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

more.”

see their affection for

I don’t blame them.

did to

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

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

it’s your own fault. A little

my head, after

to Jane they wouldn’t be

was young and stupid.

don’t understand the blurry black

shades of

I’m the evil man that hurt

did you find out?” I ask

suddenly came up

were both

told us.” Parker admits, looking

just

I growl. To my horror, Riley,

actually flinch away from

at them. If I thought I felt ashamed before,

caution, softening my

((

I was

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

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

which are you?” Ryder asks grumpily,

at me.

like to think I’m a good man who was tricked into doing something terrible, but I don’t know if your Mommy would

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

understand.

They don’t.

that possible?” Riley demands, “you weren’t

get older, sometimes you can change so much over the years that you don’t even recognize the person you

don’ understand.” Ryder admits.

think he’s saying he has two

Riley explains in a stage

humorlessly, “I

I just… I would

can’t change the fact that

})

you were bad before,

Parker

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

think if he did the bad thing once, he could do it ‘gain.” Ryder contributes, gazing at me with newfound suspicion.

in trouble’ gain. Was dis your fault too?” She asks

I can to help

mother.” I insist.

what’d you think?” Parker

“I love Daddy,

‘I love Mommy.”

Daddy hurt Mommy.” Riley reminds her,

})

Parker and Ryder put their heads together, murmuring

low voices, I catch the

conversation. “I think we should

nicer

agrees.

right, Mommy’s scared.” Parker

“I don’ want her to be scared. I

we should leave.”

two murmur, pulling away and looking curiously towards