The Beta’s Regret

"You thought it was all a dream?" Eros smirked, as his eyes lit up in amusement.

I nodded slightly.

Eros caressed my cheeks and smoothed my hair; his eyes grew fonder with every look.

"It would killif this was just a dream." He said softly.

I blushed.

I placed a hand over his on my face and leaned into his touch.

It was warm, it was real. This wasn't a dream.

Overwhelmed by my emotions, tears began to fall from my eyes and I let out a loud cry. I sniffed loudly, my chest heaved as I gasped.

"I thought you were dead." I whispered. I could barely let those words out of my lips...

I didn't think I would be able to take another Back to Life episode from Eros again. He had already done enough of that, and I really thought I lost him for real this time.

"I can't die." Eros smiled. "Not without your permission." A smile slipped out of my lips even though I wasn't supposed to find it funny.

"Don't talk about death." I hit him lightly on the chest. "I don't want you to ever do this toagain." I said.

Eros nodded. "I won't." Even though I knew none of us could predict what would happen next, I felt skind of reassurance with the words he spoke.

Eros cupped my face in his hands once more and kissed me.

This tit wasn't too fast. It was a slow kiss that toldexactly what this man felt about me. A kiss that toldour hearts would forever remain as one and nothing would keep us apart from each other. Neither of us cared about my parents watching us in amusement.

Zion's cry filled the tent, and Eros softly broke the kiss as he looked up at the boy in my mother's arms.

His gaze darkened as he clenched his teeth.

I frowned. "What is it?" I asked.

Eros looked away. "Pison, that bastard. He robbedof the one thing I was looking forward to as a father. The birth of my son." I felt a slight tug on my heart as I felt the anger Eros was trying hard to contain.

"Listen, Love... You haven't lost anything. You are here now, and that is what matters," I said softly. "I will fill you in on all you need to know." Zion's cries intensified, and it was obvious he sought the arms of his mother. I stretched my hand to him. My mother carefully laid him in my arms as she sighed.

"He has been restless for hours without you. It's a miracle he didn't catch a fever from all that crying." She said, True to my mother's words, Zion kept quiet; as soon as I held him, his reddened face began to calm a little. He snuggled into my arms, big sapphire eyes like his father's stared up at me.

I loved him, as much as I loved his father.

Eros was next toin an instant, looking down at our little miracle.

"Zion." Eros said softly. Both Zion and I stared at Eros in surprise.

Zion smiled, his toothless gum in full display for us to see. He stretched out his tiny arms and legs towards Eros, begging to be carried by him.

I was amazed.

Does Zion know Eden was his father? "How do you know his name?" I asked Eros.

He smiled. "Your mother told me." I grinned. Eros took Zion in his arms, and the little boy cooed softly, overly excited. The similarities were striking.

I would give anything to keep this moment forever.

Eros handed Zion over towhen the little boy began to grab Eros's nipples.

Another cry took my attention to the child in Lord Shevek's arms. Lily.

Eros raised a brow. "I was told you took in Lily's child." I nodded.

"She needs a family, Eros." I said.

He nodded. Although I could see the worry in his eyes.

Was there something he wasn't telling me? Before I could say a word, Eros smiled and placed a soft kiss on my cheeks.

"I love you." He said.

Lord Shevek coughed slightly, possibly trying to tell us that we were not alone in the room.

I smiled. My expression becsomber as I looked at Eros once more. The question that had been weighingdown at the back of my mind cto light.

"Tell me, how were you buried underwater? How is it that you are still alive? I thought you and I died..." I remembered how the water current pushedinto its depth, stoppingfrom rescuing him.

Eros shook his head. "I don't know." He sighed as his eyes glazed over, lost in his thoughts. Eros began to explain all remembered.

"When the war broke out, Pison and I were at each other's throats. He was strong, stronger than usual. He overpowered me, and together with NO his cohorts, they tried to rip out my heart. Eros stopped then shook his head. "Something happened. Pison was unable to do it. Anythe tried, he would scream in pain. Instead, he ripped out my flesh." Eros closed his eyes. I felt the pain he replayed in his head.

That was what others had seen that made them conclude that Pison ripped out Eros's heart. "What happened after?" I asked

Eros sighed. "It was too much pain forto bear. I passed out. The next thing I heard were shouts Pison and I Elder Franklin, Sussie's father, were talking about me. QUMS

"I was beginning to heal but not quite.

The conversations were distorted, the but from what I heard, Franklin told Pison all about the ritual. He told him that unlike the one Pison had done, my fortification was powered by the goddess herself, and I could not be killed unless I was brought back and buried under water in the cave." I gasped. "So that was the reason?" Eros nodded. "Pison had his rogues buryunderwater. I couldn't fight back. I just lay there, half dead." I gulped. A shudder rocked me.

"I tried to save you." I whispered. "I couldn't... I just, the water pulledaway." Eros frowned. "If you didn't break the ice, then who did?" I was confused.

"Zion." My mother said softly. We looked at her in confusion. "Zion saved you."