Chapter 75
Chapter 75 – Ethan Faces the Press
Ethan
The day after the arrest, I wake up before dawn, striding into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee and
rouse my ex- hausted brain. It’s still dark out, but when I exit my bedroom I can see the lights are already
on down the hall. When I reach the living room I find Jane curled up in the window seat, wide awake and
staring out at the waking city.
Frowning deeply, I move to her side, my concern growing when she doesn’t seem to detect my presence.
She’s- pletely lost in her thoughts, and when I reach out to touch her shoulder, she jerks away from
me as if she’s been electrocut- ed.
“Easy, Jane.” I shush her softly, “It’s only me.”
Her wide eyes rx slightly, a heavy sigh expelling from her lungs. However she doesn’t rx
completely, her muscles are still wound tight as a spring, and my heart aches just look- ing at her
distraught face. “Sorry,” She mutters weakly, “you startled me.”
“Have you been up all night?” I question, studying the dark circles beneath her eyes.
She shrugs, averting her gaze. “I had a lot on my mind.”
Thankfully it’s Sunday, so she doesn’t have to go into work, but I can’t help worrying for my poor mate.
“Sweetheart, that’s no good.” I scold gently, suddenly regretting letting her go to bed alone. I’d been
sorely tempted to stay with her until she fell asleep, but she clearly wanted to be alone so I didn’t
force the issue. “The pups won’t be up for a few hours, you ought to try to get in some rest before they
wake.”
“I can’t.” Jane admits, her rosy lips tugging downward. “I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t get my brain to turn
off.”
Normally I would suggest a ss of wine to help send her off, but five o’clock in the morning seems a bit
early to start drinking. Instead I gather her into my arms, ignoring the way she jolts and squirms to
escape. Taking a seat on the sofa, I cuddle her to my chest and begin to purr softly, knowing that no
matter her omega instincts are buried, she’ll never be im- mune to myfort.
“Ethan, I don’t want to sleep.” She objects, still wriggling despite the fact that her nose is pressed to my
chest and she’s obviously smelling me. Silly little omega, I think, does she real- ly think I don’t know what
she’s doing?
Chuckling darkly, I snuggle her close and stroke her hair, “Now you’re just being stubborn.”
“I’m not stubborn.” She mutters mutinously, her darksh- es fluttering despite her words.
“Just go to sleep, baby.” I encourage, kissing her hair and trying not to get distracted by her own
delectable scent.
Little by little Jane submits, falling into a sleep so deep that she doesn’t even stir when I carry her to bed.
Depositing her between the silky sheets, I try to pull away, only to find her small fists clenched in my
shirt. It isn’t easy to disentangle her, but I finally seed, hoping she’ll stay asleep once I leave.
When I finally make it back out to the kitchen and collect the morning paper, I’m relieved Jane fell asleep,
because the morning news is far from good. Once again her photo is sshed across the headlines,
only this time mine is along- side her, and the story below details her arrest and my inter- vention at the
police station.
The words “corruption” and “abuse of power” leap off the page, assaulting my tired mind as my coffee
brews, and I know I have to do something. I don’t know what is going on with the lead investigator.
Perhaps he simply believes he’s right and is too prideful to consider another exnation, tak- ing every
challenge as an assault on his authority. Or it may be the case that he’s pursuing his own agenda and is
deliber- ately trying to sabotage us.
Either way, Jane has been as skittish as a frightened rab- bit ever since he spoke to her at the funeral,
and regardless of the impact on my family, he’s following the wrong lead. Eve is still out there
somewhere waiting to wreak more havoc, and neither Jane nor the pups are safe as long as she’s free.
Calling my second inmand, Matthew, I direct him to arrange a press conference for this afternoon,
and set about preparing my statement.
A few hourster, I’m standing in front of a throng of re- porters, camera shes bursting in front of my
eyes as I stare them down.
“Thank you all for being here today,” I begin, trying to keep my temper in check, “I appreciate you taking
the time toe out. I know there has been a great deal in the news about my familytely, specifically
my former mate, Jane. I can confirm that Elise Carrington is, in fact, Jane ckwell, but this is where the
news’s uracy ceases. While our past has not always been smooth sailing, we have reconciled our
differences and appreciate the pack respecting our privacy in this matter. We are only interested in
moving forward, partic- rly after the tragic events surrounding my mother’s mur- der.”
It still feels strange to talk about my mother in the past tense, let alone to say the word ‘murder’ rting
to someone so close to me, but I forge on without pausing. “Despite what you may have been told, Jane
had absolutely nothing to do with this crime. The person responsible is Eve Mechant, who also
engineered the attacks for which Jane was med in the police reports recently leaked by the
investigative team, as well as my daughter’s attempted murder. I am extremely dis- turbed by the police
and the media’s insistence on persecut- ing an innocent woman when Eve remains atrge. I urge all
members of the pack to be on the lookout for Ms. Mechant, as she is a grave threat to public safety.”
“As for the usations of corruption levied against me, I ask you the following: is the true abuse of
power standing up for what is right and defending the innocent, or neglecting one’s duty and allowing a
dangerous criminal to roam free, because an easier target is avable to take the fall?” A string of
mutters moves through the crowds, and I can’t keep the growl out of my voice as I conclude, “I am
determined to hold the responsible parties in these terrible events ountable, and you have my word
as Alpha that I will not rest until our city is safe and order restored. I will not be taking any ques- tions,
and thank you again for your time.”
This prompts an explosion of shes and shouts from the audience, but I ignore them and leave the dais,
my temper still dangerously close to snapping. However, that onlysts for a moment because as I step
off the podium, I see Jane standing just inside the door, watching me with her fingers pressed to
her lips. I had no idea she was going to be here, and the as- tonished look on her face sparks a pang in
my chest. Ignoring the press, I go to her and wrap her in a hug, lifting her feet off the ground as I
squeeze her tight. “It’s going to be okay.” I promise.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Jane murmurs into the curve of my neck.
“Yes I did.” I insist, setting her down and cradling her cheek in my hand. “You don’t deserve what they’re
saying about you, and Eve can’t be allowed to get away with this.”
“Thank you.” Jane breathes, hugging me again.
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My heart swells as she freely offers me affection, and I de- cide to use her good will to my advantage.
“You know, we never got to celebrate our anniversary, and you owe me quite a few dates.” I tell her. We
never discussed what would hap- pen with the dates we canceled after Mom’s murder, but I have every
intention of making up for lost time now.
“Oh yeah?” Jane smiles, her beautiful green eyes glitter- ing.
“Yeah,” I confirm, “So what do you say? Let’s y hooky tomorrow and go do something fun.”
“I shouldn’t,” Jane sighs, “I’ve already missed so much work with everything that’s been going on.”
“Yeah, but you haven’t done anything for yourself.” I ar- gue, “you’ve been taking care of me, taking care
of the pups, fending off the police. You’re so stressed out, Janey. You de- serve a break.”
Jane shifts restlessly, peeking up at me from beneath hershes. “What would we even do?”
“I dunno,” I muse, trying to think of some activities that don’t involve Jane naked and in my bed, which is
suddenly all I can think about. “We could go apple picking, or hiking maybe bowling.”
“Not without the pups.” Jane shakes her head. “Those kinds of activities should be with the whole family.”
“Hmm,” I ponder, well then how about wine tasting?” I suggest.
Jane beams, “that’s the best idea you’ve had all day.”
Chuckling, I decide, “alright then. It’s a date.”
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