The Beta’s Regret

(Eden's Pov)

As soon as the tent was empty, I made my way outside and slipped into my mother's tent.

It smelled of a strange mix of lavender and earth, which surprisingly had a soothing effect on me.

Mom sat on a makeshift chair, cradling my son in her arms while she rocked her body side to side, humming a slow tune to his ears.

As I watched, my heart melted at the kind of love my mother had for the infants. However, no matter how much of it she showers on him, I still want him in my arms, as I smell his wonderful baby scent

"Mom." I called out softly. She finally noticed my presence and looked up. At first, a worried expression crossed her face before she finally let out a small smile.

"Thank you," I said.

She nodded; her smile grew wider before she looked back at my baby.

"No need to thank me. They are my babies." She cooed softly at my son, who giggled, "He needs a name." She said,

My breath hitched. I knew that.

It wasn't because I had no idea what to name him; I did. But I found it so difficult to give him a name all by myself without Eros in the picture.

As if my mother heard my thoughts, she sighed and said. "Eros wouldn't want you to hold back because of him."

I nodded and moved forward. She handed him over to me while she attended to Lyra's child.

My mother adjusted the blanket wrapped around the baby as she slept soundly. Compared to my son, she was much easier to please.

My mom slowly took the baby girl in her arms, and just as she began to move outside, I stopped her with a quick shout.

"No!" I said. A sudden sense of protectiveness gripped me, and I watched my mother cautiously. "Please don't take her. Let her stay with me a little longer."

nodded. Instead of dropping the child, she settled back down and cradled the tiny human in

so peaceful, so

her having a life that would be filled with spite or being raised in

and they stayed together for so long- and according to Lyra, even

that Lyra is dead? Would he fight for her, and claim

I wouldn't give up without a

next words. "Mom, I want to

mother gave me a quick look of

"Adopt?" She asked.

I nodded.

what I felt, the responsibilities I now had to

lovely." My mother whispered

"Yes,

baby girl to my son, and my smile faltered. My chest squeezed painfully as I

detail reminded me

gentle sleep, the shape of his nose, his hair. It was almost as if I held a miniature version of my mate. My

need to name them." I

Tears stung my eyes.

placed one hand on my arm "I know it's hard,

raised my face upward, willing the tears that threatened to spill

doing this by myself." I started. "I... I never thought I would do this alone, without Eros right here

trembled as tears

so difficult to move on

my voice broke, and

don't know how to iving

do it

here."

wiped my tears with one hand as her other cradled the child

I know, Eros. I believe