Chapter 28
Jane
As my pups race across the room and pounce on me, I can help but laugh as I collapse beneath them. Wrestling and ticking the three wriggling bodies, they give as good as they get, poking my sides and making me squirm wildly on the tiles.
A warm, deep chuckle that sends a very different kind of warmth through my body sounds above us, and the next thing I know Ethan is bending down to pluck me from the ground, tossing me over his shoulder and relocating me to the living room.
Though he sets me on my feet when we get there, the feel of his powerful hands on my body makes my knees feel weak, and I have to steady myself with a hand on his arm when I land.
The kids have followed of course and are now eyeing the pair of us with paws outstretched in threat. They pounce within moments, and before I know it all five of us are racing around the apartment laughing and playing, making my heart swell even larger in my chest. It feels as if it will burst out of me at any moment, and my wolf is practically clawing at my skin, begging to come out and join the fun.
The only thing missing is Paisley.
If I was to give in to Ethan now, I would land right back where I was five years ago: completely at his mercy. And I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants. It must have been so hard for him not to have an omega slave serving his every whim all this time. I think bitterly. It’s no wonder he’s been so aggressive about reuniting with me.
At first I’d been confused about why the Alpha seemed so determined to prove my true identity - before he knew about the pups it didn’t make any sense. Afterwards I assumed he simply wanted to take them from me, after all wolves like him always think women and children are their property, rather than beings with their own minds.
However now the final puzzle piece has fallen into place at last. It’s not just about the pups, it’s also about getting his personal sex toy back, and no doubt making me pay for my betrayal. I can only imagine the twisted ways he’ll devise to punish me. Kinky bastard.
The only saving grace is that he finally seems to have wised up to Eve’s schemes, that or he’s only siding with me to win me over in the short term. Either way, I cannot be fooled by his charm. I cannot let myself fall victim to the heartless Alpha again, no matter how well we started off.
Ethan
Looking at Jane now, it’s impossible not to be transported into the past. She’s every bit as beautiful now as she was the day we first kissed, when I finally stopped seeing her as a friend, and realized she was the woman of my dreams.
We were fifteen, and had been tied at the hip ever since we competed against one another in the pack’s annual spelling bee in the third grade. We tied in the competition, and though I was the Alpha’s son and she was just an omega, we became fast friends. We couldn’t have come from more disparate backgrounds. While my family was happy, whole and had never left me wanting for anything, Jane never knew her father, and her mother always struggled to keep food on the table.
One day we were hanging out after school, walking down the city’s main street and happily chatting when I caught her ravenously eyeing a bakery window. “Have you eaten today, little wolf?”
“Yes.” She answered, turning her nose up in a way that told me she was certainly lying.
“Janey,” I growl threateningly.
“You know, I’m getting really tired of you bossing me around, Ethan.” She groused, “You’re not Alpha yet.”
“And you wouldn’t listen to me even if I was.” I tease, brushing her hair back from her face. “Stubborn thing.”
“Stop it!” She complained, pushing my hand away.
“Or what?” I taunted, catching her up against me. I stared deep into her brilliant green eyes, framed behind thick black lashes despite her fair hair. I’d always known Jane was pretty, but I’d never felt it the way I did then - deep in my bones, with a thriving, blazing fire that made my wolf positively howl.
“Or…” She racked her brain, a look of enlightenment striking her stunning features a moment later. “Or I’ll bite you.” She decided.
“Is that so?” I grinned wolfishly, trying very hard to calm my raging hormones.
“Just try me.” She challenged defiantly, adorably sure she’d won our bout.
Without another thought I dipped my head and claimed her lips with my own, sliding my hand to her nape and kissing her senseless. Jame whimpered in surprise, her small body going tight as a spring for a moment before melting against me, smooth and warm as hot honey. The next thing I knew she was wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing herself closer, making the sweetest little sounds as I plundered her mouth with my tongue.
In the end she was as good as her word, nibbling on my lower lip and earning herself a powerful growl and soft nips in return. It only made her bite me harder, she so enjoyed my dominance. Jane challenged me at every turn, and neither one of us could get enough.
As I return to the present I can see the same inclination in her now. When one moment she looked ready to cave to my charms, the next she’s hardened herself for battle. Goddess how I want to rise to the challenge - just as I had all those years ago. But we aren’t kids anymore, and I know I can’t just win her with a kiss. We’re playing a long game now, and I have to figure out how to win over this new Jane, rather than using the same tactics I would have in the past. However as we frolic through Linda’s apartment with the pups, her obvious happiness gives me at least one idea for achieving my aims and it begins and ends with the other center of my universe: Paisley.
Jane
“I have to visit Paisley this morning, I honestly shouldn’t have let a day go by without seeing her - let alone two.” Ethan announces.
“Yeah, well that’s what you get for scheming with the doctor.” I gripe, instantly feeling guilty. Poor Paisley has been at the hospital all on her own these last few days. I’d wanted to sneak out to see the pup myself, but by the time I shook Ethan off last night visiting hours had already ended.
“Now, now.” He scolds. “Don’t be like that.”
“Like what?” I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Grumpy.” Ethan remarks wryly, eyeing me slyly. “You should come with me.”
I freeze, clearly torn. “I shouldn’t.” I hedge.
“Come on.” Ethan encourages, “She’d love to have another visitor, especially you.” He reminds me, “She was so taken with you when you met.”
I shrug. “I’d love to meet her, but I have too much to do.”
“Sweetheart, I hold your only account in the city. If I say we can skip work today, we can.”
"Bossy Alphas." I mutter but finally agree, though I glare out the window the entire ride to the hospital and refuse to speak to Ethan.
“Daddy!” Paisley exclaims when we reach her room, throwing her arms out in welcome. Ethan immediately strides to her side and wraps his muscular arms around her.
“Hello angel, I’m so sorry I haven’t come sooner.” He apologizes sincerely. The guilt does seem to be eating him alive.
“Where were you?” Paisley pouts, her green eyes wide.
“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” I announce “I distracted him.”
“You came back!” Paisley exclaims, looking like she might cry.
“Of course I did.” I smile warmly, petting the sweet pup’s cheek. “How could I stay away?”
Ethan is staring at me, his expression confused and then mysteriously blank, as if he’s thinking deeply..
Eventually he smiles, almost beaming with pleasure.
Uh-oh, I don’t like him looking so pleased.
Paisley turns back to him a moment later, “I wanna sit in both your laps.”
"Whatever you say, princess." Ethan immediately agrees.
I’m already holding Paisley, and I can’t escape him when he reaches out and pulls me onto his lap. Perched on his thighs but still cradling the pup, I squirm and growl at Ethan. “That isn’t what she meant.”
He merely grins in reply, trailing his hand down the column of my spine and cuddling us both close, “Deal with it.”
Paisley has a sweet smile on her face as she snuggles into my, well, our arms.
“Will you come to the h‘spital for my surgry?” Paisley asks, looking up at me with wide puppy–dog eyes.
