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.”

me when the hardship would end, if we’d be struggling forever- and what we had done to deserve so many trials and tribulations. At the time I 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 if I don’t have a future ahead of me, I have to think that they will – I have to find a way

men aren’t like me. She has a fated mate out there somewhere – encourage

her.” Linda proclaims sadly. “And I understand you’re trying to protect her. I

it didn’t have to be this

the scientists around me flinch. Linda

what you want either.” Linda

interjects, you’re all strapped in. The system

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 mimic the motion. To stand, close your hands into fists and straighten your arms to your

I sway in place for a moment, and the people around me reach out to brace my impending fall. “Slowly now, you

feel the floor, so it’s going to take some

walk?” I ask, wanting to reach my arms out to my sides to try

like

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 I can

the scientists in awe. “I

simple.” The researcher from the think tank smiles. You should see

life changing.” I state honestly. This is exactly what I

before heading home.” Linda observes, ‘but

It’s even silent.

good news in a

more likely that it would fail spectacularly. I can’t express how relieved I am that we truly have a

have to remove them to