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

I don’t blame them. If someone

what I did to

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

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

your own fault. A little

back of my head, after all,

be able to hold it against

was young and stupid.

understand the blurry black

shades of

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

you find out?”

why this suddenly came up after

both out

admits, looking

if I’ve just kicked

To my horror,

and Ryder actually flinch away

lash out at them. If I thought I felt ashamed

I caution,

((

sorry. I was just

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

“People aren’t

you?” Ryder

over at me.

tricked into doing something terrible, but I

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

understand.

They don’t.

Riley demands, “you weren’t you then?”

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 used to

don’ understand.” Ryder

saying he has two

explains in a

chuckle humorlessly, “I

personalities. I just… I

way today, but I can’t change the fact that I did it

})

before, but

Parker

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

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

trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault

I’m doing everything I can to help your

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker

She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

Riley reminds her, “He locked her

})

Riley, Parker and Ryder put their heads together,

low voices, I catch

their conversation. “I think we should leave.” Riley is saying. 1

is much nicer

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s scared.”

her to be scared.

we should leave.”

other two murmur, pulling away