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.”

sitting down for the first time since

I’m on my 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,

Unfortunately before l can land a single blow to the wretched man, arms like iron bars loop

her try to murder my baby! He tried to

person who might be able 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,

don’t know that for sure” I mutter, “It’s worth testing,

an exasperated look.

bite, looking past him to the disgraced investigator.”What

done, only resigned. “I’m sorry – about everything.” He says gravely, “you have no idea

another word. “You forget l’m a mother, detective. I know a real apologý from a fake one, and I know when

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

“You don’t have to believe me, but

the minute. “You know I truly believed 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 idea to tell me you have information about my pups, and expect me to give you something for it without r!pping your head off first,

have?” The commander speaks over me, throwing out

lead you to the pups.” The detective offers, but

“from what? Being

with anything” He corrects. “I want

your mind?” The commander scoffs, “you’ve committed countless felonies. You attacked

he’s doomed will hardly convince him

running out of time.” The investigator threatens, as if reading my mind. “When I left Eve, she had your pups locked in a basement and was trying to figure out how to kill them. lt

and bargain with us, when you could have knocked her out and freed

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

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 myself be fooled by the man I thought was

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