Eric stared down at Jane in abject shock, trying to process her words as he took in all the changes she’d manifested in a little under a week. She reeked of Ethan and his mark flared red around the curve of her neck.

Her skin was glowing with health, and her cheeks were flushed with color. She was angrier than he had ever seen her, but he also immediately recognized that she hadn’t gotten through her heat on her own. Jealous anger flooded him, rising up to meet her own flaring temper, even though he knew he was in the wrong.

Glancing down at the papers she was forcing against his hard ch3st, he pried them free of her clenching fingers and flipped through them, quickly putting together the pieces of the story.”So,” He mused aloud, “Ethan stopped rutting you long enough to have me investigated?”

“Excuse me?” Jane snarled, “how dare you speak to me that way?”

“l asked you if you needed relief, Jane.” He reminded her, “l offered to help you with anything you needed”

“Don’t try to change the subject.” Jane hissed.

This isn’t about Ethan and I, or my heat, this is about you lying to me – for years!”

“And don’t you go making this about you!” Eric replied tersely. “Nobody in the Dark Moon pack knows who I truly am, for precisely this reason.” He explained.

“l wanted a normal life, but the only way to achieve that when you’re the son of the king is to disappear, to hide in plain sight in a place where no one knows you.”

The investigators had gone above and beyond looking into his past. Somehow they managed to do what all the paparazzi in his home nation had not, and Connected Dark Moon businessman Eric Danvers to Prince Henry of the Midnight Pack- a tiny island empire in the south seas. He was the youngest son, one of five children with no hopes of ever inheriting his father’s title, but a prince nonetheless.

“But we’ve been friends for years.” Jane insisted, “I opened up to you, I told you my deepest, darkest secrets and all the while | didn’t even know the most basic information about you. I didn’t even know your real name.”

“But you understand trying to protect yourself at all costs.” Eric – or Henry, argued. “You understand putting on a mask for the sake of leading the life you want”

“Not with my friends!” Jane argued. “I trusted you,

Eric. Henry – whatever your name is!”

“My name is Eric – same as it’s always been.” He insisted. This is who l am, and this is the life I want. I’m the same person I’ve always been, just with a fancier title.”

the pups what happened between Ethan and 1?” Jane asked abruptly,

and then his expression closed off completely. “Jane, what

murmured. “You told my babies

him enough to sleep with him over

“and he’s their father! Children shouldn’t have people unloading their

was trying to protect

wanted is to protect you. Besides, I didn’t tell them the details, I put

me. Don’t you understand that if you hurt my children you hurt

you sure that’s what you mean?” Eric

didn’t seem all that hurt Jane. Are you sure you don’t

as tears burned in

that.”‘ Eric begged. “I’ve been on your

Maybe that was our mistake. We were both playacting instead of being honest,

you, Jane.” Eric professes, reaching

love you. I’ve

never dreamed he imagined himself in love with her. If she’d had any idea he felt that strongly she might have tried

the right words

this before it’s even begun. Just

thing I want is to hurt you. But Eric, we aren’t meant to be. We aren’t a good fit. You may think I’m beautiful and strong, but the truth is I’m barely holding it together. I feel lost every day of my

all the while I’m just fighting for the basic hope of making my family whole again. That’s all l can focus on right now,

help, let me make it clear.” Eric suggested. “You need someone to take

to try another strategy. “I need my pups to be together. I need us to be safe, and sure, one day l’d like to be loved if l can, but right now

were Ethan?” Eric demanded, “When you go home tonight and

don’t know.” Jane confessed. “He’s confusing me more than anyone else, but I can tell you this much: when it

off, his face falling as my unspoken words land in his consciousness. “Doesn’t want me.” He

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