The Beta’s Regret

(Eden's

Pov)

I was glad that my father he was alive. However, something else picked at the back of my mind. Father mentioned that he was stabbed with a cross-shaped dagger.

Like the one I had seen in my dreams. It couldn't have been a mere coincidence, could it?

I had a lot of questions, but I knew it was too soon to start asking all that I wanted to know.

And then Olivia.

I balled my fists in anger. My sister knew that my parents were alive and they escaped, yet she used it against me and lured me into a trap.

Olivia tried to get rid of me.

My heart ached at this realization that Olivia tried to harm me, using my trust against me.

I looked back at my father, my eyes immediately fixed on the scar. It looked painful. But I noticed how sensitive he was about it, so I asked a question instead. "Where have you been ever since you escaped with my mother?" I asked.

He sighed and fixed his gaze on a spot behind me as he answered. "Running away with your mother wasn't easy," he said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Olivia. She had Griffin's men on our heels." He shook his head. "I shouldn't have saved Griffin's life."

My mother made a small sound. "You did the right thing." She said, "The last thing I want is to see my daughter lose her father after years of living without him.

Lord Shevek nodded, his gaze hardened. "I escaped deep into the forest, to a place where I was sure Olivia's men would never find me."

My eyes widened. "A forest?"

"Yes. I found a cave in the forest where I took care of Rose till she recovered." He said. "I couldn't trust anyone."

That was probably the reason why I couldn't reach him or my mother for a while.

"I was scared that I might fall into a trap anywhere else. I couldn't trust anyone, not when Griffin had revealed that there was a cult and that they were going to ambush the palace soon. They intended to rule over the realm. I knew I should have found Eros and talked to him about what I heard, and I should have returned back to the coven to make sure that it was in good shape, but I didn't.".

I saw guilt pass over his face, and I softened.

"You did what you had to do to survive." I said.

"But at the expense of the realm." Lord Shevek paused, his eyes squinted in pain before he continued. "I was shocked when I came back home and saw that the coven was almost empty. He shook his head.

"I met a young maid who told me that everyone had gone to the royal arena to watch the match between Eros and Ryker as they fought for the throne."

"You were surprised." I said softly.

Lord Shevek nodded. "First, I didn't think the coronation day would be so soon. Also, it was a great shock. I had no idea that Ryker desired to be king despite how long I kept him hidden." "That didn't stop him." I said.

Lord Shevek shook his head. "When you told me that you would not get married to anyone else but Eros, I was beginning to think of making Ryker my successor; that was why I put him in charge of the coven before I left to chase your mother.."

I forced a smile "When the elders came for Eros, Ryker decided to reveal that he was the son of the king and requested that the elders allow him to compete for the throne."

Lord Shevek paused to look at my mother.

"I knew that you would be with Eros.

So, Jen, the young maid,, informed me that Ryker and Eros were at the arena. I knew I would find you there. But we couldn't go there

belie

immediately. I made sure Rose and I were cleaned up from the days

we

spent in the forest before we went to

the arena."

"But maybe we shouldn't have done that." His voice broke a little. "Maybe if we had gone immediately, we would have been able to warn the people about the upcoming danger. It was too late by the time we got to the arena." I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lord Shevek pursed his lips together. "It had already begun. All we met were the aftermath of a war. Blood and dead bodies."

I felt fear grip me. "How is that possible?" I turned to Adonis, who looked away. Beauty refused to look at us; instead, she kept pretending as if she found the baby extremely interesting. I knew she was trying hard to avoid my gaze. Their actions only confirmed what Lord Shevek said as the truth.

"Where was Eros?" I asked Lord Shevek.

He shook his head. "He was nowhere in sight, including Ryker and the elders. I only saw Adonis and some other warriors help the survivors. It was a horrible sight."

I turned to Adonis sharply. "Where was Eros?" I asked again.

Adonis took a moment before he started.

"Beauty and I also failed to arrive atnovelbin

the arena on time... I went to investigate Arthur and found out that he was a member of a cult led by Pison. It was also alarming to find out that one of the Elders, Susie's father, was a member too, and that they wanted to take over the ceremony and re-crown King Pison so he could continue his evil reign..."

"But how? Pison isn't supposed to be there." I gasped in surprise.

Adonis nodded. "Beauty and I went to the arena to try and stop them, but it was too late. We arrived when Eros was fighting Pison, and the rogues were killing the people."

"I looked around, but I couldn't find you too." Beauty said "So I followed your scent, and it led me to the forest where I found you and Lyra."

Adonis swallowed deeply, before

forcing himself to speak "Eros lost

control of his Beast, and the next thing I saw was Eros falling to the ground dead. Pison killed Eros." He said, suddenly bursting into tears as though he had been holding the pain for so long. Beauty and my mom joined him, their wails renting the air.

I laughed. They had to be joking.

My mate can not be dead. He is alive.

"You all are joking right?" I asked, waiting for Adonis to admit that it was a prank, but when another tear fell down his cheeks as he shook his head at me.

I knew that my greatest fear had happened...

The last thing I heard the cry of my baby just before I passed out.