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 never regret

more.”

affection

blame them. If

I did to Jane, I’d

down. A little while ago I was happier than I’ve been

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

own fault. A

my head, after all, if you

wouldn’t be able to hold it against

young and stupid. I

the blurry

of

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

out?” I

suddenly came

and I were both

admits, looking at me

I’ve just

To my

Ryder actually flinch

them. If I thought I felt

now,” I caution, softening my tone,

((

was

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

simple.” I sigh, feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good

you?” Ryder asks

over at me.

man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I

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

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you weren’t you

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 used to be, and having children is one

don’ understand.” Ryder

saying he has

Riley explains in a

I chuckle humorlessly, “I don’t

personalities. I just… I would never treat

the fact that I did it in the past.

})

bad before, but you’re

Parker presses.

like to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me

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

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault

I’m doing everything I can

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

“I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Mommy.” Riley reminds her, “He locked

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring to each

towards their low voices, I

their conversation. “I think we should leave.”

much nicer to Mommy.”

agrees.

right, Mommy’s

“I don’ want her to

we should leave.”

murmur, pulling away and