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

more.”

can see their affection for me

I don’t blame them. If

what I did to Jane, I’d probably

believe how quickly things have flipped upside down.

now I’m awash with shame, guilt, and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I only just got them, and

it’s your own fault. A little

after all, if

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold

stupid. I argue back,

understand the blurry

of youthful

complexities of growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil man that hurt their mother,

out?” I

why this suddenly came

and I were both

admits, looking

I’ve just kicked a puppy.

I growl. To my horror,

actually flinch away

out at them. If I thought I felt

now,” I caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

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

other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good

are you?” Ryder asks grumpily,

over at me.

tricked into doing something terrible, but I

tell you is that I’m not the

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you weren’t

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

don’ understand.” Ryder

he’s saying he has

Riley explains in a stage whisper.

I chuckle humorlessly,

I would

I can’t change the fact that I did it in the past.

})

you were bad before, but

now?” Parker

I confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide. It’s for you and your Mommy.

could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing

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

I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her up.’

})

Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring

their low voices, I catch

think we should

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

don’ want her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

The other two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously