Jane

“Luna, you should really try to rest.” The police commander advises, sitting on the sofa while l pace back and forth across the living room. “You’re going to exhaust yourself.”

“And you really shouldn’t call me that” | say in return.”Ethan and I aren’t married anymore.”

“Well whatever your title” He amends, “you killing yourself with worry isn’t going to help your pups.”

“Spoken like someone who doesn’t have children.”

I grumble. “And by the way, I didn’t see you showing this kind of concern for the Alpha. Why is he allowed to race off and hunt down murderers, but I can’t even pace without ‘exhausting myself” I mock, holding up air quotes.

“I’m sorry.” He concedes, “you’re right, I don’t have pups, and I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. I didn’t mean to be patronizing”

“That isn’t helpful either!” I snap, “l don’t know why people think it’s comforting to say they can’t imagine another person’s pain. Just make the effort and practice some empathy, rather than pointing out how horrible it is to me” It’s not until I hear myself, that I realize how loudly I raised my voice. The commander is looking sheepish now, and l can’t help but feel guilty for taking out my fear and frustration on him. “I’m sorry.

“I sigh.”l didn’t mean -“

“It’s okay.” He tells me, raising his palms in concession, “emotions are high right now. Trust me, it’s nothing new when you’re in this line of work.”

His understanding only makes me feel worse for lashing out at him. “Be honest with me,” I request, “in these cases, how often do you actually find the pups?”

“When the abduction was reported as quickly as it was? And when we know precisely who has them?” He clarifies, “There’s every reason to be optimistic, Jane.”

“You’re not just saying that?”l press.

“I don’t believe in giving people false hope,” He shares, “| learned better many years ago. If l thought they were done for, l’d be telling you to prepare yourself for the worst.”

l exhale, sitting down for

feet and hallways across the room before the commander can stop me. “Wait! It might be I swing the door open without a second thought, and reel back when I see Detective Smithers standing on the

a vicious growl. Unfortunately before l can land a single blow to the wretched man, arms like iron bars loop around my middle, pulling

him!” I order, “he helped her try to murder

to lead us to Eve now. He can’t very well do that if your hands are around his throat, my lady.” The commander scolds,

know that for sure” I mutter,

an exasperated look. “Or, we

past him to the

only resigned. “I’m sorry – about everything.” He says gravely,

know a real apologý from a fake one, and I know when a person is truly sorry versus when they are just trying

has a point, Smithers.” The commander points out. “One has to imagine that if you truly felt

The disgruntled ex-cop mutters, “You don’t have to believe me, but whether l’ve

you were just corrupt-I didn’t think anyone could possibly be so stupid” I inform him. “But if you think it is a good

The commander speaks over me, throwing out his arm

can lead you to the pups.” The detective

The commander repeats, “from what? Being charged

He corrects. “I

mind?” The commander scoffs, “you’ve committed

have enough sense to keep my mouth shut. Telling him he’s doomed will hardly convince him to spill his secrets. The fact

had your pups locked in a basement and was trying to figure out how to kill

and bargain with us,

Eve” He objects, “she’s the mother of my child. I don’t agree with what she’s done, but I

paternity of Eve’s pups, until a little knot unwinds in my chest. I realize now how badly I let Eric get into my head, how thoroughly I let

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