Jane
The day after Paisley, Ethan and Nina arrive in the Dark Moon pack, we spend the day at the park with Devon and the other pups. We packed a picnic, went on a hike, and stopped at the playground afterwards so the pups could expend any energy they had left over. For the most part I watched Ethan with the pups, searching for any signs of strange behavior – anything that might explain the conversation I overheard last night.
I’m sticking close to Devon and seriously debating just coming out and asking one or both of the men what’s going on. However the fact that they’ve clearly been colluding to keep me in the dark all this time makes me think I’m better off investigating on my own.
I keep replaying their secretive whispers in my head, trying to untangle the hidden meanings in their words. For whatever reason, Ethan clearly asked Devon to look out for me and the pups. He’d said he didn’t have a choice… whatever that means. As I watched Ethan gallop
Jane Before I became a mother I used to sleep like the dead. Truly, a tree could fall right by my bed and I wouldn’t wake. I always slept through the night, and I never struggled to rest in cars, trains or planes. Now a cricket can chirp a mile away and I’ll jolt up like someone has screamed in my ear. Of course it’s not only sounds and disturbances that wake me now. My wolf always knows when one of my children needs me – even if they don’t make a peep. So when I wake in the middle of the night with my wolf urging me to check on the pups, I don’t question it. I slide out of bed and pull on my robe, striding out into the darkened apartment. I find Paisley standing in the middle of the hallway, staring at her father’s closed door. “Paisley, why are you still up?” I whisper, coming forward and brushing her hair back from her eyes as she looks up at me. “Cuz I can’t get in bed with Daddy when he’s with Nina.” She replies sadly. My stomach sinks,
Jane I call Linda first thing the next day, determined to figure out the truth. I’m still reeling from my conversations with Paisley and Nina, still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that Ethan is paralyzed. I hate to think that all this has been happening right under my nose, and I feel so stupid for not seeing it sooner. My wolf tried to tell me that something was wrong with Ethan, but I was so ready to believe he didn’t want me. I expected him to hurt me, so I didn’t question it when he did – even though we’d come so far together. My hands are shaking as I dial my best friend, wondering what Ethan could have possibly said to convince her to lie to me this way. She answers promptly, “Hello, my love.” Her voice is familiar and warm, and her betrayal cuts through me. Linda was my friend, not Ethans – she was supposed to be on my side no matter what. “Linda,” I breathe, barely able to contain my hurt. I’d planned on having an ope
Jane The next few hours are a terrifying blur. My labor came on fast after Devon revealed that Ethan is going to marry Nina if he survives his surgery. I suppose it was the shock, or perhaps all the stress of the last 24 hours building up and pouring over. Either way, my body quickly doubled over with contractions, and a fresh wave of fear assailed me. I’m only five months along, if I have my baby now it’s chances of surviving are next to nothing. Still, I know what labor feels like – even if I’d forgotten just how acute the pain is. I read once that women have a special hormone which makes them forget just how traumatic childbirth is, so that they’ll be more willing to reproduce again. Right now I believe it – I remembered that the pain was extreme, but living it is another thing entirely. My body feels like it’s trying to tear me apart from the inside out, and suddenly I’m furious with Ethan for putting this child inside me – for causing me this pa
Jane When I wake, my first thought is of my baby.I jerk up in bed, clutching my belly. What happened? I think frantically. I try to take stock of my body. I certainly don’t feel like I’ve just given birth. As if my baby can sense my anxiety, a little kick taps the wall of my uterus. “Oh, thank the Goddess.” I breathe, patting the spot. “Hello angel.”“Jane, you’re awake!” I hadn’t even realized Devon was in the room with me until he spoke.“Devon!” I exclaim, “What happened?”“The doctor said it was pre-term labor, but they were able to stop it.” Devon explains, and when he doesn’t say anymore, I suspect that’s all he knows. It’s not surprising, given what I’ve learned about how strict doctors can be with patient confidentiality.The words ‘pre-term labor’ send a stab of fear through my body. I’m only five months along, that’s too soon for this baby to be born. “Stop it for how long?” I inquire, even realizing my friend probably doesn’t know.Thankfully a doctor swoops in at precise
JaneWhen we arrive at the hospital, Ethan is already in the operating theater.My heart sinks when the nurse at reception tells us we’re too late, but it stops beating completely when we walk into the waiting room and see Nina and Matthew seated on the uncomfortable couches. They’re both wearing guarded expressions, but neither can hide their surprise when Devon and I enter with the pups.I’m sure in time we’ll have it out, but other than some narrowed eyes and posturing, neither one of them objects to our presence. In truth, they seem fairly resigned, and when I ask if there’s been any news, they simply frown and squeeze their linked hands. “Nothing yet,” Matthew shares. “The whole thing should take a few hours… they told us that we’d get a chance to say goodbye if it doesn’t work.” It seems as if every word out of his mouth is accompanied by a wince. “He won&
EthanI blink my eyes open to bright white lights and the sterile scent of a hospital.It takes a few moments for my senses to focus on the details around me. At first I see only my surgeon’s face hovering above me. Has the surgery not begun yet? I wonder dazedly. I could have sworn I’d already started counting backwards for the anesthesiologist. But when my doctor speaks, there’s a smile in his voice. “Welcome back Ethan. Everything went perfectly. You’ve been asleep for a while, but your family is eager to see you.”My family, I muse, the wheels in my mind turning much too slowly. Does he mean Nina and Matthew? But even as I think these words, my wolf pipes up.I smell Jane. I smell the pups! They’re here! He exclaims.No, they can’t be. It’s not possible. I reply, groaning internally at the pain this simple f
EthanAs soon as I announced that feeling had returned to my lower limbs, the doctor promptly reappeared to run a few tests. He forced Jane to move away from me, which I both hated and appreciated – it’s impossible to think clearly when she’s so close – before poking and prodding my extremities with a pleased expression.“As I said, everything looks great, Ethan.” He concludes, “it couldn’t have gone better, even if the anesthesia did give us some trouble. I’m thrilled with these results.”“How soon will I be able to walk again?” I ask eagerly. “And shift, how soon can I shift?”“Well you’re in much better shape than most patients because your braces have been regularly exercising your joints and ligaments.” He begins evenly, “but you have lost some muscle tone because they haven’t actually been putting in the work of mo
EthanJane notches her chin up defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s nothing, we had a little scare but I’m fine.”“Now why don’t I believe you?” I rumble ominously. I rake my eyes over her body, searching for signs of illness. Her skin is glowing and dewy, and after so many months of horrible morning sickness, her figure has rounded out to be full and lush. The only hint of distress I can decipher are the dark circles under her eyes, but those could easily be the result of traveling with a litter of five year olds and waiting for news of my surgery.“Devon?” I turn to my old friend, praying that he can be trusted to tell me the truth when my wayward mate will not.“It was just a bit of pre-term labor.” Devon explains, shooting a reluctant look at Jane. “The doctor was able to stop it before she got too far along.”“Traitor!” Jane accuses, narrowing her eyes at Devon.“Don’t get mad at him, you should have told me yourself.” I scold, untangling my arm from Paisley and Ril