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 for me evaporating,

I don’t blame them. If someone did

did

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

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

your own fault. A little

of my head, after all,

wouldn’t be able to hold it against you.

young and stupid. I argue back,

understand the blurry

of youthful

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

find out?” I

this suddenly came up

were both out all

us.” Parker admits, looking

I’ve just kicked

I growl. To my horror, Riley,

and Ryder actually flinch away

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

now,” I caution, softening

((

was just surprised.”

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

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

you?”

at

think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something

can tell you is that I’m not the same man I was then.” I

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t

through my hair, “but people change as time passes. You’ll see when you get older, sometimes you can change

don’ understand.”

think he’s saying he has

in

I chuckle humorlessly, “I

I just… I would never

can’t change the fact

})

bad before, but

Parker

think I’m not anymore, but that’s

once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing at me with newfound

gain. Was dis your fault

everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?”

whimpers, “I love Daddy, an

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her,

})

Ryder put their heads

voices,

their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

is much nicer to Mommy.” Ryder

agrees.

Mommy’s scared.”

to be

we should leave.”

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