The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 71 – Outed

Jane

I’ve only just dropped the pups off at pre school and am on my way to the office when my phone rings. Glancing at the touchscreen display in the car’s center console, I see Linda’s name appear, and promptly accept the call over bluetooth.” Hello?”

“Hey,” She greets me, sounding a bit tense. “Have you seen the news?”

“No.” I sigh, already fearing the worst,“ What is it now?”

“You just got outed.” She explains gently, “In a very public way.”

“What do you mean?” I ask nervously, thinking that it’s beyond depressing my life has reached a point where she could

be talking about half a dozen secrets or lies.

“It’s on the front page of the Gazette.” She replied simply, “Elise Carrington exposed – NightFang’s Luna returns from the grave.” Linda pauses,” apparently someone let it slip that your identity is fake and exposed the truth – including the fact that you faked your death.”

I curse under my breath. This is the last thing I needed. “I was worried standing by Ethan’s side at the funeral might draw too much attention to me.” I groan. “I should have known better.”

“I don’t think it was the funeral.” Linda corrects me, “The way this is written, well, let’s just say it’s not a flattering article. There’s a lot of details here that they couldn’t have gotten from the last few days, or even just looking into your

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life in the Dark Moon pack.”

“Great.” I mutter grumpily, “As if this week wasn’t going badly enough already.”

“Sorry babe. Call me if you need anything.” Linda offers.

“Thanks.”

me. My photo is plastered across the front page, right alongside a snapshot from my funeral. As I begin to read, my heart sinks.

years ago Jane Blackwell divorced the Alpha, just over

supposedly died birthing the Alpha’s daughter Paisley, who’s young life has been marked by a heart condition and

settle the disturbing fraud allegations regarding her perfume’s sale at Eve Mechant’s exclusive boutique – and citizens couldn’t help notice the striking resemblance the entrepreneur bore to our late Luna. Today we can confirm that the two women are one in the same. Jane Blackwell is very much alive, and has been masquerading as the elusive fragrance magnate ever since – but faking her death and forging a new identity

the police reports Eve and Petra filed against me after the attack six years ago, blaming me for Eve’s injuries and noting my sudden disappearance from public life. It then provides a laundry list of the probable crimes I committed to get away, and goes on to speculate about my involvement in Petra’s murder. If Eve was still in the good graces of

for this, but given all the details of the current investigation included, I suspect

me wants to call Ethan, but I know how he’ll respond. He’ll promise to take care of it and tell me not to worry, even though I can’t do anything but worry. I’m

our situation, so

that determination only lasts as long as the morning, for when I step out of the atelier to go to lunch,

a deer in the headlights as the cameras flash around me, my mind incapable of

microphone wielding correspondents

my senses, I fight my way through the crowd, keeping my sunglasses lowered over my eyes,

in the face.

what do you have to say to NightFang customers

which means it has the wealthiest citizens and comprises the largest income revenue for my business.

products stand on their own. Our customers do not wear our fragrances because they support our politics or enterprises, they wear La louve because it is the height of elegance and prestige. Our competitors cannot come close to matching our exclusive scents, and any

and scintillating as our signature, or as nuanced as some of our other lines. Every woman is unique and complex, and we’ve created our perfumes

upon which we all pride

saying that CEOs like yourself should have no accountability if their products are

saying that corporations

business ethically, and the accusations against me have nothing to do with my business. They are of a personal nature.” I amend, knowing that while the reporter might have a point and our customers would be well within their rights to boycott, high fashion has a long history of trumping morality. “Five years ago I ran away from a bad marriage, and I did what I felt was necessary to protect myself. But I never harmed Petra or

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I

pandering to our wealthy clients’egos or cravings for exclusivity was sufficient to undo the damage this article has done. I can’t stand the thought of losing everything I’ve worked so hard for

behind his desk and his Beta, Matthew,