Ch. 131..135: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 131-135
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 131
Jane
The security guard at the rental shop is bearing down on me, and the woman behind the counter is reaching for the phone, preparing to call the police.
“No!” l exclaim, “please, I’ll leave. I’m sorry if I caused you trouble.”
“I think we should let the police handle this.” The woman argues, looking to the guard for support, “he’s clearly following this woman.”
“I’m not.” I tell the guard, praying he’ll take my side. “At least, not the way you think. She’s my girlfriend and l’m afraid she’s having an affair. She told me she was going away for the weekend, and l’m sure it’s to meet her lover. I just need to find out the truth, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
The guard crosses his arms over his chest, studying me closely. My only hope is that he’s the kind of overbearing man to think such actions are reasonable – if notjustified, and that he’ll side with another man over a woman assuming the worst of one of his brethren.
To my immense relief, his broad shoulder’s untense after a moment, and he nods. “I’ve been there” He admits with a sigh, turning to his colleague. “It’s okay, let him go – love makes you do crazy things, and he’s just a kid.”
“But-” the woman gaped, clearly more concerned for Anita’s welfare, which I can’t help but find ironic given the situation.
“It’s okay Kathy.” The security guard insists, “I can tell he’s a good kid.”
Kathy, to her credit, looks less than pleased. Still, she sets down the phone and closes her mouth. “Just go then, but you should know your behavior is beyond creepy.”
“Sorry!” I mutter, rushing out before she can change her mind. My heart is racing as I make my way back towards the bed and breakfast, worried about how much time has passed. I can’t imagine Ethan is back already – unless he found something like I did. As I make the journey back, I’m surprised at how much distance l actually covered. It’s a testament to just how weak I’ve grown on this trip that l’m exhausted by the time I finally arrive, feeling lightheaded and dizzy as l climb the stairs.
I’m so preoccupied by the idea of having a nice hot shower and taking a nap, that I don’t even notice Ethan at first. I unlock our door and push inside, walking towards the bathroom with single-minded determination. It’s not until l see movement in my periphery that I pause.
Turning towards the large bay windows, I realize that Ethan is sitting in one of the oversized armchairs in the living area, and he looks absolutely furious. “Hello Jane.” He greets me coolly, his deep voice rough like gravel.
“Ethan, it’s not what you think.” I wince as the words come out of my mouth, knowing how d*mning it sounds to start out with excuses before he’s even said anything about my absence.
“Really?” He replies, arching one dark brows.”
Because it looks like you went out searching for the pups without me and without Linda, despite the fact that we agreed you weren’t well enough.”
Deciding that there’s no use denying it, I cross my arms over my chest and dig in my heels. “We didn’t agree, you decided.” l argue.
A low growl sounds in Ethan’s chest, and l can feel my wolf instinctively tucking her tail between her legs.
He unfolds from the chair, rising up with raw power radiating off of his muscular form. He crosses the room in a few strides, coming to tower over me, resting his massive hands on his h**s as he glowers down at me.
Would you like to try that again?” He asks, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
“Ethan, you would have done the exact same thing if the tables were turned” I tell him resolutely, swaying slightly as b***d rushes in my ears.
He swears and reaches out to steady me. “Look at you! You can barely stand on your own two feet.”
“So what! “‘ll have you know I got a lead on the pups.” I inform him, swatting his hands away. “I might be sick but I’m not useless.”
Ethan gives me a foreboding look when I continue to push him away, and my wolf caves to his dominance even though I want to keep fighting. I let him help me into a chair, feeling slightly guilty when he kneels down to remove my shoes.
“No one ever said you were.” Ethan responds after a moment. “But what if you passed out on the street?
What if something had happened? There are traffickers and scoundrels roaming this port like you wouldn’t believe. Something terrible could have happened”‘
“Then it’s a good thing I look like a boy” l quip, trying to smile but discovering I simply don’t have the energy.
“Jane, I’m serious.” Ethan scolds.
“Wait a minute,” I stall him, his words finally clicking in my head. “Traffickers and scoundrels? How do you know that? What did you find?”
“1l tell you in a minute.” He declares, clearly trying to be patient. “We need to talk about this.”
“Talk about what?” l interrupt, “what could possibly be more important than getting the pups back?”
“You and I have to work together if we want to get them back!” Ethan admonishes, “we agreed we were in this together from here on out, but you went behind my back again at the first opportunity.”
“If we were really in this together I wouldn’t have been able to go behind your back” l growl, “because | would already have been with you. That’s not working as a team, Ethan – it’s leaving me behind, again!”
“I didn’t leave you behind because I didn’t want you with me, and you know it. Ethan rumbles, “I was trying to keep you safe, I’m still trying to keep you safe and you won’t let me.” He drags a calloused hand through his black hair, looking positively beside himself. “Why won’t you let me?”
For a moment I don’t know how to answer him. It’s not that I don’t want his help, or even that I don’t know how to accept it, it’s simply that | can’t. I can’t stop moving, I can’t rest until my children are safely home.
Because it’s the pups – nothing else matters, even me.” | finally murmur, meeting his foreboding gaze and hoping he can understand.
“You matter to me.” Ethan replies, pausing in his effort to get me out of my disguise. At this point l’m only wearing the oversized tunic, my underthings and my beard. In all honesty, l’m amazed Ethan can have such a serious conversation when I look this way, yet he manages without pause. “And l guarantee you matter to the pups.” He continues, his hands resting on my th!ghs. “They need their mother, they’re going to need you well and able to care for them when we find them.”
“That’s what I have to tell you!” I say, trying to turn the conversation back to our children. “I found the company where Anita rented a van to take the pups to the capital. They wouldn’t tell me anything more, but I bet you could get the information out of them!”
“I’m afraid that doesn’t matter now” Ethan sighs, his mouth forming a hard line as he looks up at me.
Before he says a word, I know I’m not going to like what he has to say. “Because the pups aren’t with Anita and her goons anymore. I found one of her men today, and he told me they escaped.”
“They did?” I squeak, trying to figure out whether this is comforting or even more frightening. “When, where?”
Ethan frowns, and now l’m even more afraid than before. “Baby, he said… he said they went into the jungle near some town called Alta Montaña.”
“The jungle?” I repeat, feeling my heart slam to a stop in my ch3st. All of a sudden horrible images I’ve all but forgotten burst into my head. In the fugue state I entered on the journey, I managed to forget my nightmares, but now they come rushing back to me all at once. “Oh my goddess, my dreams!”I m0an. “All those nightmares about the pups in the rainforest.. surely they weren’t real. They can’t be, right?”
Ethan shakes his head. “I honestly don’t know sweetheart. I’ve already booked a car so we can go to Alta Montarña and look for them there – but you have to let me help you now.” He presses. “If we have to go into the jungle you’re going to need your strength. You can’t keep fighting me this way.”
“I’m not trying to fight you.” I confess, “1’m just so afraid and angry, I hate feeling so powerless.”
“I know.” He croons, stroking my hair. “I do too.
And I know you can’t just flip a switch and magically trust me again, but you have to try or we’ll never get through this in one piece.”
I nod in agreement, wishing I was in his arms instead of kneeling in front of me. “Are you done being mad at me?
Ethan chuckles. “Not entirely – why?”
“Can I have a cuddle?” l ask meekly, knowing I don’t really deserve one, but needing it so badly I could cry.
Ethan huffs out a laugh, and the next thing l know l’m wrapped up in his chiseled arms. “Always.” He says in my ear. “You know you never need to ask.”
” I m learning.” I tell him softly, closing my eyes and soaking up his strength and affection. After a few minutes, when I’m fighting the impulse to fall asleep, I add, “so when do we leave?”
“As soon as Linda gets back.” Ethan answers, “I’ve already packed our things. By this time tomorrow, we’ll be there.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 132
3rd Person
Riley, Ryder, Parker and Paisley gazed around the dimly lit underground chambers where they now stood.
Sophie had led them deep into the bowels of the old sewer system, finally stopping when they reached what could only be described as the headquarters of Alta Montaña’s unofficial orphanage.
The entire space was littered with old mattresses and discarded furnishings, with more than one half-starved pup looking on at the new arrivals with open curiosity. Sophie guided them forward through the melee, seeming completely unbothered by the unpleasant sights and smells.
For the quadruplets, who had only ever known comfort and safety, the sights were truly horrifying, but they knew better than to judge. Young as they were, they realized none of the children around them had chosen this life, but had been forced into it by circumstance.
All four offered shy smiles to the other pups in the dank sewers, even as they descended deeper into the eerie space. The other pups however, did not return there friendly expressions. “l don’ like this.” Paisley murmured in her sister’s ears. The other kids look really grumpy.”
“She’s right.” Ryder agreed. “| don’ feel good ’bout this.”
“We’re ‘ready in it.” Riley replied, taking Paisley’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “We can’t really back out now.”
“I mean, we could:” Parker countered, “and if they try to stops us, then we know is not okay.”
“You haves a point.” Riley conceded, leaning forward to tap Sophie on the shoulder. However before she could make contact, Sophie rounded the corner, leading them into a new corner of the sewers. There was a high vaulted ceiling, and an iron bridge over a steady stream of black water. On the other side of the bridge, a teenage boy sat in an ornate chair, watching their approach with bright eyed interest.
“What’s this, Sophie?” He asked. His voice was clearly in the middle of transitioning from child to adult, cracking a squeaking awkwardly.
“I found them in the alley.” Sophie announced, offering the boy a wide smile. They were hiding from the police.”
“And so young” The boy remarked, seeming pleased by this fact. “Quadruplets too – that’ll be good for business.”
“I thought you might appreciate them” Sophie blushed prettily, seeming suddenly much less jaded than before.
“What are your names?” The boy asked, looking between the pups.
“You first.”‘ Parker countered, leaning into his siblings for support.
“Im Fabian The boy stated simply, surprising no one. “I’ve been living here for more than five years now, i can help you with whatever you need- assuming you pay me my due respect.”
“And what ‘spect is that?” Riley asked, “We don’ know you, so is not like we owe you anything.”
The other pups in the room exchanged worried glances, which did not go unnoticed by Ryder, Riley, Parker and Paisley. The more they saw of this place, the less they liked it. Sophie had made it sound like a safe haven, but the other children here didn’t seem all that happy. In fact, they seemed rather intimidated by Fabian and his schemes.
“You will.” Fabian proclaimed, his smile never slipping. “If you stick with me, I’ll show you how to survive here, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“We don’t wanna survive heres.” Paisley repeated the same sentiment they’d expressed to Sophie. “We want to goes home”
“And where is home?” Fabian asked.
“The NightFang pack” Ryder answered promptly, not pausing to wonder when he’d stopped thinking of the Dark Moon territory as his home. The moment they found Paisley and Ethan, home became wherever their family was, and he wasn’t about to question that.
“That’s a very long way away.” Fabian assessed, his brow wrinkling with confusion. “How did you get here.”
“We were pup-napped” Riley shared. “And we appreciate you letting us hide here, but we don’ wanna stay.”
“Are you sure?” Fabian pressed. “You could have a good life here”
None of the pups were old enough to know how to handle such an awkward situation. The truth was that their life in the NightFang pack was a thousand times better, but they didn’t want to insult their potential allies by pointing this out. “Thanks,” Parker murmured, “but we just wanna get back to our Mommy and Daddy.
A few of the pups scattered throughout the space inhaled sharply. “You’re not orphans?” Fabian questioned.
“No” Paisley answered softly. “We’re just lost.”
“Well that’s alright.” Fabian decided, gesturing for the other children in the room to settle down. “Either way you’re going to need some money in order to make it back home. And there’s only one way for pups to make money in this town.”
“We don’ wanna steal.” Ryder said, trying not to offend their hosts, but not knowing how else to express this sentiment.
“No one wants to steal.” Fabian scoffed. “It’s not a choice, it’s just a way of getting by.”
“Can we has a minute?” Riley asked him, not sure why she was deferring to a teenager’s authority, but realizing it was the right thing to do nonetheless.
“Of course.” Fabian agreed, giving them his blessing to consult each other in private.
The pups huddled together, exchanging worried expressions as they contemplated their options. “Is not as simple as he’s making it seem.” Parker insisted.
Specially not for us. lf we’re caughts, we’ll be taken to the king”
“I don’ think many of these pups worry ’bout being caught.” Riley reasoned. “It seems like they get away with their schemes, oth-wise they’d be much more afraid.”
“You haves a point” Ryder contributed, “but I still don’ like it. Fabian seems awfully slimy.”
“He does.” Paisley confirmed, “l don’ like the way he looks at us. Like we’re some kinda trophy or speriment”
“And he’s only just met us.” Riley added, “so it’s kinda creepy.”
“Is defintly creepy” Ryder confirmed.
“So what do we do?” Parker cut in, trying to reassert some order in their discussion.
“I dunno” Paisley grimaced. “I mean we do haves to eat and sleep, an’ he’s offering us a place to stay.
“I think we should stay” Riley put forth, “but I don’t thinks we should trust him.”
“l agree.” Ryder said, “I don’ like the way he looks at us, but I dunno what else to do.”
“Is agreed then.” Parker decided, turning back to Fabian. He straightened himself up to his full height- technically the oldest of his siblings, he was also the most dominant, if not the most mischievous. So in times like these it was only right that he take control and speak for their small pack. Still, he’d never felt the kind of pressure he did now, for they’d never been in such a dire situation. “What do we have to do?” He asked Fabian, hoping against hope that the answer wouldn’t be too terrible.
“That’s excellent news.” Fabian grinned, looking to Sophie. “Let’s set them up with their own corner, and then we can see what they’re made of.”
Sophie nodded eagerly. “I like it, and as cute as they are, they’re bound to bring in lots of cash.”
Half an hour later, Riley, Ryder, Parker and Paisley were gathered at the end of a narrow street in the village, nervously looking around for signs of the shepherds or the police. “What do we do?”
“It’s really simple.” Sophie answered, pushing a collection bin into their hands. “Just look really pitiful and beg for money. Some pups sing or put on little shows to try and bring in more money, but it’s only your first day. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to pick pockets so sneakily that no one will ever suspect they’re missing their wallets, but today let’s just focus on testing your cuteness.”
“Our cuteness?” Riley repeated, crinkling her nose.
“Yeah, the cuter you are, the more money you make.” Sophie reasoned. “It’s not the best system, but it definitely works.”
“How much of the moneys we make do we get to keep?” Parker asked, all too aware that part of their earnings was going to be handed over to Fabian.
“Well,” Sophie hedged, looking as though she didn’t really want to answer. “It’s hard at first because it takes a little bit of cash to get set up- and there’s four of you. That’s a lot of supplies.”
“Are you saying we don’ get to keep any of it?”
Paisley guessed, eyeing the older girl with fresh suspicion.
“Just for now.” Sophie nodded. “know it’s not ideal, but in time you’ll learn to love it here.”
“We aren’t going to stay long enough for that.”
Riley reminded her.
“Oh, right.”‘ Sophie blushed, instantly sparking the suspicions of her young protegees. “I’m sorry, most of the pups who come through here stay for the long haul.
“1f that’s true, then how is Fabian the oldest?”
Paisley questioned. “Imean he’s bigger, but it’s not like he’s that growned.”
“Maybe not, but he is in charge.” Sophie reminded them. “And you don’t want to cross him.”
“Why not?” Ryder inquired.
“You don’t.” Sophie remarked grimly, just trust me on that. Now are you okay, do you need me to stay with you a while longer?”
“No, we’ve gots it from here.” Riley announced, wanting to be rid of the older girl quickly, so that she could talk with her siblings in peace.
As soon as Sophie departed, the pups turned towards each other. “Does anyone else have the feeling that these pups are bad news?” Ryder asked.
“Maybe not all of them.” Paisley amended, “but Fabian and Sophie seem very ‘spicious.”
“l agree.” Parker nodded. “We can’t trust them, they’re up to something.”
“You’re right” Riley affirmed. “But we still have to find a way to get out of here, and we can’t do that without monies.”
“Are you really suggesting that we steal?” Paisley gasped.
“It’s like they said.” Parker sighed, “we don’ have a choice.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 133
3rd Person
The mountain village of Alta Montaña sat so deep in the rainforest that unless one was standing at its center, they might never realize it was there. It was well known throughout the kingdom for its beauty and artisan wool goods, but it wasn’t the sort of place many Southern Islanders went unless they were trading or hoping to soak up some time in nature.
While tourists poured into the town from regions far and wide, the area’s raw natural beauty struggled to tempt locals – as more often than not the entire mountain was covered in clouds. Even when it wasn’t raining, it was a normal occurrence to walk out the door only to disappear into a blinding haze of white fog.
Needless to say, it wasn’t a good place to lose one’s possessions, as finding them again could prove very challenging.
This was part of why the city’s orphan gang proved so successful when it came to pickpocketing and
swindling. It was easy to hide among the clouds and grift money from unsuspecting tourists, for even when their mark realized something was missing, they certainly couldn’t see to track down the thieves.
This was also how it came to pass that Ethan and Jane managed to come within feet of their lost pups,without ever realizing it.
They arrived in the village in the early hours of the morning, having driven through the night to reach their remote destination. They had no way of knowing whether or not the pups were somewhere in the small town, but it was the closest corner of civilization to the jungle where the children were last seen.
“1 don’t know about this.” Jane murmured, gazing around the quaint village. “If they went into the jungle maybe we should start looking there – this is an awfully long way from the turn off.”
“I know.” Ethan sighed, “but somewhere here might have seen them. There’s no telling where they might be in the forest, and they’re smart kids, they’ll have tried to get to people for help.” As beautiful as he found the landscape here, Ethan was less than amused by the constant downpours and relentless cloud cover.
It made picking up on the children’s scent- let alone tracking them – all but impossible.
Jane was not convinced, she nervously gnawed her lower l!p as she scanned the village, trying to put herself in her pups’ shoes. She knew they were smart enough to try and find food and fresh water, but would they trust strangers? Would they go to adults for help after everything that they’d been through? Sometimes she worried there was too much of her in them, or that she’d unintentionally imposed her own insecurities onto them – and that was before any of this began.
She scented the air for what felt like the thousandth time, but like Ethan, the flooded streets and dense fog prevented her from smelling anything but damp and mud. It was so powerful in fact, that she was struggling to even smell Ethan. Her wolf was anxiously pacing in her head, and Jane had to wonder how anyone tracked anything in such an environment.
“Why does anyone live here!” Linda exclaimed, swatting at the dozen mosquitos happily svcking her b***d. “It’s hot and miserable and just… argh! This morning I found a tarantula in my shoe – a tarantula!”
Jane glanced at her friend, she wasn’t doing well with their change of scenery, but she couldn’t really blame Linda. It had been days since they’d heard from Eric, and even then Ethan had been the one to make contact. Jane could only imagine how difficult it must be for her to be separated from her mate so soon after forming their bond.
“I know.”‘ She commiserated, hate to think about the pups handling it all on their own.”
“Hey, they’re probably loving it” Linda suggested, seeming to realize she’d accidentally increased her friend’s concern. “You know how they are with bugs and nature – they’re not nearly as high maintenance as we are”
Ethan pursed his l!ps, thinking of Paisley. Unlike her siblings, she had never had much opportunity to explore the outdoors. Her heart had always been too weak to go on adventure hikes or exciting excursions, which meant she was probably as unhappy as Linda.
Still, he didn’t want to make things worse for Jane, so he swallowed his concerns and continued to scour the area for signs of the pups.
Little did they know that on the other side of the cloudy town square, the pups were standing hand in hand, listening to Sophie instruct them on the art of thievery.
“You have to be lightning fast.” She advised. “And only use your pointer and middle fingers – never your thumbs. Pinch them together like tweezers and your mark won’t feel a thing.”
“Our mark?” Paisley asked in confusion.
“You know, mark- like target, whoever you want to steal from.” Sophie explained impatiently.
“But I don’ wanna steals from anyone.” Paisley grumbled sullenly.
Speaking over his sister, Parker eyed the older girl with resignation. “How do we choose a mark in the first place?” He wondered.
“Well tourists are best, because they never pay attention to anything and they always have lots a money. Sophie reasoned. “Plus the locals know what we’re up to. You can tell who’s who just by the ways they act. If someone is from here, they walk around like they know the place, with a purpose. The tourists bumble and look around at everything like they’re on some alien planet.”
“But we can’t see what anyone’s doing.” Riley objected, feeling equally as sulky as her sister. “l can only see people’s feets through the fog.”
“I know, but that’s our advantage” Sophie turned them around, pointing through the thick white haze.
We’re low enough to the ground to see what the grown ups can’t. And the feet are all you need, rich people have really nice shoes, and you can get really close without them ever knowing you were there.”
“But what if we get caught?” Ryder objected.
“You won’t be – there’s four of you. If one of you gets pinched, the other three can help fight off the baddie” Sophie suggested. “Honestly you’re lucky, do you have any idea how many times I wished there were two of me so I could fool a mark? That’s why Fabian’s so excited about you.”
“He is?” Parker asked, wrinkling his brow.
“Yeah! We can do so many more cons with twins – and there’s two sets of you!” Sophie informed them with a big smile. “Besides you’re really little, so the adults won’t ever suspect you and they’ll be distracted by how cute you are.”
“But we’re not gonna stay here very long.” Riley reminded her.”Just until we can make a little money so we can find our parents.”
Sophie pursed her l!ps. “Well that will take a little time. You’re first few scores have to go to Fabian – to pay for your spots in the gang”
“We have to pay for our spots?” Paisley questioned.
“Well yeah, everyone has to do their share.” Sophie shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with this idea. “We’re like a big family, no one gets a free ride.”
“Well why do we have to be part of the gang?”
Ryder inquired, “why not just do this on our own?”
“Because, it’s safer with us.” Sophie shared, only half paying attention to the conversation. The older girl was busy scanning the street for potential targets, and she’d given this speech so many times she knew it by heart. “0therwise you’d have to fend for yourself, find someplace to sleep in the forest where you might get eaten. And Fabian can’t allow any competition, cuz if someone else in town is making money that doesn’t go to the gang, everyone suffers.”
That doesn’t sound very fair.” Parker mused aloud.
“Well nothing in life is fair.” Sophie responded dismissively. “It’s not fair that we’ re all orphans when you still have parents, or that you’re lost this way.
Survival isn’t about fair, it’s about doing whatever it takes.”
The pups exchanged worried glances, at least they tried to. In effect they simply peered through the gloom in the direction of one another, hoping the others were thinking on the same wavelength.
The more time they spent here, the more it seemed like they were going to have to escape yet another safety net. They didn’t understand why their luck never seemed to get any better, they could only pray that it would change soon. Even as they thought this, a voice sounded in the distance, one that sounded so much like Jane, that all four of their heads whipped around.
Ethan…I don’t.. the pups… forest.”
They only caught bits and pieces of the sound, but the pups were immediately on alert.”Was that…?”
Riley murmured, too afraid to say what she suspected and jinx them.
It sounds like Mommy” Paisley whispered in reply.
“Where’s it coming from?” Ryder added eagerly.
“Over there!” Riley exclaimed, pointing into the clouds. “Let’s go!”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 134
3rd Person
The pups started to race towards the sound of Jane’s voice, but at the last moment Fabian appeared in front of them, blocking their paths. “Where do you think you’re going?” He demanded.
The pups looked around in confusion, not sure where the older boy had come from or how he’d found them in the fog. “It’s our parents!” Ryder told him excitedly, trying to run around the shifter so he could find Jane and Ethan.
However Fabian lashed out quick as a snake, snatching up Ryder and Parker and nodding to Sophie, “get the girls.”
“But Fabian, if it’s their pa-” Sophie tried to object.
“As said get them.” He repeated harshly, interrupting her.
Sophie reluctantly took hold of Riley and Paisley, but unlike Fabian she didn’t think to cover their mouths. Riley immediately screamed at the top of her lungs. “
“Shut her up!” Fabian scolded, struggling to subdue the boys. “We can’t afford to lose four earners.” Together they dragged the struggling pups into the sewers, where they knew their scents would be completely obscured by stone, water and decay.
Across the square, Jane and Ethan jerked in shock. “Was that…?” Jane squeaked.
“It sounded like Riley.” Ethan nodded, feeling his heart begin to race with hope and worry at once.
“It came from over there!” Linda pointed in the direction of the scream, and all three adults went racing through the mist. Of course, by the time they reached the point where the pups had been standing – the children were long gone. “Oh Goddess, I can smell them.” Jane whimpered. “Riley! Paisley!
Ryder! Parker!” She shouted their names as she spun around, searching every inch of space within her sight.
Before long Ethan and Linda were yelling too, but they were met only with silence. Little did they know that the pups were fighting to reach them deep beneath their feet, in- a part of the city they didn’t know existed.
“Is everything all right?” A strange voice asked from behind Ethan and Jane. When they turned they found a man and woman in their sixties, wearing wedding rings and simple clothing.
“We’re trying to find our pups.” Jane shared, on the verge of tears. “Have you seen them?” She pulled out her phone and showed a photo to the elderly couple.
The couple exchanged a curious glance, eyeing Jane suspiciously. “These are your pups?”
For the first time Jane remembered that she looked like a young man, but she’d been speaking in her natural voice.
The strangers must have thought she was an incredibly dubious character, but they also hadn’t denied seeing the pups. Throwing caution to the wind, Jane ripped off her wig, hat and fake beard. “Yes, I’m sorry, I don’t have time to explain the disguises- have you seen them?”
The man seemed convinced, but his wife narrowed her eyes. She could see the resemblance between Jane and the girls, but the disguises were too much of an oddity. “The littlest one, what shape is the scar on her ch3st?”
That’s Paisley!” Ethan exclaimed, “she has multiple scars, but the biggest is a straight line down her sternum.”
The woman relaxed slightly. “We saw your pups alright.
They came wandering out of the forest onto our farm earlier this week” She sounded as if she disapproved, and a moment later she made it clear this was indeed the case. “1 wouldn’t mind knowing how they ended up all alone in the jungle.
“They were kidnapped and they escaped.” Jane felt as if she was about to pass out, “where are they now, do you still have them? We heard Riley scream.”
As soon as Mary heard the children were taken against their will, not that Ethan and Jane were simply negligent parents, she softened entirely. “Oh you poor dears. I’m so sorry, they ran away from us when we brought them to town.
l’d gone to the police and when our backs were turned they caused a distraction and took off”
Jane’s knees went weak, and she slumped against Ethan. “1 can’t believe this.”
Ethan caught her easily, holding her tight. “They did the right thing, they knew not to trust the police. And that means they’re here somewhere.”
“We’ve been looking since yesterday, and so have the authorities.” Thomas explained with a frown. I’m afraid there’s quite a problem with orphaned children here. They probably found the local gang and are hiding with them.
“How were they? Were they hurt? Frightened?” Ethan questioned.
“They were a little banged up but they’re a strong bunch.
” Mary told them gently. “They had lots of fun making friends with our llamas and didn’t seem too traumatized, just skittish. Why did you say they can’t trust the police?”
“it’s the same reason we’re in disguise.” Jane confessed.
“If the police find out who their father is, they’ll be in serious trouble.”
Thomas and Mary frowned at Ethan, “Are you not their father?”
“Yes, I am.” Ethan shared, studying the pair closely. He was both frustrated Jane had risked their cover by revealing herself, but he understood her desperation. Now it was his turn to make a snap judgment about whether to trust the pair. He’d always believed he was a good judge of character, but Eve’s deception had shaken his confidence slightly. His instincts were now to never offer someone his trust without it being earned. “Let’s just say if King Aimon knew the pups belonged to me, they’d be in danger.”
Thomas and Mary exchanged a thoughtful glance. They were no fans of the king, but they also didn’t know what to make of the strange couple. In the end it was the pups who convinced them to help the pair, no one who raised such sweet children could be too bad.
“Alright.” Mary nodded. “We’ll help you in any way we can. The last time we saw the pups was yesterday afternoon.
I doubt they’ve left the city, but no one knows where the orphan gangs live. Some people think they retreat to the forest, others swear there are secret parts of the town forgotten by time. The good news is that you often don’t have to find them – there’s always a few children hovering around corners waiting for the opportunity to steal some money or food.”
Are things that bad here?” Jane fretted, her heart going out to any pups forced to endure such a life.
Thomas shrugged. “The King’s highway is a major transit zone, I don’t think yours are the first pups to escape the clutches of dangerous people.”
That and there’s no resources here to help those in trouble. If children lose their parents to disease or the jungle, there’s no one to help them.” Mary added.
“That’s terrible” Ethan grimaced.
“Why was Riley screaming then?” Jane murmured, feeling more nauseous by the minute. “If she thought she heard us, why did she stop?”
“I don’t know, baby” Ethan frowned, trying not to jump to conclusions or make Jane more afraid. His wolf was aching to get out, but if he shifted he’d lose his disguise. “Is there any place you see the orphans more often than others?
Maybe if we catch one..” He trailed off, realizing how grim this sounded.
“Maybe we can see if they know anything.” Jane finished for him, perking up at the idea.
“Let’s split up.” Linda suggested, “the more spread out we are the more chances we’ll have, and the more likely they are to approach.
Ethan emitted an accidental growl, holding Jane more tightly. He did not like the idea of being separated from her one bit, especially with her illness. “Il be fine.” Jane promised him, reading his thoughts and rising on her toes to press a k!ss to his cheek.
“Everyone keep an eye on your pockets,” Thomas advised, “They’re very quick. Just call out if you catch one.”
They all nodded, and Linda, Thomas and Mary immediately took off in different directions. However, when Jane attempted to step away from Ethan, she found she couldn’t budge. “Ethan, it’s okay.” She insisted again.
“I wasn’t joking when I said I wasn’t going to let you out of my sight, Janey.” He rumbled, clearly conflicted.
“You have to at the moment” Jane reminded him. “I promise I’ll be back with you before you can blink.”
“Just be careful” He instructed. “And don’t go too far.”
Jane couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Sometimes I swear you treat me like l’m one of the pups.”
“You’re naughty like the pups.” Ethan teased. “Can you really blame me?”
“Yes.” Jane answered, offering him a saucy smile. “Now come on, I’m worried about Riley.” They separated only after Ethan dragged Jane in for a k!ss, and for once it seemed that luck was on their side. Jane hadn’t been gone five minutes when Ethan heard tiny feet tip-toeing up behind him, and as soon as he felt his wallet twitch in her back pocket, he lashed out.
“Gotcha!” Ethan easily caught the little girl, who was doubtless shocked that such a seemingly elderly man could move so fast. He lifted her up by her small wrist, looking into the face of the shabby child with sympathy – until he smelled his pups on her clothes. “Where are they?”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 135
3rd Person
“Where’s who?” The scrawny pup squeaked, her scent becoming completely overpowered by fear.
“My pups.” Ethan growled. “Riley, Parker, Paisley and Ryder.”
The child’s eyes widened, and Ethan called over his shoulder, hoping the others could still hear him. Got one!”
Running footsteps soon sounded at his back, and Jane pulled up short beside him. “Ethan, you’re scaring her.”
“Smell her:” He instructed, “She’s been with the pups- recently.”
Jane leaned forward and sniffed the child, barely able to decipher the children’s scent amidst all the dirt and grime.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, but still she encouraged her mate to return the frightened urchin’s feet to solid ground. “It’s okay, little one.” She promised, “What’s your name?”
and Ethan, as baffled by their outfits as Thomas and Mary had been. She pursed her lips tightly together, cowering when Linda, Mary and Thomas appeared beside them as well. She was completely outnumbered, and her knees were beginning to knock together.
This, more than anything else, softened Ethan’s heart.
No matter his wolf’s rage at losing the children, he truly didn’t enjoy scaring pups. “I’m sorry I was a bit rough.” He apologized, softening his tone to a soft lull. “We won’t hurt you.”
“We just want to find our pups.” Jane added anxiously. “
You’ve seen them, haven’t you? Our quadruplets?”
The girl was clearly more comfortable with Jane than the huge Alpha holding her hostage, and as skittish as she was, she also had a bright-eyed curiosity about her which made her circumstances even more troubling. “What are quadruplets?”
“It’s like when you have twins, but four pups instead of two.” Jane answered, smiling warmly. “Ours are four years old, and they got kidnapped last week. We’ve been looking everywhere for them, and we know they’re here somewhere.
Can you help us?”
The child crinkled her nose as she thought about their request. “What will you give me if l do?”
Ethan growled again, and Jane shot him an annoyed look before grinning at the little girl. “You’re a clever one, I’ll give you that.”
“Hmph, Mary scoffed beside her, “more like an impertinent one. ought to take you home and throw you right in the bath.”
Though her words were clearly intended as a threat, the girl looked up at her curiously. “Why would you do that?
“Because you’re in a right state.” Mary informed her imperiously. “You clearly need some looking after.” us.”
The girl lifted her chin defiantly. “Fabian looks after her.
“Does he now?” Mary replied, taking over the negotiations while the others looked on in bafflement. “He feeds you? Clothes you? Gives you cuddles?”
“He teaches us to survive.” The girl insisted, clearly less certain of herself now.
“Pups aren’t meant to survive on their own.” Mary told her sternly, “they’re meant to be provided for. Anyone who tells you otherwise or expects you to pay for your safety is no friend” She declared, guessing Fabian’s arrangement with no trouble at all. She’d seen enough of the gangs over the years to understand how they worked.
The girl looked beside herself now, and Mary closed in for the girl. “Let her go.” She told Ethan. “She won’t run – not if she wants a hot meal and a nice bed to sleep in.”
This got the child’s attention. What?”
“I’m not saying it will be all flowers and sunshine” Mary informed her shrewdly. “There will be rules, and chores, I won’t have you running completely wild – but I’ll not be leaving you in these conditions young miss.”
“Are… are you saying you want me to live with you?” The girl stammered, her eyes going wide as dinner plates. Ethan and Jane were watching with avid interest. A few minutes ago the child had been terrified, but Mary clearly had a way with pups, It was probably how she’d wrangled their own babies out of the jungle. They knew not to trust anyone who seemed too nice, and Mary had the kind of maternal authority which made it clear she would take care of you whether you liked it or not.
If you like.” Mary agreed.
“But only if I help you find the pups… right?” The girl qualified suspiciously.
“Helping us is the right thing to do – those pups have parents who love them and want nothing more than to take them home” Mary explained, gesturing to Ethan and Jane, ” but you’ll have a place at my hearth whether you help or not.
The child looked so tempted, clearly longing and yearning for a home with all her heart, that Jane wanted to cry. However a minute later dark clouds came over her young face. “l can’t – Fabian will punish me.”
“Little one, Thomas and I don’t live in this town. If you come home with us, you’ll never have to come to this place again. We have a llama farm in the hills. It’s nothing but fresh air and sunshine” Mary informed her. “Now are you going to tell us your name, or do we have to guess?”
“That’s not the only reason” The girl objected. “I have a brother. He’s real litle, I can’t leave him behind.”
“He can come too.” Thomas offered instantly.
The child clearly thought this is too good to be true. Her instincts were telling her to believe them, but her head was too full of the past to allow herself. “You’ll just hurt us.” She accused.
Now tears did spark in Jane’s eyes, and her imagination spun out of control as she contemplated the life this innocent pup must have led. “”I ve never hurt a pup in my life.
” Mary announced. “You can ask the quadruplets –they stayed with us before coming here. They got a little scared when we brought them to the city, like you are. But they can tell you what our home was like.”
Jane and Ethan had to appreciate the elder woman’s cunning. Even if the girl got cold feet before agreeing to come home with them or talking to the pups, she might still lead them in the right direction. They didn’t think this was the reason behind her offer, but it was a damn good strategy nonetheless.
“My name’s Sophie” The munchkin offered shyly. “I can’t take you to your pups, but I might be able to find them a place to meet you.” She turned to Mary and crossed her arms over her ch3st. “And I’ll decide after I hear what they have to say.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Mary praised, nodding gravely.
Within moments, the expectant adults watched Sophie disappear into a hole in the wall – too small for even Jane to squeeze into. They waited with baited breath while the excited girl wound her way through the maze of defunct sewers, disappearing deeper into the bowels of the city and praying that Fabian was no longer guarding the pups. Luckily, she found them unattended.
Riley, Ryder, Parker and Posey were tied up in a dank alcove, tears streaming down their young faces. She instantly saw the resemblance between them and the pretty lady in the square. “Shhh.” She urged them, pressing a finger to her l!ps. “‘m going to take you to your parents but you have to be quiet.”
The pups perked up instantly, offering up their hands so she could untie the ropes. “Did you stay with an old couple before you came here?” She asked as she worked.
They nodded in agreement, and Sophie paused only long enough to ask, “Were they nice? Can I trust them?”
The pups exchanged a few glances, then nodded firmly.
They’d only run away because Mary was determined to fetch the police. Once they were released from their bounds, Sophie paused only long enough to fetch her brother, before guiding them back through the darkness to the world above.
Unfortunately they’d only made it through a few tunnels before they heard Fabian’s voice and footsteps approaching.
“Quick, go right!” Sophie hissed. “Fabian’s coming this way!”
This sent them on a completely different route, winding away towards the other side of town. Sophie’s mind raced, praying Fabian wouldn’t notice they were gone before she could get them above ground. They were just emerging into the cloudy top level when a furious roar sounded beneath them, and Sophie knew the game was up. She dragged the pups down a side street, pausing when she saw a pair of open trunks waiting to be packed behind a clothing shop.
Quick, hide in here, I’ll bring your parents to you!”
“No we’ll come with you!” Parker objected.
“You can’t if we cross paths with Fabian he’ll hurt us all.
Bailey and I can pretend we’re just working and don’t know you scaped!” Sophie reasoned. “They’re too far away for you to be out in the open!”
Seeing the reason in her plan, Riley and Paisley climbers into one trunk while Parker and Ryder clambered into another, letting Sophie close the lids after whispering, “l bring them as fast as I can.”
However no sooner had Sophie and Bailey disappeared around the corner, that the pups felt the trunks concealing them lurch, as if they were being lifted. “Are we moving?”
Riley asked Paisley nervously.
“I dunno, try to open the lid?” Her sister suggested.
Riley rose up onto her knees and pushed at the lid, only to find it tightly closed. “l can’t.” She murmured. “Paisley, I thinks….I thinks we’re locked in.”