The Luna and her Quadruplet Pups by Jane Above Story

#Chapter 83 – Ethan’s Confession

How did it come to this? I think morosely. How did everything go so wrong so quickly?

I’d like to think I’ve been shielding the pups from the truth about what happened between Jane and I all those years ago for their own safety and peace of mind, but if I’m honest, I think I’ve been protecting myself. I know how horribly I messed up with Jane, and as badly as it hurt to see my former mate looking at me with that expression of utter betrayal, seeing it on the faces of my innocent pups is worse. When I left the house this morning I was their hero,

now I’m their villain.

“Why don’t you come sit down.” I suggest to the pups, hoping they’ll agree. How am I ever going to explain this to them? They’re too young to even understand a fraction of it.

Despite my tormented thoughts, they obey. One by one they toddle into the living room,

settling on the sofa while I take a seat on the edge of the coffee table in front of them. I search their young faces for any hint of

openness, but they all seem completely

closed off.

“Listen.” I begin, not even knowing where I’m going with this. “I made a lot of

mistakes in the past, and I did a lot of things

I’m not proud of, but I love you and I love

your Mommy more than anything.”

The quadruplets exchange meaningful glances, “what does that mean?” Ryder

questions.

“It means that it’s true. Eve tricked me into

believing something terrible about Mommy,

and… I punished her.” I confess, “I put her

on house arrest.”

“But how could you b’lieve Eve?” Riley

demands, clearly affronted on her mother’s

behalf.

“Because I didn’t know how evil she was

then.” I explain, “I don’t have any other

excuse. I was a fool – I let her make a fool of

me, and believing her is the biggest regret of

my life, second only to how I treated your Mommy afterwards.”

“Wha’s house arrest?” Parker inquired,

clearly distracted by my previous choice of

words.

“It’s like what Paisley said, a permanent

time out.” I share.

“So you made Mommy a prisner,” Riley

summarizes, “for something she didn’ do.’

“Yes.” I concede. “That’s right. I made her

and I’ll never regret anything

more.”

can see their affection for me evaporating,

don’t blame them. If someone did to

I did

things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I

losing them. I think forlornly, I only just

your own fault. A little voice

head, after all, if you hadn’t

wouldn’t be able to hold it against you.

young and stupid. I argue back,

understand the blurry

of

redemption. To them I’m the evil man that hurt their mother, full stop.

did you find out?” I ask them,

suddenly came up after

and I were both

told us.” Parker admits, looking at me

I’ve just kicked a

growl. To my horror, Riley,

Ryder actually flinch away

out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to how terrible

I caution, softening my tone,

((

was just surprised.”

monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as though the sky is falling around

a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people

you?” Ryder asks

at me.

good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know if

is that I’m not the same man I was then.”

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you

people change as time passes. You’ll see when you get older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you used to

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

saying he has

explains in a stage whisper.

I chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t

personalities. I just… I would never treat

the fact that I did

})

you were bad before,

now?” Parker

“And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but

could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing

“Mommy’s already in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She asks

everything I can

mother.” I insist.

think?” Parker asks.

She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He locked

})

say a word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each other under their

voices, I catch the tail

“I think we should leave.” Riley is

much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.”

to be

we should leave.”

pulling away