The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

Chapte 35 Jane Pulls a Vanishing A

Jane

Spinning to face Paisley, I find her sitting up in bed, her green eyes wide but still glazed with the remnants of sleep. This is the first time since the surgery that she’s seemed truly lucid, and I have to fight every protective instinct in my body to immediately begin interrogating her about who visited her before she went under.

“Hello my love.” | greet her, crossing the room to sit at the edge of her bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Funny.” Paisley answers with a yawn. “Why were you swearing, Mommy?”

Brushing her hair back from her face, I offer her a lopsided smile. “I was just feeling a little out of sorts.” I confess, “But I shouldn’t have said those things.”

Paisley leans forward, raising her hand to her mouth and secretively whispering “I’s heard Daddy say some of dose words too sometimes.” She grins sheepishly, “but he says dey’ re bad words and only bad Daddies say dem in front of pups.”

“And what do you think?” I ask her, overjoyed that she’s up and talking,

She thinks for a moment before deciding, “I tink he’s a good Daddy.”

“I think so too.” I share, unable to stop myself from kissing her little hands. “And I’m so glad you’re alright Paisley, you really scared me for a while there.”

“How’d I do that?” She asks, looking worried.

“It’s not anything you did, little one.” I assure her, “I just get nervous about surgeries. You’re such a brave girl.”

“I’s my last one, you know?” Paisley tells me with excitement. “I never have to have ‘nother.”

“I know.” I beam, “and you know, that means my game of hide and seek with Daddy can end soon too.”

“Really?” She exclaims, “you mean you can be my Mommy?”

gently, holding a finger to my lips. “It’s not over yet, so we have to keep it

unusually somber for such

first thing you want to do when you get out of the hospital?”” | ask, changing the subject before she can think about it too hard. I’ve long past given up on keeping her completely in the dark, but I can’t tell her too much either. She still has weeks of physical

the moment she’s decided on an answer, because

“We can get

She inquires eagerly, bouncing up and

I grin, “let’s you and I

———

Ethan

worked wonders on my tense muscles, but all my stress remains. I’m still overwhelmed by everything that happened at the hospital. I’m so relieved Paisley’s surgery went well, but horrified about the murder attempt, confused

it, no one in the pack has caused more problems for me than the she-wolf dwelling under my own roof. Jane’s words from earlier ring in my head: whoever poisoned Paisley is someone you know, someone with the motive to hurt you or get Paisley out of the way. Get Paisley out

the way, is if Paisley was somehow keeping us apart. Eve

towel, I watch my mother’s reflection in the mirror, “I suppose you’ve

“I came to see if

I admit bleakly, “things

her voice so I can hear her as I retreat into my closet to get changed. “You know it might be easier to carry the weight of your responsibilities if you had someone to help you

if you’re going to suggest I marry Eve again-” I begin, only to get cut

exclaims, “She’s been like family to us for years now. She’s lived here, helped raise Paisley and she adores you. She would give

give anything, she might be willing to do anything too, including kill.

my life, Ethan.

don’t want to take that step unless it’s absolutely necessary. At this point Eve is Mom’s only friend, and if she knew what I’m beginning to suspect… well, let’s just say it would crush her. Mom isn’t as young as she used to be, and she barely survived losing my father. Her only joys left in life are me,

Eve you should want the best for her.” I remind Mom. “We know I’m not her mate. It would

argues, a bitter note entering her voice. “You certainly

for not leaving her afterwards. In fact, it’s so rare for her to bring up

know, don’t

Elise?” She clarifies, studying her fingernails as if

told you?” I ask, wondering if Eve has figured out the truth