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."

a brow at me. She curiously searched my face and nodded. Instead of dropping the child,

at her. She looked so peaceful, so serene, unaware of the circumstances that

couldn't imagine her having a life that would be filled with spite or being raised in an environment where she would not be loved or given the same attention like I would my

the people together, and they stayed together for so long- and according to Lyra, even imagined their little pup

dead? Would he fight for her, and claim his

give up without a fight.

swallowed hard as I thought about my next words.

me a quick look

"Adopt?" She asked.

I nodded.

didn't ask more questions. She understood exactly what I felt, the responsibilities I now

My

smiled. "Yes,

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

tiny detail reminded

his hair. It was almost as if I held a miniature version of my

to name

Tears stung my eyes.

know it's hard, sweetheart, but I know you

face upward, willing the tears that

be doing this by myself." I started. "I... I never thought I would do this

voiced my fears. My lips trembled as tears fell down against my

so difficult to move on

my voice broke, and

to iving like Eros is no

do it

here."

tears with one hand as her

the strongest woman I know, Eros. I believe you can do