Ch. 111..115: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 111-115

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 111

3rd person

Paisley waited for the pain; śhe waited for the blackness closing in to become complete, or for the monster approaching her to bite her in half- but neither came. When she started to lose consciousness, her muscles relaxed enough for her foot to be freed from the rocks, but it was already too late. She floated freely now, however her lungs were quickly filling with water, and she no longer had the energy to try and swim.

She’d resigned herself to being some aquatic predator’s dinner, but she had to wonder how much longer it would take -the creature swimming towards her had appeared to be only feet away. Surely she should be dead by now? The next thing she knew a massive warm body was swimming beneath her, and then she was being lifted to the surface. When her head broke through the rapids, water spewed from her l!ps, expelled from her lungs by forceful contractions as she coughed and sputtered.

She clutched the pillowy object beneath her, content to simply close her eyes and rest as it carried her along. Still, after the initial exhaustion and confusion wore off, she remembered her siblings, and lifted her head. She didn’t have the first clue what the creature supporting her was – she’d never seen anything like it. It was gray and as round as a balloon, with wide flippers and a large rounded tail. She couldn’t see its face, she was sprawled like a starfish over it’s warm back, and she was too tired and afraid to risk moving.

They were gliding through forests of river grasses, and as Paisley squinted into the distance she could see the other pups up ahead. They’d halted their log ride against some boulders and were standing on the rocks, seemingly caught in the middle of a heated argument.

We have to go back!” Riley was insisting.

“But how!?” Parker cried, “we can’t swim stronger than the current!”

“I don’t know, but we have to find a way!” Riley insisted.

“She’s right!” Ryder agreed, “we can’t leave her.”

“I don’t want to leave her neither!” Parker argued,

“l just can’t figure out how – Paisley!?”

The other two pups whipped their heads around to follow the direction of his gaze, their voices soom joining their brother’s. “Paisley!” They exclaimed, “

Thank the Goddess.”

“You guys,” Paisley gasped, clutching at her living raft for comfort as she tried to stay awake. “I don’ think I likes swimming.”

“Where do you think they are, right now?” Jane asked, folding her arms around herself protectively.

Do you think they’re feeding them? Do you think they’re hurt?”

“I don’t know, baby.” Ethan frowned, reaching over to rest his hand on Jane’s thigh as he drove. They were on their way to speak with the police commander and the Alpha’s private investigator, with Eric and Linda in the back seat. Still, Jane didn’t seem to care that they had an audience, all she could think about was her pups. Eric had been a powerful distraction, but now that he was safely in their corner, her mind was drifting back to the children. “But lI know this much, if we’re right and they took them abroad out of fear for me, then they’re probably too afraid to harm them either.”

This didn’t seem to comfort Jane. “How did we let this happen?” She questioned, devastated beyond words. “What kind of parents let their pups be taken this way?”

“You can’t think like that, Jane.” Linda advised, leaning forward to squeeze her friend’s shoulder. “I know it’s hard, but you can’t help them if you’re wallowing in depression. It’s not that it isn’t natural or valid, you just have to push it aside for the time being.”

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

Jane snapped back, instantly regretting her words. “l’m sorry, Linda, I didn’t mean that. I shouldn’t have said it.

“It’s okay.” Linda promised, though her hand had tensed on Jane’s shoulder. “You’re under a lot of stress.

“No, it’s not okay.” Jane argued. “I’m lashing out at you when I should be lashing out at myself. They left the apartment because I threw a tantrum and walked out. It’s my fault this is happening”

“It’s not your fault.” Eric assured her. “It’s Eve’s fault, the trafficker’s fault.”

“Don’t do that!” Jane begged, “Don’t placate me just because you don’t want me to feel bad,I should feel bad. Sometimes feeling bad is a sign that you earned your guilt fair and square.”

The next thing she knew, the car was pulling over on the side of the road and slowing to a stop. “What are you doing?” She asked Ethan, glaring at his hands on the wheel. “We need to get there, to learn what they’ve figured out.”

I”‘m not going to listen to you berate yourself like this.” Ethan declared sternly. “We all make mistakes, and you and I have made more than our fair share. But the weasel is right, the only people to blame here are the ones who took them, the ones who are keeping them from us.”

Jane fought the urge to roll her eyes. They could all say whatever they wanted, but no one in this car was a child, they knew their situation didn’t exist in black and white. It was true that the traffickers were responsible, but good parents protected their children from the realities of the world for precisely this reason, because the dangers were only too real and pups were too innocent to understand that.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, little wolf” Ethan scolded.

“| didn’t!” Jane exclaimed in protest.

“You were thinking about it, I can tell:” He remarked. “I know your every expression, Janey. Don’t you forget it.”

“You can’t punish me for my thoughts” She informed him coolly.

“Wanna bet?” He asked, a heated look crossing his handsome features.

“I’m serious, Ethan.” Jane professed, frowning deeply.”This is my fault, maybe not in total, but in part.

We have to get them back, and you stalling and laying down the law or whatever this is, isn’t going to help us!”

“Jane, it isn’t your fault” Ethan repeated firmly.

And l’m not moving this car until you say so.”

“Why do you keep doing this to me?” Jane inquired fiercely. “What is it with you and lectures in the car?”

She remembered only too well the way he’d stopped on the way to the hospital when Paisley was in surgery, and felt horribly as though they were repeating history.

“I’m responding to you,” He shrugged. “I don’t believe in waiting to address problems after the fact. If you say things like this to me, l’m going to stop whatever we’re doing to deal with it. If you want to stop getting lectures in cars, stop berating yourself in cars.”

“So you’re saying it’s not my fault the pups were taken, but it is my fault you’ve gone into bossy Alpha mode?” Jane clarified skeptically.

“I suppose so.” Ethan chuckled, a soft, bittersweet sound. “But did you expect anything different?”

“No.” To her surprise, Jane laughed then too, but almost as soon as the silky sound began, it broke.

Laughter became sobbing with the flip of a switch, and Ethan could only tsk and pull Jane into his arms. In the back seat, Linda and Eric exchanged confused glances, feeling like intruders on a deeply intimate moment.

They weren’t wrong, Ethan and Jane had almost entirely forgotten that the others were present, taking comfort in each other as the world fell apart around them.

Eric couldn’t help but grimace as he watched, and Linda reached over and covered his hand in solidarity.

She was only too familiar with watching the person she loved pursue another, and despite everything Eric had done wrong in the last few years, she was far too besotted to hold it against him. Eric smiles appreciatively and squeezed her hand in return, offering her an appreciative nod as Jane continued to cry. He didn’t really want to watch Ethan embrace her either, and the more time that passed, the more apparent it became that he didn’t stand a chance with her.

In fact, Eric was finally beginning to see that he’d never stood a chance with Jane. Her heart had always belonged to Ethan – whether she acknowledged it or not- and it always would. They were a team now more than ever, permanently bonded by their children and growing closer every day. It didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would to lose Jane. Strangely enough, he felt far more at ease with Linda’s comforting touch. He was even able to forget why he was so preoccupied with Jane, when a beautiful, intelligent she-wolf with stars in her eyes was sitting next to him.

Before Eric could ponder any further, Ethan and Jane parted at last. Jane untangled herself from a reluctant Ethan’s arms, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Are you sure?” Ethan pressed, looking as if he’d like to cuddle her longer.

I”‘m sure.” Jane confirmed. “I need to know what they’ve discovered. I need to know where the pups are.”

“They might not have anything new to share.”

Ethan cautioned, clearly trying to manage her expectations.

“Then why did they call?” Jane countered shrewdly. “No – there’s news, and it’s big enough that they didn’t want to tell us over the phone. Let’s go.”

 

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 112

Ethan

I’m worried about Jane.

She’s out of the car the moment we get to the police headquarters, and it’s all l can do to keep up with her. Her emotions have been all over the place the last few days; she’s so tense and tightly wound that I can no longer predict how she’s going to react to anything – one moment she’s laughing, the next she’s crying. But no matter how she tries to endure, underneath there is always a bottomless well of pain that will never be healed until the pups are home.

While my mate’s anguish is magnified by her manic behavior, my own is only too evident in the numbness consuming me. I refuse to feel anything until I know whether we have to mourn or celebrate. At first my fear and anger had wholly consumed me, but I quickly realized it wouldn’t help anything to give in to those emotions. I pushed them down and threw myself into the search, barely sleeping or eating, but knowing that I wouldn’t be able to distract myself if I stopped moving.

I hate that I can’t fix this for Jane. I hate that’s she’s torturing herself with blame, and l’m beyond concerned by how quickly she seems to be spiraling.

Catching up to her, I loop my arm around her wa!st and pull her into my side, slowing her pace and frustrating her to no end. She instantly yanks against my hold, urging me to speed up. “Ethan, come on.”

“Breaking your neck running up the stairs isn’t going to help the pups, sweetheart.” I remind her, taking comfort in the feel of her small body safe beside me. She starts grumbling mutinously, but this is what I hoped. The more she’s distracted by being annoyed at me, the less she’s fretting about the pups.

A few minutes later we’re standing in front of Jackson and the Commander. Jane is still pouting, but our decreased pace allowed Eric and Linda to catch up, and they now flank us on both sides. After a few somber greetings we’re ushered into a conference room, but Jane refuses to sit down. Our hosts eye her warily, and the Commander invites her to take a seat when she simply stands over the table like a particularly lovely gargoyle.

“This isn’t a tea party” Jane snaps, “Just tell us what you learned.

Sighing, I drag her into my lap, forcing her to settle when she instinctively squirms to escape. ” Just settle, little wolf” L instruct, sensing how desperately she needs me to take control. The more she lashes out, the more obvious it becomes that she’s feeling too overwhelmed to cope on her own.

If the investigators are uncomfortable with our int!macy, they don’t show it, instead they take a pair of identical deep breaths and announce, “We’ve confirmed the pups were taken by traffickers.” Jackson begins, “CCTV caught them at the port, being boarded onto a ship by a local gang.”

“The good news is that l know the culprits well.”

The commander explains, “the foot soldiers are idiots, but their leader is not. Anita is as shrewd a criminal as I’ve ever met, and she undoubtedly realized the gravity of their situation.”

“And the bad news?” I press immediately, holding Jane just a little tighter.

The ship they boarded was bound for the Southern lsles.” Jackson shared, “Anita’s intelligence cuts both ways. She knew better than to try to traffic them here, and she knows where to find a buyer:”

“But that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Linda interjected, clearly recalling my words from the car. “It will mean they aren’t being harmed.”

“It means they’re safe for now, but only until they reach King Aimon.’ The commander states grimly, ” once he has them, all bets are off. He wants this territory, he wants your power, Alpha. That means he’ll do whatever he can to provoke you.

Jane whimpers, intuitively leaning into my warmth. “How long will it take them to reach the Isles?

How long ago did the ship leave?”

“The ship left the morning after they were taken.”

The commander answers simply, “Anita doesn’t waste any time. I’m afraid they’ll have landed by now.”

Jane whips around to Eric, “how far is your father’s palace from the coast? What will he do with them?”

“It’s a few hours by car” Eric explains, “And I’m not sure how he’ll treat them, but if you want me to reach out to him before they arrive, I need to do it right now.

“Do it” I order, knowing how suspicious it will seem to Aimon for his son to reach out just hours before my pups arrive, but also believing we have no other choice. Looking down to the trembling bundle in my arms, I nuzzle her sweet smelling hair. “I’m going to go after them.” I proclaim, kissing Jane’s temple. “Eric is going to have to return to the Southern Isles if he wants to convince his father he’s loyal, and I’m going to go with him.”

Jane nods in agreement. “Then I’m going too.” She declares, sitting up slightly. “We know where they’re headed now, there’s no reason for me to stay home and wait for a ransom call.”

“Janey;” I sigh, all of my reluctance seeping into my voice. “| don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Excuse me?” She growls, pushing away from me.”

Why is it a good idea for you but not for me? You can’t honestly think I would stay behind and twiddle my thumbs while you and Eric run off to rescue babies.”

Glancing around at our audience, I take a steadying breath. “Could we have the room for a moment please?”

One by one the others filter out, and as soon as the door closes behind them Jane is off my lap, towering over me with a lethal glare. “Don’t even think about telling me it’s for my own good, or that you won’t be able to focus on the pups if you’re worrying about me.”

She hisses, anticipating my arguments with more accuracy than l’d like to admit.

Rising from my chair, I look down at my beautiful, stubborn mate. “It’s not that.” l exhale, deciding to focus -not on the fact that she’s unraveling at the seams or on the pack’s need for a leader while l’m away, but on my greatest fear. “Aimon is about to get his hands on four out of the five most important things in my entire world. I can’t risk him getting you too.

Jane opens her mouth to argue, but I press a finger to her full l!ps. “No, listen Jane. He already sent Eric thousands of miles to spy on you, maybe to kidnap you.

He’s known you’re my biggest weakness from the very beginning, and if you come with me, we’ll be putting you within his reach”‘

“Good!” Jane exclaims, surprising me completely.”

If my babies are in captivity, I should be there with them. They shouldn’t have to go through this alone. So let him take me! Let him take me so l can at least protect them from the inside, while you work to free us.

Her words send me staggering backwards, right back into my chair. In a million years, I never would have expected Jane to suggest something so unbelievably reckless. Then again, what mother wouldn’t do the same for her pups? Still, when l respond, I don’t handle it well. “Have you lost your mind!?” I thunder, “that’s not a solution, it’s a suicide plan!”

“Then yes, I’ve lost my mind!” Jane cries, “My pups have been stolen from me, sent thousands of miles away to Goddess knows what fate. They could be dying at this very moment, you can’t expect me to remain sane when my children are in danger!”

“And that’s supposed to convince me to let you come with me?” I snarl ferociously, looming over her with bared fangs. “By admitting that you’re not in your right mind?”

“I wasn’t asking your permission.” Jane bites back,

“I’m telling you that I’m coming, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”

For one brief, irrational second, I consider proving her horribly wrong. The fact is that I could stop her if I wanted to, I could lock her up like l did all those years ago – just for very different reasons. Jane is glaring up at me, her ch3st heaving in furious breaths, her brilliant emerald eyes flashing with passion and anger. Almost as soon as the thought enters my head, it leaves again. I promised myself l’d never hurt her again, and I hate myself for even considering it. The mere idea of seeing my perfect mate in more pain than she’s already in makes me feel sick to my stomach, so l brace my shoulders and pour all my alpha authority into my voice.

Whatever perfumes or disguises she wears, Jane is still an omega, she won’t be able to resist submitting. The answer is no, Jane. I’ve made my,decision and it’s final. You aren’t coming.”

Jane tries to fight the pull of my power for what feels like hours, but l know it was only a few seconds.

She resists until every inch of her body is shaking with the effört of defying me, but when I growl she breaks, lowering her head and tucking her proverbial tail between her legs.1 don’t feel any triumph in this victory, not when Jane is cowering miserably in front of me, and especially not when she shoots me a look of pure betrayal, and runs from the room with tears streaming down her face.

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 113

3rd Person

The closer Paisley drew to her siblings, still carried on the back of her mysterious rescuer, the clearer their confused expressions became. “What is that?” Riley asked curiously, c*****g her head as she studied the creature supporting her sister.

“I dunno, I was drowning an’ I thought it was gonna eat me, but then it saved me instead.” Paisley explained weakly.

“We’re so sorry, Paisley.” Parker frowned. “We never should have made you swim. Are you okay?”

“I’m really tired” Paisley admitted, “drowning is hard.”

The other pups murmured sympathetically, then reached out their hands to help their sister onto the rocks. However, when Paisley extended her own arms to them, the creature transporting her swam back out of reach. It was managing to fight the current somehow, keeping them in place while Paisley conferred with her siblings. “l think it wants you to climb on too.” She guessed, unsure of what else its strange behavior could mean.

“How can you tell?” Ryder wondered aloud.

“1 dunno, but I think it wants to help. Paisley shrugged. “Is a nice monster.”

The other pups exchanged wary glances, but intrepid Riley was the first to take the leap. Setting her jaw, she slid off the rocks and into the water, paddling over to Paisley and her rescuer, then climbing onto its back beside her. Parker was next, bracing himself for the return to the icy waters before diving in, and latching onto the unknown animal when he realized how warm it was.

Ryder reluctantly fell into line, and the next thing they knew, they were gliding along the swift river, moving faster than even the current.

They couldn’t be sure how long they traveled, how far they went or even where they were headed, but eventually their living raft veered towards the shoreline, and swam far enough into the shallows for the pups to disembark from its back.

Wading along the rocky shore, the quadruplets were finally able to get a good look at their savior. It raised its head above the surface, staring up at them with such a benevolent expression, they couldn’t help but reach out and pet its head. It had huge, expressive eyes, and a very round snout -almost like a cow’s. “What is it?” Parker whispered.

“I dunno, but is definitely a friend.” Paisley answered.

“Thank you for helping us.” Riley told the animal.

“Should we give it a name?” Ryder asked, “just in cases we see it again?”

“How about fluffy?” Riley suggested with a giggle.

The others glanced at her skeptically. “But is not eyes.

“Yeah, tha’s why it’s funny.” Riley rolled her fluffy” Parker reasoned.

“Okay Paisley smiled, “Fluffy it is!”

After they waved goodbye to Fluffy, the pups staggered to shore, relieved that the strange forest before them was warm, if not familiar. In fact, it was unlike any forest they’d ever seen. Back in the Nightfang territory there were tons of mountains and trees, but this looked more like the rainforests they saw on nature shows.

There was moss and vines as far as the eye could see, and huge ancient trees with roots as tall as they were. All manner of strange critters rustled through the dense canopy and undergrowth, and their sharp shifter ears caught every last sound.

“You guys, we’re really, really lost.” Ryder announced, to no one’s surprise.

“What do we do?” Parker inquired, not having the first clue how to find their way home, let alone make it through the night in a dark jungle.

“I want Mommy and Daddy” Riley admitted in a small voice.

“I know.” Parker agreed with a sniffle. “I want them too.”

Just then it began to rain, thunder and lightning crashing violently overhead, sending a downpour more powerful than anything the pups had experienced back home. Seeking shelter in a hollow tree, they snuggled close and tried to get warm, but no one seemed able to speak. No one seemed to know what to say.

Paisley had never had the opportunity to take care of anyone other than herself, and she didn’t really know how to do it, but she remembered how much better she felt after Jane sang to her in the hospital. She had to guess that her mother had sung the same song to her siblings in their times of need as well. So as their shivers of cold and fear gradually lessened, she opened her mouth and began to sing, unknowingly repeating the same lullaby Jane had serenaded her babies with from the day they were born. One by one the other pups burst into tears, and before long Paisley gave in too, her song fading away as she wept her sorrows into her siblings’ loving arms.

“What are you thinking about?”

Jane was sitting on the edge of Ethan’s bed, her face locked in a miserable grimace. She hadn’t spoken to him since they left the police headquarters, but they also hadn’t slept apart since the pups were taken, even if the Alpha spent most of his nights tossing and turning rather than actually resting. It was some relief to Ethan that Jane still came to his room when she turned in for the night – he’d fully expected her to give him the cold shoulder until he departed for the Southern lsles.

“The boys have really bad motion sickness.” She whispered, “Parker once got sick just sitting in a rowboat.”

Nodding gently, Ethan took a seat next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, relieved when she accepted the comfort rather than pushing him away. “They get that from you, if I recall.” He murmured, remembering the one and only time he’d taken her sailing. It was just one more reason not to take her on an ocean journey, but he also understood why she was worried about the boys.

When Jane turned to look at him, her eyes were so wide and pitiable that they would give the pups a run for their money any day. “They need me, Ethan. I’ve always been there to take care of them when they’re sick..” She trailed off, clenching her eyes shut and shaking her head. “And Paisley, poor sweet Paisley. I’ve never been there for her in the past, and I’m not there for her now.”

“Paisley doesn’t get seasick.” Ethan assured her, willfully missing the point.

“You know what I mean, Ethan.” Jane complained.

“Would you really rather them be scared and alone, than scared with me?”

“1 don’t want any of you to be scared” Ethan remarked simply. “And this might make me sound beyond selfish, but I can’t help thinking that if we don’t succeed.. if we can’t get them back, you’re all l have left. I can’t risk you too, Jane.”

This isn’t about us, Ethan.” Jane insisted. “It’s about them. They come first, always.”

“I made the mistake of not putting you first once before, Jane. Ethan reminded her. “l’m not going to do it again.”

“But this is different!” Jane exclaimed, “I want you to put me second this time!”

“1 can’t!” Ethan exploded. “I can’t lose you all, if it comes to it, I’ll sacrifice myself to Aimon, but not you!

Not the pups!”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Jane countered, with surprising force. She wasn’t sure where it had come from, but she suspected her wolf was responsible for her forceful reaction.

Ethan arched one dark brow. “Oh l see.” He rumbled. “So it’s okay for you to sacrifice yourself, but not me?”

“That isn’t… I…” Jane threw her arms up into the air, at a loss. “I don’t know! Okay? AllI do know is that

I’ll go crazy if you leave me behind. It will kill me to have to simply stand by and do nothing while you fight all our demons alone.”

“I’m not asking you to do nothing” Ethan clarified, “the pack will need someone to lead while l’m away. I have Matthew, but a Luna would be more comforting for the people.”

“But l’m not your Luna anymore.” Jane reminded him softly. “They know Matthew, they trust him. I’m just a murder suspect in their eyes.”

“That isn’t true.” Ethan promised, “but it’s not just about public perception. You’re brilliant Jane, I can’t think of anyone better to fill in for me.”

“Now you’re just flattering me.” Jane sniped, which – for the record, isn’t working.”

“I’m begging you, Janey.” Ethan professed, taking her lovely face in his hands. “I know how badly you want to come, and honestly I don’t want to let you out of my sight, but l’m begging you to trust me. Trust that l’m doing what’s best for our family.”

Jane gnawed on her plump lower l!p for a long moment, thinking over his words with begrudging consideration. Eventually she nodded in agreement, letting Ethan pull her into his arms for a lingering k!ss of relief. Of course, he was too busy ravishing her to notice the way she held one arm behind her back, or the way her pointer and middle fingers crossed as she promised to stay behind.

Ethan was right about one thing, Jane was no fool, and she knew he wasn’t going to agree to let her come along to the Southern lsles. And that’s precisely why she didn’t intend on giving him the choice.

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 114

Jane

“Jane, are you sure this is a good idea?” Linda asks, nervously wringing her hands.

“Of course it’s not a good idea.” I reply determinedly, packing my suitcase while she guards the door. “But good ideas aren’t an option right now, we have to work with the hand we’ve been dealt. And this hand svcks.”

“Well as long as we’re facing our insanity head on.”

Linda mutters under her breath.

“That’s the spirit!” I praise her, my hands shaking slightly as I close the zippers around my luggage.

“Caw caw!” Linda burst out suddenly, making the bird noise we’d agreed to use as our danger signal if Ethan or Eric appeared while I packed.

Quickly slipping the suitcase under the bed, I whip around and sit on the edge of the mattress, trying to appear nonchalant. It was just in time, because a moment later Ethan came striding into the bedroom, his brow furrowed, “Did I just hear a crow?”

“No” I lie easily, adopting a worried expression. “1 think the stress might be getting to you.

He shakes his head, as if thinking that reality is unavoidable, before zeroing in on me. “We’re almost ready to go” He announces gently, studying me closely.

Realizing that I need to keep up my petulant spirit after being forced to stay behind, I drop my faux concern, and turn my head away from Ethan. I refuse to acknowledge his words, knowing this is exactly what he’ll expect from me. “Can we have a moment, Linda?”

He asks, his deep voice painfully somber.

She slips out of the room as quietly as a mouse, and the next thing I know, Ethan is kneeling between my legs, resting his massive hands on my th!ghs. “

Please look at me, Janey.”

I know it isn’t real, I know l’m not actually going to be left behind, but something about my mate’s grave behavior has my wolf whining in my head. My throat thickens with emotion, and | reluctantly turn my gaze to the rugged Alpha gazing up at me with those dark, piercing eyes.

“l know you’re mad at me” Ethan begins softly, his nimble fingers tracing patterns on my skin, “and I know things aren’t anywhere close to being settled between us.” He adds, making my insides churn with guilt. “l just want you to know that I love you, and I won’t give up until the pups are safely home. I’ll do whatever it takes, and I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.”

“I know you will.’ I nod, feeling the strangest desire to tell him I love him too. I have no idea where that sentiment came from, I’ve only just decided to give us a second chance, I’m nowhere near ready to know whether or not I can love this man again… right?

Ethan appears to read my distraction and confusion over this particular concept as more of the same, me giving him the cold shoulder as punishment for leaving me behind. “I really am sorry,” He tells me, sighing heavily. “l wish it didn’t have to be this way.

The petty part of me wants to argue that none of this “has” to be, it was a decision, and one | didn’t get a say in making. Still, I need to get him out of here sooner rather than later.”Just bring them home soon.”| bristle, wrapping my arms around myself protectively. “

And bring yourself home too l add when he drops his head in defeat.

l can feel the huff of his breath on my bare legs, and the next thing l know, his l!ps are on mine, stealing a goodbye k!ss before I can even think of objecting. Of course, l don’t object. The moment I feel the pressure of his mouth claiming mine, as urgent and wild as any k!ss we’ve shared before, I melt. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing myself as close to him as possible as he devours me whole.

It’s a few minutes before he finally drags himself away, extracting long, reluctant k!sses from my swollen l!ps as I cling to him, eager for more. “We’ll finish this when I come home with the pups.” He promises, n!bbling his mark and squeezing me tightly. “| promise”

On one hand I suspect he’s with holding his affection in retaliation for my own sullen behavior, but on the other, the sooner he and Eric depart, the better things will be for Linda and I. Convincing my friend to come along on our journey had been the easy part, convincing her to do so behind the men’s back however? That had taken no small amount of cajoling.

I’m determined to make our plan run as smoothly as possible to make it up to her, so the more time there is for us to sneak onto the ship, the better.

I wave Ethan and Eric off with a bittersweet smile, and the moment they’re out of sight, l turn to Linda.

Are you ready?”

She offers me an exasperated grin. “As I’ll ever be.”

It isn’t easy to get on the boat. Linda and I watch as Ethan and Eric board, but instead of disappearing into the hull of the ship, they stay on the deck, looking out at the bustling port. Unsurprisingly they don’t seem to be talking, merely standing next to each other as begrudging companions. Of course this makes things more difficult, at least if they were chatting they might be mildly distracted.

“How the hell are we going to get past them?”

Linda inquires, reading my mind.

“How do you feel about climbing?” I question, my gaze latching onto the rigging anchoring the boat to the docks.

“Not good.”‘ Linda answers derisively. “Really not good, especially since we have luggage.”

“We can just put our bags on the cargo carts.” | reason, pointing towards the piles of other passenger bags being stacked for transfer onto the ship after the passengers have boarded.

“Believe it or not Jane, that wasn’t the larger problem.” Linda replies wryly. “l’m not a monkey or a circus performer, I don’t just effortlessly scale ropes suspended in mid air.”

“Well there’s a first time for everything!” l insist, “

Come on, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“You are really lucky that I love you.” Linda grumbles as we dart across the open spaces between ourselves and the ship, stopping every few feet to hide behind piled cargo and make sure the coast is clear.

Luckily the rigging securing the stern isn’t visible to the passengers on deck, so after depositing our bags with the other luggage, we scamper around to the heavily woven ropes.

I start climbing first, wrapping my arms and legs around the suspended cables and inching up towards the hull like a rather graceless caterpillar. Glancing down below me, I see Linda following suit, and though I can see her l!ps moving, the sounds of her annoyed muttering are carried off on the wind.

It’s not an experience l’m eager to repeat, but it gets the job done. Within minutes l’m tumbling over the edge of the deck and hopping to my feet, reaching out to help Linda finish her own journey. Afterwards we slip down into the staff cabins, careful to spray a particularly unpleasant perfume in our wake to prevent the men from picking up on our scents if they come this way.

We bribe one of the sailors to vacate his rooms for the trip, and flit inside, locking the door behind us. “We did it!” I whisper excitedly, happy to see that Linda is offering me a wide smile in return. She might object, but l know she loves intrigue as much as I do, and she always comes alive on adventures like this.

Of course, my joy only lasts as long as the ship stays in port. About half an hour after we depart, the roiling sea has my stomach in a tangle of horrible nausea. The Southern seas are rough waters, and while I purchased some anti-nausea medication for the journey, I quickly discover it isn’t enough. I spend the entire first day at see curled up on the floor, sick to my stomach. I can only pray that sleep and a new day will give my body the time it needs to adjust. Unfortunately my body doesn’t get the message, and by the end of day two, Linda is worked up into a lather. “I think you need a doctor, Jane.” She worries, “you’re getting dangerously dehydrated.”

“I’ll be fine” l insist, “Can you get me some water?”

Linda disappears down the hallway, presumably to do as l ask, and yet somewhere deep down, I know our game is up. My suspicions are confirmed a few minutes later, when the hallway beyond our cabin is suddenly filled with pounding footsteps and fierce growls.

The door slams open and light pours into the dim cabin, illuminating my prone form as I heave and retch into a dingy bucket. I don’t need to turn around to know the identity of the shifter barging into my deeply embarrassing moment, I already know that it’s Ethan. I can smell his delicious aroma and feel his wolf’s strong pull, and that was before his deep voice floated to my ears, full of stern anger and admonition. “Oh my sweet little wolf” He rumbles ominously, heavy footfalls drawing closer and closer to me. “You are in so much trouble.”

 

The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 115

Jane

My cheek is pressed to the cool wood floor as a pair of large, heavy boots approach from the doorway. They stop a few feet from face, and while I want to cower from Ethan’s anger, l’m also beyond relieved that he’s here. I don’t get sick often, and when I do I usually have to just power through – no matter how terrible I feel.

One of the joys of single parenting is that there’s no backup in times like these, no one to step in and take care of your responsibilities when you aren’t up to the, task.

Linda has been taking care of me of course, and though I love her, she’s simply not the one l want. My wolf has been aching for Ethan, craving her mate in a time of need.

My hazy brain reels with the realization that I’ve started thinking of Ethan as my mate again, but in some ways it’s not a surprise. Il always yearn for Ethan when I feel poorly, but this is the first time since the divorce I might actually get my wish.

I don’t even realize l’ve closed my eyes until l feel Ethan’s soothing touch, his tender hands stroking down my back as he kneels down next to me. Blinking up at him, my vision blurs slightly and I emit a piteous m0an.

“I’m dying”

A sympathetic purr rumbles in Ethan’s ch3st, “Poor baby.” He croons, sliding his arms beneath me, “come on, let’s get you off the floor”

“l don’t think I can” I tell him, not processing the fact that l’ve already left the ground.

“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.” He advises, gathering me to his chest, “‘ve got you.”

The next thing I know we’re in the hallway, and Ethan is sweeping past Linda and Eric, carrying me up a flight of stairs, “Where are we going?” I murmur, trying to remember if we walked this way when we snuck on board.

“I’m taking you to my cabin” Ethan informs me, and then l’m calling the ship’s medic.”

I don’t want a medic.” I complain deliriously, “1 just want you.”

Ethan pauses briefly, looking down at me with concern. I don’t think he objects to my desire to be near him, but I’m sure he’s suspicious that l’m admitting it.

In fact… why did Il admit that? I wonder, feeling the b***d rushing in my ears. I promised myself I wouldn’t make any decisions about our relationship until we had time to see if things could work between us, if I start spilling my secret feelings to Ethan, he might get the wrong idea.

The man in question frowns deeply, and increases his pace. “Linda should have come to me sooner.” He scolds, shaking his head. “You’re really out of it, aren’t you?”

“I’m not out of it.” l insist, nuzzling his ch3st and breathing in his scent. “You’re out of it.” I slur, reaching for the buttons of his shirt so I can undo the top and expose his bare skin. When I succeed, I sigh happily and press my cheek to his muscular pec. His arms tighten around me protectively, and he starts to purr again, though I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it.

Somehow Ethan manages to get me to his cabin before another bout of nausea can send me over the edge, but when he tries to deposit me on his bed, I cling to him stubbornly, “No, stay!”

“It’s just for a moment, Jane.” He promises, prying my grasping fingers from his body.

I feel suddenly very cold without him, and I whimper as I glance around this new space. Calling his room a cabin was a bit of an understatement. It looks as though Ethan booked the ship’s owner’s suite, which is fitted with every luxury possible. There’s a balcony running the length of the room, one whose doors are already open and sending cool ocean breezes over my clammy skin. The mattress beneath me is as big as my bed at home, and l’m surrounded on all sides by plush covers. There’s a state of the art kitchen, a sitting area, office and a bathroom with a built-in jacuzzi bathtub.

Compared to the narrow, windowless berths the staff occupy, it’s a palace.

Ethan returns almost as quickly as he left, a woman in a paramedic uniform trailing behind him. I reach for Ethan as he nears and he settles on the edge of the bed, encouraging me to rest my head in his la*p.

It’s not enough, I want to feel his comforting touch enveloping me on all sides, but when I attempt to clamber into his la*p completely, he bends his l!ps to my ear.”Just let her check you out first.” He orders gently.

I offer him a disgruntled growl in reply, and he arches his brow, daring me to push my luck. One look at his disapproving expression has me settling back down with my head on his powerful thighs, and then the medic steps forward with a sympathetic smile. “Hello, Jane.” She says warmly, “feeling a bit seasick?”

I nod pathetically, sure my green complexion and glazed eyes are already telling her everything she needs to know. “Have you been able to keep anything down since we left port, any food or water?”

“No’ l admit hoarsely. It was not for lack of trying.

Linda had been trying to get water into me since l started vomiting, to no avail.

“Okay, we need to get some fluids into you.:” The medic assesses. “I’m going to put an |Vin your arm, and that way we can get some electrolytes into your system, plus some medications to help your stomach.

They’ll probably make you sleep a lot, but that’s a right sight better than being awake and sick.”

I nod in agreement, and Ethan strokes my hair. “ls there anything I can do to help her when she’s awake?”

“Cold compresses and fresh air.” She suggests, some people like hot baths. You can also go to the galley and get some ginger ale, saltines, broth – things like that. She probably won’t want to eat but once the medication starts Working she really needs to try. And anything else she needs is fine. Everyone has their own comforts.”

I already know what I need to comfort me, and Ethan already refused to give it. I think sullenly.

To my surprise the medic purses her l!ps with amusement, and Ethan’s penetrating eyes catch me in their crosshairs, “Do you realize you just said that out loud?” He questions, his l*p quirking despite his ominous expression.

I feel my eyes widen reflexively, “I did?”

“You did” He confirms indulgently, flashing an affectionate grin.

I think about it for a moment, then shrug, closing my eyes as the medic begins pulling saline bags and packaged tubes from her bag. “That’s okay, I meant it.”

Ethan chuckles, and then his large hand is sliding down my arm, positioning it for the lIV while he continues to distract me, running his fingers through the long locks of my hair. “That feels nice.” I murmur softly.

As soon as I say it, a needle pierces my arm, sliding into my vein with a sharp pinch. I wince but hold my arm still so she can finish securing it, and Ethan pets and praises me, “Good girl, that’s it. The worst is over”

I peek at the medic, watching her inject a few different syringes into the IV ports, before hanging a saline bag on a hook by the bed. “Just don’t forget to take this with you ifyou get up, Jane.” She cautions, “I”ll come back later to check on you, but I think you’re in good hands.”

After she leaves, Il roll onto my back and look up at Ethan, reading all the conflicting emotions on his rugged features. l can see he’s worried and tense, stressed and angry, but also unabashedly adoring. I can only focus on the feelings he’s telegraphing for a moment, because after a few seconds of staring into the bottomless pools of his eyes, I forget what I was even thinking about. He’s so handsome it’s distracting, and I find it impossible not to get lost admiring his strong jaw, chiseled cheekbones and bronze skin.

Ethan is smiling again, and I slowly realize my mistake. “l said that out loud too, huh?”

“Yes you did” He concedes, “but it was nice to hear.

“Am I really in trouble?” l ask in a small voice, still craving more of his touch, but feeling slightly hypnotized by his continued eye contact. “Isn’t this punishment enough?”

“Oh you’re in a world of trouble, little wolf” He informs me with a knowing look, “you did yourself”

“I’m sorry.”‘ I say, though I don’t truly mean it. My words are becoming more and more uneven as the medicines kick in. My stomach already feels better, but it’s becoming hard to keep my eyes open. “I couldn’t let you leave me behind, the pups need me.” Ever since l got sick, l’ve been wondering how on earth my boys made this journey. I hate the idea that they had to go through this without anyone to care for them. In truth, I think that’s part of why I wouldn’t let Linda go for help, I didn’t think I deserved to be taken care of when my pups didn’t have that luxury.

“Hush now sweetheart.” Ethan encourages, “We don’t have to talk about this now, just try to get some rest”

But l can’t – not yet, I have to know one thing first.

Gazing up at the huge Alpha warily, I ask. “Are you going to make me go back?”