Ch. 86..90: The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 86-90
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 86
Jane
As I stare at the knife in my hands, I have to smother a shiver. I’m not sure I could actually go through with stabbing someone – and it očcurs to me that any thief or burglar might just as easily take the weapon from my hands and use it against me.
Maybe I should just call the police? I think nervously. Or Ethan, he might be a pain in my a*s but if he thought we were in danger he’d be here faster than any cop. Still my protective maternal instincts are in high gear, and I know l’m willing to risk my own life to defend my pups.
I’m almost to the peephole, still uncertain if investigating is the most sensible choice, when I hear a familiar growl. “Janey?” Ethan’s muddled voice rises on the other side of the door, and I immediately relax. “| know you’re there” he slurs in a sing-song voice, “| can smell you!”
Oh goddess, he’s drunk. I realize, lowering the knife. I set it down on the hall table, striding forward without hesitation.
So drunk he can’t open the damned door.
Wrenching the door open, I almost topple over when Ethan’s big body falls into my legs. He must have been sitting with his back to the door, because now his head is resting against my knee as I struggle to stay upright. Gr0aning, I bend down and hook my arms beneath his own, “Come on you, on your feet!”l encourage, trying to lift him and failing.
Oh for f**”k’s sake, you weight a ton!”
Ethan chuckles, surging to his feet and reaching out to steady himself by latching onto the nearest object – which unfortunately happens to be me. The next thing l know we’re tumbling to the ground together, and despite his clear inebriation, he does manage to roll so that my fall is cushioned by his body. Swearing, I try to scramble off of him, but he’s faster, rising to his feet and carrying me with him. I don’t untense until my feet are firmly back on the ground. As strong as he is, I don’t trust him to stand on his own two feet right now, let alone support my weight.
“You better not be making a habit of this, Ethan.” | scold.
This is the second time since l’ve returned that he’s gone on a bender like this, drowning his sorrows in booze.
“Why not?” He grumbles, “You’re about to leave, and take the pups with you… what will it matter if I become a drunk?”
“Because that isn’t you.” I proclaim gently, leading him towards his room. “You don’t give up and wallow, or lie around feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Maybe I do. I’ve never been completely alone before, maybe that’s who I am without my family. He suggests, stumbling along behind me.
“It isn’t,”l insist, closing the door behind us. “This is just the booze talking. You scared me half to death by the way. I thought someone was breaking in” It’s feeling much easier to be angry with him than to contemplate that he might be speaking the truth. “What were you even thinking, coming home in this state? What if the pups had found you instead of me?”
“I’m sorry, you’re right.” He answers hazily, turning around on the spot. “I’ll go, I’ll go sleep it off somewhere.”
“No, no!” l object, catching him before he can escape the bedroom, “You’re already here. Just get into bed.” I instruct.
Ethan is swaying on his feet, but he seems to hone in on me now, looking down at me with tortured intensity. “I’m so sorry, Janey.” He laments. “1 didn’t want to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt you.”
“lt’s okay, Ethan.” I lie, wanting to get this over with.”
Just go to sleep, you’ll feel better in the morning”
“No I wont. I’ll never feel better.” He g****s, taking my face between his hands. “Please don’t take them, please don’t leave. I don’t have anything without you and the pups”
That isn’t true, you still have the pack” I remind him,
We were never meant to be together anyway. Alphas and omegas don’t mix, everyone tried to warn us, it’s our fault we didn’t listen.’ My fingers close around his wrists, though I can’t seem to detach his hands from my cheeks. “Besides, for all we know you have a fated mate out there waiting for you to find her: I say, speaking one of my deepest, longest hidden secrets aloud since I know he won’t remember it.
It’s a very strange thing, to fear something so much when it would solve all my problems. Still, the idea has haunted me from the first day Ethan and l got together. It stuck through.our worst days, and even remained after I left him. Every time Linda checked in with me to report on Paisley’s status, I kept waiting for her to tell me that he’d found his real mate.
“No.” He insists, shaking his head so vigorously it makes him dizzy. He finally releases me so he can hold onto his own temples, but he’s undeterred.”1 don’t. It’s you, it’s only ever been you. I don’t care if the Goddess sends me a hundred mates, I will only ever want you.”
“Lots of people say that until they’ve met the one.”I state, trying to sound like I don’t care, or like l actually want this to happen. “Then their childhood sweethearts get tossed to the curb like yesterday’s trash.”
“silly little wolf” Ethan scoffs, shaking his head as if l’ve completely lost my mind. “Don’t you realize l already met her.
“What?” I repeat, stunned and certain I’ve misheard
“I already met my fated mate – years ago, before everything went wrong.” He announces, baffling me completely. “She didn’t hold a candle to you.”
“What?” I parrot, apparently incapable of coming up with any other words. “Ethan look at me, how much did you have to drink?”
“I’m not hallucinating, or dreaming” He mumbles, reaching for me again. I back away, leading him closer to the bed like a dogchasing a bone. We’d been married for almost two years, and she was traveling through the territory with her family. My wolf recognized her immediately.”
I freeze in place, stopping just a bit too long and getting myself nabbed by the handsy Alpha once more. “1..if that’s true why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“1 didn’t want you to be jealous, or doubt my love for you.” He explains, nuzzling my neck. She was a perfectly lovely she-wolf, but she wasn’t you.”
Oh no, there go my knees. All my insides are trying to melt, so I throw another wrench into his story. “And when you thought l’d died… you didn’t try to find her?”
“Finding her wouldn’t have brought you back- and that’s all l wanted.” His big, tree trunk arms are circling me now, surrounding me with warmth. “I had everything I needed with Paisley, except for you.”
I feel like I’ve got emotional whiplash, like every time l hit rock bottom I’m catapulted onto the top of a mountain, only to plunge down again. Which is why I don’t let myself fall for the warm fuzzy feeling in my ch3st, even though it’s threatening to take over me completely.
“And then I found out about Riley, Parker and Ryder…”
Ethan continues thickly, beginning to ramble out every last one of his drunken thoughts. “the pups I never knew l needed until they were here… and now they hate me… now you’re going to take them away.”
Well that was even faster than l expected. Guilt and pain consume me so abruptly they steal the breath from my lungs … or is it the huge wolf squeezing me like a security blanket?
Gasping for air, I struggle to pry Ethan’s arms off of me, “too tight!” I warn him hoarsely. «Ethan, I can’t breathe”
“Sorry’ he apologizes, loosening his grip.
Of course, once he does I realize it hasn’t helped. Sure my lungs aren’t being physically crushed anymore, but the emotional pain remains. It’s hard to deny how badly Ethan is suffering at the moment, and there’s no doubt it’s my fault.
l’d like to think that this will all go away in the morning when sobriety returns, but I know better.
As I tuck Ethan into bed, I try to reconcile my guilt, with the strange joy of hearing that he truly chose me over his fated mate, and the knowledge that I can’t let this change anything. Suddenly I see the appeal of trying to erase all my tumultuous emotions with the numbing power of alcohol, but Ethan is all the evidence l need to see that would only be a temporary fix, and one that would get me into more trouble. Instead I put him to bed, and return to my on, praying that he won’t remember any of this in the cold light of day, and wishing l could forget too.
Can 1?
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 87
Ethan
I don’t remember leaving the bar last night, but somehow l managed to get home and into bed.
Of course, I don’t need to remember to feel the horrible after effects of my foolish behavior. My beta, Matthew, tried to convince me to leave when I started feeling the effects of pouring half a bottle of scotch into an oversized tumbler and calling it a little drink, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen.
One little drink became three, and before long I succeeded in reaching blissful oblivion – though it doesn’t feel even a little bit blissful now. Part of me feels ashamed of setting such a horrible example for my pups, but the other part simply reminds me that l’m not going to have pups for much longer.
Glancing at the clock, I can see it’s already 9am, which means I’m officially late for work. Sitting up in bed, the room begins to spin violently, and all of a sudden working from home seems like the only way I’m going to get anything done today.
When I finally emerge from my bedroom, our babysitter Sadie is already playing with the pups in the living room.
Only Paisley greets me good morning, and I try not to let getting the cold shoulder from the other pups’ affect me, but who am I kidding? Only a parent without a heart wouldn’t be bothered by this.
Whether they’re willing to talk to me or not, Sadie shouldn’t have to stay here all day if l’m present, sol send her home and go about setting up a work station for myself in the kitchen. The morning is quiet and admittedly rather unproductive, since I can’t focus on anything but the children silently despising me in the living room. However, by lunch I’m almost feeling human again.
By the time the pups’ afternoon nap rolls around, I’m desperate for a shower, and immediately retreat to the warm steam as soon as they’re down for the count. However when l emerge, the house seems oddly quiet. It takes me a moment to realize why. As distant and soft as the sounds of their slumbering breaths and beating hearts are, my keen senses have become completely attuned to the muted tunes of their bodies.
I burst into the pups’ bedrooms, unsurprised but horified to find it empty. Charging out into the main living area, I scan every inch of the room, but they’re nowhere to be found. Next I search the hallways and stairwell, as well as the elevator, roof and building lobby. After all is said and done one thing is abundantly, terribly clear: they’re gone.
I’m seconds away from calling the police, when l decide to check with Jane just in case. Maybe she came home in the few minutes I was showering.
“Jane?” I greet her calmly, trying not to panic.
“Hi, is everything okay?” She asks hesitantly. We texted this morning when I decided to stay home, but I don’t know why she sounds so on edge- unless of course she’s feeding off my own energy. Still, I thought I was hiding my anxiety better than that.
“Do you have the pups?” I inquire bluntly.
“No.” She replies hesitantly, “I thought -“
“..l don’t know how to say this but l’m afraid the pups might have run away.” I admit, interrupting her in my urgency.”They were napping and I jumped in the shower, and when I came out they were gone. I’ve looked everywhere and they aren’t here.”
To my surprise Jane doesn’t sound worried at all, “They haven’t run away.”
“But l’ve looked -“
“No,” she interrupts in a soothing tone. “Eric has them.
He took them to the science museum.”
“Are you serious?” I demand, my fear quickly transforming to rage, “Jane you scare the hell out of me, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well I never imagined he would pick them up without talking to you!” She defends herself, “or did you expect me to ask your permission?”
“That isn’t fair.” I counter, “First of all, they’re my pups too and we agreed to stop sending them to pre-school because of all the media, we should have discussed sending them out in full view of them without one of us being present. And second, you know that isn’t what i meant. 1 came out and they were just gone, Jane. No note, no nothing.
“I’m sorry, Jane concedes, “You’re right. We should have talked about it, and Eric shouldn’t have done that. I’ll speak to him.”
“No, I will” l insist, “this is unacceptable.”
“Im not sure that’s a good idea.” Jane hedges, “or have you forgotten how well things went the last time you two talked?”
This is different.” I insist, “I won’t let him get the best of me, and the pups will keep us both on good behavior.”
“Are you sure, I think maybe I should come home” Jane worries aloud.
“No, you stay put.” l instruct, “I’ll handle this.”
When Eric walks in a few hours later, I’m still fuming, Paisley runs over to me immediately, climbing into my lap even as the other children collapse in a puppy pile in the living room. “Daddy! It was so cool! I put my hand on this thing, and it tingled and all my hairs stuck out like crazy!
“That’s arnazing!” I praise,”so you had fun with uncle Eric?”
Part of me hopes she’ll say no, but I also can’t bring myself to be disappointed she had a good day. “lt was fun.”
She confirms, leaning close and loudly whispering, “but I would rather have gone with you.”
“Me too, angel.” I agree, “why don’t you go play with your brothers and sister while Eric and I talk?”
She eyes me warily, “You not going to fight ‘gain are you?
“No sweetheart” l chuckle, appreciating the reminder of how badly our last fight scared her. ‘d been in more danger of breaking my promise to Jane than l’d like to admit. The moment l saw the other man walk in, my temper pulled taught, at serious risk of snapping like a twig.
Standing, I usher the other alpha out into the hallway, trying to mask my seething animosity for the pups’ sake if not his own.
“What is this about, Blackwell?” He questions me snidely.
“Did you not think it might be a good idea to let me know you were taking my children out of this house?” | counter coldly.
He shrugged, “I assumed you’d figure it out.”‘
“1 almost called the police!” I growl, “it was merely dumb luck that I called Jane first, I was convinced they’d run away or been kidnapped.”
“But you did call Jane first, so no harm – no foul.” Eric remarked, brushing off my concerns as if they were nothing.
“Really, that’s all you have to say?” | snarl, “do you have any idea how badly you scared me.”
“If l were you l’d start getting used to not having the pups around.” He sneers, “Has Jane told you that she’s set a date? In two weeks time, the apartment will be as empty as it was today, for good.”
My wolf is doing it’s very best to make me break my promise, but I keep repeating the same words in my head.
The pups are here, the pups are here. His words are bringing my worst nightmares to life, but I also have enough sense this time to realize he’s intentionally trying to bait me. He wants me to attack. It will make me the villain and he the victim in Jane’s eyes once again, and any chance I have of keeping my family together will be gone.
“Get out of here” I hiss. “Before I finish the job l started.
You won’t be able to win Jane if you don’t have a head.!”I remind him.
He smirks, “and you won’t ever get her back if you kill me.’ Eric taunts, of course, you won’t win her back either way, but that would really put a pin in things.”
“Just go, Eric.” I repeat, I’m not interested in playing your games. With that, I turn on my heel and stalk back into the apartment, hovering near the door to make sure I hear him walk away before letting my guard down.
However, before I hear him depart, the sound of a dialing phone reaches my ears, and I realize he’s making a call.
Jane’s familiar voice sounds in the distance, “Eric? Hey, how’d it go? Did you pick up the kids without telling Ethan?”
“I thought you’d already told him about the plan.” He lies in an obviously false tone of sincerity,
“I’m so sorry, I never imagined. Jane he’s saying he’s going to call the police and have me arrested for kidnapping!
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 88
Ethan
It takes all my strength not to wrench the door open and charge after him as he retreats down the hall, pouring lies into Jane’s receptive ears. l can hear her shocked voice on the other end of the line, but I can also see the pups confused faces in front of me now. They need me more than Jane does in this moment, and I certainly don’t plan on giving Eric that satisfaction.
“Ethan, have you lost your mind?” Jane exclaims, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
“No.” l answer evenly, leaning against the kitchen counter with my arms crossed over my ch3st. The pups are finally in bed, and Jane didn’t waste a single moment before turning on me. “0f course, I doubt l’d realize it if l had.”
“You know Eric didn’t kidnap the pups!” She continues, as if I didn’t even speak. She’s got herself worked up into such a lather that I find it’s better to just let her get it out of her system, rather than interrupt. “Were you threatening to have him arrested because you meant it, or just to scare him?
“Eric knew exactly what he was doing when he took the pups without telling me.” l allege, towering over my furious little mate. “And I never threatened him with anything. I told him l’d almost called the police when I thought the kids were missing. He made up the rest to create precisely this situation,”‘ l explain, gesturing between us.
“Why would he do that?” Jane scoffs, “Eric is a good man, Ethan. All he’s ever tried to do is help me and he’d never intentionally hurt me. If you ask me, you’re just jealous of him.”
“Oh give me a little credit, Jane.” I grouse. “I’m not a h0rny teenager who can’t control their hormones just because another man is sniffing around you” I don’t bother mentioning that a few hours earlier I very nearly lost my control in the face of Eric’s provocation, or the fact that I’m having my rival investigated by the best private investigator in the territory. “And I hate to break it to you, but he’s not the saint you think he is.”
“Of course you would say that!” Jane complains, “you think everyone is untrustworthy because you assume that they all run on ulterior motives like you do.”
“No, I think Eric is untrustworthy because he is!” I counter, “he’s cunning and deceitful and he’s completely playing you.”
“How?” Jane demands, “other than watching our pups free of charge and trying to protect me from someone who almost destroyed me, that is?” She adds, glaring pointedly at me.
“He’s the one who told them about our past.”I announce gruffly, “and if you don’t believe me, you can ask them.”
Jane blinks, glancing in the direction of the pups’ bedroom before stubbornly tilting her chin up. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“Ask them.” I repeat, “he clearly wasn’t smart enough to warn them not to spill the beans, because they told me without any trouble at all. Don’t forget, he’s the one who was with them all day when they found out.”
Jane is frowning deeply now, looking as if l’m telling her something as outlandish and impossible as the fact that pigs are flying just out the window. I can see her determined streak battling with her instincts, the ones telling her I speak the truth. “Even if he did tell them, it’s not as if he would have been lying. He wouldn’t have been able to tell them anything if you hadn’t done those things.” She reasons.
“Maybe so, but that wouldn’t excuse him telling something so inappropriate to such young pups.” l insist, ” and if there was nothing wrong with it, why didn’t he tell you?”
“He didn’t tell me because he didn’t do it!'” She combats, digging in her heels.
“Why are you so sure he’s innocent?” I ask, “You’re smarter than this, Jane.”
“I’m sure he’s innocent because bringing myself to trust a man after what you did to me took all my courage and all my strength. I’m not just going to throw that away because you feel the need to get all possessive.” She grits out.
“Or maybe it’s because being proved wrong would hurt you even worse the second time.” I theorize, “and you’re running scared – again!”
“You don’t get to talk to me about my baggage, not when you’re the one who inflicted all the damage in the first place!” She cries.
“And I will be paying for that for the rest of my life.” I confess, “1 will regret hurting you for as long as I live, but I won’t let you get manipulated by a scheming j3rk just to coddle your feelings.”
“As if you haven’t been trying to manipulate me yourself?” She prods, “you expect me to believe that all these dates, all these romantic outings you’ve taken me on haven’t been trying to win me back even though you know I want nothing to do with you?!”
I can’t help but laugh, “Do you truly believe a single word you’re saying?” | challenge, “Have you gotten so good at lying to yourself that you really think you don’t want me?”
“Do you even hear yourself?” She hisses. “If another man spoke to me this way you’d beat him to a pulp.”
Rolling my eyes, I drag her small body close, wrapping her up in my arms. “You forget, little omega, that this is our way. I’m not just any alpha to you, and you’re not just any omega to me. We were mates, we’re still bonded. I can sense your response to me, I can feel how hard you’re fighting just to keep me at arms length.”
“And all that should matter is that I am fighting” She murmurs. “If you respected me you’d take that as a sign to back off”
“And it’s because I love you that I can’t.” l insist, “I know you’re scared, but if you were happy you would be sleeping with me when you’re supposed to be walking down the aisle with another man in a few months.”
“1 already told you, that was a mistake.” Jane declares hotly.
“That’s not the only reason” I share, “you’ve been making it too easy, Janey. Agreeing to go on dates with me, moving in when you had plenty of other choices.”
Shaking her head, Jane clenches her little hands into fists. “You know I wasn’t sure until this moment” She announces cryptically, “l felt so guilty about Paisley, about taking the other pups from you, but I thought the sooner we r!pped the bandaid off the better. But now l know for sure – I’m leaving with the pups, two weeks from yesterday. I’m taking them back to the Dark Moon pack, and there’s not a thing you can do to stop me.
Suddenly I realize that part of Eric’s story was true, but instead of feeling angry, I feel only the pain of knowing how soon my entire world is going to crumble around me. The b***d is whirring in my ears now, and a red haze blocks out my vision. In an instant, the world around us disappears, and all that remains is Jane.
Before I can think better of it, I pull Jane flush against me, claiming her l!ps and silencing her objections before she can voice them. As usual she resists me for all of half a second, letting her wolf take over the moment she feels my l!ps searing her own. She melts into my arms and twines her slender arms around my neck, pulling me closer.
She surrenders so easily I wonder if l’m dreaming, but she feels far too real in my arms. I must be wearing her down, that or her hormones are as on edge as my own are. It seems like every day we spend together the stronger they grow, taking over bigger and bigger pieces of my brain. My tongue teases her l!ps, and she opens for me gladly. I slant my mouth over hers, coaxing her own tongue out of hiding to tangle with my own. She purrs happily, stretching like a petted cat as I run my hands over her curves.
For a few blissful moments I’m able to forget all my worries. As long as Jane is in my arms, everything is alright – not that I can think about anything else. She’s the sudden center of my universe, and my need for her grows more urgent by the minute. It’s as if holding her in my arms reduces all the distractions in our lives to nothingness, as if Eric and Eve and even that incompetent investigator are all just white noise keeping us from focusing on the things that really matter: each other and our pups.
Suddenly Jane wrenches away from me with an agonized cry that stops me dead in my tracks. “Jane?”
“Oh Goddess,” She m***s, shaking her head and clutching her middle, “No, no, no! This can’t be happening”
“What’s wrong?” I question, concern for Jane flooding my veins. However she doesn’t have to answer me, because a few moments later her scent hits me full force. Where there was only sunshine and moonflowers a second ago, there is now the spicey, unmistakable aroma of a fertile omega – one that is absolutely irresistible to my wolf.
The room seems suddenly blury around the edges as I zero in on Jane, understanding clicking even as my instincts take over. “You’re going into heat.”
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 89
Jane
This can’t be happening. I can’t be going into heat – not now!
“No l’m not!” I tell Ethan frantically, denying what he can obviously see and smell. He’s hovering much too close, driving my wolf over the edge and sending waves of panic through my body. He starts to reach for me, but I back away, flinching.
“Don’t, stay back!” | urge, thrusting my palm towards him defiantly. “I’m not going into heat, this is just.. peri0d cramps!” I declare stubbornly, “you don’t want to be around me when I’m like this”
“Janey, you’re being ridiculous – it’s perfectly natural.:”
Ethan sighs, dropping his outstretched hands nonetheless. “
And you’re in pain, you should let me help.”
“No, you’re the last person I want right now.” I lie, even as my wolf begs me to let him take away the spasms of agony clutching my insides. I’m not sure how long he can be around my scent before he goes into rut, but I know from experience that once he does, any chance | have at resisting him will disappear. “I need to get out of here!”
“And go where?” Ethan growls, his own wolf flashing in his eyes. “To Eric?”
“No!” l exclaim, my stomach churning at the idea of the other man putting his hands on me. My wolf doesn’t like that idea at all. “To Linda. I need to be around another woman, not rutting alphas.”
“Alright then, I’ll take you’ He offers, looking as though he’s having to forcibly hold himself back from pouncing on me.
“That’s okay.” I answer shakily, “you stay here with the pups, I’ll catch a taxi.”
“Jane you can’t go out around other shifters, any alpha you meet will go crazy for your scent and most of them don’t have my strength.” He reminds me – as if I could forget.
“I’ll be okay.” I assure him, “just take care of my babies.”
“Just promise me you won’t go near Eric.” He demands.
“We’re getting married, Ethan” I state firmly, “this isn’t the first.. he won’t…” | can’t seem to get the words out, as if lying to my chosen mate is too much of a betrayal in this vulnerable moment. “I promise.” I finally whisper, feeling as though I want to crawl under a rock and die.
“Good,’ He declares, “just wait two minutes, I’ll call a car for you – one with a female driver.”
A few minutes later l’m speeding away towards Linda’s apartment, curled up in a ball on the back seat and trying to focus on anything but the pain assailing my body. Linda meets me at the curb outside her building, helping me from the vehicle and guiding me into the”updated by jobnib.com” house while I remain bent double. When we get upstairs she lays me out on the couch, going to prepare a hot water bottle while I whine and feel sorry for myself.
“I thought the supplements you take to change your scent were supposed to protect you from this?” She wonders aloud, calling out from the kitchen. “I mean your omega side seems almost completely dormant.”
“Apparently even modern medicine isn’t any match for Ethan’s pheromones.” I gripe, throwing my arm over my eyes to clock out the lights.
“What are you going to do?” She asks, “This isn’t going to go away on its own, Janey.”
“1 know that.” I gr0an, “but if l sleep with Ethan again, he’ll take it as a sign to keep fighting for me” Not to mention that my wolf doesn’t want anyone else. She only wants Ethan, which means that I can’t even scratch this itch with another Alpha if I wanted to.
“I mean let’s be fair.” Linda urges, “he’s not going to give up whether you’re in heat or not.” She announces, bringing the red, rubber balloon full of soothing water to me and laying it on my lower belly.
“Don’t remind me.” I whimper, feeling only somewhat comforted by the bottle’s heat. “We had the worst fight, Linda. He’s making me doubt everything I thought I knew. Of course I couldn’t admit this to him – he’d be smug and self-righteous about it, but I know Linda will never judge.
“Like what?” She asks, lifting my feet to sit next to me on the sofa, then settling them in her la*p.
Struggling to produce full sentences while my body tries to kill me from the inside out, I gradually explain our fight, including Ethan’s accusations against Eric, and my own hard-headed response. “Do you think l’m making a mistake trusting Eric?” | ask. “l mean, he’s proven himself to me over and over again, he’s never done anything but be a good friend to me… while Ethan -“
“Ethan thought he was doing the right thing” Linda interjects, “I mean he was horribly – horribly – wrong but you have to know he never set out to hurt you Jane.” She continues, rubbing my feet. “Why are you questioning Eric?”
“Ethan really seems to think he’s up to no good.” I explain, “but that’s hardly a surprise, he’d be suspicious of any man sniffing around me.”
“Maybe so.” Linda agrees, “but I’ve never known him to be unfair. Even at his worst, he was always trying to be fair to everyone involved.”
“And Eric?” I press.
“Eric is crazy about you.” Linda declares, unable to look me in the eyes. “When you walk in the room you are the only person he sees. And he wants to protect you, he wants to help you. Men do stupid things when they think the she-wolves they care about are in trouble.”
Not for the first time, I begin to wonder if my friend isn’t attracted to Eric. “You like him, don’t you?”l ask hesitantly. “1 mean, like him, like him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous” She scoffs, “He doesn’t even know l exist.”
That isn’t what I asked” I state softly.
“No, but it’s what matters.” Linda argues, “it doesn’t matter how I feel about him when he only wants you.”
“It matters to me.” I say, starting to reach for her hand but instead curling in on myself with a fresh wail of pain as a particularly sharp stab hits my womb. “You’re.. my best… friend.” | gasp. “If l’d known I never would have considered his offer.”
“And I didn’t want to get in your way in case him.” She admits.
1 don’t.”‘I decide firmly. “Not like that.” My heat decided you liked it even if my mind wasn’t convinced. I might like the idea of being with someone safe, but if the idea of being with him physically makes me feel ill then there’s nothing left to debate. And I don’t think he really wants me -1 think he’s fallen for his idea of me!”
“Either way I think you should ask him about what Ethan told you.” She suggests, “just to see how he acts when you do. It can tell you a lot.”
“What if Ethan is right? What if l’ve been letting Eric manipulate me?” I whisper, silently admiring my friend’s grace and wishing l could help her somehow. She not only put me above her own feelings, but she clearly feels deeply enough for Eric that she’s willing to accept his faults alongside his virtues, not assuming his innocence, but not condemning him either.
“Then it’s better that you know” Linda reasons, “sooner rather than later.”
“I’m really scared” l confess, my voice so soft I can barely hear it. “1 thought Ethan broke my heart so badly I wouldn’t ever be vulnerable to him again. I didn’t think he could hurt me anymore… but he can… and I don’t want to go through that pain again. It almost killed me the first time.”
“I hate to break it to you babe, but you’re already in pain.
” Linda says smoothly, patting my feet just as another spasm grips my insides. “So you can be in this pain alone, or you can be brave and give Ethan a second chance.”
“But what if it goes wrong again, what if he tries to steal the pups from me, or lock me away?” I worry.
“Then you know I’ll be there to help set you free.” Linda offers, “but I truly don’t think it will come to that, Jane. And more importantly – this isn’t like you. You might be an omega, but you’ve always had the spirit of an alpha she-wolf.
Lying around crying and hiding from the world because you got burned once, years ago- is something a coward does, not my friend.”
“Yeah” I breathe, remembering how different things used to be. “It was a lot easier to be fearless before| lost my freedom and dignity… not to mention before I had pups.
Honestly Linda, they make you so soft.”
“I don’t know why parents say that.” Linda replies, sounding wistful. That kind of love is a superpower – ordinary Moms lift cars off of their babies; normal parents pull off miracles to protect their kids every day. You weren’t soft before you had them – you just lost your confidence, and you aren’t soft now.”
“You may have a point.” l agree.
“of course l do” Linda quips, “You know I’m always right.
“1 think l need to go home” I murmur, even before a fresh wave of agony, more potent than any that has come before, assails me. It’s so overwhelming l can barely get out my next words. “I need Ethan – now”.
The Luna And Her Quadruplet Pups Chapter 90
Jane
As I zoom back across town, retracing the steps I took mere hours ago when I first ran to Linda’s, my mind drifts to the past. The clenching pain in my pelvis is blinding now, and the only refuge left to me is the world in my head. My memories swirl around me in a familiar fog, but one day stands out from the rest.
I was eighteen, newly married and supporting Ethan at one of the most difficult times in his life. The day after his father’s funeral l truly believed I was coming down with my period, and though Ethan offered to stay home with me, I told him to go to work anyway. It was too important, he was the new Alpha and he had to seem like he was up for the job from day one.
“Are you sure?” He asked me, leaning over my prone body on the bed, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Go on, I’ll be fine.” I promised, leaning up on my elbow to k!ss him goodbye, “I just need to take some painkillers and try to rest.”
“only ifyou’re sure.” He frowned, kissing me again, then bending his head to k**s my fresh claiming mark. “I”ll see you tonight. Just call if you need anything”
“Good luck, Alpha.”I teased, though some of our old joke had died a way now that the title actually belonged to him. I couldn’t taunt him about not being in power yet, and every mention of the word was a reminder that his father was gone.
After he left I curled up and tried to nap, but before long my mind started to drift to my new husband. He’d worn me out over the last few days, and my body was deliciously sore.
I never dreamed how much pleasure was possible with one’s mate. Everything he’d shown me before we eloped felt wonderful, but it was so different to actually have him inside me, claiming my very soul.
The more l thought about it, the hotter l became, my most int!mate parts surging to life and swelling with b***d, demanding attention from my mate. At first I reached down to the apex of my th!ghs, alarmed by the gravity of the need quickly consuming me and desperate to take the edge off, but no matter how l tried, nothing helped. I might as well have been touching someone else, so little did it impact me.
I realized the problem quickly, much more quickly than I figured out what was happening to me. I needed Ethan, my wolf only wanted his touch, and even my own hands wouldn’t be able to relieve the horrible ache between my legs. I pulled out my phone, feeling incredibly guilty for disturbing him when he probably wasn’t even to the office yet, but beyond all thought or reason. Deciding to text instead of call, I quickly typed: how long are you going to be gone?
His answer came back so quickly I suspected he d been staring at his phone, The typical work day ends at 6pm, but I’ll try to get a way a little early if l can.
Oh Goddess, it was only ten AM. I didn’t understand what was wrong with me, I truly believed I would die if l didn’t get rutted soon. Had marriage corrupted me so completely? So quickly? What was wrong with me that l was going half crazy with desire? Normal people couldn’t possibly exist this way – they’d never get anything done! When I didn’t respond promptly, Ethan send another message. Are you okay?
This prompted an entirely different kind of crisis. Ethan was working on lowering my inhibitions when it came to talking about s’x – encouraging me to tell him what I wanted, liked, and speak the naughty terms aloud, but I wasn’t there yet. I didn’t have the first clue how to convey what I needed from him without mortifying myself, or to relate just how urgent the situation was becoming.
Half-mad, I realized l couldn’t ask him to come home when he’d barely started his first day as Alpha, but I honestly couldn’t abide the thought of waiting until he came home either. l’d never make it eight more hours.
Of course- is everything okay? He asked again.
Can I come see you? I typed dizzily.
I just need to see you. I explained, lurching out of bed and pulling on some proper clothes.
I stumbled my way downstairs and hopped into the first cab l could flag down. The driver was a beta, and seemed slightly star-struck to suddenly have the new Luna as a passenger. He offered me his condolences on my father-in-law’s death, and asked after the family, telling me he’d take me anywhere I liked.
“Please, take me to the pack headquarters,”I whimpered. “Fast.”
“Yes, Ma ‘am.” He actually saluted me, before careening off down the street. It was during our wild ride through the city streets that the pain landed, slamming into me full force.
Where moments before I had been overwhelmed with raw, animal lvst, now it was blending with the most terrible pain.
I’ve never felt so empty, and l cried out in anguish, completely alarming my driver.
“My lady, what ‘s wrong?” He asked, eyeing me in the rearview mirror.
I don’t know. “I cried, trying to curl up on the back seat.
“I..I think l’m dying. I need Ethan.”
The driver scented the air and then, to my shock and mild offense, the cabby began to laugh. “Oh dear, poor child.
Did no one ever explain it to you?”
“What-?” l gasped, tears streaming from my eyes.
“You’ve gone into heat, little Luna.”‘ He told me softly, ” you won’t be dying any time soon.”
My face flushed with color. No one had ever explained it to me, then again, they might not have known. My mother, Linda, all the women in my life were betas. This wasn’t a problem they had to face. Heat, rutting, all these strange games of dominance and submission – it was all the rare domain of alphas and omegas.
When we arrived at the pack headquarters the driver made me stay in the car. “You don’t want anyone but your mate to smell you.” He advised cryptically.
“Why not?” l asked nervously.
“I’ ll let him explain that to you.” He murmured, just stay here.”
For once l actually did what / was told, but it wasn’t because l had any interest in obeying, it was simply because I was in too much pain to move. l’d later learn that the first heat is always the worst, I suspect in part because it is so new and unexpectedly awful. In later years I was able to prepare myself for the pan, plan out everything in advance to ease my torment. The one movement I could manage this first time was to roll down the windows. It was so hot in the back of the car, and I felt like I was choking without fresh air.
I’m not sure how long the driver took retrieving Ethan, and I imagine it wasn’t easy to do so without announcing what was happening to the entire building, but it felt like hours to me. The first few wolves who passed by the parked taxi paid no notice to me, but after about a dozen men strolled past, one stopped dead in his tracks, turning towards the car and looking as if he d been slapped right across the face.
He was a mountain of a man, almost as tall as Ethan and sporting quite a bit more fat. When his eyes landed on me they immediately began to glow. His fangs and claws extended, and he began growling low in his chest. Waves of feral aggression poured off him in waves, and the next thing I knew he was lunging towards the car, trying to climb through the window to reach me even though he was much too large to fit.
It was a blessing the doors were locked, because his meaty hand was viciously yanking at the handle, trying to wrench the door open. I wondered why he didn’t just open the door from the inside, but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of me. I’ve never seen such madness – before or since. I’m sure if he’d been able to reach me he would have forced himself on me right there in the middle of the street.
Instead I could only cower on the floor between the front and back seats, praying he didn’t find the sense to push the interior lock. I might be able to outrun him, if I got out of the car, but suddenly the cabby’s words made a lot more sense. If this is what my scent did to an Alpha, how many more wolves would I draw into the chase out in the open?
Thankfully I never had to find out, because a few moments later the horrible man was yanked out of the window as a thunderous roar overpowered his frantic snarls.
His big body went flying, and the next thing I knew, Ethan was there, gathering me up off the ground and into his arms.
“What were you thinking, leaving the house in this state?”He demanded fiercely, kissing every inch of skin he could reach as he rocked me back and forth. I could feel his hardness digging into my bottom, but he seemed completely in control- not anything like that other man. “I would have come home without a second thought, Janey.”
I didn’t know,” I whimpered, clinging to him. I just knew I needed you.”
The vision breaks when I get back to the apartment, but not entirely. Still floating along the hazy planes of memory, I sneak down the hall towards Ethan’s room, only pausing to make sure the pups are sound asleep in their room before continuing. I start to step into the room, but as soon as my eyes focus on the bed, I freeze: Ethan isn’t alone.