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

I’ll never regret anything

more.”

affection for

don’t blame them. If someone did to

mother what I did to Jane, I’d probably

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

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

it’s your own fault. A

of my head, after all, if you hadn’t

be able to hold

young and stupid. I argue back,

understand the

white shades of youthful

them I’m the evil

out?” I ask them,

suddenly

were both

told us.” Parker admits,

I’ve just kicked a puppy.

To my

Ryder actually flinch away from

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

caution, softening

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

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

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

you?” Ryder

at me.

tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know if

is that I’m not the same man

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you

older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you used to be, and having children is one of those

understand.” Ryder

saying he has two

explains in a stage whisper.

humorlessly, “I

personalities. I just… I

can’t change the fact that I

})

bad before,

Parker presses.

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

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

trouble’ gain. Was dis your

doing everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

She whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He locked her up.’

})

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

their low voices, I catch the

conversation. “I think we should leave.”

much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.”

don’ want her to

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and