The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Ethan

This is crazy, you know that?” Linda asks, watching as the doctors fit the braces onto my lower body.

“Linda, if you’re not going to be supportive, you might as well as go back to your palace.” I tell her coolly. Eric was released a few days ago and the couple is slowly settling into their life as the new King and Queen. They’re planning a mating ceremony and a coronation, as well as trying to launch an emergency PR campaign to get the Kingdom up to speed on the changes in governance and conduct outreach to those citizens in need. Still, Linda visits me every day and though she’s not always the most supportive of guests, it does feel nice to have at least one person who knows what I’m going through.

I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be unsupportive.”

She replies contritely. “I just think this plan of yours is a recipe for disaster, I mean what’s going to happen when people find out.”

“If you have a better solution I’d love to hear it.”

I gripe, “And they’re not going to find out.”

They will eventually.” She reasons, “when it’s all over the truth is going to come out.”

“Im going to do my best to ensure that doesn’t happen.” I sigh. “We’ll come up with another story, a sudden illness or something. No one ever has to know about the deceit.”

“Ethan, I wish you would reconsider telling Jane and the pups.” Linda says, for the thousandth time.

Linda, we’ve been over this, and I know it’s difficult for you to keep this from her, but you know it’s for the best.” I argue. I just hope you’ll encourage her to find a new mate after I’m gone.” My wolf howls at the very idea, and I admit that the idea of another man going near my beloved mate makes me apoplectic, but I want her life to be happy. I want her to be loved, and I want my pups to have a father figure if I can’t be there for them.

I know this isn’t what you want to hear,” Linda begins carefully, “but I think you pretty much ruined the chances of that happening. You know how hard it was for her to trust you, to let herself be vulnerable with you again, and then you rejected her. She was traumatized enough after your marriage ended, I don’t think there’s any coming back from this.”

promised her for a bright future once the pups were safe, but now I wonder if she was right. Am I being punished for wrongs I committed in the past? Is this my repayment for stealing her agency when we were married? It doesn’t seem fair. After all, I’m not the only one ‘suffering here – Jane and the pups are paying the price too. I can’t stand the thought of it – they’re innocents. Even

you.” I explain. “Tell her I was evil, tell her other men aren’t like me. She has

destroyed her.” Linda proclaims sadly. “And

it didn’t

I snap, so harshly that the scientists around me flinch. Linda looks mildly shell-shocked, and I try to calm down, I’m sorry, that was too

isn’t what you want either.” Linda apologizes, shaking her head and

of the researchers interjects, you’re all strapped in. The system works through

to have to practice, but any time you want the braces to move your legs, you have to move your hands and then the system will

disconnected from my lower half. I sway in place

The scientist informs me. “Obviously you can’t feel the floor, so it’s going to take some practice learning to

sides to try and regain my equilibrium, but recalling the

– like you might if you were

amazed when the brace silently bends and straightens my leg, extending it out in front of me to take a step forward. It’s really quite amazing. I move my other hand now, and before long I’m walking around the room in my hospital gown. Granted I’m walking with the ungainly grace of a newborn foal about to topple over at any moment, but

express, looking to the scientists in awe. “I can’t believe you did this so

incredibly simple.” The researcher from the think tank smiles. You should see the things AI is capable of these days – this is

changing.” I state honestly.

fit in some practice before heading home.” Linda observes, ‘but once you’ve got normal clothes on

It’s even silent.

began. I haven’t had any good news in a while now, and I wasn’t sure that there would be any way to actually pull this

that it would fail spectacularly. I can’t express how

the night, but you have to remove them to bathe. Do you have someone at home who can help you do that?” My