The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 31 Paisley’s Surgery

Jane

The expression on Ethan’s face terrifies me.

When he answered the phone all color drained from his cheeks, and his jaw went absolutely rigid. His eyes clenched shut as if he was in pain when the person on the other end of the line spoke, and the next thing I knew he was urgently telling me we had to go.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaping to my feet.

“It’s Paisley.” He answers, his voice like gravel.

The room begins to spin as dread ties my stomach into knots, “Is she okay?” | gasp, reaching for the counter to suddenly swaying body

“They’ve rushed her into emergency surgery.” Ethan explains, moving for the door. “I don’t know any details yet.”

Glancing helplessly at Linda, I find my friend already pushing my purse into my hands, “Go, I’ll take care of the pups.”

“Thank you.” I mouth, following Ethan. “I’ll take you.” | announce, “You shouldn’t drive with a head injury.”

He guides me through the door with a hand at my waist and closes it behind us, pulling the keys from my hand, “Of course you’re coming.” Ethan says, as if that was a given, “but you aren’t driving when you’re shaking that way.”

“What are you-” looking down at my hands, I realize he’s right,

I am shaking like a leaf.

I want to argue, I want to insist I’m not upset and only worried for his sake, but the truth is that I’m a second away from collapsing. Instead of spreading more lies, I simply obey, letting Ethan lead me to the car and not even arguing when he keeps a steadying hand on my thigh throughout the drive.

“How are you so calm?” | squeak when we stop at a red light.

eyes. “I’m not calm.” He growls, “I’m terrified.” He admits,

sorry.” Tears well in my eyes, as the light turns and we surge ahead. “If I hadn’t hit you with that vase you never would have had to postpone.” I confess, breaking down. “This is all my

my utter shock, Ethan pulls the car over,

glaring at me so ferociously my wolf whimpers out loud. I’m about to apologize again, when he cuts me off. “This isn’t your fault, Jane.” He declares sternly. “If I hadn’t gotten drunk and kissed you, you never would have hit me. And if the Goddess hadn’t given Paisley

the corners of my eyes as I clench them shut, trying to fight my sobs. He doesn’t realize it, but Ethan just struck my deepest fear right on the head. Yes Paisley was born with this condition,

careful in my pregnancy or done things differently, she would have been as healthy

at the universe… It isn’t

| agree, squeezing his hand and trying to take enough deep breaths to get myself under control. I can’t fall

the car back onto the road anyway. I’m not sure what to think of his behavior. The Ethan I knew had a temper like a bear, and while he never directed it towards me until everything went wrong with Eve, he certainly didn’t show me this kind of sympathy afterwards. It seems unfathomable he could suspect

happened?” I ask after a moment, “she

“I really thought we were out

exercises in the vain hope of calming myself down. Of course, every time I try

isn’t. She can’t die when we’ve never gotten a chance to be together. I’ ve only spent a few hours with her and half of those I spent Tying to her face. She’s never even met her brothers and sister. I never got to tell her she’s right, that I am her mother. What kind of monster does that to a dying child? By the time I reach this point I’m back on the verge of collapse, and

he gives up trying to keep an arm around

OR waiting room looks as if she’s coming from a funeral. “I’m afraid Paisley had a

blessing Ethan is there to catch me. “What does that mean for the surgery?” He asks, hugging me so tightly I can’t breathe,

her?”

he can. We’ll know

back and sounding as if he’s on the verge of tears himself, “She was doing so well.” He chokes, voice thick with

nurse answers in a sympathetic tone,

rumbles

know he’s cradling me in his lap, rocking me and kissing my hair as I

Ethan

Jane and I slowly shift positions, drying our tears and trying to keep our hopes up. I’ve taken to pacing the corridors like a man possessed, only pausing to touch base with the nurses and check on Jane. I keep telling myself that no news is good news, but guilt and helplessness eat away at my sanity little

ring in my ears and I realize she was right, if I hadn’t been such an idiot and gone to the bar the other night, Paisley’s surgery would have gone ahead as scheduled. All the triumph I was feeling a few hours ago about my progress with my mate is long gone. If Paisley dies, it will be all my