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 never regret anything

more.”

can see their affection for me

them.

did to

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

I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I only just

it’s your own fault. A little

of my head, after all,

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to

young and stupid. I argue back,

the

shades of youthful

and redemption. To them I’m the

did you find out?” I

why this suddenly came up after

both out

us.” Parker admits, looking at me

I’ve just

growl. To my horror, Riley,

and Ryder actually flinch away from

frightened I’ll lash out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before,

caution,

((

I was just surprised.”

Paisley murmurs, looking as though the sky is falling around her.

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

which are you?” Ryder asks grumpily,

over at

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

the same man I was then.” I proclaim, praying they

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t

can change so much over the years that you

understand.” Ryder

he’s saying he has two

Riley explains in a stage

humorlessly,

just… I would

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

})

bad before,

Parker presses.

bad before.” I confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not

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

already in trouble’ gain. Was

everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

you think?”

dunno.” She whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

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

their low voices, I

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

much nicer to

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

want her to

we should leave.”

other two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards