Ch. 106..110: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 106-110
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 106
3rd Person
“Are we there yet?” Riley whined, her small body rocking back and forth with the ship’s movement.
They’d been out on the open ocean for days now, and though the pups would probably have enjoyed standing on the deck looking for dolphins and whales in the vast sea’s swirling waters, they hadn’t been allowed to go above deck. Instead they remained safely in the vast vehicle’s hull, and bided their time by badgering their kidnappers until they all but screamed.
“No, for the millionth time, we Are. Not. There. Yet.”
The woman who’d forced them on this unwanted adventure groused. They’d learned her name was Anita, and had figured out that she was definitely the leader of this trafficking gang, but otherwise their time with the crooks hadn’t offered much information.
“How much longer?” Paisley asked innocently, exchanging a grin with Riley when Anita threw her head back in exasperation. She didn’t respond, she’d already told them it would be two more days three times that morning, and she knew they were just asking to torment her. Luckily for the pups, she was too afraid of harming the Alpha’s pups to retaliate, though she clearly wanted to. That realization had helped Paisley come out of her shell, taking up the slack from Parker and Ryder, who were too seasick to help much.
The boys had spent the first few days of their journey curled up on the floor of the ship, trying to sleep in between bouts of vomiting. They were exhausted and dehydrated, and their sisters were doing everything they could to take care of them despite their bare resources.
Right on cue, Parker m****d and rolled over, resting his head in Riley’s lap. She patted his head the way their Mommy sometimes did, recalling just how much her affection helped even the worst aches and pains. Just thinking about Jane made her heartache.
She knew the others missed their parents as well, but she also understood if they talked about it the traffickers would just make fun of them.
She’d hated very few people in her young life, but Anita and her goons were quickly rising to the top of her list, even on par with Eve and the inspector. “Hey Paisley, she asked in a stage whisper. “What do you think Daddy’s going to do to them when he finds us.
“l bet he’ll r!p their arms off and beat them with them. I saw him do it once” She lied, keeping her face and voice entirely serious.
“Really?” Riley exclaimed, smothering her desire to laugh. When she and Paisley first met, she loved her simply for being her sister, but the more time that passed the more she fell in love with her personality. It took Paisley a while to feel safe enough with new people to let her mischievous side out to play, but once she did it was unstoppable.
“Uh-huh.” Paisley confirmed, nodding earnestly.”
He told me never to tell anyone bout it. It was really scary.”
“Anita,” one of the thugs murmured, nudging the woman in question, “are you sure about this? The girl said-“
The girl is winding you up, you fool.” Anita answered with a glare. “You’re being outsmarted by a four year old. Does that make you proud?”
“How do you know she’s making it up?” He asked,
The Alpha is ruthless, you said it yourself”
“Because even if he had a reason to do such a thing, he wouldn’t do it in front of his pup.” She snarled.
I’m not lying” Paisley declared boldly, glowering at the pair.
“Shut up.” Anita snapped back, “I don’t want to hear another peep out of you until we make port.”
“What are you going to do ’bout it?” She challenged, confident that the cunning feline was bluffing.
Anita rose to her feet and stomped over to the pups. She scooped up Paisley, who kicked and screamed like a wild thing, thrashing against her captor with righteous fury. “I might not be able to hurt you – no matter how much you deserve it” She muttered as an aside, “but I can separate you.”
With that she marched over to a storage closet, and shoved the wailing pup inside, closing and locking the door behind her. “Hey, you give my sister back!”
Riley cried, joined by weak echoes of outrage from the boys.
“No’ Anita bit. “This ought to teach you not to test my patience, brat. Keep up the nagging and the games and I’ll separate the rest of you too!”
“Then do it!” Riley growled, sounding every bit as intimidating as an angry kitten. The last thing she wanted was to be parted from her brothers, but they were in this together. If Paisley had to be alone, she wouldn’t suffer while the other three got to comfort each other. That was the way it had been from the day she was born, and Riley wasn’t going to let it happen again. If one of them suffered, they all suffered – together.
“Fine.” Anita shrugged, lunging for Riley. “Have it your wày!”
The early morning sun filtered into the penthouse’s master bedroom, rousing the slumbering Alpha from his fitful rest. Ethan g*****d and glanced at the clock. It felt like he’d only just fallen asleep. When he saw the timestamp blinking on the digital screen, he realized that wasn’t far from the truth. It was just past six AM, and they’d returned to the apartment only an hour earlier, after yet another long night of searching for the pups.
Next he looked to Jane, tsking when he saw the rivulets of tears sliding down her cheeks as she slept.
He couldn’t help but wipe them from her face with the pads of his thumbs, unintentionally causing Jane to stir.
She whined and cuddled into his chest. Tell me it was just a dream.” She begged groggily. “Tell me it isn’t real.
“You were crying in your sleep again” He answered forlornly, wishing he could tell her what she needed to hear.
Jane whimpered and hiccuped a sob, but her would-be breakdown ended as soon as it began.
Instead of giving into the instinct to cry her pain away, she pushed away from Ethan and sat up in bed, giving herself a vicious shake. “Goddess, stop it!” She shouted at herself. “Stop, stop, stop!”
Ethan, confused but realizing that this wasn’t directed at him, sat up behind her and stroked her rigid spine. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve got to stop crying!” Jane burst out, slamming her fists into the mattress on either side of her. “It’s not helping a Goddess damn thing. I can’t afford to waste time feeling sorry for myself and I refuse to be the sort of woman who just weeps about her problems instead of fixing them.
“Hey” Ethan responded, reaching around her to cover her clenched fists with his hands. “That’s not what you’re doing. In fact, maybe if you let yourself cry more it wouldn’t keep happening when you’re trying to rest.”
“Ive cried plenty.” Jane huffed, “and I won’t be able to rest easy until the pups are home safe. I notice you’re not exactly sleeping either” She added, glancing at him over her shoulder. “Why were you even up- we only just went to bed.”
“l blame the sun.” He quipped, urging Jane to lie back down with him. He tugged gently on her shoulders, not giving in until she surrendered and lowered her back to the mattress.
“Sure.” Jane muttered sulkily, “you’ve slept maybe three hours since this ordeal began, Ethan Blackwell, don’t think l haven’t noticed.”
“Oh, so you’ve been watching me, have you?” He inquired with a small smile. “Careful, or I might think you’re worried about me – or worse, that you have a crush”
“l don’t have a crush on you.” Jane replied tartly, “I just don’t want you to fall over in the middle of the search because you’re too exhausted to keep going.”
“Uh-huh,” He teased, “And all the s*x, is that also because you don’t have a crush?”
Jane giggled, then abruptly snapped her mouth shut, a look of pure guilt crossing over her beautiful features.
“It’s okay to laugh, baby.” Ethan told her softly, petting her hair. “We have to find the light anywhere we can right now.”
“It doesn’t feel right.” Jane frowned. “1 shouldn’t be able to find any happiness when the pups are missing.
It makes me feel like an even worse mother than before.
“What do you mean?” Ethan’s brow furrowed.
Worse than what?”
“It’s not news that I wasn’t exactly mother of the year:” Jane stated hollowly. “l split them up, I kept them from you, I imposed all my neuroses onto them.”
“Jane, you were doing what you thought was best, you were just trying to protect them.” Ethan argued.
“Was 1?” She challenged. “Or was l just trying to protect myself?”
Ethan sighed, “You love them with all your heart, and they feel it every day, Jane. We all make mistakes, we’re all just trying to figure it out as we go along.” He reasoned, though his own doubts soon rose to the surface. “It’s not as if I’ve done a standout job myself.
Look at what happened with Eve – look at what I unwittingly subjected Paisley too.”
“Do you think we’re being punished?” Jane whispered, looking up at Ethan with wide eyes. “Do you think the Goddess took them to teach us a lesson?
Before he could answer, his phone began to ring and the police commander’s name flashed across the screen. Ethan snatched up the device, “Yes?”
“Alpha?” The commander’s voice sounded, “We’ve caught Eve Mechant.”
“You did?” Ethan exclaimed, putting the phone on speaker. “Were the pups with her”
“No sir.” The commander sighed. “I think you need to get down here though.”
“We’re on our way.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 107
Jane
When Ethan and l arrive at the police headquarters, every eye in the room turns towards us, watching our every move. It’s nothing new. If l thought that the media frenzy had been bad when I was a murder suspect, it was nothing to the chaos now. We can’t set a single foot outside our house without every pack member we encounter staring or wishing us their condolences, and I haven’t been able to look at a television or listen to the radio since this all began, because every word is a reminder of our tragedy.
Thankful Ethan reminded me of our constant audience when I tried to race out of the penthouse without any clothes on – so eager was l to get here. In the end l’ll didn’t put much effort into it, throwing on the first clothes I saw. To think I was once considered fashionable seems almost surreal now, like something from another life.
When we get to the commander’s office, he’s there waiting, a grim expression on his face. “Where did you find her?” Ethan asks without any preamble.
“She was trying to leave the territory. Our guards caught her at one of the road blocks” The older man explained.
“And there was no sign of the pups?”I press, even though I already know the answer. , sounding
“Im sorry” The commander shares, entirely sincere. “| don’t think she’s been around them for a couple of days – there isn’t any scent of them left on her:”
“What does that mean?” l squeak as Ethan’s arm tightens around me. “Did… did she say what she did with them?”
“I waited for you to interrogate her.” The commander answers, “I thought you might pick up on details we wouldn’t, things that could help lead us to the children or at least get her to talk.”
“Thank you.” Ethan nodded, “Where is she now?”
“This way.” The commander instructs, leading us down a long hallways lined with unidentified doors. He stops at the fourth door and pushes inside, revealing a darkened observation room with a large window lining wall. It’s exactly like the interrogation scenes l’ve seen in shows and movies, with a huddle of investigators watching through the window as an interviewer sits across from Eve on the other side.
The crowd moves aside when we enter, and Ethan and I move to stand in front of the glass. I can feel Ethan’s rage boiling over at the mere sight of the she-wolf, and his hands are so tense on my body it’s almost painful. Still, I don’t object, he needs to hold onto something right now to stop from crashing through the glass and attacking her, and l appreciate his strength.
Neither Eve, nor the interrogator say a word, not until the commander knocks on the glass, seeming to give the man a signal to proceed with the interview. He doesn’t move an inch, but his voice travels to us through a speaker on the wall, “Where are the pups.”
“1 don’t know.” Eve sneers, crossing her arms over her ch3st. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
“We have you on video Ms Mechant. We know you took them – and your lover has told us everything, all your plans, all your crimes. He sang like a bird.”
A flash of horror and disbelief crosses her face.
You’re lying. He would never turn on me.”
“I’m not.” The interviewer insisted. “If you didn’t think he was going to turn you in, why did you move the pups?”
“i didn’t move them, they-” She started, cutting herself off mid sentence when she realized she was falling for his trick.
“They what?” The man pressed: “They escaped?”
My heart leaps in my chest, if they escaped then why aren’t they home by now? Why did their scent just disappear outside of some alleyway? If Eve didn’t put them into a vehicle to cut us off their trail, who did?
It takes a moment for Eve to admit it, but after a strained pause she bursts out. “Yes, all right! They got out of the basement and ran before l could stop them.”
“That makes sense.” Ethan muses, “That’s got to be why those trash bins were toppled, why her b***d was on the street. They threw them in her path to slow her down”
“But if she doesn’t have them, who does?” I fret, clutching him for support.
Inside the interrogation room, the office is already asking Eve this very question. “Where’s the last place you saw them?”
“1 don’t know.”‘ She replied snippily, “I don’t exactly frequent that neighborhood, we were on some dirty street somewhere and they knocked me down. I tried to follow them, but I was hurt and by the time I caught up to their scent, they were gone.”
“Do you think she’s telling the truth?”l ask, leaning into my mate.
“We can hook her up to a polygraph,” The commander offers. “But they aren’t without their flaws.
“Do it.” Ethan orders. “I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.”
Half an hour later the commander returns with a printed report covered in squiggled lines, one which makes no sense to me, but when he tells us indicates she passed the polygraph.
My doubt eases slightly, but none of this is comforting. “Then where are they?” I demand. “What happened to them?”
The commander sighs, and exchanges a meaningful look with Ethan. “What? What is that, what aren’t you telling me?” I question.
“I think we have to consider the possibility that someone else found them and took them.” He explains.
“We’ve had everyone in the pack hunting for them for days, we’ve put our best scent hounds on it, the fact that we haven’t been able to find a single clue… well, I suspect it’s because they’re no longer in the city. They may not even be in the territory anymore.”
“I… you knew about this ?” l ask Ethan, feeling a fresh bolt of terror.
“The commander mentioned the possibility to me the other night.” He confesses. “But we didn’t have enough information… I didn’t want to tell you until it was for sure”
“So what? They were kidnapped – again?” I choke.
“By who? Why wouldn’t they be in the territory anymore.”
The commander rubs the back of his neck, looking like he doesn’t want to say more, so Ethan bites the bullet and grimaces. “Baby, there have been some reports of human traffickers in that part of town… if they were taken, they’re probably being taken somewhere to be sold”
The only time in my entire life that l’ve fainted, it was because I was pregnant. But I know that’s not the case now. Now I know it’s simply because this news is too horrible to bear, and my brain can’t handle processing it. The last thing I see before the world goes black, is Ethan’s strong arms reaching out to catch me.
When I wake, I’m in Ethan’s la*p in the Commander’s office, and the steady rumble of his voice rumbles against my ear. I keep my eyes closed, wanting to listen to what they’re saying when they think I can’t hear them.
| want a list of every ship, train and plane that has left’ the city since they were taken.” Ethan is ordering,”put out a rumor that we’re willing to pay for information, anything anyone might have seen, with no repercussions.”
“Do you have any ideas about where they might be taken?” The commander asks. “Where would they feel safe to sell the pups?”
“Nowhere on the continent.” Ethan theorizes, ” every other Alpha in the region is an ally and can be counted on to expand our search to their lands, I’ve already put out a call to request their help.”
“In that case we’ll focus our efforts on the ports and overseas flights.” The commander agrees. “Still, your reputation has spread far. Do you have any enemies? Anyone who might be eager to harm you?”
I thought I knew the answer to this question, I was sure l would have heard about something like this if it existed. I’ve kept such a close eye on Paisley over the years that l was certain the answer was no. But Ethan surprises me. “King Aimon would leap at the chance.”
Ethan admits, “l’m not sure your common traffickers would know about his grudge, but it’s no secret he wants to be the most powerful Alpha in the realm. He plans to rule the world from the Southern Isles, but he’s never had an army big enough to succeed.”
“The Southern Isles?” I repeat, sitting up in his la*p.
“But that’s where Eric is from.”
Ethan roles his eyes and gives me a squeeze. “I swear you’re as bad as the kids.” He sighs, k!ssing my temple, “how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” l insist. “Now explain.”
King Aimon is Eric’s father:” Ethan announces, “
That’s why I was so angry when I found out. But now l definitely think we owe your friend a visit.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 108
3rd Person
When Jane and Ethan arrived at Eric’s rental condo, it appeared to be empty. Jane tried to call him but his phone went directly to voicemail, so they sat down on the front steps and waited.
“Why didn’t you tell me about King Aimon?” Jane asked, tired of simply watching the minutes pass by.
When you found out who Eric was, why didn’t you say that his father had it out for you?”
Ethan grimaced, eyeing Jane warily.
“What?” She pressed, realizing he clearly didn’t want to answer her question.
“It’s nothing.” He said, attempting to brush the matter aside. “l just found it a bit… suspicious, that’s all.”
“Suspicious?” Jane repeated with a deep frown.
That he hid it?”
Ethan shook his head and winced as he explained.
“That he just happened to come into your life the way he did.”
Jane blinked. You think it was some sort of scheme?” She guessed, feeling her stomach lurch uncomfortably.
“How did you two meet in the first place?” Ethan asked, resisting the urge to touch Jane. It was a very difficult impulse to control, when they’d been happily married he rarely let her out of arms reach- keeping his hands on her at every opportunity. His wolf wanted the same now, but he didn’t think this was the time.
“It was random” Jane shared, flushing as she related the details to him. “The pups were babies, and I was walking their stroller in the park.”
If circumstances had been different, Ethan might have given her a hard time for all the lies she’d told him about the other man – particularly that they’d had an affair-but he refrained, focusing on the matter at hand. “And what, he just walked up to you and said hello?”
“Sort of” She shrugged. “I was really overwhelmed. You know, new Mom, three babies. l’d been up for three days straight and I couldn’t get them to go to sleep, so l was sitting on this bench crying and he came up and asked me if I was okay.”
“Did he ever tell you what he was doing in the Dark Moon territory?” He questioned, giving in and wrapping an arm around Jane.
She shook her head. “Those early days were such a blur, I was simply trying to put one foot in front of the other. I don’t think l cared why he was there, I was just glad to have a shoulder to lean on.”
Ethan nodded, remembering how difficult it had been for him with Paisley. Still, he’d only had one baby and his mother had been there to help him every step of the way, Jane had three times the stress and was all alone. He hated the idea of her struggling all that time, and part of him wanted to feel glad she’d found a friend to help her get through it. However the circumstances were simply too suspect for him to believe it was all a coincidence.
“You really think he might have targeted me?” Jane murmured softly, “that he knew who I was before he ever asked my name?”
“1 don’t know.” Ethan pondered, not wanting to admit just how likely this was. He knew King Aimon’s reputation well, and he wouldn’t put it past the ruthless man to do something like this.
“Yes you do.” Jane responded, narrowing her eyes.
“| know that look, Ethan. What aren’t you telling me?”
“Jane?” Eric’s voice interrupted them before Ethan could answer. “What are you doing here?”
Jane jumped slightly, she’d been so preoccupied with their conversation that she’d blocked out everything around them. She hadn’t even seen Eric approach. Ethan tightened his arm around her, though she wasn’t sure if it was in response to her surprise, or Eric’s presence.
Eric, on the other hand, openly glared at their close contact. “Is there any word on the pups?”
“No” Jane replied grimly, “well, not any good word anyway.”
“We need to ask you some questions.” Ethan interjected, anger simmering just beneath the surface of his words.
“What kind of questions?” Eric inquired warily.
“About your father” Jane replied. “And about how we became friends.”
Eric sighed, shaking his head as if he didn’t believe this was happening, but was resigning himself to accept it. “You’d better come inside.”
Ryder, Riley, Parker and Paisley stared at the bustling port with wide eyes.
Their journey had been miserable ever since Anita separated them. Locked away in small, cramped rooms without any way to communicate, they bided their time by counting the hours and trying to come up with an escape plan, but escape was very difficult when one was trapped on a boat. It was also nearly impossible to try to figure out anything in advance when they didn’t know where they were going or what it would be like when they got there.
Anita finally released them when land came into view, and they scurried up above deck, gratefully breathing in the first fresh air they’d had in weeks. They gazed out at the bustling seaport, taking in every sight and sound with avid interest. This would be a very easy place to disappear, if only they could get away from their kidnappers.
“Where are we?” Riley asked, watching a local fishmonger cart his catch off a much smaller boat than the one they stood upon.
“1 dunno” Parker replied. lt doesn’ look like any place I’ve seen before.
“We should run” Ryder suggested, his face still green from being sick for so many days in a row. “The boat’s stopped, this is our chance.”
“Where would we go?” Paisley reasoned. “We don’t know anyone here. There isn’ a safe place for us to go.
“We have to try” Ryder argued back, “We have to do something, we can’t just stay with them. Who knows what they’ll do.”
“You’re right.” Riley told him in a soft voice, “But so is Paisley. I wanna get away too, but we have to have a plan.”
“The plan is to run until we lose them.” Her brother insisted.
The plan is for you to shut up and behave yourselves.” A cold voice declared over their shoulders.
They turned to face Anita with identical sulky glares, and she leered back cruelly. “You four are going on sale – and not a moment too soon. If l’d known how much of a hassle you were going to give me, I would have dumped you out back in the Nightfang territory.”
The children exchanged sly smiles. They’d been miserable from the first moment they were taken, but it pleased them to know they’d made the cat shifter’s life more difficult in the process. “You can’t sell us” Paisley told her grumpily. “We’re people.”
Anita snorted. “You brats really don’t know anything about the real world, do you?”
“Course we do.” Ryder countered. “Is how we know you’re the worst.”
Anita glowered at the pup. “Shut up and get ready. You’re going to meet the King today, and trust me when I say he won’t be as forgiving as l am if you talk back.”
“You’re not forgiving” Riley objected, “you’re just scared.”
Anita bent down to the child’s eye level, adopting her most intimidating scowl. “You don’t know the meaning of that word, little girl. But trust me, you will by the time this is all over.” She threatened, taking hold of Riley’s chin. “Your life is about to get very difficult, and I’m going to enjoy watching you suffer.”
She stayed crouched down that way for a moment, watching as her words sank in. However instead of cowering or shrinking back, Riley just rolled her eyes, leaned forward, and sank her little fangs right into the woman’s arm.
Anita reeled back with a howl of pain, and the pups laughed and closed ranks, protecting Riley even though they knew she wasn’t in any true danger.”You’ll pay for that, you brat.” Anita hissed, examining the bloody bite mark on her skin.
“Who’s gonna make me?” Riley challenged fiercely.
“Cuz I know i’s not you.”
“Yeah, you’re too chicken.” Parker added, making clucking noises.
Anita pressed her palm to the wound, applying pressure to the punctures. Her dark eyes flashed as her inner panther came to the surface. “We’re a long way from your Daddy now, you know.”‘ She observed. “So far that I might be able to find more than one buyer for you mongrels. “How would you like that, hmm? To be sold to different owners, separated from your litter mates?”
The pups glanced at each other warily, unsure whether or not she was bluffing, but terrified of the suggestion.
“That’s what I thought.” Anita chuckled maliciously. “In fact I’d probably be doing them a service, saving them from the nightmare of all four of you together:”
The pups wanted to object, but they knew that doing so would only drive Anita to latch onto this idea even tighter. Instead they leaned closer to one another and snapped their mouths shut. Anita grinned widely. “
Yes, that’s precisely what I think l’ll do. I’m going to sell every one of you to someone different. And then you’ll never see each other again”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 109
Jane
“It’s a long story.” Eric broaches, sitting across from us in his living room. “Are you sure you want to do this now? Surely there are more important things to worry about. The pups-“
“We’re asking because of the pups.” Ethan interrupts. “Because we think there’s a chance they were taken by traffickers, and there’s very few people who would have the motive, or the nerve to buy them.”
Eric blinked, “But Eve… I thought it was Eve.”
“She did take them at first.” l explain hoarsely. “But she doesn’t have them anymore. The police caught her, and they aren’t with him.”
“Goddess, I’m so sorry” Eric gasped. “That’s terrible news.”
“Do you think your father would take them, if he had the chance?” l ask him.
“Yes.” Eric sighs, letting his eyes fall shut for a long moment. “He would – in a heartbeat. Do you know for certain that they’ve been taken by traffickers?”
“No.” Ethan replies. “But it’s the likeliest explanation at this point. They were in a bad part of town late at night, and there’s been an alert out for them so anyone who might have grabbed them would know they’re ours.”
Eric nods in understanding. “In that case I can reach out to some allies in my father’s court. I don’t have many friends left there, but there are still a few people l know I can count on.”
“Eric, why did you leave in the first place?” Ethan inquires.
“I came because my father sent me” He admits. “| wanted to prove myself to him, I’ve always just been the spare son, I wanted to show him I could be more than that – that l’m every bit as good as my older brother:”
“Sent you why?” Ethan pushes, absentmindedly rubbing my arm.
Eric is watching me now with such a guilty expression that l’m afraid to hear his answer.I’m so sorry, Jane.” He begins, making my heart sink. “He sent me to befriend you, to learn anything I could from you about Ethan, and potentially.. to take you and the pups hostage.”
Ethan growls deep in his chest, but he doesn’t move. Both men are
wish they’d stop. It’s hard enough to process all this without their constant scrutiny. “…I don’t understand.
“I confess. “No one knew about me, everyone thought I was dead” watching me for my reaction, and Eric shakes his head. “My father is a very untrusting man. He has dozens of spies in every territory, every pack in the realm. They’d already been watching you when you faked your death. They followed you to the Dark Moon territory, they watched you throughout your pregnancy. My father thought Ethan must be hiding something terrible if you were so desperate to get away from him that you’d go to such lengths, so he sent me to find out what they were.”
“So you knew who l was, before you ever approached me?” l ask, my voice sounding very small indeed.
“Yes,” He admits, wincing. “My job was to get close to you, to find out what skeletons were hiding in Ethan’s closet, but you have to believe, I never wanted to hurt you, Jane.”
“Well you did!” l exclaim, surging to my feet. “1 can’t believe what a fool l’ve been. I trusted you over everyone, Eric!”
“That’s because his spies told him exactly how to get close to you.” Ethan rumbles ominously, scowling at the man l once considered my best friend, second only to Linda. “He practically had a Jane handbook. He knew your every vulnerability, and exactly what buttons to push.”
“You knew about this.” I accuse Ethan, turning to look at him with mild hurt. “You knew he was never really my friend.”
“l suspected.” Ethan corrects me gently. “After we found out who Eric really was. Aimon isn’t the only one with spies, but unlike him, I never had my spies watching you, so they didn’t know you were still out there. They did know that Aimon was watching us like a hawk though. That he’d go to any length to bring me down. Without me, there wouldn’t be anything to stop him from expanding his empire over the continent.
“Jane, you have no idea how sorry l am”‘ Eric tells me, “After l got to the Dark Moon pack and got to know you, I told my father I couldn’t help him anymore, that I wasn’t going to spy on you. However it started, I fell in love with you for real – and he exiled me as punishment. I haven’t spoken to him in three years.
“Three years.” I repeat. “Which means you were still reporting back to him for a full year before you got enough backbone to stand up to him!”
Ethan pulls me back down onto the couch before | can lunge towards Eric, but it’s a close call. I’m still growling under my breath when he tucks me under his arm. “Easy, little wolf”
“You’re right.” Eric laments, a pained expression on his handsome face. “1 was weak, I was a coward. lt’s the worst mistake l’ve made in my entire life, and I will always regret it.”
“You should” I snap. “You could have at least warned us. You could have at least told me that I had people watching me, spying on my pups!”
“I was afraid that ifl told you, you’d never forgive me.” He shares.
“You were right to fear that.” I hiss, “Because l won’t. Especially not now.”
Ethan cuddles me closer. “If you’re really sorry, you can start by helping us track the pups down. If we’re right and they’re being taken to your father, we’re going to need someone with insider knowledge to help us get them back.”
“I can’t go back.” Eric pales. “I told you, I’ve been exiled. If I set foot in the Southern Isles, I’ll be killed on sight.”
“Sounds fair to me” l snipe.
Ethan shoots me a look, “0r, you can go to your father and tell him you’ve made a grave mistake. Tell him you’ll do whatever he asks in order to regain his good favor:”
“He’ll know it’s a lie, he’ll know l’m trying to help you get the pups back” He objects.
“Not if you reach out to him before they arrive, before he knows they’re up for grabs.” Ethan suggests.
“What if we’re wrong?” Eric asks, “What if the pups aren’t headed there at all?”
“Then you can still pay your penance by becoming a double agent” Ethan informs him coolly. “Aimon’s bound to tell his son things he wouldn’t let slip to his spies.”
“He’ll never trust me after l betrayed him.” Eric insists.
“Too bad!” T bite, “You don’t have a choice. My pups are missing. Goddess only knows what they’ re suffering right now and if you think I’m going to have any sympathy for your traitorous behind when their lives are on the line, you are sorely mistaken.”
“If he does get hold of them, what will he do?”
Ethan questions, “you said part of your original mission was potentially holding Jane and the pups hostage, to what end?”
“l can’t be sure.” Eric hedges, “my father is insanely paranoid. He didn’t tell me then what his end game was, but if I had to guess he would use them to try and lure you out into the open so he could attempt an assassination. Or he could attempt to engage you in a war, assuming he has reason to believe he could defeat you in combat.”
A steady stream of swears pour from my l!ps as I mutinously grumble under my breath, glaring daggers at Eric as I imagine all the different ways I’d like to punish him. The mere suggestion of Ethan’s death has my wolf raring for a fight. I didn’t realize how protective I felt of him until this very moment.
The man in question is smothering a smile and petting me in a manner l’m sure is intended to be soothing, but it’s not working. Feeling my mate’s hands on my body does nothing but heat my b***d. Usually it would spark my l**t, but right now – when l’m already feeling completely bloodthirsty – it just eggs me on.
Before too long he’s holding me back again, and Eric is looking even more miserable than before.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help.” He offers.
“Of course you will.” I scoff, “not helping was never an option you little weasel”
“Janey” Ethan scolds, not sounding the least bit disappřoving, “play nice. We’re going to have to learn to get along if we want to get the pups back.'”
“Get along with him?” l gape, “a month ago you were fighting him to the death! And that was before we knew what a traitor he is!” I’m a mom.I can’t control my anger to Eric when I see the fact that my pups being kidnapped is related to him.
“It’s for the pups, baby.” Ethan reminds me, “for then we can put up with everything – even the weasel.”
“You’re right.” I begrudgingly agree, shooting another hateful glower at Eric. “For the pups.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 110
3rd Person
“We have to get ‘way from her before she can split us up Riley fretted, exchanging worried glances with her siblings.
“How can we ‘scape though?” Paisley countered. “
The doors are locked!”
They were locked in the back of yet another windowless van and speeding down the King’s road, which connected the tropical port to the Southern Isles’ capital city. They knew from eavesdropping on Anita and her goons that they would reach the royal palace within a few hours, and by then it would be too late.
“We should tell her we have to go potty” Parker suggested, “then shell stop and we can run away”
“1 dunno if she’d stop for that.” Ryder added skeptically, “I think she’d just say to hold it”
“Say you’re gonna be sick then!” Riley mused, “| bets she’ll believe you after how sick you got on the boat”
“Yeah, say you’re gonna make a huge mess she’ll have to clean up.” Paisley contributes.
“And be reaaally whiny!” Riley instructed.
At once, the boys raised their young voices to shrill howls. “Stop the car! I’m gonna puke!” Parker shouted.
“Me too!” Ryder added, “It’s going too fast!”
“Shut up you brats!” Anita bit back, glaring into the back of the vehicle.
The boys clutched their bellies and began rolling around on the floor, moaning and wailing. In the end, it probably wasn’t the imminent danger of their sickness which broke the traffickers will, but the sounds of their faux misery. Anita lost her patience almost instantly, slamming her hands against the dashboard and telling the driver to pull over. “Stop now, before l lose my f*****g mind.”
The car veered off to the side of the road and the driver slammed on the brakes, sending the pups rolling across the floor mats. “Owie!” Paisley complained, rubbing her arm. A bruise was quickly forming on her delicate skin from colliding with some heavy equipment. Looking towards the offending items, she noticed a toolbox fitted with various drawers.
“Are you okay?” Riley asked in concern, surveying her sister for signs of injury.
“I’m fine, look at this.” Paisley pointed towards the drawers, and curiously pulled them open. Inside she found a plethora of nails, screws and metal washers.
Anita and company had stolen the van from the port, and based on all the tools and four by fours in the cargo bay, the rightful owners were probably construction workers. “We can put these in the door!” She whispered excitedly.
It took Riley a moment to realize what she meant, but as Anita slid the side door open and the unmistakable rumbling of steel on steel filled the air, she understood. The tracks beneath the sliding door had to be clear in order for it to close, and even one tiny screw could prevent that from happening. “Tha’s brilliant!” She exclaimed in an undertone.
“The only question is whether we makes it obvious and just run, or hope she’s impatient enough not to realize the door’s closed” Paisley murmured in the other pup’s ear while the boys tumbled out of the van and pretended to run off into the brush to vomit.
“l says we go big.” Riley confided. “The boys are I ready out, and they’ll notice the sound of the doors
opening even if we’re moving.”
“You’re right, ‘sides, maybe we don’ need to block the door at all. Is open now, maybe we can just use these to keep them from following” Paisley pulled open the nail tray, eagerly eyeing the pointy implements.
“Ready?” Riley asked, “you go first and tell the boys to run, I’ll set the trap.”
Paisley nodded and leapt out of the truck, thoroughly distracting Anita, “Hey, get back here! | didn’t give you permission to get out!”
Paisley ignored her, and before Anita could move a muscle, Riley slipped from the van and darted past her, turning back and dumping the nails over the ground. As soon as she heard the boys and Paisley take off, she began running too, sprinkling the nails over the earth behind her like vicious bread crumbs.
They heard a series of outraged shouts from their kidnappers, soon followed by the crash of footfalls through the undergrowth and the agonized screech of a she-wolf treading on an upturned spike. Her howls of pain were quickly joined by those of her companions, as the city dweller’s thin shoes did little to protect them from the sharp objects.
The pups wanted to stop and look back, or simply to pause long enough to laugh, but they knew they had to keep going. They had to put some distance between themselves and their pursuers.
“That was genius!” Parker praised his sister.”They won’t walk for a week!”
“Tha’s the idea!” Paisley preened under his approval, tossing a nervous glance over her shoulder to make sure he was right. All four wolves were hopping on one foot, holding the afflicted limb in their hands and crying out in torment. As she watched, the tallest man managed to land his intact foot on another upturned nail, which sent him flying. Too afraid to put pressure on his already impaled toes and heels, he landed on his tailbone – hard. A new level of anguished crying burst from his lips as his backside was also punctured by the many nails, and Paisley had to turn forward again, lest she get so distracted watching them get their just desserts that she ran into a tree.
The pups ran deeper and deeper into the forest, only stopping until they were completely out of breath.
Bent double and gasping for air, they formed a small circle and helped brace each other’s weight. “What do we do now?” Ryder questioned. “they’re down now, but as soon as they’re better, they’ll track us.”
“We have to find a way to get far away without leaving a trail.” Parker answered, holding his stomach as a stitch gripped his side.
“We need a river.” Riley declared.
“But..” Paisley’s objection left her lips before she could think it through, and now her siblings were looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to finish her thought. Sighing when she realized they weren’t just going to forget, she added, “l can’t swim.” Her heart had never been strong enough to handle any type of cardio activity, so she’d missed out on a lot of fun things other pups took for granted.
“Tha’s okay.” Parker assured her. “We’ll help you.”
“Yeah,” Ryder agreed. “We can teach you, or find something for you to float on.”
Tha’s assuming we can even find a river.” Riley pointed out, looking around the dense forest. They were so deep in the wood that the canopy was blocking out the sun completely, and no matter which direction she turned, there was simply a sea of trees as far as the eye could see. She c****d her ears, listening for any signs or sounds of flowing water, and eventually caught the babbling of a distant brook.
“That way!” She directed, “Is little, but it might lead to more water.”
“Try not to disturb the ground” Parker advised as they set off. Luckily there wasn’t much mud under foot, but there was an overabundance of leaf litter and fallen branches. It would be nearly impossible not to make an impact. Still, they did their best, and before too long, they reached the stream Riley had scouted.
“We should walk straight down the middle.”
Paisley reasoned, nervously studying the water to make sůre it wasn’t too deep.
“Good idea.” Ryder concurred, “but which direction?”
“Go ‘gainst the current.” Riley advised, jumping into the middle of the rocky streambed. “If we’re lucky is coming from a river, and if not, at least we won’t make tracks.”
One by one the pups joined her, the boys sandwiching Paisley between them so she’d be protected. Riley led the way fearlessly, and before long, the sounds of rushing water drew nearer and nearer.
The stream grew deeper and deeper, until Paisley was wa!st high in water and beginning to panic.
“We need to stop and find a float.” Ryder called to Riley, sensing his little sister’s unease.
Together they found a huge fallen branch, which when thrown into the water, floated perfectly. It was big enough for all four of them to hold on, and they were definitely going to need it. While the others searched Riley dashed on ahead to try and decipher the landscape awaiting them. The stream was an offshoot of a river which looked a mile wide, and its raging waters moved so quickly that it would be a struggle for any of them to fight the current, whether they could swim or not.
“I dunno ’bout this.” Paisley worried aloud when the others joined Riley.
“It does look scary.” Ryder agreed.
“We don’ have a choice.” Parkey announced grimly.
If we wanna get back to Mommy and Daddy, we have to make it so Anita can’t find us.”
It took a lot of encouragement and prodding to get Paisley into the water, with many assurances about crocodiles and carnivorous fish along the way. The other children were bluffing of course, but they knew this was the only way. In the end, it wasn’t any monsters of the deep which threatened them most, but the unforgiving rapids and huge boulders covering the riverbed. They only made it five minutes – which felt like a thousand – before Paisley was pulled under with a terrified yelp, and the other pups were swept away by the current.
Paisley’s foot was caught between two rocks, and the water was lashing her body on all sides, covering her head and choking the air from her lungs as she fought to free herself. The last thing she saw before the world went black, was a huge, dark shape moving towards her through the depths – one she felt certain was about to eat her alive.