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

more.”

affection for me

don’t blame them. If someone did to

what I did to

quickly things have flipped upside down. A little while ago I was happier than

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

own fault. A little

my head, after all, if you hadn’t

so cruel to Jane they wouldn’t be able to hold it

was young and stupid. I argue back, but

don’t understand the

white shades of youthful indiscretions,

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

you find out?”

why this suddenly came up

I were both

admits,

if I’ve just kicked

To

Ryder actually flinch away

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

caution, softening my tone,

((

was just surprised.”

looking as though the

feeling a rush of pure hatred for the other man. “People aren’t angels or demons. Good people do bad things

which are you?” Ryder asks

over at

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

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

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands,

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 be,

understand.” Ryder

saying he has two

explains in a stage whisper.

I chuckle humorlessly, “I

just… I

but I can’t change the fact that

})

were bad before, but you’re not

now?” Parker

to think I’m not anymore, but that’s not for me to decide. It’s for

once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder

Was dis your

everything I can to help

mother.” I insist.

you think?” Parker asks.

dunno.” She whimpers, “I

‘I love Mommy.”

hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds

})

their heads together, murmuring to each

towards their low voices, I

we should

much nicer to

agrees.

was right, Mommy’s

want her to be

we should leave.”

away and looking curiously towards Paisley.