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.”

see their affection

them. If someone did to

did to

quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier

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

own fault. A little voice

head, after all,

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able

was young and stupid.

understand the

shades of youthful

them I’m the evil man that hurt their

out?” I

suddenly

I were both out all

us.” Parker admits, looking at me

I’ve just kicked a puppy.

I growl. To my horror, Riley,

and Ryder actually flinch away from

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

caution,

((

was just

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

“People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and bad people

are you?” Ryder asks grumpily,

at me.

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

I can tell you is that I’m not the same man I was

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands,

through my hair, “but people change as time passes. You’ll see when you get older, sometimes you can change so

understand.”

saying he has

explains in a stage whisper.

humorlessly,

I just… I would never treat

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

})

were bad before,

Parker

anymore, but that’s

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

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

I’m doing everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

dunno.” She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He

})

can say a word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together,

towards their low voices, I catch the

their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

nicer to

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.”

“I don’ want her to

we should leave.”

other two murmur, pulling away and looking