‘nything.

We just wanna go home, we’ll tell them whatever you want.”

“See!” The same man insisted, “we can make it work.”

“No we can’t.” The leader sighed. “Whether they talk or not – how do you think it will look for convicted traffickers to turn up with the pups and say they miraculously found them? No one in their right mind would believe that!”

“I might” The shortest man shrugged.

That’s because you were dropped on your head too many times as an infant.” She countered. “No- you leave this to me, we have to get them off our hands and fast, and then we need to get out of town for a while.”

“But who would buy them?” The tall man questioned, “you just said it would be suicide.”

“No one on this continent would.” The woman mused aloud. “Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Get out of town and find someone to take the pups in one go?”

“It would have to be someone pretty brave to take on that risk” One of the shifters posited.

The woman grinned now, a cruel, lethal glint in her dark eyes. “What do you know about King Aimon, in the Southern Isles?”

“Not much.” The tall man confessed, “just that he’s been building his power a lot in recent years.”

That’s one rumor” The woman conceded, another is that he hates Ethan, he’s jealous of his wealth and influence, and he’ll take any opportunity he can get to undermine him.”

“How do you know that?” The first man asked.

“Because l have friends other than you dolts: privateers who work the shipping lanes in the region.”

She announced.

“You mean pirates?” The shortest thug muttered curiously.

“Hey, I don’t call your friends names.” She quipped.

“No, you just call us names.” He grumbled under his breath.

Oh stop whining and get them to the docks.” She ordered, turning to the pups with a wide smile. “Guess what kids, we’re going on an adventure.”

“I don’t wanna go on an venture.” Riley told her stubbornly.

“Too bad? The woman sneered. “By this time next week well be halfway to the Southern lsles, and there’s not a d*mn thing you can do about it.”

Riley, Paisley, Parker and Ryder exchanged nervous glances. They were still praying their Mommy and Daddy would find them, but the more time that passed, the less likely it seemed. They knew that for the foreseeable future they had to look out for each other, for there was no telling when – or if – Ethan and Jane would rescue them. They clasped their hands and nodded in agreement, without ever saying a word. They would get through this together.

Jane and Ethan returned to the penthouse around mid-morning. The pups trail had gone cold hours earlier, but neither Ethan nor Jane had been willing to give up the search. It wasn’t until Jane was practically falling over where she stood that Ethan decided they had to stop- if only to rest.

When they got back to the apartment Jane shifted, but she couldn’t bring herself to step past the doorway.

She stood there completely naked, staring helplessly at the toys scattered across the living room floor. If the pups had been home she would have scolded them to pick up after themselves, but now she didn’t give a d*mn about the mess or their tidiness. Ethan gently shut the door behind her, trying to nudge her further into the room. “Come on sweetheart.”

Jane couldn’t move. “ls it ever going to end, Ethan?

” She asked hoarsely.

“ls what going to end?” He murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind -knowing it would help ground her, but also needing to feel her skin against his, needing to feel her safe in his arms.

“This-” Jane whimpered, gesturing at the empty apartment. “The constant struggle. It’s just one emergency, one disaster after another, and it never stops. I never have time to even catch my breath, before the next crisis is on me.”

“I’m so sorry, Jane.” Ethan professed, helping her turn to face him and cuddling her close. “This is all my fault, if l never believed Eve, if I never let her into our lives, none of this would ever have happened.”

Jane shook her head, “We can’t think like that now.

” She said, her l!ps moving against his skin as she took comfort in his scent. “It won’t help anyone to place blame, including and especially not the pups.”

“1 don’t understand’ Ethan confessed, looking down at her. “Two days ago you would have gladly tarred and feathered me for all this. Has something changed?”

Yes,” Jane nodded, pressing her forehead to his ch3st and fighting back a sob, “Ethan, Everything’s changed.”

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 105

Jane

I didn’t intend to tell Ethan about my decision now, l hadn’t even decided whether to tell him outright before all this happened. When I was walking home after meeting my mother’s ghost in the park, l’d daydreamed about sharing the news with Ethan. I thought we could go out on another date, and I could figure out some romantic scheme to surprise him. Our current predicament is about as far from that fantasy as possible, but we have to focus on whatever slivers of hope we can find right now.

I can’t bring myself to admit that part of me is terrified Ethan and I might only have each other from here on out. I’m terrified that we’re too late to save the pups, that they aren’t just missing… but gone. In my heart, I feel that they’re still alive. But what if that’s just a mother’s stubborn hope, an innate refusal to accept the unimaginable?

Ethan is trying to be patient. I can tell he’s eager for me to explain my meaning, and trying to restrain his impulse to drag the information out of me. Any other day I might take pleasure in teasing him, but right now I just want to be close to my mate. My mate.I repeat in my head, as if it’s decided. I thought l’d only come to terms with sharing the kids with Ethan and possibly seeing if there might be a future for us romantically, but my heart seems to be on a different page than my head.

“I was going to tell you,” T broach hesitantly. “1 made a decision the other night, before I knew the pups had been taken.”

“Yes?” Ethan prompts me, the curiosity plain in his deep voice.

“I’m not going to leave.” I murmur softly. “I mean… if we get the pups back, I’m not going to take Paisley, I’m not going to take any of them from you. I’m sorry it took me so long to do the right thing-I was just so afraid. But I was wrong.”

Ethan’s arms were already enveloping me so snugly it was hard to remember we were two separate people, rather than one, but now they squeeze me so tightly I can scarcely breathe.” When we find them.” He corrects me, burying his face in the curve of my neck.

Emotion is thick in his voice when he continues, “Thank you so much Jane. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“Of course l do.” I reply, my eyes already burning with tears. “It’s why I’ve held onto them so tightly all these years.

He purrs, and my knees go weak. Of course, the wonderful thing about Ethan is that lI never have to worry about weak knees, because I know he’ll always be there to keep me upright – and this time is no different. He absorbs my weight as if it’s nothing at all, increasing the rumbling vibrations in his ch3st and making me feel completely safe despite the fact that we’re in the middle of a crisis. “Is that all you decided?”

He asks, clearly sensing that I’m withholding more.

I shrug, “1 don’t want to think about anything but the pups right now.”

“That sounds like a no to me.” He croons, nuzzling my hair.

“How are you so calm?” I inquire, both jealous and infinitely appreciative of his steady strength.

“I’m not calm’ Ethan admits, his rumbling voice infused with a steely edge. “I’m furious, and I’m terrified. But I’m also determined to do whatever it takes to get them back. That gives me purpose – it keeps me sane even though want to tear the world to pieces.”

I nod, understanding better than I can express in words, and clench my eyes shut. A few tears escape, but I refuse to let myself fall apart. “Come on, little wolf.”

Ethan encourages after a moment. “We need to get you into a shower and into bed”

“Will you stay with me?” I request quietly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

That is a question you never have to ask” He replies, sweeping his arm under my legs and lifting me into the air.

Circling my arms around his neck, I let Ethan carry me into his bedroom. He strides straight into the master bathroom and sets me down on the counter, closing the door behind us and stepping into the shower stall to turn on the water.

“I meant I didn’t want to sleep alone” l inform him dryly, “not that I needed a shower buddy.”

For the first time since all this began, Ethan offers me a lopsided grin, one which so keenly resembles Parker and Ryder’s frequent expressions that l almost burst into tears. However the sadness eases when he speaks. “What if I need a shower buddy?” he asks.

“Then I suppose I can make an exception,” I decree as he approaches. “Just this once.”

“I’ll take it.” Ethan comes to stand between my legs, resting his hands on my h**s and lowering his l!ps to his mark. He doesn’t k!ss or fondle me, just rests his mouth against the scars which claim me as his mate.

We’re going to find them, Janey? He promises. “It ll be okay. I’m going to make it okay.”

“I believe you.” I affirm, leaning into his warmth.

Ethan and I have our fair share of problems, but I know he won’t give up until the pups are home safe. At the same time, I don’t want him to carry the weight of that responsibility alone. I realize he’s distracting himself by taking care of me, doing the only thing he can to not feel completely helpless in a helpless situation – but I can see how the stress and pressure is weighing on him.

The tables have turned on us: half an hour ago Ethan was scolding me within an inch of my life for pushing myself too hard. I refused to stop looking for the kids and come home, but my mate forced me to see reason, insisting that we rest so we can fight again another day. Now it’s my turn to do the same for him.

I k**s my way across his ch3st and shoulders, trailing my l!ps up his neck and over his scruff covered jaw. He turns his head towards me, capturing my mouth before l can reach his. One powerful hand circles my nape, cradling my head as he steals the breath from my lungs.

I’m clinging to him as if he’s my one and only lifeline, my arms and legs wrapped around his muscular body as my hearts breaks into a gallop. I’m not sure when I started crying, but by the time Ethan lifts me from the counter and carries me into the shower, my cheeks are streaked with tears. The steaming water pours over me, but l barely notice. My entire world has reduced to Ethan, and the delicious sensation of his body against mine. He tries to set my feet on the ground, but I won’t have it. I don’t want to be parted from him, I don’t think I could bear it when his touch is the only thing keeping me sane right now.

My wolf exalts as my back presses to the tiled wall and Ethan continues his lazy exploration of my body.

His mouth is like a searing brand as it travels over my skin, moving down my throat to my bare bre*asts.

Goddess, you’re dirty.” He teases, making me laugh for the first time since our ordeal began. I know he’s right.

We spent so long racing through the city in our wolf forms that my body is caked in dust and dirt.

Before I know it, my soft chuckle gives way to a fresh stream of tears. This is how it’s been all night long: terror gives way to numbness, and when the shock is broken by some other emotion – be it hope, anger or humor – it gives way to a grief more profound than anything l’ve known before. Then the cycle begins again.

“Don’t make me laugh.” I hiccup, shaking my head as guilt’and pain churns in my belly. “l shouldn’t be laughing, not when my babies are out there, scared and alone.”

“I’m sorry.” Ethan professes, petting me so lovingly it hurts. “But you’re wrong about one thing” Ethan corrects me, “They’re not alone. They have each other:”

Nodding, I tilt my head back to offer up my l!ps again, and Ethan dips his head in reply, slanting his mouth over mine and making my body completely overheat. My need for him blazes like a raging fire too powerful to contain, and before long I’m writhing in his arms, desperate to feel him inside me. I’m so on edge with everything going on, and I can tell that Ethan is too. He’s being so gentle with me, but there’s an urgency fueling his desire which makes me feel as if l’m the only thing keeping him together.

The world around me disappears as Ethan slides his hands down my body, spreading the flames of his touch until I’m completely consumed. I let myself spiral into the haze of l**t without restraint. As long as Ethan is touching me can forget everything that’s going wrong, I can forget my sadness, fear and pain. As long as Ethan is touching me, I know l haven’t lost everything… yet.