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

more.”

their affection for me

them. If someone did to

mother what I did

can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little

and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I only just got them, and

A little voice says

of my head, after all,

be able to hold

was young and stupid.

don’t understand the blurry

white shades of youthful indiscretions,

growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil man that

out?” I ask them,

why this suddenly came

both out all day.

admits, looking at

if I’ve just kicked

I growl. To my horror, Riley,

Ryder actually

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

I caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was just

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

hatred for the other man. “People aren’t

are you?” Ryder

over at

think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but

tell you is that I’m not the same man I was then.” I proclaim, praying they

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you

still me.” I state, dragging one large hand through my hair, “but 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 be, and

understand.” Ryder admits.

think he’s saying he has

explains in a

I chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t

personalities. I just… I would never treat

that way today, but I can’t change the fact that I did it in

})

you were bad before, but

Parker

think I’m not anymore, but that’s

once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes,

gain. Was dis your fault

doing everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

you think?”

dunno.” She whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to

voices, I catch

“I think we should leave.” Riley is saying. 1

nicer to

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

don’ want her to be

we should leave.”

pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.