The Beta’s Regret

The child's cry filled the forest. It was loud and cute...

I immediately tore at the inner part of my grown, and created a shawl that I used to cover the baby from the cold.

Lyra looked at the child in my arms, a little anxious.

"It's a girl." I said softly. The joy that filledin seeing a new life was overwhelming.

At that moment I forgot that sseconds ago, we were at each other's throat fighting for our lives.

I couldn't hide the joy I felt in knowing that Lyra was now a mother. I just hoped this would be a sign that Lyra had to beca better person for her child.

She was now a mother after all.

I spoke too early.

"A girl?" I looked at Lyra whose face had molded into horror. "Give it to me!" Lyra grabbed the baby from my arms and looked at it in disgust.

"What is it?" I asked. "What is wrong with her being a girl?" "I can't give birth to a girl. I need a strong Alpha," she said with a snap.

I suddenly understood what Lyra was getting at. Before I could say another word, another contraction hit me.

It was as if I had already forgotten that I was in labor. It tookby surprise. My knees went weak, and I crashed to the floor beside Lyra.

She eyed me. "What is it?" "My baby. It's coming." I said softly.

Lyra rolled her eyes at me. She suddenly smiled and carelessly placed her baby on the other side.

I growled again in pain.

The contractions were coming faster and bigger now. I couldn't even look at Lyra to check what she was doing and why she wasn't helping me. Next thing, I felt cold steel against my neck.

"This is so easy. You made everything way too easy for me." Lyra chuckled as she held a knife to my neck. My heart sank.

I couldn't even scream in horror.

I was afraid and in pain at the stime. Was this going to be the end of it? How could Lyra be so cruel. I wouldn't allow her kill my child. I was more worried about my pup than I was about myself.

I stared deeply into Lyra's eyes. There was nothing there but intense hatred. How could someone like this ever love a child? I looked down at Lyra's clothes. They were soaked from childbirth. Blood and water. She looked a mess, and blood smeared her face.

"You don't need to do this." I said softly.

Lyra grabbed a hold of my neck and choked me. "Shut up!" "Please." I wheeled.

"Who do you think you are to dictate to me?" She smirked. "Your life is in my hands." Lyra ran the sharp edge of the knife across my cheek and drew blood in a straight line.

"I am in control here. I can end your life now." She smiled.

"Think of your baby. It needs a mother. Just like mine does." I said softly.

She laughed like a maniac. "What baby. You must be delusional. I will throw that trash away into a pit somewhere." She said, My eyes widened. "That's horrible." She tightened her hand on my neck and I grabbed her arm in a struggle. Then she released it a little. I gasped. "The only horrible thing is that you will never get to see your own child." She smirked.

With that, Lyra raised the knife to my neck and placed it against my skin. At that moment, another contraction hit and I felt my baby begin to slip out of me.

I suddenly growled in pain when I felt warm blood trickle down my neck as Lyra sliced through my skin. "Goodbye Eden" her hold on my neck loosened.

In anger, I threw her off. Lyra lost balance and fell to the side. The knife fell out of her hand and in that smoment, I saw a hybrid wolf jump out and pounced on Lyra.

In an instant, the wolf ripped off Lyra's head brutally and blood gushed out in a pool.

I recognized the creature. It was Beauty.

With a breath of relief, I focused on labor and pushed.

I was lost to the other movement in the bush as Adonis and a few other wolves cinto the clearing.

Lyra's baby girl cried harder, and I felt disheartened that the girl would grow without knowing her mother, and it would be my fault.

Beauty was at my side, urgingto push harder. After a struggle, my baby finally slipped out.

Beauty took it in her arms. She gestured to one of the warriors, and soon she had swads of clothes in her arms that she wrapped my baby in. I laughed out loud. Finally... my baby was out. I was beyond relieved. A moment ago I was scared I wouldn't see my child, but now I was.

As I allowed myself to calm down, I noticed that the only cry that m disturbed the forest was that of Lyra's baby girl. Mine was silent. The smile I had on my face slipped off as I waited for my baby's cry and didn't hear it. I frowned.

Beauty looked atanxiously.

"What is it?" I asked desperately.

Beauty turned her back tosharply. I saw her make a fuss. Adonis was by her side in an instant.

Fear gripped me. Was it dead?

Just as I thought I would go crazy from the tension, I heard the baby's cry ring out. Lyra's baby responded, and it was like a chorus. I heaved a deep breath of relief, and Beauty turned towith a smile.

"It's a boy," she giggled.

"Oh," I laughed. I had gotten the greatest scare of my life.

A smile crept up my lips. Things would get better from now on. I would make sure of it.

Feeling weak, I leaned against the floor, my face looking up to the sky. It was clear now, and a strange rainbow crossed over it.

I felt a strong urge to sleep, and I gave in... But the battle wasn't over.