Ch. 121..125: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 121-125
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 121
3rd Person
The pups were so exhausted after facing the anaconda and the landslide that they stopped for the night shortly afterwards, taking care to carry a few mangoes with them as they clambered up into the branches of a rubber tree – safe from the dangers of the forest floor. The next day they woke and made a breakfast of the sweet yellow fruit, before continuing to trek downhill.
Around midday the endless sea of trees and vines finally broke, giving way to rolling green hills and fertile pastureland. As Riley, Parker, Paisley and Ryder plodded through the muddy fields, each feeling more exhausted and hungry than they’d ever been in their lives, they tried to figure out what to do next.
“| dunno how we can make a plan, when we don’ even know wheres we are” Parker sighed, feeling as though their conversation was going round in circles. Every time one of the siblings came up with an idea, the same wrench seemed to get thrown into the suggestion – that they were well and truly lost.
“Do you think Mommy and Daddy know we aren’ in the city ‘nymore?” Ryder questioned nervously.
“| bet they do.” Riley mused. “They’re really smart, and Daddy’s such a good tracker.”
“But we made it ‘mpossible for Anita to track us, and that goes for Daddy too.” Paisley reminded the others, “he’ll never know to look for us here… wherever here is.”
The others nodded forlornly, but then Parker – who was leading the way – pulled up short. “You guys, look!” He exclaimed, pointing to the terraced landscape ahead of them.
“What are they?” Riley gasped in awe, staring at the strange creatures dotting the fields they approached. None of the pups had ever seen animals like this. They were tall, easily as tall as their Mommy, with long necks, long legs and very furry bodies. They had two little ears pointing up on top of their heads, and the curly white fluff covering them from head to toe looked as soft as a cloud.
“They look like sheeps on stilts.” Ryder suggested, desperate to get a closer look.
All four pups inched closer to the nearest animal.
They’re so fuzzy.” Paisley observed with a lopsided grin, “do you thinks they’re friendly?”
“They haves to be.” Riley confirmed, “they’re so cute | could scream.”
“Don’t do that!” Parker objected, “It might scare them off”
“I didn’t say I would scream, just that I could.” Riley answered, sounding affronted her brother might think she’d do something so foolish.
“I wanna hug ’em.” Ryder announced, “maybe if we’re really nice they’ll let us.”
The animals in question were watching the approaching pups with unbridled curiosity. They smelled like the people who cared for them, but they looked very strange indeed: covered in mud, insect bites and bruises, and moving like tiny predators trying to sneak up on some unsuspecting prey, with they’re small paws raised in front of their chests as they tip-toed forward.
When Parker came within reach of the nearest creature, it craned its long neck down to sniff his head. Apparently decided it liked the way the pup smelled, the fuzzy animal soon began nibbling his hair. Parker giggled delightedly, “ls eating my hair!”
Thankfully for the young boy, his siblings distracted the creature before it could make a true meal of his dark locks.
Paisley was gingerly petting one of it’s wooly flanks, while Ryder circled his plump arms around its long neck and Riley clambered all the way onto its back, sprawling her short arms and legs on either side of its body and burying her face in its soft fur with a happy sigh.
The animal jerked its head up in surprise to be suddenly covered with puppies, unintentionally carrying a laughing Ryder with it.
“l love it.” Paisley murmured with a beaming smile. “Is so soft!”
The animal huffed, and Riley followed the direction of its gaze, staring into the distance as her sibling continued to play. Her eyes widened when she saw movement in the distance, movement headed right towards them. There’s a man!” She announced in a frantic whisper. “He’s coming this way!” All at once the atmosphere shifted as the pups went into emergency mode.
“Hide!” Ryder urged his siblings.
Where?” Parker fretted, looking around for anything they could use to conceal themselves from view.
“Under the tall sheeps!” Paisley suggested.
One by one the young shifter gathered beneath the animal they’d so recently been cuddling, but it seemed they were too late. The man had stopped a few meters away, kneeling down onto his haunches and c*g his head as he studied the dirty children. “It’s alright.” He called softly, “You don’t have to be afraid.”
“Don’ listen to him.” Paisley instructed her siblings, “you know how strangers are – they can’t be trusted”
The others nodded in agreement, huddling closer together. Meanwhile the man was searching the field behind them, “Where did you little ones come from?” He asked, truly bewildered. “Where are your parents?
“Don’ tell him ‘nything!” Parker murmured. “I don’ like the looks of him.”
“Are you lost?” The man pressed. “There’s not much around these parts. I don’t have the faintest idea how you got all the way out here.”
When the pups didn’t respond, the man attempted to inch closer. However this sent the wary children running to take shelter under a different animal, one who seemed remarkably unbothered by their presence. “Maybe we can try to ride one away.” Riley offered, thoughtfully studying the creature’s long legs, “I bets they move real fast.”
“I dunno,” Paisley frowned, ” don’t thinks l’d like to be ridden. It might throw us off”
“What are your names?” The man called, not giving up, still moving closer.
“Go away!” Parker shouted, stomping his foot when the stranger continued to follow them.
“You like my llamas huh?” The man asked conversationally. “1 don’t blame you, they’re friendly critters.
“Wha’s a llama?” Ryder asked, earning a light smack from his sister. “Don’ talk to him!” Riley scolded, but the truth was that she was curious too.
Why its the animal you’re under right now.” The man shared, giving them a welcoming smile. “1 raise them for their wool, soft aren’t they?”
The pups exchanged glances, subconsciously clutching the creature’s fuzzy wool for comfort. Paisley, intrigued by the idea that the tall sheep might belong to someone, peeked out from behind the llama’s front leg. “Do they have names?”
“Some of them do” The man confirmed, sitting on the ground now that the children weren’t actively running away.
“That one doesn’t though – you could give it one.” He offered.
The pups exchanged another series of serious looks.
Really?” Riley questioned suspiciously.
“Any name you want.” The man nodded, “and I can introduce you to the others too.”
“What should we call it?” Parker whispered.
“We shouldn’ call it nothing.” Ryder frowned, “is probably a trick.”
“How could naming a llama be a trick?” Riley countered.
“Stop saying it like you knew what it was.” Ryder argued, “for all we know they could be evil.”
“That’s crazy.” Paisley scoffed. “Cloud’s not evil!” She shrugged when her siblings furrowed their brows in confusion. “| thinks we should name it Cloud.”
“Cloud is an excellent name.’ The man praised, startling them all when he appeared a few feet closer than before.
And your sister is right, they aren’t evil. And neither am l:”‘ He promised. “My name is Thomas, and l’d like to help you – if you’ll let me.”
“We don’ need help.” Riley declared stubbornly.
“No?” Thomas asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, ” when was the last time you ate or had water, when’s the last time you had a bath or slept inside?”
“We don’ like baths.” Parker announced, as if this decided everything. However almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth, his stomach growled loudly.
“Uh-huh.” Thomas nodded, “well l’ll tell you what. I’m going to go back over the hill to my house, where my wife Mary is making a nice big lunch. You’re welcome to come along- you can even bring Cloud if you like. I won’t make you come inside or take a bath, but you can have some food and water and I swear no harm will come to you.”
Ryder pursed his l!ps, “we need a minute to think ’bout Thomas raised his-palms in acceptance, giving the children a bit of space to confer.
“1 think is a bad idea.” Ryder began, ” mean I’m as hungry and thirsty as you, but we can’t afford to trust another grown up.”
1 dunno if we have a choice.” Riley frowned. “I don’ think we can make it much longer on our own.”
“He seems nice.” Parker shrugged, “I don’ get a feeling from him like l have with other baddies.”
Ryder looked to Paisley. Of all the pups, she had the most experience with untrustworthy adults. “Paisley, what’d you think?”
“I think Riley’s right.” She grimaced, reaching for her sister’s hand. “We don’ have a choice.”
“Okay.” Ryder nodded. “Let’s go.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 122
Jane
The last few days have passed in a dizzying haze. I’ve slept through much of our journey, and though Ethan has remained by my side in my waking hours, I do have to wonder what he, Eric and Linda have been planning while I- rest. Today we’ve finally reached a midway port to resupply for the rest of the trip, and when Ethan wakes me with the news that I can finally get off this boat, I can’t move fast enough.
When I emerge from his luxury cabin and feel the blaze of the unforgiving tropical sun for the first time, I can only think of my babies. Would the traffickers give them sunscreen? Would they have enough water? The worry consumes me so quickly and powerfully my knees go weak.
It’s almost too tempting to return to the drug induced haze I’ve floated in the past few days, but I know that isn’t right.
It’s a selfish inclination, to save myself having to feel these things, when my pups don’t have any such luxury.
I tell Ethan as much as he helps me off the boat. I don’t want any more medications when we board again.
Ethan.”
His strong arms are around me, guiding me forward down the gangway. “Sweetheart you’ll be sick as a dog without them.”
Then let me be sick” I state simply, “I shouldn’t get to avoid suffering when everyone else around me is stuck with their pain… when the pups didn’t have that privilege.”
“Jane” Ethan sighs, dragging his hand through his hair.
You dying of dehydration isn’t going to save anyone any suffering- especially not the pups.”
“It doesn’t feel right.” l insist. “I want…”
“You want what? To hurt?” Ethan guesses, hitting the nail square on the head.
“Yes,” I confess, my throat thick with emotion. “I want to hurt, because I know they’re hurting too. I want to hurt… because l deserve it.”
To Ethan’s credit, he doesn’t say a word about my drastic mood swings. I think he understands that my grief is sending me spiraling from one extreme to the next. The fact is I can’t even come to terms with the abrupt shifts myself. One moment l’m begging him to take away my pain by making love to me, and the next l’m wishing for nothing more than the freedom to wallow in my misery – and each end of the spectrum feels so surreal and strange that any other headspace seems like an impossibility.
Ethan pauses us right in the middle of the ship’s boarding ramp, gathering me to his chest. It’s much too hot for our bodies to be pressed together this way, but his solid strength grounds me like nothing else. “You don’t deserve it.”
Ethan murmurs. “You don’t deserve any of this.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he stops me before I can reject his comfort. “You’ve trusted me this far, Jane. So please trust me now. I wouldn’t lie to you – not about this.”
Looking up at him with wide eyes, I realize he’s right. I – have trusted him thus far, and he hasn’t givén me any reasons to doubt him. Though I was incredibly disgruntled at the time, l’m grateful that Ethan didn’t give into me the other night. The memories are still fuzzy, but I know l admitted more than l’m comfortable with, and I hate to think what else I might have let slip in the throes of passion.
He wasn’t wrong, I feel safer with him knowing he didn’t take advantage of my altered state, and it makes it easier to believe him now. The more time that passes, the more I see how badly I misjudged Ethan. Still, I have a hard time accepting that he’s telling me these things because they’re true, rather than because he doesn’t want me to be in pain.
Somehow I bite my tongue, leaning into him as we continue off the ship. “So what happens now?”
“Now, Eric goes ahead on his own.” Ethan explains. This island is governed by NightFang allies, but Aimon is bound to have a few spies running around. So you, Linda and I need to find disguises, and Eric is going to sail on a different ship to avoid us being associated with one another.”
As we step off the gangway, I expect to feel my stomach instantly settle. After all, we’re no longer swaying two and fro on the water. However l’m disappointed by solid ground. I don’t find any relief from the sour churning in my belly, and belatedly I recall that it can take some time to regain one’s land legs”. “How long will we stop?” l inquire, wondering whether it’s better to give myself time to recover, when I have to get back on a damned ship and start the wretched illness over again, or if I should try to get the entire journey out of the way at once.
“Just long enough to get the disguises.” Ethan announces, seeming to read my mind. “The sooner we reach the Southern Isles, the better.”
“Linda’s not going to be happy about Eric going ahead without her.”‘ I muse. From what I remember of my brief visits with my friend, she’d been working hard to convince the Prince to take her along on his advance trip. It might have been easier for her to accept his refusal if he hadn’t claimed her during their long lovemaking sessions on the ship, but it seems that once he opened his blind eyes and finally saw the woman who’d been standing in front of him all along – he hadn’t been able to resist. Now they were almost as good as mated, and he was still planning on leaving her behind.
“You can say that again.” Ethan purrs in my ear, nodding to the dock on our left. As if they’d been reading my mind, Eric and Linda are standing there nose to nose, arguing about the plan.
“Tell me the truth!” Linda demands loudly, “Did you claim me just so you could make this decision for me?”
“Of course not!” Eric insisted. “I claimed you because I love you!”
“Oh, just apparently not enough to introduce me to your family!” Linda argues back.
“Because my family are lunatics!” Eric shouts, I’m not introducing you, because I don’t want them to kill you in your sleep!”
“No you’re just going to leave me behind so someone else can murder me!” Linda bites back.
“No one is going to murder you, as long as you stay with Ethan.” Eric growls.
“Ethan is the one your family wants dead more than anyone – he’s the reason this is all happening, how am I safer with him?” Linda reasons.
As curious as I am to continue eavesdropping on their argument, l’m more concerned with the impact my friend’s words might have on Ethan. Looking up at him, I can see the tension gripping his features. His jaw twitches dangerously.
She’s right, you know. He grumbles. “That’s why I wanted you to stay home”
“And it’s also why I had to come.” I murmur, clenching my eyes shut as I feel my stomach rise in my throat. “Not only because of the pups, but because you need someone to watch your back.”
“You were worried about me?” Ethan arches a brow, petting my sides when he sees my greenish expression.
“In part.”l shrug noncommittally, for once grateful that my traitorous stomach is giving me an excuse to change the subject. “Goddess, I think l’m going to be sick again.”I lunge for the nearest trash receptacle, and Ethan holds my hair back and croons sympathetically.
“Tsk, I really hoped being on land would help” He frowns.
“Just give it time.” I gasp, coughing and retching, wishing I hadn’t let Ethan convince me to eat so much breakfast this morning.
A moment later Linda storms up to us, looking entirely annoyed, but sympathetic to my plight. “Still feeling dismal, huh?”
“Yeah.” I g***n, “And you?”
“Pissed” She admits, glancing at Ethan when his phone begins to ring. “I’ve got this.” She promises when he hesitates, looking in my direction with concern.
Thanks” Ethan says, “l’ll only be a few moments.”
Linda rubs my back and gives me a sip of water when I finish being sick. “Does it ever get easier dealing with Alphas?
l actually manage a laugh. “No. They always think they know best… and sometimes they do, but other times they’re as blockheaded as any other man.”
“You can say that again” She mutters, but l also see her smothering a smile.
“Are you happy though?”I ask, feeling thoroughly out of the loop. Her romance happened so fast, and I missed all the important stages. Before I fell ill Eric was still oblivious to Linda’s interest, but a few days of seasickness and all of a sudden they were glued at the h!p.
“Deliriously”‘ Linda beams. “I know it happened really fast and we aren’t exactly agreeing about what happens next, “she hedges, earning a snort from me. “But l’ve wanted this for so long. As long as we’re together, I have everything I need. “
Ethan returns to my side then, an indecipherable expression on his handsome face. “l just got a report from one of my agents in the Southern lsles. There hasn’t been any word of the pups, or any signs that the King knows they’re missing.”
“What does that mean?” l ask, feeling lightheaded.
Ethan looks like he doesn’t want to answer, but eventually caves. “l don’t know.”
“And Eric?” Linda asks urgently, looking around for her newfound mate.
Ethan sighs. “He’s already gone.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 123
Jane
What do you mean, he’s already gone?” Linda demands, her mouth hanging open in shock and disbelief. Mere moments ago she’d been telling me how happy she was with Eric, and now she looked as if her entire world had been turned on its head.
There was an earlier boat departing, Ethan explains wearily, gesturing towards a ship steaming out of the harbor. And he thought you would try to go with him if you knew.
So he just left me?” Linda gasps, sounding as if the words are catching in her throat. “He might be going to his death and he left me without even saying goodbye?”
I’m sorry, Linda.” Ethan professes, his deep voice full of sympathy. “He wanted to protect you, that’s all.”
I wince, knowing how well this announcement will be received. Somehow men never seem to learn that making decisions for their mates under the guise of protection never goes over well. Sure enough, Linda’s hands curl into fists as her cheeks flush scarlet, but she stomps away down the dock, having enough sense not to explode at Ethan.
I immediately try to go after her, but Ethan catches me around the waist. Not so fast, you.
How are you feeling?
Well enough to go talk her down. I state simply, not turning to face Ethan for fear of letting him see how pale I am. “Let me handle this, can you get the disguises without us?”
I’m not worried about the disguises, I’m worried about you.” Ethan corrects, trying to get me to look him in the eye. I don’t like leaving you alone when you’ve been so sick.”
Il be okay.” I promise, starting to lose my patience. “It’s just a bit of seasickness and Linda needs me.”
Says the woman who insisted she was dying a few days ago.” Ethan sighs, releasing me. “All right. We’ll plan to meet back here then? In half an hour?”
“Deal.” I agree, but I’m already following Linda.
When I find her, curled up in the windowsill of a seaside shop and glaring at everyone who passes by, I can tell she’s on the verge of tears.
“I’m so sorry, honey.” I tell my friend. “What can I do?”
“You think there’s anywhere on this island to find a stiff drink?” Linda sniffs, crossing her arms over her che3t.
“I can guarantee it.” I say, though the idea of alcohol makes my insides roil in protest. “Comeon,” I encourage, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her up, “let’s go find a bar, and we can talk all this out.”
A little while later, when we’re ensconced in the corner of a quaint brewhouse – Linda with a tumbler of liquor and me with a glass of ginger soda – she lets her sorrows roll off her tongue freely. “I’ve waited for him for so long.” Linda admits, taking a swig of her drink. “Years! Years of watching him moon over you, and years of being invisible. Now he finally wakes up and gets his head out of his a*s, and he just leaves me behind like I’m nothing.”
“You know that’s not why he did it.” I soothe, squeezing her hand. “I mean look at Ethan. He tried to leave me behind. Men always want to run off and slay dragons while we stay safe at home.”
“So they get all the adventures, all the fun, and we just bide our time like good little house wives.” Linda gripes, “and I’m not even married!
I know.” I sigh. It’s infuriating, and it isn’t fair. We have just as much right to be here as they do.”
We should make a pact.” Linda suggests, emptying her glass. That no matter what happens on this trip, we won’t let them leave us behind. We won’t let them exclude us, and if they try, we’ll find a way to get back in, even if we have to go it all on our own.”
That’s a pact I’ll gladly make.” I smile softly.
There’s no way in hell I’m going to let Ethan keep me in the dark about his efforts to rescue the pups. I think he knows better now than to try, but I wouldn’t put it past him if things changed somehow. If the odds shifted out of our favor and he believed I was in danger, I know he might try to pull the same sort of stunt Eric did.
We clink our glasses together and make a toast to seal the deal, For the pups.”
I smell Ethan before I see him. I can feel him approaching behind me as if his body is an extension of my own, as if my every nerve ending is coming to life just being in the same room as him.
We’ve got company.” Linda murmurs, eyeing something over my shoulder.
I know.” I answer, trying to appear nonchalant as my mate approaches.
In the next moment Ethan’s massive hand settles on my nape, circling the back of my neck in a possessive hold that tells every man in the room I belong to him – as if his mark didn’t already. The modern, independent woman inside me wants to object, but my inner omega loves it, preening with the knowledge that such a powerful man chose me above all others.
I turn my face up to Ethan’s, offering my l!ps for the taking and hoping he won’t notice the tension he’s interrupted. He obliges, extracting a few lazy k!sses from my mouth before straightening up again and glancing between Linda and I suspiciously. “You two aren’t plotting mischief, are you?”
So much for distracting k****s. “Us?” We say in unison, our voices full of abject innocence, we’d never!”
Ethan rolls his eyes and takes the seat next to mine, tucking me into his side. “I knew it was a bad idea to leave you two alone.”
If you want to blame anyone, blame Eric.”
Linda mutters. “He brought this on himself.”
“Brought what on himself?” Ethan questions, his eyes narrowwed.
Nothing.” We chime again.
Goddess save me from scheming she-wolves.”
He grumbles, flagging down a bartender. He places his order and looks back to us, his smile tightening slightly. “I don’t blame you for being upset, Linda.”
Her eyes glinted dangerously, Alpha, if someone did to you what he did to me, you’d rip them to pieces.”
That’s why I don’t blame you.” Ethan remarks, flashing his fangs. ‘All I ask is that you not forget that there’s more at stake here than your relationship. The pups lives depend on us – they depend on Eric convincing his family to trust him again – and it might be easier for him to do that..
Without bringing home a strange she-wolf.”
Linda finishes the thought for him, looking slightly mollified. “You’re right.” She agrees after a moment, “1’m sorry, I was being selfish.”
The distraction of Linda and Eric had pulled my mind from the pups for an unforgivably long time, but now that I’ve been reminded, I can’t think of anything else.
“What do you think it means, that there hasn’t been word of the pups in his Kingdom?” I ask Ethan, thankful he’s finished his task quickly so that we can discuss these new developments. “I mean, we know they were headed to the Southern Isles.
Ethan scrubs a hand over his face. It could be any number of things.” He shares grimly, “my spies might not have the inside track anymore, Aimon might be farther ahead of us than we expected, he could be keeping things very quiet or it could even be… it could even mean that they escaped.
Escaped?” I repeat, not sure whether this idea is more comforting or frightening. “Do you really think that’s possible?”
“We’re not going to know anything until we arrive and get the lay of the land.” Ethan announces. “I’ve got everyone in my employ looking into it, but the Southern isles span hundreds of miles. Depending on where the traffickers were keeping them, how they were transporting them, what they planned… there are just too many possibilities to know anything at this point.”
When he says it like that, it makes me think that the pups might actually have been better off going to Aimon, at least then we’d know where they are. “What are we still doing sitting here?” I jump up abruptly. We have the disguises, why are we wasting time talking when we could be back on the ship?”
Because the ship doesn’t leave for another hour.” Ethan reminds me in a low, even tone.
We’re going as fast as we can, Janey.”
“It’s not fast enough!” I exclaim, the urgency of our situation slamming into me with full force. It was different when we thought the pups were headed for the capital, when our plans were always going to depend on besting Aimon, not tracking them down across hundreds of miles.
They could be anywhere!” I choke, “they could be lost or injured, they could be in grave danger at this very moment!” My breath is coming in gasps, my lungs can’t seem to draw in enough air, and soon Ethan is standing beside me, trying to comfort me even though we both know there’s no use. How are we ever going to find them?
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 124
3rd Person
When Mary Laurent looked out her cottage window to see her husband, Thomas, trudging across the terraced hills of their remote farm with four young pups toddling after him, she had to do a double take. At first she thought she was imagining things- they’d had all manner of strange creatures show up on their lands over the thirty years of their marriage, but this was something entirely new.
The children were covered in mud from head to toe, and following her mate at quite a distance.
They seemed to be taking the journey in sprints, crossing the open expanses of green pasture land at a trot, before stopping to hide behind various objects, from trees and farm equipment, to the couple’s prized llamas. She might have thought they were trying to sneak up on Thomas, only it was clear he knew they were behind him. He was pretending like he was completely oblivious to them, though she could see his face crinkled in concentration as he drew near- as if listening carefully to ensure they were still following.
They must have come from the jungle – after all, it surrounded their land on all sides. Still, she had no idea how they’d gotten there, let alone escaped the deadly forest. When her husband finally reached the door to their modest home, she met him with her hands braced on her plump h!ps. “What on earth, Thomas?” She asked in exasperation. “Trust you to go check on the herd and return with a whole litter of pups.”
“Gently now, my love.” He cautioned. “They’re more than a bit skittish – I don’t think they’ve had an easy time of it.”
“Gently.” She snorted, “1’ve raised more than my share of pups, Thomas Laurent, and I’ll tell you right now that a scared babe needs a firm hand in care, not wishy-washy cajoling.”
She marched out of the house and right up to the muddy children, who were unsuccessfully attempting to conceal themselves among the baby llamas in the nursery pens. They’d zeroed in on a small brown calf and clearly imagined they could camouflage themselves against its dark fur.Well, what have we here?” Mary asked pointedly.
“Liamas.”A small voice whispered back
The proclamation was followed by the sound of a dull thud and a whispered, “Llamas don’t talk!”
How do you know?” The first voice hissed back. You’re not a llama ‘xpert.”
Cuz they would’ve said something by now.” A third voice reasoned.
Hmm, so I have pups hiding among my crias do I?” Mary observed.
We’re not pups!A fourth voice put forth meekly. I mean here, we’re not here!”
Mary shook her head, smothering a smile.
Alright now, no more hiding, you little ones need to come inside and get cleaned up so I can get a proper look at you.”
For the first time a tiny head covered in dark hair popped up into view, peeking over the back of the young llama and revealing a pair of bright green eyes narrowed distrustfully. “He promised we wouldn’t have to take baths.”
Mary crossed her arms over her ch3st and arched her brow. “Did he now?” She asked,
Well, I’ll not have muddy pups in my clean kitchen. You’ll have baths and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
The pups exchanged uncertain glances, clearly trying to decide what to do. “Hop to it now,”
Mary urged them, clapping her hands. “The sooner you’re clean the sooner you can eat.”
This announcement, spoken in the uncompromising tones of an obvious mother, got the pups moving like nothing before. They obediently followed Mary into the cottage, pausing at the door to let her pull off their dirt- encrusted shoes and clothing, and before long all tour pups were soaking in a warm bubble bath.
Though they still huddled together nervously, they let Mary wash and dry them, trying to fight the urge to cry or ask for cuddles when she fussed and lamented about all their bug bites, scratches and bruises. She treated their wounds and bundled them in blankets, before bringing them steaming bowls of homemade stew.
“Don’t eat too quickly now.” She scolded as they began to scarf down the food. “You’ll make yourselves sick.
“But it’s so yummy,” Parker complained.
“An’ it’s been ages since we had food.” Ryder added mournfully.
“Poor wee lambs.” Mary crooned sympathetically, “can you tell me what happened to you? Did you get separated from your parents somehow?”
Yes.” Paisley nodded, sniffling but not saying more.
Mary, who’s sharp wit had singled out Paisley as both the most guarded of the children and the most vulnerable, zeroed in on the girl. “What’s your name, my darling?
Paisley shook her head. We can’t tell you our names.
Why not?” Mary pressed.
“Cuz we don’ know you.” Paisley frowned. “And we don’ twust grown ups we don’ know.”
Well that’s very wise.” Mary praised, exchanging a worried glance with her husband.
For most children the principle of “stranger danger” was entirely theoretical, but she had a bad feeling these pups had learned not to trust the hard way. ‘Still Thomas and I want to help you. How can we do that if we don’t know your names?”
Riley shrugged, a challenge coming to life in her mischievous eyes.If you really wanna help, you’ll find a way.”
Thomas choked on a laugh, covering it with a cough as Mary cut her eyes to him, Well aren’t you the feisty one.” She observed, turning back to Riley, “does that mean you’re brave enough to tell me how you ended up lost in the jungle?”
“We ‘scaped.” Riley informed her vaguely, yawning and stretching now that her belly was full. The other pups were becoming drowsy too, cuddling closer together in their blankets as Mary and Thomas watched.
“Escaped what?” Thomas pressed, but it was too late. The pups were already fast asleep, their bowls abandoned as they snuggled themselves into a puppy pile and passed out in pure exhaustion. For the first time in many, many days, they rested without fear of being attacked or eaten – with full bellies and smiles on their faces.
By supper time, Thomas and Mary had gone around in circles half a dozen times about what to do with the stray pups who landed on their doorstep. If they’d thought the children were orphans they would have kept them in a heartbeat, for the couple loved children and their own pups had been out of the house for a few years now. Yet despite how skittish the little ones seemed, it was clear they’d been well-loved at one time, and their tearful expressions when Mary asked about their parents spoke volumes.
“We should take them into town this weekend.”
Thomas suggested. “That’s probably where they got lost.”
The girl said they escaped, if they got lost in town, I’m not sure we want to take them back there.” Mary fretted. “I think they just need some time. They’ ll come to trust us and eventually tell us their story.”
Mary, think of their parents. Thomas admonished, they ll be out of their minds with fear and grief, we have to try to reunite them as soon as possible. It might be different if we were going to keep them. But someone is out there, looking for them right now.”
You’re right.” Mary sighed, it just makes me nervous. They’re not exactly inconspicuous, and if we start asking around about them it will call attention to the fact that we have them. What if the person they escaped is there searching for them?”
We’ll have to be careful about it.” Thomas nodded. Maybe we don’t take them with us, maybe we just go to market and see if there are any rumors about missing pups, then go from there .
It won’t be faster, but I expect it will be safer.”
Mary agreed. “Do you think they’ll wait that long?”
Thomas’s mouth quirked, I don’t think they have much choice in the matter, do they?”
“Mark my words, Thomas.” Mary declared, those pups survived the jungle and who knows what else, they’re bright and strong-willed, if they want to go home, they’re going to do whatever they can to get there.
Well we can’t allow them to run off on theirown!” Thomas whispered worriedly. “They’re much too little.”
I know that and you know that.” Mary frowned, “but babes never see it that way.
Little did they know, but the pups were listening to every word of Mary and Thomas’s conversation, and they were already plotting what to do next.
They seem nice,” Ryder murmured, looking hopefully at his siblings, “they want to help.”
“Or they want us to think they do.” Paisley corrected. What town do you think they’re talking ’bout?”
“I dunno, but we can’t let them ask questions – Anita will be looking for us, just like they said.
Maybe we can ask them to take us back to the NightFang pack” Parker suggested.
“If we do that, they’ll find out who we are.”
Riley frowned. “Tha’s how this all started.
People wanna use us to hurt Daddy or they’ll be so afraid of getting blamed they’ll tries to get rid of us.”
Paisley nodded. “She’s right. If we’re gonna gets home, we’re gonna have to gets there on our own.
Ryder and Parker murmured their agreement.
Okay, so when they take us to town, we make a break for it, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Riley sighed, looking sad.
“Wha’s wrong?” Paisley questioned her sister worriedly.
Riley offered her a forlorn expression in reply.
I’m gonna miss the Liamas.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 125
Jane
I’m relieved to finally be back on the ship, speeding towards the Southern Isles as fast as the powerful Ocean currents can take us. My stomach – on the other hand- is less than amused. Our time on land was no reprieve, and the moment we returned to the relentless swaying of the sea, I became as sick as before.
Despite my continued protests, Ethan put his foot down and insisted the medic administer her drugs. I was in tears before it was over, but Ethan held me as I cried myself to sleep, murmuring sweet nothings in my ear and promising it was better this way.
As soon as the soothing embrace of slumber took hold, I disappeared into the fog of my dreams, my tormented subconscious dragging me many years into the past- to a time when things were so much simpler.
After almost a year of marriage, Ethan and I had become finely attuned to the warning signs of an oncoming heat – from my heightened lib!do and variable moods, to the strange compulsion to nest – cleaning and organizing our home with near obsessive detail. Still, there was always a margin of error within a few hours of the haze taking hold of my body.
Sometimes, when we were lucky, it came later than expected and Ethan was already by my side, all his responsibilities delegated for the duration of the cycle.
Other times, like today, my heat arrived early, which meant I was doomed to suffer until Ethan could tie up all the loose ends of his job.
He texted me about ten minutes ago, informing me he had finally escaped the office and was on his way home, and by the time he arrived I was almost mad with need. Beta guards were posted outside our apartment door, but Ethan banished them as soon as he stalked in, already unbuttoning his shirt as I faced forward and threw myself into his arms.
“There’s my insatiable little mate.”Ethan greeted me, kissing me deeply and breathing in my out of control pheromones. I clung to his front, my arms and legs wrapped around his powerful body as I tried to power through the excruciating pain in my belly.
“What took you so long?”I whined, rocking my h!ps against his hardness.
“Am sorry, baby.” He professed, “I got away as quickly as l could.” His strong hands are all but ripping the clothes from my body while he nuzzles and nibbles the curve of my neck, his tongue laving my skin as his wolf rises to the surface. “The real question is, why are you still dressed?”
“You weren’t here!”I sulked, fumbling with his belt.
“Oh my poor, neglected Luna.” Ethan crooned, laying me out on the dining room table and raking his searing gaze over my exposed flesh as he removed therest of his clothes.
“So neglected.” I complained, reaching for my mate as a fresh wave of pain overtook me.
“I know, sweetheart, I’m almost there,” He promised, lining up the swollen head of his c0Ck with my aching channel.
My whimper became a blissful m**n as he finally buried himself inside me, the pain easing as my tight internal muscles con tracted around his thick length.
Most of the time it was still an effort to take him inside my petite body, but I was so wet that he slid home easily, stretching me deliciously.
“Oh Goddess.”Ethan growled, his rut quickly taking hold of his senses. wish we could stay like this forever:”
“We should.”I agree, lifting my h!ps to meet his powerful thrusts, “Why do we do anything else?”
“I don’t know.” He chuckled, lowering his mouth to mine. “Hold on now, Janey. It’s going to be a rough ride.
A little while later, after we’d both exhausted ourselves with each other’s bodies, I lay sprawled across Ethan’s chest, trying to rest in between the relentless waves of l**t. “You know, the council wants me to knock you up so that ‘ll stop needing a vacation every month just to satisfy you.” Ethan tells me, stroking my spine in soothing patterns.
“Satisty me?”I scoff “Your rut is every bit as demanding as my heat, if not more so. Last time | couldn’t walk for a week afterwards.”After a moment the rest of his words sunk in, and I wrinkled my nose in distaste. “Wait, you talk about that with the council?”
Ethan laughed, and I was reminded how much his time as Alpha had changed him already. I almost never got to hear him sounding so care-free anymore. “Not willingly, but they’re an opinionated bunch.”
“Mhmm, and you Alpha?” I prompt, n!bbling on his pec. “What do you want?”
“Oh, I don’t have any problem rutting you senseless every month.” He teased, ignoring my question.
“I’m serious.”I pressed. “We’ve talked about having pups one day, but never when that day might come.”
“We’ve only been married a year,” Ethan mused, ” and you ‘re still in school.” He looked down at me, his handsome face overflowing with love. “If you were to tell me you wanted a babe now, l’d happily oblige, but l wouldn’t mind a few more years of just us.” He continued. “Once we have pups we won’t be able to have these long, indulgent heats. We won’t be able to just up and leave town for a spur of the moment vacation,”
“We can’t do that now, Alpha “I reminded him wryly.
“You know what I mean.” He replied, playfully swatting my behind. The light contact made my b***d start to heat up again, and I m0aned needily.
“I do,”I agreed, trying to finish our discussion before we became lost in the fog of desire again. “So we wait a few more years, I keep getting monthly birth control shots, and we can just be young and h0rny together in the meantime.”
Ethan laughed, the deep rumble vibrating in his ch3st and making me squirm against him. “I like the sound of that. ” He agreed, flipping me onto my back and settling between my legs, “In fact, I can’t wait to get started.”
When I blink my eyes open, Ethan is sitting in a chair by my bed, and I flush with the memories still swirling through my head. “Good morning, gorgeous.”
He greets me, putting down the book in his lap to lean over and k!ss me. You sounded like you were having a good dream.”
His knowing tone makes my already flushed skin burn scarlet. “It wasn’t anything special.”
“Mhmm, is that why you were moaning my name?”
Ethan questions with a smirk.
That’s right.” I retort saucily, wanting to give him a taste of his own medicine. “Nothing special.”
“Oh, ouch.” Ethan jokes, pressing his palm to his ch3st as if he’s in pain. “Such a ruthless little mate.”
My heart swells slightly when he calls me his mate, and I have to tell my wolf not to get ahead of herself. It’s only too easy to get carried away with our feelings right now- when everything is going wrong and I’m desperate for any source of light. However, seeing if we can successfully be together when life goes back to normal is another matter entirely. All our emotions are heightened at the moment, and l’m sure I’m on the verge of another heat.
Although… A little voice says in my head, weren’t on birth control during your last heat. For all you know you could already be breeding.
The idea is so sobering the smile slips right off my face. No. I think, it’s not possible.
Except I know it is. Ethan is a young, virile Alpha, and omegas are hyper-fertile to begin with. Back when| was getting monthly birth control shots, the doctor always had to give me the highest dose to ensure we didn’t end up with an unplanned pregnancy. Of course, even that proved insufficient in the end – Ethan managed to plant four pups in my womb despite the precautions.
Ethan is watching my expression closely, no doubt reading every feeling that’s flitting across my face. “Hey, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” I lie smoothly, looking towards the balcony. It’s dark outside, which either means that it’s very early in the morning, or Ethan’s earlier greeting was just a play on words. “Are we there yet?”
“No baby” He frowns, still studying me anxiously.
I’m afraid it’s going to be a few more days.”
Nodding, I snuggle further into the blankets. Still, it’s not enough. “Will you lie down with me?” I request softly, wanting to feel Ethan’s strong arms around my body – especially now. The idea that I might be carrying another pup… or multiple, has shaken me to the core.
That would really complicate things. I can’t even begin to process how I might feel about the idea, not when everything else in my life is an absolute basket case.
“Hmm, that depends.” Ethan arches a brow, but he’s already rising from his chair. “Are you going to keep your hands to yourself?”
“Do I have to?” I reply, purely for the sake of keeping his suspicions at bay. I can’t let Ethan see how unsettled I am. If he senses something is wrong, he’ll drag the information out of me whether | like it or not.
Shaking his head, he stretches out on the bed beside me, staying safely above the covers while l’m nestled below. “You’re incorrigible.”
Even as I curl into the comforting cradle of his arms, I have to wonder about this illness of mine – about the mood swings and my increased lib!do. Is it all because of the pups? The drugs? The ship? Or is it something more? Could I be pregnant?