Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Jane and Ethan Visit Paisley Jane What I’ve been missing all these years. I think when reason returns to my lust-addled brain, like being Ethan’s mindless pleasure slave.

All at once my joy and desire come crashing down around me as reality sets in. 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?” | 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 Third Person “I have to visit Paisley this morning, I honestly shouldn’t have let a day go by without seeing her – let alone two.” Ethan announced on the second morning of his stay.

“Yeah, well that’s what you get for scheming with the doctor.” Jane griped, instantly feeling guilty. Poor Paisley had been at the hospital all on her own these last few days. Jane had wanted to sneak out to see the pup herself, but by the time she shook Ethan off the prior evening visiting hours had already ended.

“Now, now.” He scolded. “Don’t be like that.”

“Like what?” Jane grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Grumpy.” Ethan remarked wryly, eyeing his former mate slyly. “You should come with me.”

Jane froze, clearly torn. “I shouldn’t.” She hedged.

“Come on.” Ethan encouraged, “She’d love to have another visitor, especially you.” He reminded her, “She was so taken with you when you met.”

Jane, who still hadn’t acknowledged she found Paisley the day she ran off, shrugged. “I’d love to meet her, but I have too much to do.”

“Sweetheart, I hold your only account in the city.” The alpha reminded her, “If I say we can skip work today, we can.”

Muttering under her breath about inappropriate nicknames and bossy Alphas, Jane finally agreed. She glared out the window the entire ride to the hospital and refused to speak to Ethan, however the moment they arrived in the Children’s wing of the medical center, she instantly softened.

By the time the pair reached Paisley’s room, she was almost being friendly. “Daddy!” Paisley exclaimed when he entered the room, throwing her arms out in welcome. Ethan immediately strode to her side and wrapped his muscular arms around her.

“Hello angel, I’m so sorry I haven’t come sooner.” He shared sincerely, guilt eating him alive.

“Where were you?” Paisley pouted, her green eyes wide.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” Jane announced, surprising them both. “I distracted him.”

“You came back!” Paisley cried when she saw Jane.

“Of course I did.” Jane smiled warmly, petting the child’s cheek. “How could I stay away?”

It took Ethan a moment to catch up, but he soon realized Jane must have been visiting Paisley without his knowledge. He was both thrilled his suspicions about the woman were correct, and infinitely more confused about her deceit.

To his surprise the pup – who had never shown preference for anyone over him, was reaching for the woman she believed to be her mother. A month ago he would have assumed he would be jealous of such a gesture, but now he found he was touched. It filled him with joy to see Jane taking Paisley into her arms, the happiness on the child’s face the best gift for which he could ask. His pleasure only increased when Paisley turned back to him a moment later, “I wanna sit’in both your laps.”

Ethan was well aware the child meant she wanted to share their affection, but ever the clever wolf, he took the request to his advantage. Jane was already holding Paisley, so he simply pulled the lovely she-

wolf into his lap and considered the job done. Perched on his thighs but still cradling their pup, Jane squirmed and glowered at the man. “That isn’t what she meant.”

He merely grinned in reply, trailing his hand down the column of her spine and cuddling them both close, “Deal with it.”

Paisley was oblivious to their muted argument, and merely snuggled into her parent’s arms. She knew her surgery had been rescheduled for the day after tomorrow, and she knew without question her Daddy would be there. However he wasn’t the only one she wanted present, and now she had the opportunity to ask her Mommy to be there too “Will you come to the ‘spital for my surg’ry?” Paisley asked, looking up at Jane with wide puppy-dog eyes.