The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapter 75 – Ethan Faces the Press

Ethan

The day after the arrest, I wake up before dawn, striding into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee and rouse my ex- hausted brain. It’s still dark out, but when I exit my bedroom I can see the lights are already on down the hall. When I reach the living room I find Jane curled up in the window seat, wide awake and staring out at the waking city.

Frowning deeply, I move to her side, my concern growing when she doesn’t seem to detect my presence. She’s com- pletely lost in her thoughts, and when I reach out to touch her shoulder, she jerks away from me as if she’s been electrocut- ed.

“Easy, Jane.” I shush her softly, “It’s only me.”

Her wide eyes relax slightly, a heavy sigh expelling from her lungs. However she doesn’t relax completely, her muscles are still wound tight as a spring, and my heart aches just look- ing at her distraught face. “Sorry,” She mutters weakly, “you startled me.”

“Have you been up all night?” I question, studying the dark circles beneath her eyes.

She shrugs, averting her gaze. “I had a lot on my mind.”

Thankfully it’s Sunday, so she doesn’t have to go into work, but I can’t help worrying for my poor mate. “Sweetheart, that’s no good.” I scold gently, suddenly regretting letting her go to bed alone. I’d been sorely tempted to stay with her until she fell asleep, but she clearly wanted to be alone so I didn’t

force the issue. “The pups won’t be up for a few hours, you ought to try to get in some rest before they wake.”

“I can’t.” Jane admits, her rosy lips tugging downward. “I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t get my brain to turn off.”

arms, ignoring the way she jolts

She objects, still wriggling despite the fact that her nose is pressed to my chest and she’s obviously smelling me. Silly little omega, I think, does she

stroke her hair, “Now

not stubborn.” She mutters mutinously, her dark lash-

kissing her hair and trying not to

Jane submits, falling into a sleep so deep that she doesn’t even stir when I carry her to bed. Depositing her between the silky sheets, I try to pull away, only to find her small fists clenched in my shirt. It isn’t easy to

the kitchen and collect the morning paper, I’m relieved Jane fell asleep, because the morning news is far from good. Once again her photo is splashed across the headlines, only this time mine is along- side her, and the story below details

with the lead investigator. Perhaps he simply believes he’s right and is too prideful to consider another explanation, tak- ing every challenge as an assault on his authority. Or it may be the case that he’s pursuing his

the impact on my family, he’s following the wrong lead. Eve is still out there somewhere waiting to wreak more havoc, and neither

command, Matthew, I direct him to arrange a press conference for this afternoon, and

standing in front of a throng of re- porters, camera flashes bursting in front of

temper in check, “I appreciate you taking the time to come out. I know there has been a great deal in the news about my family lately, specifically my former mate, Jane. I can confirm that Elise Carrington is, in fact, Jane Blackwell, but this is where the news’s accuracy ceases. While our past has not always been smooth

our privacy in this matter. We are only interested in moving forward, partic- ularly

mother in the past tense, let alone to say the word ‘murder’ relating to someone so close to me, but I forge on without pausing. “Despite what you may have been told, Jane had absolutely nothing to do with this crime. The person responsible is Eve Mechant, who also engineered the attacks for which Jane was blamed in the police reports recently leaked by the investigative team, as well as

for the accusations of corruption levied against me, I ask you the following: is the true abuse of power standing up for what is right and defending the innocent, or neglecting one’s duty and allowing a dangerous criminal to roam free, because an easier target is available to take the fall?” A string of mutters moves through the crowds, and I can’t keep the growl out of my voice as I conclude, “I am determined to hold the responsible parties in these terrible events accountable, and you have my word as Alpha that I will not rest until our city is safe and order restored. I will

an explosion of flashes and shouts from the audience, but I ignore them and leave the dais, my temper still dangerously close to snapping. However, that only lasts for a moment because as I step off the podium, I see Jane standing just inside the door, watching me with her

the press, I go to her and wrap her in a hug, lifting her feet off the ground as I squeeze her

Jane murmurs into the curve of

and cradling her cheek in my hand. “You don’t deserve

you.” Jane breathes,