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 regret anything

more.”

their affection

blame them. If someone

mother what I did to Jane, I’d

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

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

it’s your own fault. A little voice says in

back of my head, after all,

be

was young and stupid. I

understand the blurry black

of

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

out?” I ask them,

suddenly came up

I were both out all day.

told us.” Parker admits, looking at me

if I’ve just kicked a

growl. To

actually flinch

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

caution, softening

((

sorry. I was just surprised.”

looking

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

you?” Ryder

over at me.

doing something terrible, but I don’t

I’m not the

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you weren’t

can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you used to be,

understand.” Ryder admits.

he’s saying he has

Riley explains in a

humorlessly,

I just… I would never

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

})

before, but you’re not

now?” Parker

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

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

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She

everything I

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

She whimpers, “I love

‘I love Mommy.”

reminds her, “He locked her up.’

})

word, Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring

low voices, I catch the tail

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

nicer

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

want her to be scared. I

we should leave.”

The other two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.