3rd Person

Paisley huddled behind Riley, Ryder and Parker, a deep frown tugging on her young features.

When the pups woke from their nap, they initially jumped out of bed to rush out and see their parents, but the sounds of tense voices stopped them short.

Indulging their Goddess-given talents for eavesdropping, the pups listened as Ethan insulted Jane and confirmed he didn’t want to be a father. Of course, Paisley knew the truth behind these lies. She knew her father was pushing away Jane and his children for their own good, but her siblings did not.

I don’t unders’and.” Parker whispered, looking thunderstruck. “Mommy said it was her ‘cision to leave Daddy.”

Why is he being so mean?” Riley whimpered in reply.

Paisley kept her mouth tightly shut. She might know her father’s motivations, but she didn’t find it any easier to hear him speak that way than her brothers and sister did. Ethan had explained he had to pretend to be mean, but it was one thing to know that, and another to hear it happen with her own ears. It was too confusing. Questions swirled through her mind, every bit as urgent as the ones Riley, Ryder and Parker were asking. Could a person really make up such horrible things? Could they inflict so much pain and still be nice- as nice as her Daddy? Or was the niceness the lie? Was it possible for cruelty to ever be the right thing to do?

Why didn’t Mommy tell us?” Ryder inquired, his voice very small.

Cuz she didn’t want us to feel bad.” Paisley supplied gravely, feeling a lump in her throat.

They’d all been so angry at Jane, they’d made it so hard on her. “She was trying to pwotect us.

was right.” Parker mused miserably, referring to their therapist. How many times had she told them that Jane was doing what she believed was best for them, that she loved them and wanted them to be happy, but grown up things are

them. They turned their faces up to their father, wearing identical glares. Ethan’s expression was carefully blank, as if he’d been preparing for this – as if he’d schooled himself not to react when the time came to reveal

their faces, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to attack Ethan or weep. Jane had been through so much effort, struggle and heartache trying to prevent this exact scenario. She’d never wanted the pups to know he didn’t want them – never. She truly thought she could

was going to happen eventually, Jane.”

didn’t have to!” Jane exploded, tears streaming down her cheeks. They’re too little, Ethan! This is going to affect them for the rest of

ran to her side, wrapping their

okay.” Parker added, pulling Jane down so that they could cuddle her properly, climbing into her arms and pressing soft k!sses to her tear-stained

would make her laugh. So she did, hiccupping a chuckle

stayed behind, looking up at her father with all her mixed up emotions and questions written on her sweet face. Ethan studied her, letting his expressions become tender. He mouthed, it’s okay, and nodded in the direction of Jane, encouraging her to go comfort her with

shook her head. She was so confused over his cruelty, he – who had never even raised his voice at her; who was always calm, always kind, even when he was angry; who had always been her fiercest protector. Even so, she could sense how badly it was hurting him too. She didn’t want to leave him all alone. He might not be crying on the outside, but she could practically hear his wolf’s internal howls of agony. So Paisley

cheek to his thigh, closing her eyes and squeezing with all her might. As soon as her

detecting the change in his energy. See, she wanted to say, mean Daddies need cuddles too. Instead she simply held on tighter, pouring all her love out through her arms, and

pups overheard Ethan and Jane arguing, the Penthouse had been a tense and prickly place to live. Everyone walked

confident about taking the pups home in the new year. With the exception of Paisley, the children were refusing to speak to their father, and all the playful energy which had

she knew they couldn’t undo the damage. When they returned to the Dark Moon pack she would take them to Dr. Nora to immediately begin working through this newest trauma, and with any luck she could make them feel so loved and wanted that they would never feel abandoned. She was also excited to think she had a new friend at home, and was eager to

spent all morning New Years Eve looking forward to their date, eager to get herself and the pups out of the house, as well as to catch up with her friend. She caught herself wondering about Devon, her mind wandering to the beta over and over throughout the day. She was even thinking about him as she went through her

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