Jane
“This is going to work, Jane.” Ethan promises.
We’re going to get to them first.”
I’m having a hard time believing it. I want it to be true, but every near miss we experience sends me deeper and deeper into depression. I can’t live without my babies, I can’t survive this constant worry. I’m beginning to associate hope only with pain and disappointment. It doesn’t feel safe to hope anymore – I think it only invites heartbreak. After all, if I don’t hope, at least I won’t be surprised when my worst fears are proven to be real.
The depression and woe makes me want to give up. To curl into a little ball and never get out of bed. Of course, I don’t have a bed to languish in, and if we stop moving we risk missing the pups or worse, being caught by the King. We drove through the night to reach the capital, resuming our disguises and trying to locate Eric. There hasn’t been any word from him, and knowing that Anita has the pups in her grasps doesn’t make me optimistic about his chances. If the king trusted his son, he might have sent him to find the kids, rather than assigning the task to a stranger.
Linda is beside herself with worry, and if I had any space left in my heart to feel anything beyond my own sorrow and terror, I might be a better friend to her right now. Of course I patted her back and listened attentively as she shared her fears, but I couldn’t truly engage – not the way she deserves.
Guilt swirls with my despair. Linda has always been there for me whenever I needed her, the least I could do is return the favor in her own time of need – but I’m barely holding myself together as it is. “Baby, did you hear me?” Ethan presses, pulling my attention up to his handsome face.
You said this is going to work.” I parrot hollowly.
His face crinkles with pain. ‘No, sweetheart.” He corrects gently. I said that I need you to make me a promise.”
İ guess I wasn’t listening after all. “Sorry,” I murmur,
“I guess I got lost in my thoughts.”
want to tell me what you’re thinking about?”
can’t cry anymore. If I start now, I’l never stop. Nothing important.” I lie,
hug, but even physical comfort is too emotional for me in
know he might have been hugging me for his own comfort, but I don’t have the strength to think about anything other than keeping my composure
I’ll have to fight Aimon, if we can’t intercept the pups, or if something goes wrong along the way, I might be forced to challenge
we don’t intercept them, we have to wait for a ransom
He assures me, and I agree, but I’m saying there’s a chance no matter how smart we are, how cleverly we play it – this is incredibly dangerous
I exclaim, “Don’t you think I know
He sighs. I’m not
planned, I need you to promise to save yourself and the pups. They need you more than they need me, and if
telling me, that if he captures you or you’re fighting for your life.. you want me to leave you behind?” I summarize hoarsely, trying
urge to shift then and there, to let out my inner predator and attack
head. I can’t do
evenly. You
pups come before everything else? I
Ethan thunders, his
protect us, but the whole pack. And what about the boys, you think that if Aimon believes he finally has a chance to expand his empire onto the continent, he’ll just let your heirs go – to
why you have to run if the worst happens to me, because if you and the pups are still here,
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