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.”

see their affection for

I don’t blame them. If someone did to

did

things have flipped upside down. A little while

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

A little voice says in

of my head, after all, if you

wouldn’t be able to hold it against you.

was young and stupid. I argue back, but

the blurry black

shades of

complexities of growth and redemption. To them I’m the evil

find out?” I ask

this suddenly came up after

and I were both out all

admits,

if I’ve just kicked a

growl. To

actually flinch

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

now,” I caution, softening my tone,

((

sorry. I was

a monster.” Paisley murmurs, looking as

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

which are you?”

over at

doing something terrible, but I don’t know if your Mommy would

I’m not the same man I was then.” I

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t you

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.”

saying he

explains in

chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t have

I would

I can’t change the fact that I did

})

before, but

now?” Parker

not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide.

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

nods, “Mommy’s already in trouble’ gain. Was dis your

doing everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

think?” Parker asks.

dunno.” She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

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

towards their low voices, I catch the

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

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

her to be

we should leave.”

pulling away and