Jane

“Then he rejected me.” I explain, sharing our story with the child psychologist I hired to speak with the pups. They’re out in the play area of her office’s waiting room while I brief the doctor on our situation. “He told me to take the pups and go, but I didn’t want them to think he didn’t want them..”

My voice is shaking now, thick with emotion as tears well on my lashes. “So I said it was me. And now they hate me.” I sob, trying to pull myself together enough to finish. “They hate me, they won’t talk to me, and I know they’re traumatized. They have nightmares every night and they jump at every loud noise. They’re not the same pups they were before they were taken.”

I’m very sorry, Jane.” The doctor consoles me, offering me a box of tissues. “I have little ones too, and I completely understand the desire to protect them from the truth.”

Do you thínk I was wrong? Would it have been better to tell them the truth? I squeak, blowing my nose.

“Look, I’m a big believer of being honest with your kids, even when they’re quite small, but abandonment by a parent is one of the most traumatic things a child can experience. After everything they’ve been through, I don’t think you were wrong to try and shield them from this – but you need to be prepared for the fact that they might figure it out on their own much sooner than you’re prepared for.” The doctor warns. “If he’s cut off contact completely, it won’t be long before they start to ask why he isn’t trying to see them, why he doesn’t call… and you can take the blame for that too, but it will only work for so long. Pups are very intuitive that way.

I know, and mine are smarter than most.” I sigh. I just wish I could protect them without making them despise me.

“Of course you do.” She soothes, “Listen Jane, are you in therapy yourself?”

should be.” I confess, but I don’t know where I’d find

adults, we could schedule your sessions at the same time as the pups so you don’t have to carve out more time, and we’re in the same practice, so we could consult on your cases and ensure we’re all on the same

I agree, “that sounds like

in the

stand wiping my eyes and moving for the

doctor nods, I want to take a moment to meet them and assess where we are, then I’ll bring you back at the end so we can talk about the

out into the waiting area, herding the pups into the doctor’s office before taking a seat on the plush couches. There’s a television playing some sort of

offerings, and it takes me surprise to see the local channel Ethan and I used to watch on the big screen. However if I was taken aback to

hurt by Ethan, I’m quickly proved wrong seeing this announcement. I turn up the volume, my heart hammering in my ch3st as I stare at his handsome features. He looks very dour, and his pallor seems almost gray. For one ridiculous moment I

the empire to thrive and grow prosperous under their leadership. As for Jane and I, we decided it would be best for her to raise the pups in the safety of the Dark Moon pack. Now that Paisley is well enough to join her mother and siblings, they will continue to be raised as they were before these terrible events occurred. Though it is not ideal, it is what we decided was best

giving his permission to speak. “Do you believe the threats here in the NightFang territory are a reflection of your leadership? Do you believe the Dark Moon pack is more secure than

just how valuable our pack’s resources and influence have become, but I have protected our people for many years, and I neutralized these most recent threats as well. Our city is perfectly safe to most NightFang

There was no mention of her returning to the Dark Moon territory before you went to the Southern

to an arrangement which suited our family best, and ask for members of the media to respect our privacy at this time. Obviously we and our pups have been through a

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