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."

curiously searched my face and nodded. Instead of dropping the child, she settled

so peaceful, so serene, unaware of the circumstances that

with spite or being raised in an

was dead, and I doubt Pison would be a good parent to her. Since Lyra and him planned to rule the people together, and they stayed together for so long- and according to Lyra, even imagined their little pup running around the palace... then Pison would that

dead? Would he fight

wouldn't give up without a

I thought about my next words. "Mom, I want to adopt

a

"Adopt?" She asked.

I nodded.

ask more questions. She understood exactly what I felt, the responsibilities I

lovely." My

"Yes,

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

tiny detail reminded

that he slowly closed as he fell into a gentle sleep, the shape of his nose, his hair. It was almost as if I held a miniature version of

to name them."

Tears stung my eyes.

on my arm "I know it's hard, sweetheart, but I know you will

my face upward, willing the tears that threatened to

this by myself." I started. "I... I never thought I would

My lips trembled as

difficult to

I don't-" my voice

rapidly. "I don't know how to

do it

here."

hand as

I know, Eros. I believe you can do whatever you set your heart to."