The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 29 Tunnel of Love

Jane

Looking down at Paisley’s sweet face, I know I can’t deny her anything. “Of course I’ll come.” I promise, avoiding Ethan’s gaze.

“Yay!” Paisley exclaims happily, looking back and forth between Ethan and I. Something seems to strike her then, and her little nose crinkles in confusion and concern. “Wait, what ’bout your game?”

Ethan’s gaze zeroes in on me. I don’t need to look at him to know, I can feel the weight of his eyes on me like a pair of hundred pound weights. I should have foreseen this, I should have remembered the story I told the little girl about the hide and seek game. Now she’ll think I can’t ever be her mother because Ethan clearly found me. Panic bubbles up inside me, I don’t know how to answer her and keep up my lie for Ethan at the same time.

“We put it on pause.” Ethan supplies, surprising me.

“For you.”ladd gently, “because of your surgery.”

“Oh.” Paisley chirps, accepting our answer without further question. “Good.” She smiles toothily up at me. “I’m glad.”

“Me too.” I admit, unable to stop myself from running my fingers through her dark hair.

I’m painfully aware of Ethan’s warm, hard body beneath me, and still hiding from his penetrating gaze, however, I’m also completely preoccupied by Paisley. Every time I see her it

feels like a dream come true. I’ve waited so long to hold her in my arms and hear her call me Mommy, I’d put up with Ethan for hours on end if it meant I got to spend more time with her like this. I just have to remain conscious of the fine line I’m walking. I can’t reveal too much in front of my ex, and I can’t let him trick me into revealing the truth.

When we depart Paisley’s room a couple of hours later, he keeps his arm locked around my waist, forcing me to physically remove the powerful limb. I’m mildly shocked when he doesn’t stop me, but my victory is very short lived. “Would you care to tell me what that was about?” His deep voice sounds behind me.

Belatedly I realize he allowed me the victory of pushing him away, only so that my guard would be lowered when he made his next move. “Your daughter is very sweet.” I inform him simply, not truly answering his question.

“You’ve visited her before.” Ethan rumbles, stating it as a fact, rather than I question.

“I met her when Riley was here.” I shrug, “the children’s ward isn’t very big.”

“Why didn’t you say?” He questions, pulling me to a stop just inside the building exit.

“Because,” I inform him coldly, “lc would only have encouraged you.”

fight back instead

freeze momentarily, shaking off my reaction as

caught me off guard again. He used to call me that all the time, in precisely the same way – never as a criticism or accusation, always as a term of amused endearment. I continue walking

stubborn too.” He says to my back. “In fact, she never even told me she

woman.’ I reply,

a sharp edge lining his silky tone. “It’ s only too bad Paisley never got to know her. She’s really needed

burning in my eyes, no matter how I try to fight them. If I stop now or look at him, he’ll see, so I simply continue

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Ethan

why it hurt so much when she betrayed us on her graduation trip. If it weren’t for my mother’s word, l’ d never have believed Eve’s

then hid her pregnancy and faked her death. She’s wronged me in more ways than I can possibly count, and one day soon I plan on getting

excuse to get the kids out of the house and away from me so she readily agreed. Of course she was considerably less pleased when the pups turned to me

flushing and then amending her words.

love to come.” I correct her, making the

cheer triumphantly.

go home.” Jane narrows her eyes. “Don’t you have Alpha business

for Paisley’s surgery anyway.”

Jane sputters,

coasters,” My head is still aching enough to make the idea make me feel

either so she can keep

an exasperated look, but I can only grin at the clever pup. “That’s a

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high spirits only last a little while. Make no mistake, I’m thrilled to be spending time with Jane and the pups, but I can’ t stop thinking that this is wrong. Poor Paisley is stuck in a lumpy hospital bed while

at the exit of an alarmingly tall roller coaster currently whizzing her pups

through my hair, I admit. “I feel

parent who wouldn’t feel that way.” She shares, “But you can bring her

sincere without a single thought for scheming, “We could bring her together. The pups did say they