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

more.”

affection

them.

did

them. Still, I can’t believe how quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been

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

fault. A little voice says

my head, after

wouldn’t be

stupid. I

understand the blurry black

shades of

of growth and redemption. To them I’m

you find out?” I ask

why this suddenly

I were both out all

Parker admits, looking

just kicked

growl. To

and Ryder actually

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

now,” I caution,

((

sorry. I was

Paisley murmurs, looking as though

not that simple.” I sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People

you?”

at

think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t

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

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands,

still me.” I state, dragging one 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

understand.” Ryder admits.

he’s saying

in a stage whisper.

humorlessly, “I

just… I

the fact that I did it in the

})

bad before, but

now?” Parker

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

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

trouble’ gain. Was

doing everything I can to

mother.” I insist.

think?” Parker

She whimpers, “I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

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

their low voices, I catch the tail

of their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

“I don’ want her to be scared. I think

we should leave.”

two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards