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

prisoner, and I’ll never

more.”

affection for me

I don’t blame them. If someone did

mother what I did to Jane, I’d

down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been in

guilt, and despair. I’m losing them. I think

your own fault. A little voice says in

of my head, after all, if

cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold

stupid. I argue back, but

understand the blurry

white shades of youthful

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

did you find out?”

why this suddenly came up after

and I were both

admits, looking at

I’ve just kicked

I growl. To my horror, Riley,

Ryder actually flinch

I thought I felt ashamed before, it’s nothing compared to how terrible

now,” I caution, softening my

((

was just

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

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

you?” Ryder asks grumpily,

over at me.

who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t

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

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you weren’t you

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

don’ understand.” Ryder

saying he has

explains in a stage whisper.

chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t have

just… I would never

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

})

before, but you’re

now?” Parker presses.

I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide. It’s for you and your Mommy.

did the bad thing once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes,

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault

I’m doing everything I

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

dunno.” She whimpers, “I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each other under their breath. Cocking

voices, I catch the tail

their conversation. “I think we

is much nicer

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.”

“I don’ want her to be scared. I

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and looking