Ethan “I’ll tell you what.” Jane offers silkily, “I’ll go back to my room, and you go back to your daughter’s. I’m sure she needs you more than I do.” Her words strike a cord in my heart, and for once I concede. Though this is absolutely not a defeat. I may be surrendering the battle, but I’m certainly not losing the war. After all, her near-fall allowed me to finally collect the evidence I needed to confirm she’s Paisley’s mother. In my palm rests a strand of her long hair. By this time tomorrow, I’ll have all the proof I need to confront my naughty little mate. We’ll see if she’s still so defiant then. 3 days later. How is this possible? I was so sure Elise Carrington was Jane. I was so sure the beautiful she-wolf I met in Eve’s Atelier was my long lost mate. I know she smells different, but she’s a perfume designer, it would be only too easy for her to fake the scent change. Still, there was no denying the DNA report in my palm, which states in no uncertain terms that the two
Jane Ethan collapses to the ground, completely unconscious. I take a deep breath and try to fight the emotions warring inside me. I will not fall for this man’s tricks again. I’ve been telling myself for years now that I’d be immune to his charms if we ever met again, that I’d learned my lesson the hard way and wouldn’t soon forget it. So much for that. I’m still wallowing in my self-imposed misery when I hear a chair scrape across the floor on the other side of the door. Smashing the vase must have made too much noise and woken the pups. I know my sons, and I’m certain they’re currently clambering onto the chair to spy on us. I run off before they can see me crying, darting away down the stairs without a single thought for my ex-husband. It’s only later, after my senses return and logic sinks in, that I realize they’ll have seen Ehan and run for Linda. The knowledge keeps me away from the house for much longer than I would otherwise considered hiding. I can only pray that he’s g
Jane My clothes and hair are soaking wet, and when I try to escape from the tub, Ethan’s limbs wrap around me like a particularly powerful octopus. "Don't leave me. ......" I freeze and try to push him away, but he only hugs me tighter. His scruffy jaw nuzzles my neck and his hot lips move against my ear, making me tingle all over. I don't know what to do, and then Linda’s amused voice sounds from the doorway. “I thought the idea was to clean things up, not make a bigger mess.” I glance at him, now sound asleep again, clutching me to his chest as if I’m a teddy bear. “Stop teasing and help me!” I hiss at Linda, trying and failing to wriggle free. It takes both of us to untangle me from Ethan’s arms, with Linda laughing the entire time despite my frequent glares. “The doctor’s on his way.” Linda announced when I’m finally free. “And Ethan could probably use a few items from the penthouse. A change of clothes, toothbrush- that sort of thing. I doubt he’s going to be up to going ho
“Well,” Paisley muses out loud, “she hates kids. She hates getting dirty and poor people… I think if we’re just loud and messy and all over her…” “She’ll get really mad.” Ryder surmises, finishing her thought.” “Exactly.” Paisley agrees, “and we just have to be sure Daddy is there when she does.” “But how can we make sure we’ll all be together again?” Parker asks, “Mommy clearly doesn’ wanna be around Daddy.” “If you can handle Mommy,” Paisley suggests. “I can handle Daddy.” “We can do this.” Riley agrees. “We just have to work together. Deal?” All four pups glance at one another before nodding in agreement. “Deal.” Jane “You can’t hide forever, Janey.” Linda informs me matter-of-factly, her voice sounding distant over the phone. “Not forever.” I agree, speaking quietly into the receiver and hoping the pups are too distracted to pay attention. “just until he’s gone.” “Yeah, well the doctor said he could be asleep a couple of days - it’s really hard t
I return my gaze to Elise, a sense of triumph building in my chest. Mommy. Just as I thought. Clearly these aren’t Linda’s pups after all. If Elise realizes that her daughter has just revealed her deception, she doesn’t show it. She doesn’t even look at me because her full attention is on her pup. She crosses the kitchen and scoops up the little girl, humming sympathetically. “Poor baby, you’ve had too much excitement this week.” The child peeks over at me with wide eyes, cuddling closer to her mother but also unflinchingly curious. “Hello there, little one.” I greet her warmly, instinctively stepping closer. “What’s your name?” Elise’s arms tighten on the girl when I move closer, betraying her maternal instincts even further. “I’m Riley.” The pup yawns, resting her cheek on Jane’s shoulder and watching me intently. “I’m sorry if your Mommy and I woke you, Riley.” I state honestly, desperately wanting to reach out to the sleepy girl, who reminds me
Jane “Jane!” Ethan’s deep bass echoes in my ears, sending shivers down my spine and making my knees shake. At first I tell myself I only imagined it, but then the palpable silence hanging between us becomes too heavy to deny. I stop in my tracks, trying to act nonchalant. “Who is Jane?” I ask, not bothering to turn around. “You’re really going to keep playing this game?” He demands, sounding as angry as I’ve ever heard him. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I insist, digging in my heels. “Like you don’t know what happened last night?” Ethan drawls, his footsteps drawing nearer. “I’ve already told you, you fell.” I remind him, determined to stick to my story at all costs. The last thing I need is for him to remember I attacked him. I hadn’t even thought about what I was doing in the moment. It was only after, when I saw his blood, that I truly processed what I’d done: I attacked the Alpha. Yes he kissed me without asking, but I let him. I was kissing him back ever
Jane “Of course not.” I deny, “But I am saying that you could use a few good bonks on the head if you still think this is appropriate.” Ethan sidles closer, towering over me and adopting a knowing leer. He looks so dangerous in this moment that every omega instinct I possess is begging me to give in. Luckily Linda seems to sense my weak resolve. “Okay.” My friend interrupts, “Why don’t we all go to bed before we say anything we regret, and we can pick this up in the morning.” Staring at Ethan, I realize I don’t want to stop fighting. It’s clear he doesn’t either, we’re having too much fun. At the same time, I know every moment we keep this up is a threat to me. I need to be rid of Ethan, sooner rather than later. “Agreed.” I say, turning towards the bedroom. Ethan never agrees with us, but I feel his eyes on me until I shut the door at my back. I don’t need him to tell me to understand: This is only the beginning. Ethan The doctor arrives first thing in the morning, after Jane h
Ethan For all my bluster, my head truly was aching after settling the ordeal with Eve and the reporter. Jane was so thankful I’d stepped in that she didn’t even complain when I said I was going to lie down for a bit, though I could still hear her speaking in a low voice with Linda after I closed the door. “What happened?” Jane whispered. “It’s like he said,” Linda answered, “The doctor said it would be best if he remained here to rest a few days. He said something about there being too much temptation to take care of pack business at the penthouse, he didn’t trust Ethan to actually rest if he went home.” “That’s nonsense.” Jane hissed. “Ethan must have ordered the doctor to say that.” “Whether he did or didn’t doesn’t really matter.” Linda argued in a hushed tone. “He’s the Alpha. We can’t refute his orders or the doctor’s. We’ve just got to make our peace with it.” “I can’t have him here with the kids.” Jane murmured nervously. “Maybe we should see if we can move into the new ap
JaneFour Months LaterEthan ushers the pups into my hospital room with a finger pressed to his lips. “Quietly now, Mommy’s very tired.”I’d gone into labor in the early hours of the morning, and the experience couldn’t have been more different than it had been with the quadruplets. Instead of suffering through the first contractions alone and afraid, I’d had my mate by my side, rubbing my back and crooning sympathetically as I gritted my teeth against the pain. After a few hours of pacing and fruitlessly trying to find a comfortable position, my water broke and we left for the hospital, leaving the pups with a sitter.I made it through fifteen hours of labor before caving and asking for an epidural, taking Ethan’s encouragement to save my strength for pushing when the time came. He never left my side the entire time, only stepping out of the room a couple of times to check in on the pups at my request. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthing partner – he lavished me with praise a
JaneWhen Ethan and I arrive back at the penthouse we find Devon and Nina sitting on the sofa while the pups zoom around the living room in front of them. Devon has an arm slung over Nina’s shoulder, which surprises me, but I can’t focus on them because the moment we walk through the door four little bodies come hurtling at our legs. “Mommy! Daddy!” The pups cry excitedly.Parker is the tallest and fastest, so he reaches us first, leaping up into Ethan’s waiting arms while I intercept Riley, whose small size lets her bound weightlessly across the room. “Hello my love puddles.” I greet them happily, kneeling so I can also hug Ryder, while Ethan effortlessly scoops up Paisley, even though his arms are already full with her brother. “What have you been up to? Were you good for Devon and Nina?” I ask, marveling at Ethan’s strength despite his recent recovery.“We were sooo good.” Riley confirms. “Nina was sad so we cuddled her.”“And then Devon told us we could get ice cream if we promi
JaneWhen I open my eyes, Ethan and I are still in the thermal pool. I can feel the water lapping and bubbling around me, but he’s no longer inside me, and when I look up it’s to find his dark gaze watching me intently. Gradually I realize he’s moved to the shallow end of the spring so he can sit on the submerged ledge and hold me in his lap. He rests one hand on my round belly, and our baby flutters inside me as if the tiny bean knows its father is near.“How long was I out?” I inquire softly, stretching and reveling in the delicious ache of my muscles. I’m filled with the lazy contentment of a well-loved mate, utterly drugged with pleasure that is only deepened by the sting of my claiming mark. I can feel the evidence of Ethan’s dominance in the swollen flesh between my legs, the bite marks on my breasts and faint bruises on my back and thighs. And right now I can’t imagine anything better than this… exc
3rd PersonNina’s heart sunk as she watched Ethan and Jane race out the door as their wolves, and she stepped forward to close the door out of mere reflex. When the panel clicked shut she found herself staring blankly at the dark wood, momentarily frozen in time. She couldn’t think, she couldn’t feel, she could only stand there and exist as this latest slight reverberated through her body.Only the sound of a small voice saying her name woke her from her miserable reverie, “Nina?”Slowly, as if in a trance, she turned. Blinking, her expression detached, she saw the pups watching her. Tiny feet padded over the floor in a miniature stampede, and then the four children were gathered around her, looking up at her with wrinkled brows. “Hmm?” She finally responded, unsure if they’d asked her a question or simply stopped at her name.“Are you okay?” Paisley inquired softly, genuine concern in h
Jane“Not want you?” Ethan snarls furiously, seeming angrier about that suggestion than my words about Devon. “Not want you? That has never been the problem!”His hands are so fierce on my body, and I can see a wild sort of desperation in his handsome features. His eyes are glowing and his fangs extended – I know his wolf is right on the edge.“Then show me.” I demand. Sliding my hand down between our flush bodies. “Let me feel your desire, Ethan.”“Why are you doing this?” He groans, burying his head in my neck.“Because you’re punishing yourself for something that isn’t your fault.” I murmur in reply, my lips brushing against his ear as I speak. “And it’s gone on long enough.”“But it is my fault, Janey. Everything I do backfires, every time I try to do the right thing for you, I fuck up.” He confesses, sounding so vulnerable I ache.“Then maybe you should stop trying to figure out the answer for me, and start working with me. Ask me what I want and give it to me, don’t try to do it
JaneEthan and I run through the quiet streets of the city as our wolves, not minding one bit that we’re on pavement and not in the forest. We bound around shopkeepers and early morning commuters without a care in the world, oblivious to the curious looks we’re drawing.I’ve always preferred running at night, but I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to convince Ethan to stop being so stubborn. When I saw him in his wolf form with our pups climbing all over him this morning, pure joy washed over me. I might not have known how Ethan has been
Ethan“You’re letting them stay?” Nina demands, glaring at me as she wears a hole in the floor, pacing back and forth with the indignant energy of a she-wolf scorned. Unsurprisingly, she was less than amused to learn I decided to allow Jane and the pups to stay with us – though in truth it hadn’t been much of a choice. My mischievous mate forced me between a rock and a hard place, and I wasn’t about to drag her out of the penthouse kicking and screaming.“I can’t just throw them out.&
JaneMy plan to sneak-move into the penthouse is working better than I imagined. Granted, I keep catching my pups practicing their maniacal laughs in the mirror, but in the grand scheme of things, encouraging their talents for mastermining dastardly plots isn’t the worst idea. After all, I want to encourage their ambition in whatever they do… even if it is taking over the world.Regardless of the burgeoning tricksters under my roof, everything else has gone fairly smoothly. I was able to hire last minute movers to pack up and bring everything from our apartment in the Dark Moon territory and transport it here. The only real challenge was maki
JaneEthan winces, then kisses me again, long and deep. When he pulls away, I feel tears in my eyes. I already know he hasn’t been swayed by my pleading. “I know it hurts right now, Jane.” He acknowledges, looking truly aggrieved. “It hurts me too. But one day you’ll see that I’m right.” His thumb brushes a stray tear from my cheek. “You were so much better off without me. You built a fragrance empire and raised three amazing pups all by yourself. But a few months with me and you were on my floor, begging to be a slave again.”“That wasn’t because I was with you, it was because I wasn&rsquo