Jane “She was so perfect.” I moan, taking a sip of wine while Linda listens sympathetically. “I wanted to run away with her then and there.” “It’s a good thing you didn’t.” My friend advises. We’re out on her front porch, enjoying a late afternoon cocktail and discussing the shocking events of the day. “It was risky enough just spending time with her. If you took her, Ethan would hunt you to the ends of the earth.” “I’m going to have to figure out a way to take her eventually. She belongs with me, with her siblings.” I insist, feeling positively overwhelmed after everything that’s happened over the last few days. “We’ll figure it out.” Linda assures me. “For now we should just be thankful he didn’t figure out you’re alive.” “What if he did?” I ask anxiously. “Honey, you have to trust the death certificate the coroner forged for us was enough.” Linda reminds me, “We covered our bases. You’re safe.” “There’s no such thing as safe when it comes to alphas.” I remind her. “That kind
The waitress recounts her transaction with Jane’s lookalike as my eyes stay locked on the screen. Fuck. Why won’t it load faster! “She was beautiful, and very friendly. I wish all customers were like her.” She gushes, “She bought a box of cookies and asked if she could use the service exit, because she parked in the side street. The young woman glances back and forth between her manager and me, uncertainty painting her features. “Was that wrong?” “No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” I assure her, trying to keep my voice gentle even though her decision has actually inconvenienced me greatly. If only she’d said no! The blonde would have been forced to walk out the front, right past me. “Have you ever seen her before?” Unfortunately the waitress is too young to have been working here when Jane and I were married, but maybe she’s seen her on other occasions. “I’m sorry, no.” She replies. “I think she was from out of town.” “Why do you say that?” I question sharply. “Well, she said she
“What?” I prompt, trying to remember how to breathe. My wolf is in a frenzy, positively trembling with fear. “He seemed different.” Linda shares, “He looked like he was really suffering, like he was desperate for you to be alive. It truly seemed like he cared about you… I think maybe he’s changed.” Where fear consumed me moments before, now anger floods my senses. Linda and I never fight, but I can’t believe her audacity. She knows better than anyone what Ethan put me through, and now it seems like she’s forgetting it, simply because he put on a good show as the grieving widower. “Linda, if he’s sad I’m gone, it’s for one reason and one reason only.” I snap, “Because he misses having a personal sex toy. He misses having a mindless omega whose body he can control, who can’t deny him even if they wanted to.” I open my mouth to continue, but Linda holds up a staying hand. “Please hear me out, Jane. If not for you, then for the other pups.” She beseeches, sounding truly distressed. “Yo
Ethan Following the direction of Paisley’s pointing finger, I scan the crowded courtyard for my daughter’s look alike. Despite my best efforts, I don’t see anyone fitting her description. I believe Paisley saw a child who resembled her, but it seems like she’s gone now. “I’m sorry sweetheart, I don’t see her.” Paisley drags her expectant gaze from my face, looking back across the mall. Her little face scrunches up in disappointment when she too fails to find the child in question. “Daddy, I swear. She looked exactly like me! Maybe she’s my sister!” Chuckling warmly, I tug my pup towards the theater entrance. “I know you want a sister, my love, but your mommy only gave birth to you.” “No, daddy, that was my sister.” She insists stubbornly. “I decided!” This is not the first time my daughter has invented an imaginary sibling or invisible friend to play with, after all, don’t all children at this age? I know it’s no use arguing, and I don’t want to stifle her creativity. Instead I s
“No one, my love.” Jane lied, pulling out her phone to text Linda. Linda arrived soon and they went to a more secluded restaurant. Jane felt relieved to have her friend near but the real relief was that Riley let the question go. Still, her heart ached knowing how poor Paisley must be feeling. Her little voice echoed in Jane's head, crying out for Jane and her sister. Jane wished she could go back and sweep the little girl away this instant, but she knew it was impossible. She had to be patient. She had to wait until the time was right. -- “I’m sure it was our Daddy.” Riley insists, relating the strange events in the restaurant to her brothers. “The little girl who looked like me said I was her sister, and the man looked just like you - only growned up!” “But how do we find him?” Parker questions, working the problem over in his mind. “We could ask Auntie Linda?” Ryder suggests, “I bet she knows.” “Mommy won’t like it.” Riley cautions, “She didn’t wanna tell me ‘bout Daddy at a
Jane This isn’t happening. Riley is grinning up at me and waving a magazine with Ethan’s handsome face plastered across the cover, and all I can do is stare down at her in horror. “Ma’am,” The coffee vendor prods my elbow, trying to catch my attention, “Ma’am, your latte?” Closing my gaping mouth, I blindly extend my hand towards the man, and he presses the warm cardboard cup into my palm. I can’t explain it, but tears are burning in my eyes. We should have never come here. This is all too much. My wolf is whining in my head, as if the mere sight of my former mate is too much to bear. When I saw him in the restaurant I’d been so focused on retrieving Riley and getting out of there unseen that I didn’t let myself truly process seeing Ethan again after so long. It’s almost like my body went into survival mode. Now that I’m staring at his picture, held aloft in my daughter’s tiny hands, it’s all coming back to me. He’d looked every bit as handsome and dashing as I remember, and the wo
Eve I swear, I really will kill that brat. As soon as Paisley started wailing, Ethan gathered her up and walked out, giving in to the spoiled pup’s tantrum. It seems like no matter what the child does, it’s never enough to make him see what a terror she is. He caves every time she so much as pouts, and trying to make him see the truth only makes him angry. “I’m sorry dear.” Ethan’s mother, Catherine, sighs. “I tried.” “I know,” I say, plastering a fake smile on my face, “thank you, I do appreciate your help.” “Just give him time.” Catherine advises. “Paisley will get used to the idea eventually. It’s hard with pups this age.” “I understand.” I lie, “though I do think he could be more strict with her. He lets her walk all over him.” I instantly know the words were a mistake. Catherine’s features harden, and she primly dabs at the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “Paisley isn’t just any child. She’s had to struggle to survive from the moment she was born, she’s growing up wit
Ethan Whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t this. After I saw Jane’s ghost holding a child identical to Paisley at the restaurant, I immediately demanded the manager print out a copy of her credit card receipt. There in black and white I found her new name: Elise Carrington, founder and CEO of La Louve fragrances. I was almost positive the woman I saw was, in fact, my wife, but I couldn’t be sure until this moment. Now it’s painfully obvious my chosen mate did not die after all, but she certainly hasn’t stayed the same. This Jane is so unlike the woman I knew I can scarcely believe it. She’s every bit as beautiful, but infinitely more confident and powerful. She smells like an alpha, and she’s charming even as she argues with me. The stubborn thing even threatened me, which I have to admit I found nothing short of delightful. My wolf is roaring in my head, demanding that I claim her here and now. I want to do nothing more than shut her saucy little mouth with my own, but I have a fe