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.”

see their affection for me

don’t blame them. If someone

what I 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

and despair. I’m losing them. I think forlornly, I

fault. A little

after all, if

cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to

was young and stupid. I argue back, but

understand the blurry

shades of youthful

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

did you find out?” I ask

this suddenly came up after

both out all

us.” Parker admits,

I’ve just kicked a

To my

Ryder actually flinch away

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

now,” I caution, softening my tone,

((

was

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

not that simple.” I sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things sometimes, and bad people

are you?” Ryder asks

at me.

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

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

understand.

They don’t.

possible?” Riley demands, “you

I was 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’ understand.” Ryder admits.

he’s saying

explains in a stage

humorlessly,

I just… I would never treat

change the fact that I

})

were bad before, but you’re

now?” Parker

confirm, “And I’d like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to

the bad thing once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder

trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault

doing everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker asks.

She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds

})

Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each other under

voices,

think we should leave.” Riley is

is much nicer to Mommy.”

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s

her to be scared.

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards Paisley.