Ch. 56..60: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 56-60
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 56
Jane
Staring down at the altar where Ethan and I were married fills me with both joy and pain. It looks exactly the same as it had that night, and if I close my eyes I can almost imagine that I’m eighteen again: full of love and hope, my biggest worry in the entire world being that I wouldn’t be accepted at Ethan’s chosen mate.
I was so foolish – so naive. Our honeymoon didn’t even last a day. When we returned to the city the next morning, we were expecting a blowout fight with Ethan’s parents, but it turned out that the best night of our lives was followed by one of the hardest days we’d ever experience. Ethan’s father had died of a sudden heart attack in the night, and suddenly my eighteen-year-old husband was forced to defend his right to become Alpha. He fought and defeated more than a dozen wolves before he could bury his father or announce our marriage.
However when the dust finally did settle, there was no one left to object to his choice of mate. Ethan Blackwell was Alpha once and for all, and we had been married before the Goddess. We made history in more ways than one. Ethan become the youngest Alpha the NightFang pack had ever known, and I became the first omega Luna. A few months later we had a second, more formal wedding with half the pack in attendance, but from that day on I had a target on my back, even though I didn’t know it yet.
“You promised I wouldn’t regret marrying you.” | state softly. “You lied.”
“I know.” Ethan admits, his voice full of regret. “I broke a lot of promises we made that day.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I ask, feeling my eyes burn with the threat of tears.
“I thought you’d like it.” He answers simply. “No matter what happened afterwards, I’d like to think that night is still a good memory for you.”
“It’s a painful memory.” I lie. I’ve returned to that night far too many times to count in my dreams, and though I wouldn’t change having my pups for anything, part of me still wishes we could go back to such a simple time. “I think you wanted to confuse me with the past or guilt me for leaving you.”
Fat grey clouds are swirling in the distance, reflecting my sullen mood. If confusing me was his intention it absolutely worked, especially since the bastard is still touching me and making my body feel too many things it shouldn’t. I try to shake him off, but there’s nowhere to run in this d*mned balloon.
“Actually I planned this before you came clean.” Ethan says, surprising me, “I was going to use it to try to make you admit your true identity, but I went ahead with it after you confessed because it’s a special place for us both.”
Not for the first time, I wonder at how calmly he’s behaved about everything I did to get away from him
as if he thinks this is all some big game. “Why don’t you care?” I ask suddenly, unable to contain my curiosity.
“Care about what?” He replies,
Throwing up my hands, some of the Champagne sloshes out of my glass, and I turn on Ethan. “That I had an affair, that I left you and faked my death?”
“I do care.” He answers evenly, lifting my hand to his l!ps, and l!cking the spilled drink from my skin. The feeling of his tongue lapped at the sparkling droplet erases all thought from my brain for a moment, particularly as I remember how talented his tongue is elsewhere.
Regaining my senses, I focus on his words with considerable effort. “It doesn’t seem like it.” I grumble, shortly followed by, “would you stop that!”
Sucking my finger into his mouth and giving it one last, luxurious l!ck, he grins at my flushed expression. “Trust me Janey, I care.” He assures me, releasing me only long enough to pour a bit more wine. “I’m just more relieved that you’re alive, than I am angry about your trick. And don’t get me started about your supposed affair.” He adds wryly.
“So what, you’re just going to let your anger go?” I scoff, not understanding how this could be the same man who reacted so brutally to my attack on Eve. I used to think that being Alpha must have corrupted him how else could the loving man I married be so cruel? Now I’m beginning to wonder if he’s not simply an incredible actor. Maybe this is what he does when he isn’t in control: he pretends to be affectionate and caring in order to get what he wants, then shows his true colors when the time is right.
Ethan arches a brow. “Would you rather I punish you?”
My hackles instantly raise, “Of course not – I’ve had enough of your punishment for a lifetime.” I snap.
“And that’s why.” He announces cryptically, a flash of some undecipherable emotion darting across his too-hand some features.
“Why you’re letting it go?” | clarify, not quite believing my ears.
“Consider it time served.” He remarks absently, staring past me with a furrowed brow. “That’s strange.” He says, more to himself than to me.
“You’re what’s strange.” | mutter under my breath, “One minute you’re coming on to me so strongly I have to practically jump out of the balloon to escape, the next you’re actually being reasonable and then you go all moody, not even paying attention to our –”
“Jane!” Ethan interrupts my grumbling, and for the first time I catch a note of worry in his voice. He’s no longer holding his Champagne glass, instead he’s fiddling with the balloon’s rigging, his movements swift and purposeful. Cocking my head as I watch him work, I belatedly realize that it’s got ten oddly dark out. A few moments ago the sunset was still blazing around us, but this seems much too quick for it to already be over.
Turning around with a sense of rising dread, I can only blink in shock and horror at the huge black clouds barreling towards us, blocking out the stunning sunset and moving so fast that the wind must be gusting. “I thought you said you checked the weather.”
“I did.” Ethan answers through gritted teeth, “there weren’t any storms in the forecast. It was completely clear.”
“Right.” | utter simply, l!cking my l!ps. “What do we do?” My voice sounds strange to my own ears, and I flinch as light ning flashes violently in the approaching maelstrom.
“We try to land before it hits us.” He explains, lowering the flame suspended beneath the red envelope.
“Is that going to be possible?” I squeak, already feeling the icey gusts of wind pelting my skin.
“We’re sure as hell going to try.” Ethan pronounces, raising his voice so he can be heard over the approaching thunder.
“What should I do? Can I help?” I question, my pulse beginning to race.
“The best thing you can do is just hunker down and wait it out, baby.” He instructs, guiding me to one corner of the basket and helping me lower myself into a crouch. “I’ll get us out of this.”
In nine out of ten dangerous situations I would insist on helping, on not standing by and letting a big strong man save me. However right now I’m completely out of my league, and I don’t have the first clue what to do. Even Ethan, who knows how to fly this damned contraption, is powerless to a certain degree. All he can do is get us to the ground as fast as possible, but the little I know about balloons tells me that the colder the air is around us, the harder it will be for us to land.
When the storm finally collides with us, the balloon is instantly sent spinning, and I cry out with fear, clutching the sides of the basket. To see Ethan standing up, still battling with the controls in the middle of such a gale makes me feel sick.
A clap of thunder louder than any gunshot releases a torrent of rain. It pelts us at such a slant it seems almost horizontal, instantly soaking us both. I want to shout for Ethan to sit down, but I don’t think he can. I keep imagining one good burst of wind knocking him over the side of the basket, but all I can do is wrap my arms around my knees and pray to the Goddess that we’ll be alright.
I have to make it home, I think desperately, I can’t leave my pups on their own. They’re too little, they need me. The only other time I’ve known fear this strong was the night of Paisley’s surgery, but this is fear of a different kind. This is the fear of knowing my own life could end at any moment, and Ethan’s as well. It’s bad enough to imagine leaving the kids without one parent, but to lose both is too terrible to contemplate. That’s the only reason I’m so afraid for him, I tell myself. I wouldn’t care if it wasn’t for the kids.
The basket is spinning and shaking, the flame completely gone out as we hurtle through the air. Then, just as another thunderclap draws a scream from my l!ps, I hear a vicious tearing sound as the nylon balloon rips wide open.
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 57
Ethan
Jane is huddled in one corner of the basket as we plummet towards the ground, her eyes clamped tightly shut as she holds on for dear life. At a certain point I had to cut the propane off completely, the storm arrived too fast, and a gradual fall was too risky. Now we’re being batted around like a ping-pong ball trapped in some macabre game played by the gods of thunder and lightning, and it’s only getting worse.
When the nylon balloon tears, true fear slices through me for the first time. Up until then I was worried but optimistic: as long as the balloon was intact and we stayed in the basket, eventually we’d have to land. However one of those factors just got shredded, and the other was about to go right out the window with it. Still, I had to take the risk – for Jane’s sake if not my own.
Wrapping one of the dangling ballast ropes around my wrist, 1 begin climbing onto the edge of the basket, edging around to the side of the balloon that tore. Just then a terrified but familiar voice reaches my ears, “Ethan, what are you doing?!”
“I have to fix the tear!” I shout back.
“It’s too dangerous!” Jane screams, crawling out of her corner and trying to cross over to me, as if she wants to pull me back inside.
“I have to!” I call back, holding out a hand to stop her frantic movement, “Just stay there and let me do this. There’s no other way.”
To my immense relief she obeys, watching me with eyes as wide as dinner plates. Climbing up the rigging, it takes nearly all my strength to hold on as we careen through the air, but eventually I manage to reach the tear. Grasping one side of the nylon with one hand, I take a deep breath and let go of the ropes long enough to reach out and grab the other side of the ripped envelope.
Bringing the two sides together, I quickly tie the shredded ends and loop my arms and legs through the ropes crisscrossing over the balloon, stabilizing myself as I prepare to ride out the rest of this disastrous flight. The base is more secure now, but I’m going to have to hold the sides of the tear to prevent it from ripping further at the top. Luckily these mountains are high enough that we aren’t far from the ground now, but we still have a crash landing to survive.
Regret and fear for Jane pulses through me as I watch the mountains draw nearer, occasionally illuminated by blinding flashes of lightning. The last thing I wanted was for her to be harmed. She has to survive this and not only because she means the world to me, but because if it comes down to one of us, the pups need her far more than they need me suming they’re mine at all.
Those minutes handing on the side of an out-of-control hot air balloon were among the longest of my life, but eventually we hit the ground like a ton of bricks, and I throw myself free of the balloon a second before the envelope hits the rocks, The basket is on it’s side, but I can see Jane still huddled inside.
Rushing to Jane, I pull her out of the basket and onto her feet, “Come here, let me look at you.” I murmur, checking over her small body, “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” But Jane isn’t responding, the moment I touched her she latched onto me like a little blonde strip of velcro, throwing her arms around my middle and sobbing into my chest.
Sighing with relief and just a little bit of pride that she’s seeking me for comfort, I return her hug and bury my head in her sweet-smelling hair. “Open your eyes, Janey.” I encourage her gently. “It’s over, we made it.”
She shakes her head against my rain-drenched shirt, and I cuddle her closer. “It’s over little wolf, you’re safe.”
Her lashes gradually part, revealing tear-stained, red rimmed eyes as green as the forest around us. Looking hesitantly around, she slowly turns her attention back to me. Pushing away from my embrace, she slashes her hand towards my bicep and I catch it reflexively, not allowing her swat to land. “What is wrong with you? How could you take me up in that thing!” She shouts furiously, “Are you crazy! We have kids!”
“I’m sorry.” I profess sincerely, pulling her back into my arms, “I’m so sorry, I never would have done it if I thought there was a chance of a storm.”
Jane’s face is buried in my chest, and she grumbles something indecipherable. I’m sure it was an accusation of insult of some sort, but as long as she’s hugging me, I don’t care what names she wants to call me. I could gladly do this all day. However when I finally push her away, deciding we’d better try to find some shelter, she’s not insulting me at all.
“A-and y-you climbed o-out of the b-basket and I thought… I thought you were g-going to die and-” She sobs, staring at me with a look of abject betrayal, “what?”
“Nothing.” | cover the sudden pang in my heart quickly, “I” m sorry I scared you, baby.”
“You should be.” She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. A red smear appears on her cheek then, and | catch her hand as carefully as I can. Angry red gashes dot her palms, and I spy a few shards of glass imbedded in her skin. The champagne glasses must have broken. Tsking softly, I look around us for a suitable spot to wait out the storm and treat her wounds. To my surprise, I recognize the spot where we stand.
“We’re not far from the temple.” | announce, glancing back at Jane. “Are you up for a little walk – I don’t think we’re going to find better shelter.”
“Fine.” She informs me grumpily. “But I’m not doing any reminiscing, mister.”
“Agreed.” | chuckle softly, leading her away into the trees.
“Ow!” Jane yelps, trying and failing to jerk her hand away from me. “Ow, ow, ow.”
“Hush now,” | croon, using my extended claws like a pair of pincers to pull the glass from her ravaged palms. “I’m almost done.”
We’re seated in an abandoned cave near the stone circle, shivering as rain continues to pour outside, but slowly drying out beside the fire I built. The temple’s priestesses live in the wilds around the altar, and I suspect the cave we currently inhabit might have housed one of the Goddess’s mysterious servants once. It’s far too clean to be home to bears or other wildlife.
Jane continues to fuss as I tend her wounds, I suspect more out of feeling sullen than actual pain. “Didn’t you birth quadruplets?” I tease after a moment, “this can’t be that bad.”
“Actually this is worse.” Jane sniffs with a pout, “I had drugs for that.”
“Oh I see.” I murmur sympathetically, wrapping her hand in a strip of damp fabric I tore from my shirt and k!ssing her palm before moving on to the other. I let my l!ps linger on her second hand a few moments too long, testing just how vulnerable she’s feeling. Jane lets me press a few lingering k!sses to her wrist, then more as I make my way up her arm. Realizing she must have been very shaken if she was letting me take advantage this way, I pull back, feeling a sliver of guilt settle in my chest. I wouldn’t mind taking advantage further, but I feel badly for scaring her so much. “Okay sweetheart, I think we should shift and try to get some sleep.”
Is it my imagination, or does she look disappointed?
“It’s awfully cold.” She observes with a shiver. “Even with a fur coat.”
I have to smother my smile, suddenly remembering how sneaky Jane used to be when we were dating. The pups definitely got their alpha personalities from their father – whether it’s me or Eric remains to be seen – but all their deviousness came directly from the little she-wolf in front of me. When Jane wants something she almost never comes out and asks for it, instead she schemes her way into making others offer it. I’d be willing to bet that my chosen mate wants a cuddle right now, but feels too proud or shy to ask for it.
“Then I suppose we’ll have to snuggle for warmth.” I suggest with a sigh.
I know my suspicions were correct when I see a spark of triumph in her beautiful eyes. “Fine.” Jane mutters sulkily, “but don’t even think about trying anything.”
“You have my word.” I vow, stripping off my clothes and shifting into my wolf. Curling up by the fire, I watch as Jane removes her soaked clothing one piece at a time, making absolutely no attempt to hide herself from my view. With the near-death experience we just survived, I’m not surprised she’s feeling the need to reaffirm her vitality with physical affection, but I know from experience that giving in now would be a mistake.
I’m sure Jane would gladly let me make love to her in this moment, but in the morning she would call it a mistake. Much better to keep her wanting, to leave her hot and bothered and hungry for more. So when she finally shifts and the sweet little blonde wolf curls up against me, I simply wrap my big body around her, and purr until she’s fast asleep. As disastrous as this date turned out to be – this round undoubtedly goes to me.
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 58
Jane
As my lashes flutter open, I struggle to place my surroundings. I’m lying on the cold, hard ground but my body is cushioned on all sides by warm, soft fur. Ethan’s scent envelopes me like a security blanket; familiar, irresistible and only too cozy.
He purrs as | stir, his powerful muscles constricting around me as if trying to hold me closer. My mind grapples for memories of last night, trying to figure out how we ended up here. After a moment everything comes rushing back to me, and I’m instantly glad I’m in wolf form or I would be blushing scarlet.
I can’t believe I let Ethan get the better of me that way. I can’t believe how shamelessly I flirted with him – my Goddess, I practically did a strip tease. What on earth was I thinking? My wolf is practically glowing with happiness to be wrapped up in his proverbial arms, but all this incident has shown me is how weak my will is, even after all this time.
There is no way I can possibly move in with him – if I lose this much control over a little balloon accident, what’s going to happen when | have one too many glasses of wine, or when I feel a little bit too lonely late at night?
Hesitantly rousing myself, I manage to shake off Ethan’s big limbs and shift back into my human form. The next thing! know the warm fur at my back disappears, and a pair of muscular arms circle my body. “Good morning, beautiful.” Ethan murmurs in my ear, k!ssing my shoulder.
“Oh no you don’t.” | snap over my shoulder, pushing him
off, and searching for my discarded clothes. “There’s not going to be any of that.”
“You can’t blame me for trying.” He chuckles.
“Oh yes I absolutely can.” I grumble, glancing at my ex-husband and instantly regretting it. He’s standing behind me completely naked, every inch of his bronze skin on display, muscles rippling as he stretches and yawns. Unable to stop myself, I let my eyes wander down below his waist, and now I really am bright red.
Though I will never admit it, I’ve fantasized about having Ethan back in my bed many times over the years. Whatever happened between us, there’s no denying how talented he is in the bedroom. Still, I thought my memory was tricking me into imagining his… lets say skills… were more prodigious than they truly were in reality. However the evidence is currently staring me in the face, and if anything I think my memory undersold him.
“You like what you see?” Ethan’s deep voice reaches my ears, and if it’s possible I feel my flush spread.
“No,” I lie stubbornly, turning away and pulling on my panties. “You’ve really let yourself go, Ethan.”
“Mhmm.” He chuckles, prowling forward until he’s standing so close behind me that I can feel the heat pouring off his body in waves. “Is that why I can smell your ar-”
“Hey!” I object, clutching my shirt over my bare breasts and pivoting to poke him in the chest. “Gentlemen do not point out that kind of thing.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not a gentleman.” He grins.
“You’ve got that right.” I mutter, pulling on my top without pausing to don my bra. Every moment I spend naked with this man is like a ticking time bomb.
“How are we going to get home?” I ask, looking around. The last time we came here we drove.
“We’ll have to hike down to the road and hope someone will give us a ride.” He reasons.
“Great.” I remark dryly, “first you take a balloon into a hurricane, now you want to hitchhike. You know, near death experiences aren’t usually considered ideal date activities.”
“Oh, so this is still part of the date?” Ethan quips, arching one of his dark brows. “Does that mean you’ll let me hold your hand?”
“Not in this lifetime romeo.” I answer, swatting the hand he has extended towards me as we set out of the cave. “Do you think the pups are okay?” I fret, “they must be really freaked out that we never came home.”
Ethan sighs, “I know, but there’s not anything we can do about it. We just have to get home as fast as we can.” He squeezes my arm, “They’re tough pups, they’ll pull through.”
“I hope you’re right.”
At that moment, Ryder, Parker, Paisley and Riley were eagerly putting their heads together, trying to speak softly enough that their babysitter wouldn’t overhear. “So you put rats in the ‘partment?” Paisley asked, barely containing a giggle.
“We ‘leased them two days ‘go.” Riley confirmed.
Paisley couldn’t help herself. She laughed out loud, and her siblings couldn’t resist joining in. “How many?”
“Twelve.” Ryder chortled, his young face lit up with glee. “Mommy hasn’ noticed yet, but she will!”
“Then she’ll be sure to move us.” Parker concluded, “Mom my hates messes, and rats are super messy.”
“I can’t wait!” Paisley exclaims, “I’ve always wanted a big family.”
“We can all live together, forever!” Parker agreed.
“And our plan might ‘ready be working!” Riley added happily, “if they didn’ come home last night, they must be having a really good time.”
“I bet they’re k!ssing.” Ryder suggested, clasping his hands over his mouth, tickled by his own joke. The others chuckled along happily, completely unaware there was any act more intimate than this.
“Why’d they split up in da first place?” Paisley asked the others, voicing a question that had been bothering her for some time. “I asks Daddy and all he said was they’re playing hide and seek.” .
“I dunno.” Riley frowned, “Mommy’s never ‘ven talked ’bout Daddy before – but she always seems really sad when we asks.
“Daddy’s seemed sad too.” Paisley nodded. “He’s been a gazillion times happier ever since she came back.”
“Mommy’s seemed happier too.” Parker shared. “Auntie Linda says she’s ‘flicted… or someting like that. I think it means confused, but she keeps humming and smiling for no reason. She never used to do that.”
Riley shook her head in annoyance, “Grown ups can be so silly. It’s right in front of their faces and dey don’t even see it.”
A few hours later when Jane and Ethan came through the door, apologies raining from their l!ps, the pups looked up at them in confusion. “Why’re you sorry?” Ryder asked, thinking his parents were very odd indeed. “We’ve been having so much fun!”
“We should stay here all da time, Mommy!” Parker beamed.
Jane sent a meaningful glance in Ethan’s direction, just barely missing him cover up his smile. “You weren’t worried when we didn’t come home last night?”
“Course not!” Riley laughed, “We knew you were safe with da Alpha.”
Now Jane did catch Ethan grinning, as he made no effort to hide it. Instead he put his arm around her shoulders and beamed at the children. “That’s right kids,” He proclaimed, “Your Mommy is safe as long as she’s with me.”
“And on that note, we really should be going.” Jane announced, to the sound of four dramatic g****s. “Come on, now, you’ve had lots of time together, I don’t want to hear any complaints.”
As the pups gathered their things, Ethan pulled Jane to the side. “Have you thought any more about my proposal?”
Jane glanced at the kids nervously, “Hey, careful. If the kids hear that word they might think you mean something very different.”
Ethan didn’t look the least bit dissuaded, “Is that a yes?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Jane confessed, “There’s too much history and it’s just too complicated. I don’t want things to be harder for Paisley, but I also don’t want to get the others’ hopes up about…”
“About me?” Ethan guessed when she trailed off. “Why would that be a concern when Eric is in the picture?”
“Well that’s the other thing.” Jane relayed honestly, “Eric isn’t wild about the idea of his fiancee moving in with her ex.”
“Fine.” Ethan grumbled, “We’ll leave the matter open for now.”
“No.” Jane argued, “this is my decision.”
“You only thought about it for a couple of days, and one of those was under some pretty stressful circumstances.” Ethan reasoned, “do us both a favor, and give it some more time.”
“You’re right.” Jane conceded, “I might have agreed if it hadn’t been for the date.”
Anger flashed in Ethan’s eyes, but he didn’t argue. He knew better than to push Jane when she was already digging in her heels. Jane left with Ryder, Parker and Riley, feeling a sense of calm to finally be returning home and to have things semi-settled with Ethan. She didn’t know if he’d still let her take Paisley when her time in the city was up, but she knew she might never get out of the Night Fang territory if she took that risk with Ethan.
Of course her light mood only lasted as long as it took them to make the short walk home. As soon as she opened the door, she smelled the rats, and when she flicked the lightswitch, she saw they’re scurrying bodies. “Oh my goddess.” She exclaimed, putting a hand out to stop the children from going inside. There were droppings everywhere, and she could see from here that the electrical wires on more than one of her appliances had been chewed through. “How on earth!” She exclaimed, dropping her head back in exasperation, “I don’t believe this.”
Taking a deep breath, Jane pulled out her phone and dialed Ethan’s number. He picked up almost instantly. “Hello gorgeous, you miss me already?”
“No.” She growled, “But I have sort of a situation here.” Jane sighed, staring around her house in reluctant defeat. ” think we will be moving in with you after all – immediately.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 59
Jane
Jane couldn’t believe this was happening.
If it were anything else, she would simply grit her teeth and bear the inconvenience, but rats are magnets for disease and there were so many visible that she couldn’t even imagine how many were hiding out of sight. So much for the fancy new apartment. She thought, already planning some very choice words for her leasing agent.
Ethan’s voice hardened on the other end of the line, “Is everything okay? Are you in trouble?”
“Down boy.” Jane answered simply, “there’s no danger, unless you count the danger of me puking in disgust. We appear to have a rat infestation – and a big one at that.” Peeking into the apartment, she shuddered when she saw a handful of long, hairless tails slipping away beneath her expensive furnishings.
Jane could almost feel Ethan relax through the phone, and she was certain she heard the start of a smile in his voice. “The babysitter is still here, I’ll be over in a sec to help you.”
“Ethan,” she stopped him, feeling suddenly very overwhelmed. “This is the only reason I’m agreeing. If I had another choice I’d take it.”
If Ethan’s thoughts followed the same train as Jane’s – which told her she had a thousand other choices ranging from going back to Linda’s, to getting a hotel or simply leaving the city early – he had the sense not to voice them. “Of course, Janey.”
After she hung up, she looked down at the curious faces of her babies. “Well munchkins you got your wish, we’re going to go stay with Ethan and Paisley.” Jane dragged an exhausted hand through her long hair, “And I’m starting to think I have a seriously self-destructive streak.”
“Wha’s a self-structive streak?” Riley asked promptly, even while she and the boys dance around in celebration.
“Something grown ups have that makes them do things they know they shouldn’t.” Jane explained with a frown.
“You mean like when I wanna cookie, but you tell me to wait ’til after dinner, so I sneak it out a the jar behind you?” The little girl asked without even a hint of shame.
“Something like that.” Jane agreed with a wry smile.
“Is okay, Mommy.” Parker straightened up to join the conversation. “Everyone makes ‘stakes sometimes.”
The next day, Eric arrived bright and early to help Jane
move all of their things out of the condo and into Ethan’s penthouse, to the Alpha’s extreme displeasure. Luckily they’d only just moved into the apartment, so lots of their boxes hadn’t yet been unpacked. It was merely a matter of moving things from one place to another.
Jane had asked for Eric’s assistance, worried that Ethan was already getting the wrong idea about her presence in his home. However if she was being honest with herself, her real fear was that she liked being back there far too much. Their first night in the apartment had been one of the most surreal and wonderful nights of her life. After everything that had happened with Eve, Petra had checked herself into a spa for a full week to try and recover, unable to wrap her mind around the terrible turn of events, so the young family had the pent house all to themselves.
Ethan cooked dinner with his own two hands, and Jane got to have a meal with her entire family together for the very first time. Afterwards they gave the pups baths and put them to bed, all piling onto Paisley’s bed for a fairy story before being tucked in with hugs and k!sses from both their parents – for the first time in their lives. Once they were settled Ethan poured Jane a glass of wine and cleaned up while she took a bubble bath, before they settled on the couch to watch a movie. Jane fell asleep cuddled up against Ethan, and didn’t even wake when he carried her to her bed a little while later.
When she woke up in the morning Jane called Linda before the sun was even up, letting her old friend talk her down from a panic attack before reaching out to Eric. He promised
to come to her aid without hesitation, and when he arrived after breakfast Jane didn’t have to fake her joy at seeing him. She threw her arms around his neck and let him lift her feet straight off the ground, before k!ssing her soundly. Ethan and the pups looked on with disappointment, but they were too far away to hear Jane’s whispers of thanks to her fake fiance.
“I’m in so far over my head.” She admitted as they packed clothes into suitcases a little while later. “Honestly Eric, what am I going to do?”
“Listen, it’s a step in the right direction,” Eric assured her, taking her by shoulders and speaking in a low, comforting tone. “You can do this, Jane. It’s a few months and then you get to bring Paisley home once and for all.”
“I know,” Jane m****d, feeling completely beside herself. The previous night hadn’t been as close a call as their time together after the balloon crash, but it had tempted her horribly. “But Ethan – he knows all my weaknesses, he knows how to get to me like no one else.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?” Eric offered, a harsh note in his voice that wasn’t there a moment ago.
“And say what?” Jane questioned. “Stay away from my woman?” She joked.
“Why not? If you want him to believe this thing between us is real, I can’t just paw you all over in front of him – not that I mind.” He added, flashing a wolfish grin. “I have to act the way
he’d expect a true contender to act, and that means confronting him when he pushes you too hard.”
“But what good will that do?” Jane countered, “other than riling him up?”
“It will make him take our engagement seriously.” Eric reasoned.
“Fine.” Jane sighed, “just promise me you’ll keep it civil.”
“That won’t be a problem.” He assured her. He had every intention of doing whatever was necessary to protect his future with Jane, and nothing was a bigger threat to that than Ethan.
After a very long morning of moving boxes, suitcases and bags between the two apartments, Jane took the pups out to lunch, promising to bring take out back to Ethan and Eric and hoping their conversation went smoothly. Inside, she knew the chances of this were very small indeed. She’d heard Ethan growling every time Eric touched her, and she genuinely thought he might attack the other man when he saw him playing with Paisley
As soon as Jane and the pups were out the door, Eric turned on the powerful Nightfang Alpha. “Let me guess.” Ethan smirked, eyeing his opponent up and down, “You’re going to set me straight about pursuing Jane when you’ve al ready staked your claim.”
“This isn’t about my claim, it’s about her wishes. She left you for a reason, Blackwell.” Eric replied stiffly. “She doesn’t want you.”
“If that was true, she wouldn’t need you here to do her bidding.” Ethan combatted, “If she didn’t want me, she wouldn’t be so worried about giving in to me.”
“I’ve got news for you, if you have to make a woman “give in” to you, you’re a predator.” Eric stated fiercely.
“Of course I’m a predator.” Ethan growled, “all true Alpha’s are, and like it or not Jane is an omega, it’s in her nature to run, even when she wants to be caught.”
“You make me sick.” Eric announced, “Goddess knows how an amazing she-wolf like Jane ever fell for you in the first place, but it’s a blessing she finally came to her senses.”
“You don’t have the first clue about what happened be:ween us, do you?” Ethan asked, offering him a lethal grin. “It doesn’t sound like there’s much trust in your relationship if she hasn’t even shared her past with you.”
“I know you must have mistreated that incredible woman horribly for her to be as skittish as she is.” Eric growled, “if there’s not trust between us, it’s because you traumatized her.”
“You don’t give Jane enough credit.” Ethan informed him coldly. “She’s one of the strongest women I’ve ever met.”
“Maybe she’s only as strong as she is because she had to survive you.” Eric argued back.
“I made plenty of mistakes in our marriage, but Jane was a force of nature long before I fvcked things up.” Ethan declared.
“Well at least you have that much sense.” Eric hissed, “But the bottom line remains, you don’t deserve Jane, and I certainly don’t want you anywhere near our pups.”
That was the last straw, Eric’s wolf was ready and waiting to burst free the moment Ethan attacked, and he knew only too well this taunt would provoke him into doing just that. With a thundering snarl, Ethan launched himself at the other man. He shifted in mid-air, transforming into a huge black wolf moments before he collided with the other man.
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 60
Jane
When I left the house, I hadn’t been too confident that it would still be standing when I got home, but to my relief the apartment building looks intact when the kids and I return from lunch. Unfortunately that was where the good news ended. When the pups and I reached the top floor and the elevator doors dinged open, I instantly heard the sounds of snarls and smashing glass.
“Kids, stay here.” I caution, herding them out into the hallway. “Promise me, okay?”
“We promise.” Four little voices chime in unison.
Rushing to the front door, I barely step out of the way in time before two huge, furry bodies crash through the wooden panel. I yelp and jump back, struggling to make sense of what I’m seeing. The two wolves are a blur of movement almost too fast to make out, but I can see that Eric is injured. B***d seeps through his gray fur as Ethan’s jaws lock around his neck.
“Ethan don’t!” | shout, surprising both men. They look up as one, but while Ethan seemed to sober when he realized I was there, Eric saw an opening and lunged for the other wolf’s throat. My ex-husband jerked away just in time, growling fiercely and reentering the fray.
The wolves rolled back into the apartment like a pair of bulls in a China shop, rebounding back and forth between the walls and furniture and destroying everything in their path. Stumbling in after them, I try to figure out some way to break up the fight. Seeing a single unbroken vase left on the table, snatch it up and pour the water over the writhing furballs, groaning in frustration when they don’t even blink.
“Mommy?” Whipping around, horror washes over me when I see Paisley standing in the doorway, already on the verge of tears.
I’m not the only one who heard her sweet voice. Again Ethan looks up, freezing in place even as Eric digs his razor sharp claws into his stomach. Running to Paisley, I scoop her up into my arms without bothering to watch what happens next in the fight. “Sweetie I told you to stay back!” | remind her, my voice harsher than I intended. The pup shimpers, and I immediately apologize. “I’m sorry. I’m not mad, you just scared me, little one. You have to stay here”
“But I’m scared.” She sniffles.
“I know baby.” | profess, stroking her soft here, “let your brothers and sister help you. They’re scared too.” The other pups nod and close in around Paisley, bundling together in a four-way hug.
I was angry before, but now those two idiots had gone and endangered my pup. I didn’t intend to shift when I went back storming into the penthouse, but I blinked and suddenly I was on all fours. Charging inside, I jumped straight into the melee, forcing myself between the two men.
They instantly stopped, though Eric managed to get a bite into my thigh before he realized it was me and not Ethan. I whine as his teeth sink into my flesh, jolting backwards and accidentally smacking my head into the floor. The next thing! know both men are hovering over me in human form, their worried faces blurring in and out of my vision. “Janey, baby, are you okay?” Ethan questions urgently.
Eric looks overwhelmed with guilt, “I’m so sorry, Jane. I didn’t – I thought.”
“Get away from her!” Ethan thunders fiercely.
Slowly shifting back, I eye the deep gouges in my leg and push myself up onto my hands. “You two are in the dog. house.” I hiss. “My pups are right outside that door. You’re going to help me up, put some f*****g clothes on and clean this place up. And then you can explain to them why two fully grown adults – who were lecturing them about using their words not two weeks ago, I might add-” | remind Ethan, “were brawling like a pair of pups still in need of training leads.”
“You need to let us look at that first, little wolf.” Ethan says sternly, nodding toward my thigh and reaching for my head “how hard did you hit your head?”
“I don’t want to be touched by either of you right now.” growl, pushing him off.
“Mommy?” Four dark heads are poking around the edge of the door frame; four sets of tear-stained eyes, four runny noses.
Looking over Ethan and Eric – the former glistening with sweat and breathing heavily, already sporting a black eye and a few good gashes, while the latter looks as if he’s been dragged through a meat grinder – both completely naked and hovering over my own, nude, bleeding body, I can only imagine the nightmares my children will be having tonight.
“Don’t let them see I’m hurt.” I whisper, looking around for anything to hide the damage from view.
“Hold on one second, kids.” Ethan orders, jumping up to run get a bathrobe. A few moments later I’m covered up and having a resistance band tied around my leg like a tourniquet, and all four of my pups are cradled in my arms while the men start righting furniture and sweeping up glass.
“It’s okay, everyone’s okay.” I murmur, k!ssing each of their sweet-smelling heads. “Mommy’s sorry the big grumpy wolves tore down the house, but everything’s alright now.” Ethan has been hovering close, clearly overwrought by the sounds of the pups’ tears. Eric on the other hand tries to go about his task but he’s not much better at hiding his concern than Ethan. Glaring at both of them over the children’s heads, I mouth: you did this.
Paisley pulls away from me first, turning to look for Ethan with a hiccup and a pitiful cry for her Daddy. Ethan scoops her
up without a second thought, snuggling her against his chest and rocking her back and forth. “It’s okay angel, I’m here.”
“Okay.” I say when my leg starts to go numb, “I think everybody could use a nap.”
It isn’t easy to get the pups to go down, they’re all so upset that they don’t want to let us out of their sight. Still, they’re also exhausted from all the excitement. When they’re finally conked out and breathing the deep, even pattern of sleep, I turn on the men.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” | demand hotly, standing in front of them with my arms crossed over my ch3st.
“I’m so sorry.” Eric professes, looking truly guilt-stricken.
I hold up my palm, cutting him off, “What happened to “civil” Eric?”
“Things got out of hand, I – I wasn’t thinking.” He mutters.
“That much is clear.” I snark, “And Ethan, did you think that destroying the house was the best way to welcome us to it? | ask you, how is this —”. throwing my hands out on either side of me, I gesticulate to our ravaged surroundings, “better than the rat-infested hole I just left?”
“You know that’s not what I planned.” He remarks, stalking towards me. “But while we’re on the topic, what were you
thinking?” Ethan questions, glaring right back at me, “Why in the Goddess’s name would you jump into the middle of two Alpha’s fighting?”
“Because my daughter almost walked into the line of fire, because you scared her half to death.” | snarl. “All four of my pups were in danger because you two had to go and act approximately one tenth of your ages. And for what? What did we learn here boys? Did you answer whatever question you were trying to figure out?”
Swaying slightly on my feet, I level a foreboding glare when they try to approach me. “Baby, I really wish you’d let us look at your leg.” Ethan presses.
“Don’t baby me!” | snap, feeling oddly light headed. “The only babies in this room are you two dummies!”
“I’m sorry.” Ethan states grimly, “You have no idea how terrible I feel, I never would do anything to risk the pups, please know that.”
“Who started it?” | inquire, already knowing the answer. “Which one of you took the first bite?”
“I did.” Ethan confesses, “but in my defense -”
“There is no defending this.” | cut him off, “but I can imagine why you did it.” I utter, scowling at Eric until he’s squirming beneath the weight of my gaze.
“I provoked him.” Eric admits, “he pissed me off and 1-”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I know it’s not very fair of me to keep asking them questions and then not let them answer, but I swear every time they open their mouths I want to scream. I can’t recall ever being this angry before, and it doesn’t help that the room is spinning this way. Bracing my hand on the back of the sofa, I continue, “you four owe unfathomably large apologies to the kids.”
The men exchange a meaningful glance, “you four.”
“Yes, all four of you big, infuriating, impossible, unbelie-” | trail off, pressing my hand to my temple and clamping my eyes shut. A strange, rising warmth works through my body as the b***d whirrs in my ears, “I don’t feel so good.”
A moment later the floor is rushing up towards my face, and the world goes black.