Ch. 41..45: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 41-45
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 41
Though Eve’s plans didn’t always turn out as she’d intended, she was certain they were well thought out. It was people that messed things up.
With Petra, she’d always intended the elder she-wolf to survive. She needed her as an ally after Ethan divorced Jane; she needed Petra to love her unconditionally so she would help convince her son to marry Eve. The problem then was that Ethan turned out to be even more irrational than Eve could have dreamed. Instead of leaving Jane then and there, he simply punished her.
All of her previous attempts on Paisley’s life had also been thoroughly researched and planned. The first time Jane’s other little brats turned up out of nowhere and ruined her scheme, and the second it simply turned out that the doctors were more competent than she gave them credit for.
This time however, this time there was no way she could fail: She couldn’t stop the car, Paisley was perfectly aligned with the oncoming truck and completely unprotected without her seatbelt. The crash was happening, and the brat would be squished like a cockroach under a boot.
Yet despite Eve’s certainty, it seemed she failed to consider one simple variable in her plan – which was the pup’s own instincts and quick thinking. As the truck charged toward her, Paisley dove out of the passenger seat and into the back of the car, curling into a tiny ball on the floor behind the driver’s seat.
Eve shrieked in indignant fury, but a second later a huge crash jolted the vehicle and sent it spinning, the sound of screeching tires, breaking glass and crumpling metal filling the air. It was the loudest thing Paisley had ever heard in her
young life, especially with Eve screaming bloody murder throughout the terryfing situation. The car spun like a top, bouncing back and forth between other vehicles and sending
glass reigning down on the little girl’s head. Still, Paisley stayed curled up like a little armadillo, shielding her face and head with her hands.
When the car finally skidded to a stop, Paisley’s heart was beating a mile a minute, and it was truly a testament to her renewed health and her surgeon’s skill that the organ was able to withstand the strain of such a terrifying event. The pup could hear Eve crying in the distance, forcing her car door open and stumbling out onto the pavement.
Onlookers rushed to the car, helping Eve escape the crumpled remains of her sedan and asking if she was alright. Eve waved them all off, rushing for the back door and looking down at Paisley with a look of pur hatred that she quickly disguised as relief. “On Paisley!” She cried, reaching down and extracting the pup from the floor. “Oh thank the Goddess you’ re alright.”
Paisley tried to push the cloying she-wolf away, but Eve was in the middle of a dramatic performance and wasn’t about to let the people surround them seeing how much she despised holding the child. “I’ve never been so afraid in my life, you’re such a smart girl, getting on the floor that way.”
Sirens sounded in the distance, and the truck driver was now out of his car and approaching Eve. “Are you crazy? Running a red light like that?”
“I don’t know what happened!” Eve wails, “I tried to slam on the brakes over and over again, but they wouldn’t work! || think they went out!”
“Why didn’t you use the emergency brake?!” The truck driver demanded, “and why the hell was the pup in the front?”
“She wasn’t!” Eve insisted instantly, “You must be confused, everything happened so fast. That’s why I didn’t think of the emergency brake, I was just panicking.”
“Is that the Alpha’s daughter?” One of the witnesses asked suddenly, when Paisley had finally managed to wriggle free enough to poke her head over Eve’s shoulder.
“It is!” Someone else exclaimed. “Oh you poor thing, are you
alright?”
Paisley squirmed her way free of Eve, looking up at the concerned shifters surrounding her. Eve was already furious the little brat survived, but now she was stealing the sympathy Eve had counted on for herself too. Was there no end to the injustice? To make things worse, Paisley then threw her head back and began to cry, “I want my daddy!”
Deflating all at once, Eve slumped onto the curb and watched while the crowd began to comfort the pup. “F**k.”
Ethan
I’ve had a horrible tangle of dread sitting in the pit of my stomach like a huge rock all afternoon. This is my first day back at work after Paisley’s surgery, and I keep telling myself it’s just my anxiety over being away from my pup, as well as anger and hurt over Jane’s supposed engagement. Still, nothing I do can unwind the knots twisting my insides, and a little after noon, I get up from my desk and decide to go home for lunch – just to check on things.
I hear sirens in the distance as soon as I reach the parking lot, and I don’t know how I know that they have something to do with Paisley, but I do. I point the car in the direction of the penthouse and hammer my foot onto the accelerator. As | drive I imagine all sorts of calamities, her heart failing again, an intruder at the house, a kidnapping. I keep waiting for my phone to ring, but then I realize I left it in my office in my haste to leave.
The sirens are only a few blocks from the penthouse, and following my instincts, I head straight towards them rather than continuing home. When I arrive at the intersection teaming with red and blue lights, I know my fears were well founded. I can smell both Paisley and Eve though I cannot see them. All I do see is Eve’s car in the middle of the road – at least, it used to be Eve’s car. Now it looks more like a jumble of metal put through a trash compactor.
Jumping out of my car, the crowd instantly parts to make a path for me, and I charge towards the sound of my crying daughter, “Paisley!”
Then she’s there in front of me, her clothes covered in glass, a ‘few scratches marring her tan skin and her face crimson and tear-stained, but otherwise unharmed. She runs toward me immediately, and I drop to my knees in front of her, love coursing through my veins as she throws herself into my arms. I’m vaguely aware of the sound of cameras clicking around us, complete with a few flashes, but the only thing that matters is Paisley, “Are you alright? What happened?”
“Ethan I’m so sorry.” Eve is standing over us then, her eyes wide and bloodshot. “We were going to get some ice cream, but the breaks on my car wouldn’t work.” She sniffles. She too is a little bruised and scratched up, but for the most part she looks unharmed. “Paisley was so brave, she jumped out of the back seat and curled up onto the floor, I think it saved her life.”
“You should have seen her, sir.” One of the witnesses shared, “If I didn’t know any better I would have thought it was her own daughter there, she was so worried. She wouldn’t let us take her away from the wreck until she knew Paisley was safe.”
Eve’s lower l!p is quivering dangerously, and my Alpha instincts have me extending an arm to her as well. It doesn’t matter that she gets on my nerves nine times out of ten, she was almost killed, and she needs comforting.
Eve collapses into my arms, and as both she-wolves cry I turn to one of the law enforcement agents standing nearby, “I need you to call someone for me.”
While the man calls Jane, and his colleagues clear the witnesses from the area, I focus on comforting Paisley and Eve. It’s only later, after I’ve spoken with the truck driver – who insists Paisley was in the front seat and not the back – and the authorities have examined the car and confirmed the passenger side seatbelt and brakes were both disabled, that my suspicions about Eve return. Why wasn’t there a car seat in the vehicle? Why would somebody target her car, when she never takes Paisley anywhere? Why not target my own car?
As the EMTs take care of Paisley, Eve and the truck driver, I pull the accident investigator aside, “I need another favor. Can you pull the traffic cameras between here and my penthouse? I want to see what was happening in the car before the crash.
The man nods, “I’m already on it sir, but you should know more than one witness said the child was in the front seat – it’s not only the truck driver.”
“But that seatbelt was disabled.” I confirm.
He nods gravely, “if they’re right your friend put the pup in the car without a belt.”
If Jane hadn’t chosen that precise moment to arrive, I might have turned on Eve and interrogated her right then and there, but my breath catches when I turn around and see Jane’s rushing towards the police barricade, terror coming off her in waves. She sprints up to me, wringing her hands, “What happened?”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 42
Jane
I don’t think I can handle any more emergency phone calls notifying me that my pup is in grave danger. This is the second time it’s happened in a single week, and I already feel like my nerves are completely raw. I’m becoming afraid of hearing the phone ring, just one shrill chime is enough to send me jumping out of my skin.
When I arrive at the scene of the accident, it takes me a moment to find Paisley. I see Ethan first, talking with a law enforcement officer and looking very grave indeed. I run up to him, asking, “What happened?” but almost as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I finally catch sight of Paisley. She’s sitting in the back of an ambulance, looking shaken but mostly unharmed as an EMT picked shards of glass from her clothing. I start to change directions, but Ethan catches me first.
“Eve was taking her for ice cream and she says the brakes went out on her car.” He explains swiftly.
“Eve?” I repeat, righteous indignation swelling in my ch3st, “You trusted Eve with m-your pup?”
“I left Paisley with my mother.” Ethan clarifies, “She trusted Eve to take her, but I guarantee it won’t happen again.” He sidles closer, but unlike in the past when he’s used his proximity to unsettle me, now I can tell he’s doing it to prevent us from being overheard. “Listen, Eve says Paisley was in the back seat, but the truck that hit them says Paisley was in the front.”
“And the passenger seatbelt was disabled.” The other on our left adds.
“What?” | gasp, horror freezing me in place.
“I know.” Ethan sighs, “it’s hard to believe anyone could intentionally harm such a young pup, but we need to find out the truth. Every time I go near Paisley Eve turns up and I think it’s to prevent us from talking. I’m going to work with the officers to get traffic camera footage, can you talk to Paisley?”
“Of course.” I promise, already heading her way. However, before I can get two steps away, Ethan stops me again, “Jane, wait.”
To my immense surprise, Ethan wraps his big body around me, enveloping me in a hug so warm that I feel my body heat up at least three degrees. I sink into his arms instinctively, taking comfort in his solid strength while his l!ps graze my ear. “I’m sorry, you know I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her.” It’s only too tempting to let him hold me this way until my heart stops hammering in my chest and my pulse ceases to race, but I know how dangerous it would be to give in.
| slip out of his hold as soon as I find the willpower, trying and failing to shrug off his words. “I don’t know why you’re apologizing to me. She’s your pup.” The words are like acid on my tongue, bitter and corrosive. I hate myself for saying them, but I can’t help it. All my past experience with this man has taught me to protect myself at all costs, and until the day comes that I can take Paisley away from here, that includes denying her importance to me.
Ethan’s handsome face shuts off, his expression transforming
from open and sincere to closed and foreboding. “You know, this is getting really old, Janey.”
“What’s getting old is you insisting I’m someone I’m not.” | counter coolly.
“You don’t want to push me, sweetheart.” Ethan growls, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. “My patience only extends so far.”
Memories flash through my mind’s eye, images of those terrible days after my graduation trip – when my loving marriage changed into something unspeakable. Hardening myself against Ethan, I reply, “Believe me, I know exactly what you’re capable of, Alpha.”
His dark eyes flash, and I wonder if he knows precisely what i’ m thinking. But I don’t give him the chance to respond, I turn on my heel and stalk away, heading straight for my pup.
Paisley’s eyes light up when she sees me, and she starts fighting the EMT trying to clean her up. The young male wolf attempts to hold her still, but Paisley whines and struggles, trying desperately to get to me. Speeding up, I call to the EMT, “It’s okay, I’ve got her.”
“Come here angel.” | scoop her up into my arms, squeezing her tightly before pulling back to look her over for injuries, “Are you alright? Tell Mommy what hurts.” I say the words without thinking, going into autopilot just as I would with any of my other pups.
Paisley’s l!p quivers dangerously, “Everyting.” She sniffles, “It was really scary, Mommy.”
“I’m so sorry, my love.” I profess, “But you’re safe now. I’m not
going to let anything happen to you, okay? I promise – as long as I’m here, nothing and no one will hurt you again.”
I know that Parker, Ryder and Riley didn’t understand why they were coming back to the hospital, but I couldn’t bear to have them out of my sight when someone clearly has it out for my family. When Linda brought them to meet Ethan and I, we both hugged them tightly and gently explained about the accident, before taking them inside to see Paisley.
We watched as Paisley recounted her story for her siblings, and I felt a rush of comfort seeing how happy their visit was making her. She’d been so shaken after everything that happened, especially after I made her relive every detail. I felt terrible doing it, but we needed to know exactly what happened. When she finished her story, Riley, Ryder and Parker, crawled into bed with their sister and curled up in a puppy pile, whispering words of comfort and snuggling close.
Ethan, Linda and I slipped outside to talk, staying where we could see the pups, but trying to speak quietly enough so my clever rascals wouldn’t overhear us. I told them exactly what Paisley described to me, which certainly made it sound as if Eve had forced her into the trip and the precarious front seat.
After a few minutes I notice Linda glancing into the room, then feel her furtively nudging me with her elbow, nodding in the direction of the bed. I gasp, clamping my hand over her mouth at the sight of all four of my pups fast asleep in each other’s arms. I’ve seen thousands of cuddle piles between Ryder, Parker and Riley over the years, but to see Paisley included as well was something I’ve only experienced in her dreams.
Ethan follows my gaze and his stoic expression completely melts. “Look at them.” He murmurs, his hand twitching as if he wants to reach for me. “I’ve never seen anything so sweet.”
“I know.” I breathe, clearing my throat. “They certainly made fast friends.”
Ethan rolls his eyes, but his attention lingers on the scene in the room as we continue our conversation. If anything, the idyllic image made the macabre nature of our discussion all the more disturbing. “The traffic cameras confirmed what Paisley told you. She was in the front, and Eve didn’t look the least bit frightened about the brakes, she actually looked annoyed it took them so long to be hit.”
“What are we going to do?” I ask nervously. “Do you have enough to arrest her?”
“For the car accident, yes. But we don’t have any proof about the poison yet.” He admits, dragging a hand through his thick hair. “I think it’s best if she thinks she’s gotten away with it, that way we can catch her red handed.”
“You can’t be serious.” I quip, “You’re suggesting she be allowed to go free to make another attempt on Paisley, so we can catch her in the act?”
“Jane, if you have her arrested for the car accident she’ll go to trial and put on a show for the jury every bit as convincing as the one she put on for the crowds today, and they’ll let her off.” Linda reasons, “If you want to put her away for good, you need more evidence. You need something that can’t be written off as an accident, something she can’t pretend to be a victim of.”
“Linda’s right.” Ethan agrees, “I know it sounds horrible, but we have to play this smart. Trust me, I’m not going to leave Paisley alone with her ever again, but this is for the best.”
“If you’re sure.” I finally concede, eyeing Ethan suspiciously, “You promise you won’t let her out of your sight?”
“Of course.” Ethan retorts, his sharp gaze zeroing in on me, “She is my pup, after all.”
We were still standing there bickering when the TV over the nurses station flipped on and the sound of the nightly news filled their ears. At once, all three of us turn toward the screen, shocked and appalled by the images dominating the monitor.
Footage from the immediate aftermath of the crash was playing on a steady loop, the reporters oohing and aahing over the image of Ethan, Paisley and Eve huddled in each other’s arms on the street. At the bottom of the screen, a single line of scrolling text sent Jane’s heart sinking into her stomach: Saint Eve, People’s Choice for NightFang’s Next Luna.
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 43
Ethan
In my time as Alpha, I’ve witnessed plenty of wild news stories, and even been at the center of a few. However nothing is as alarming as seeing Eve touted as my future Luna on every channel for 24 hours straight. Now that I know who she truly is and what she’s done to my daughter, the idea of even being in the same room with her makes me sick to my stomach.
After Paisley was discharged from the hospital | took her to our country cabin to recuperate, not wanting her in the penthouse with reporters camped outside the front door waiting for a glimpse of us.
At first I thought I’d let the story run its course and die down on its own, but then the calls started coming in. Everyone wanted my comment on whether I truly was planning to marry Eve, and when I began to do some investigating of my own, I discovered that all these stories had been paid for by a mysterious benefactor. Someone had bribed the news stations to cover the car accident and promote Eve this way, and I have a fairly strong idea that I know the person who’s responsible.
Eve’s deception has thrown a lot of things into question as of late, not the least of which is Jane. The more time that passes, the more I think back on the attack she, Eve and my mother faced all those years ago. It’s the only time in her entire life I’ ve known Jane to possess even an ounce of cruelty, and the only time Eve has shown an ounce of selflessness.
Is it possible it was all another one of the conniving she-wolf’s schemes?
I’m not proud of the way I treated Jane afterwards, but she didn’t give me any other choice. If she’d tried even once to explain why she’d done what she did, I could have shown her some leniency, but to do so when she made no effort would have made me appear weak in the eyes of the pack – and no pack can flourish if the people don’t have a leader they can believe in.
Pushing aside my brooding thoughts of the past, I call a press conference with every news station in the territory. Eve can scheme all she wants, but not even she can override the word of the Alpha. I’m going to make sure every shifter in the NightFang pack knows that Eve will never be their Luna, before this entire situation gets further out of hand.
A few hours later, when I’m standing in front of the entire NightFang press corps, I cut right to the chase, not allowing any questions before I begin. “Many rumors have been circulating since the accident that so nearly cost my daughter’ s precious life earlier this week.” I announce, working hard to keep the emotion from my voice.
“I’m pleased to say that Paisley’s quick thinking saved her life and she’s recovering well, and I’m touched by all the . concerned citizens who have reached out to check on her. As many of you know, this incident came at the tailend of Paisley’ s successful fight against heart disease, and I am beyond thrilled to report that she is no longer in need of continued medical care.” I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my
features, every day since Paisley was born has been marred by fear for her health, and it doesn’t feel real that we can finally put all that behind us.
“My daughter may have been born with a weak heart, but she
was also blessed with a warrior’s spirit, and I look forward to watching her grow into a woman every bit as special as her mother.” I continue, “This brings me to the recent reports indicating I may be looking for a new Luna.” The entire room seems to be holding its breath now, but they’re going to be disappointed. “However there will only ever be one Luna for me: Jane Blackwell was and always will be the love of my life. She is the only she-wolf who I will ever call mate, and I have no intention of taking anyone else for a wife now or in the future.”
A series of low mutters move through the crowd, and I can see a number of curious faces gearing up to ask me a bunch of invasive questions. “I will not be taking any questions on this matter, as it is not up for debate and requires no further explanation. If anyone has said otherwise, I would caution you to examine their motives before accepting their word. Trust me when I say this is the best thing for me and my family. Now I thank you for your time and attention, but I must be getting back to my daughter.”
The room is heavy with silence as I depart, dozens of curious eyes following me as I stalk from the room with my head held high. I have always enjoyed killing two birds with one stone, and if I’m right, that little conference will have both put Eve in her place, and put Jane on notice. She can lie, hide and pretend all she wants, but the hunt is just beginning. She will be my Luna again, and now the pack might even help me win her back.
Jane
“Jane, is there a reason you’re glaring at the TV like you want
to murder it?” Eric’s familiar voice sounds behind me, and I feel him approach at my shoulder.
The TV screen is dark now, but moments ago it was filled with Ethan’s rugged face as he announced to the world that I was the only Luna he would ever take. Of course, on one hand I’m glad to see he refuted Eve’s shameless self-promotion. I don’t know why it hurt so much to see all the news outlets singing her praises, but there was no denying the jealousy I felt when they suggested he might take her as his mate. I suppose it dug up all the pain of the past – I can tell myself I’m over Ethan until I’m blue in the face, but the betrayal of their affair still stings, even after all this time.
“Jane?” Eric prods, giving me a little nudge.
Coming back to the present, I slam my finger onto the remote’ s power button again, bring the screen back to life. Ethan’s press conference seems to be over now, but the reporters sitting at the news desk are still discussing the event in absurd detail. “Honestly, you’d think he announced we were going to war, not that he intended to stay single.” | gripe.
“Uh-huh.” Eric says simply, “And that’s why you’re upset? Because he isn’t going to take a child murderer as a mate?”
“No.” I grumble sulkily, “It was the part about me. He’s sending me a message.”
“I can see that.” My friend replies. “So how are you going to answer him?”
Blinking up at the tall Alpha in confusion, I inquire. “What do you mean?”
“Well, he sent you a message. The polite thing to do would be to send him one in return.” Eric reasons.
“I’ve already given him my message about a dozen times.” | remind him, “but he doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of: ‘go to hell.”
Eric laughs warmly, squeezing my shoulders and beginning to massage the knots from my aching muscles. Oh Goddess, 1 didn’t even realize how stressed I was about all this until he started doing that. “That feels incredible.”
“Poor thing.” Eric croons, “You’ve been through a lot these past few weeks.”
“You have no idea.” | m**n, letting my head loll back to give him more access.
“Well, I think it might be time for a different kind of message.” Eric suggests, moving his thumbs in concentric circles around my shoulder blades. I feel instantly relaxed, safe even, but I can’t help thinking that if Ethan were the one touching me like this, I’d be a puddle in his arms.
“And what kind of message is that?” I prompt him, slipping out of his reach and turning to face him. I’m not sure if I’m imagining it or not, but I think I see a flash of disappointment cross his features. However if it was there, it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
“One he can’t ignore.” Eric answers simply. “After all, you did just get engaged, and a big famous perfume designer like you getting married? That sounds like front page news to me.”
I think it over for a few moments, rolling the idea around in my
mind. He has a point. Ethan is the one who made this fight public, it would be very fitting if I were to respond to his challenge in kind. What’s more, Eric is right, if we want our lie to be believable, we have to act like we’re actually engaged – and it would be major news. Every fashion magazine on the continent would want an invite to cover the ceremony, that’s just the nature of my job.
“Well that would certainly cut him off at the ankles.” || acknowledge with admiration.
“And the best part of all?” Ethan adds with a wide smile. “He’ll be absolutely furious.”
“Let’s do it.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 44
3rd Person
After almost a full month sharing a bedroom in Linda’s apartment, Jane was finally able to move herself and the pups into their own apartment. Of course, she had no idea that making this change would open the door for her children to hatch a new scheme with their sister.
Little did any of the adults know that on their last visit to the hospital, they’d exchanged walkie talkies so they could stay in contact with one another. Of course, Linda’s apartment was much too far away from the Alpha’s penthouse for the devices to connect to one another, but Jane’s new apartment was only a block away. It hadn’t been her first choice, but it was the best she could get on such short notice.
It took a few days of trying since Ethan initially took Paisley to his country house to avoid the media circus, but on the fifth day of trying to reach their long lost sister, Ryder, Parker and Riley finally made contact.
“Paisley, come in, over.” Parker said into the speaker, holding down the talk button while his siblings huddled with him under the blankets on his bed.
“Copy!” A familiar voice sounded after a moment, “I’ve been waiting ages to hear from you guys.”
“Are you okay?” Riley asked urgently, “has Eve tried anything
else?”
“No, Daddy’s pretty mad at her.” Paisley answered promptly, “I haven’ seen her since da accident.”
“Good.” Parker sighed. “She’s evil.”
The other pups nodded in agreement. Riley hadn’t met her yet, but she’d heard enough from the others to understand how terrible the she-wolf was. Besides, she overheard her Mommy talking to Auntie Linda about Eve the other day, and it was very clear that she was not a fan.
“Listen, we have a plan.” Ryder explained to Paisley, “we’re going to ask Mommy for a play date, and da next time we see each other, you and Riley are going to switch places.”
“Really!” Paisley exclaimed in excitement, “You mean I could come live with you and Mommy for a little while?”
“That’s right, and I’ll get to spend some time with Daddy.” Riley chirped happily. “It’ll only be for a little while, but ‘ventually we’ll all be t’gether forever.”
“So what do you think?” Parker questioned eagerly.
“I’m in!” Paisley cried. “But what’d we do once we switch?”
Just then Jane knocked on the bedroom door and pushed it open, “You three don’t sound like you’re sleeping.” She scolded good naturedly, flipping on the lights and eyeing the three lumps beneath the blankets on Parker’s bed.
Quickly turning down the volume on the radio, all three chorused, “Sorry Mommy.”
“If you want to sleep together that’s find.” Jane chuckled, pulling down the covers to reveal the sheepish faces and tousled hair of her pups, “but you have to actually sleep.”
“Yes, Mommy.” The kids said obedientiy.
Jane straightened up and narrowed her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. “Why are you being so good? Are you up to something?”
Three sets of wide eyes looked up at her innocently, “Course not.” Riley lied without batting an eye.
Jane didn’t appear convinced, “You better not be.” She leaned down and dropped a k!ss on each of their heads, “goodnight my little rascals. Sweet dreams – I don’t want to hear any more noise from you tonight, got it?”
“Goodnight Mommy!”
Three days later, Jane was reluctantly meeting Ethan for another so-called date, again with her pups in tow. When the kids requested a playdate with Paisley, she knew she couldn’t resist the chance to see her youngest daughter again and anyway, she would take any excuse to make these outings as unromantic as possible.
Of course, Ethan was fuming when they arrived. Jane’s engagement announcement had just been published that morning, and though it wasn’t front page news, it had certainly caught Ethan’s attention without any problem. He had a filter set up on his computer’s search engine for any news featuring her name as well as her alias: Elise Carrington, so he’d spent his entire day out of sorts after waking up to the breaking story.
Luckily for the pups, both adults were so excited to see their
estranged children that they were able to put off their argument until after the kids had run off to play. Not to mention their preoccupation with each other meant it was going to be much easier to pull off their planned switch. So after exchanging hugs and hellos with their parents, the pups scampered off, leaving the former mates alone together.
“I saw your press release.” Ethan announced by way of greeting, towering over Jane.
She shrugged, offering him a smug smile, “Is that your way of saying congratulations?”
“You know it isn’t.” Ethan rumbled. “You’re really going to keep up this act with Eric?”
“It’s not an act.” Jane lied effortlessly, “We’re in love. You know what that’s like, don’t you? After all, your own press conference made it sound like you understood completely.”
To Jane’s surprise, Ethan laughed out loud, “you always were too clever for your own good.”
“You haven’t known me long enough for me to ‘always’ be anything.” Jane sniffed, keeping one eye on her kids as they dove into a ball pit. They’d chosen a children’s themed restaurant with an attached arcade, just about the least sexy place imaginable – thank goodness.
“Come on now, I won’t deny I used the opportunity to my advantage, but you know I had to make a public statement. Eve was paying every news outlet in town to name her my future bride.” Ethan explained.
“Well I’m glad you’ve finally gotten wise to her.” Jane couldn’t
keep the bitterness from her voice, “I mean it would be impossible not to after everything with Paisley, but it certainly took you long enough.”
“Now who’s talking about timespans we’re not supposed to share?” The Alpha asked cryptically.
“Finally’ is subjective,” Jane replied, realizing her mistake, “As far as we’re concerned it means these past few weeks.” She could feel his eyes on her like a brand, boring into her skin with relentless heat. Jane determinedly kept her attention forward, seeking out the pups and breathing again when she sighted them near a bouncy house. “Are you sure Paisley is well enough for this? It’s a lot of physical activity.”
Ethan wasn’t listening. “What happened back then, Jane?”
Jane wanted to ignore him, she wanted to deny any knowledge of what he was referring to, but she was also curious. If she tried now, so many years later, would she still be inexplicably tongue-tied, or could she finally defend herself? She’d wanted to explain what happened for so long, the idea of finally being able to do so was too inviting to deny.
However when she opened her mouth to speak, the words got caught in her throat. It was exactly as it had been in the immediate aftermath of the attack, like some magical force had hold of her vocal cords and was squeezing them too tightly for her to make a sound. In all the time that had passed, she had never been able to speak about the events of that day with anyone. She didn’t know what Eve did to her, but clearly it was powerful enough to hold her prisoner no matter how much time passed.
Clearing her throat, she repeated. “I’m worried about Paisley,
are you sure she’s up to this?”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 45
Only concern for his daughter could distract the Alpha from his line of questioning. He’d felt, at long last, like he was on the verge of understanding something which had eluded him for years, only to have it yanked out of reach at the last moment.
Nonetheless, Ethan followed Jane’s line of sight, watching the pups race through the indoor playground with unrestrained glee. Despite Jane’s fears, he couldn’t recall seeing Paisley ever looking so healthy, and he nodded happily, “Look at her, she’s glowing.”
Jane smiled, realizing Ethan was exactly right. Paisley did look better than she’d ever seen her, despite everything she’d been through these last few weeks. All the pups looked happier than she could recall seeing them in quite some time.
Of course, what Ethan and Jane did not know was that Riley and Paisley had switched places at the very first opportunity available to them. Trading out clothes in the ball pit while the grown ups were distracted, the sisters seamlessly took up each other’s identity in preparation for their scheme to bring down Eve.
Riley, Ryder and Parker had planned every last step of their plot right down to the tiniest detail their young minds could contemplate. It wasn’t a foolproof plan by any means, but Eve was so arrogant and condescending towards children that they were confident she would never see their attack coming. If they were right she would be exposed within the week, and their family would be one step closer to being reunited.
Paisley was acting strangely. There was no other word for it. Ethan had been present for almost every day of her life, but he’d never before seen her willingly eat broccoli, insist on taking a bath by herself because she was a big girl’, or call him Daddy quite so frequently and reverently as she had in the last 48 hours. The changes weren’t major, but there were enough small oddities that he was beginning to worry spending so much time with Jane was beginning to confuse her.
The Alpha was increasingly afraid that his former mate’s refusal to admit her identity was going to hurt the little girl, and now her suddenly altered behavior had him wondering if it was some sort of stress response. Sure Jane let Paisley call her Mommy, but she also insisted she wasn’t Ethan’s ex and he knew Paisley had overheard at least some of those conversations. It couldn’t be good for her.
So when he left for work on Friday morning, knowing he would be out of the house all day with few opportunities to check in with her, he sat her down for a serious chat.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving?” He asked somberly, “Grandma and Mr. Frank will be here, but you can come to the office with me if you want.”
In truth, he was also worried that Eve would take the opportunity to try to convince Petra to help her pursue him, or god forbid make another attempt on the little girl’s life. That’s part of why he’d ordered Frank not to take his eyes off the child for a single second.
Unfortunately his mother was no help. Petra refused to believe any of his accusations against Eve, insisting the woman was a saint and he had to be mistaken about her intentions for Paisley. He was still trying to pretend everything was fine so that Eve would slip up and show her hand, but having her in the house was getting harder and harder. There were simply too many opportunities for her to do harm – the only blessing was that she’d have to be truly desperate to try something under their own roof. He simply had to hope she hadn’t reached that point yet.
“Daddy I’m fine!” Paisley – at least, the child he believed to be Paisley – insisted with a little giggle, “go on!”
“Alright princess,” He agreed with a sigh, “Be good for Grandma and Frank, okay? Best behavior.”
“Yes Daddy.” She agreed, reaching up with both arms so he could hug her goodbye.
The moment the door was closed behind Ethan, Riley shook her head in exasperation. Paisley never told her that their Daddy was such a worry wart. She needed all the grown ups but Eve out of the house for their plan to work, or at least some alone time with the malicious she-wolf.
In the two short days she’d spent living with Ethan, Riley had decided she loved her Daddy completely, and Eve was the worst shifter alive. She never passed up any opportunity to insult the little girl or sidle up to Ethan, and she was so two faced Riley was amazed her features didn’t actually morph back and forth with her personality.
About an hour after Ethan left, Frank stepped into the bathroom, and Riley made her move, darting down the hallway to Eve’s bedroom. Paisley had filled her in with as much information as she could possibly remember, including that Eve always slept in until about noon – even when she’d still been a CEO.
Silently cracking open the she-wolf’s door, Riley scampered quietly inside and crept over to the bedside table. She snatched the cell phone charging beside the sleeping woman, and very carefully lifted Eve’s thumb to the touch ID button at the bottom of the screen to unlock the device.
Sneaking back out to the living room, Riley swiftly changed the phone password so she could get back in without Eve’s thumbprint, then waited for the cruel woman to come looking for her phone. It was a little after one when Eve finally emerged, looking very disgruntled indeed. Frank was in the kitchen making Riley lunch, and the pup was sitting on the floor doing a ocean themed puzzle when the she-wolf entered.
Eve immediately narrowed her eyes on the child – little did she know that Riley had already hit record on the device’s voice memo feature. “Good morning mongrel, I don’t suppose you’ ve seen my phone, have you?”
Riley didn’t have to fake her surprise, no one had ever spoken to her so callously, it made her furious for what her sister had suffered while she and the boys lived so happily with Jane. “Why’re you so mean to me?” She sniffled, trying to will tears into her eyes.
“Because you’re a dirty little mutt who has done nothing but make my life miserable.” Eve snarled in reply. “Your horrid mother kept me from Ethan when she was here, and she didn’t even have the decency to take you with her when she left. I suppose she wanted you to live but Goddess knows why – you are an ugly, worthless little brat.”
The need to defend her mother was so strong Riley almost forgot her mission, “I didn’ do it on purpose.” She whimpered.
“Oh don’t give me those crocodile tears.” Eve scoffed. “If you’d just done what you were supposed to and died before your surgery this could all be over. It’s your fault if I have to keep coming after you, you’re making me do this, Paisley, you know that?”
Riley was truly afraid now, the she-wolf was moving towards her, her wolf glowing in her eyes. It was a clear sign she was losing control, which could be as much a danger as it was an advantage. Unluckily for Eve, young Riley had the sense of invincibility all toddlers do, and continued to push. “So tha’s why you tried to hurt me all dose times? Cuz I was keeping you from Daddy?”
“What is this, twenty questions?” Eve spat, “I don’t owe you answers, little girl. If anything you owe me reparations for all the years you’ve stolen from me. If you weren’t here I could have married Ethan ages ago. Don’t you see that’s why you have to disappear? Don’t you see how much better off we’ll all be without you?”
The she-wolf kneeled down in front of the child, taking her hands in hers and speaking so sincerely she might be mistaken for kind if her words weren’t so foul. “You’re keeping your Daddy from being happy. Do you think he wants to spend all his time carting you back and forth to play dates and doctors appointments? He’s still a young man, he’s a powerful Alpha and he’d been reduced to playing nursemaid because you were born too weak to survive on your own but didn’t have the grace to just die like the Goddess intended.”
“But I want Daddy to be happy.” Riley hiccuped, having a hard time remembering this was just an act. Because while it might not be real for her, she was only too aware that this was her sister’s reality. She, Parker and Ryder had known things were bad, but they didn’t realize they were this twisted. Now more than ever, she knew they had to expose this woman for the monster she was.
“Well you’re keeping him from being happy, dollface.” Eve answered snidely, “I want you to think about that. I want you to remember that the next time you ask him for a pretty dress or some silly toy. Every minute you spend together, is making his life worse. It’s making him a weaker alpha.”
“But what can I do?” Riley asked helplessly.
“You can disappear.” Eve instructed her coldly, “Run away Paisley, run away and never come back. Your Daddy will be so much better off without you – we all will.”