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

more.”

can see their affection for me evaporating,

don’t blame them. If someone

what I did

Still, I can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little

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

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

head, after all, if

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able

was young and stupid. I argue back,

don’t understand the

shades of youthful

I’m the

you find out?” I ask them,

why this suddenly came

were both

Parker admits, looking at

if I’ve just kicked

I growl. To

and Ryder actually

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

I caution,

((

was just

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

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

are you?” Ryder

over at me.

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

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

understand.

They don’t.

demands, “you weren’t

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 having children is one of those things that can transform a person.

understand.” Ryder

think he’s saying he has

explains in a stage whisper.

humorlessly, “I don’t

personalities. I just… I would

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

})

bad before, but you’re not

Parker presses.

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 at me

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

I can to

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker asks.

She whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He

})

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

voices,

we should leave.” Riley is saying.

is much nicer to

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

to be scared. I

we should leave.”

two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards