The Beta’s Regret

(Rose's

Pov)

"lI want you. And | want to make this work..."

My cheeks warmed slightly as | remembered those exact words Shevek toldtwo nights ago.

The sun began to set. A dark cloud hung around it as night slowly crept in.

Just then, a gentle wind blew over my skin as | knelt in front of a tulip. | looked around at the garden | was in and

smiled.

The different kinds of flowers, gave a surreal feel to the environment. My fingers ran over a rose, lightly brushing

it. I leaned in, my face placed against it as | sniffed it.

Another smile crept up my lips. | tried to concentrate on what | was doing, but nothing could take my mind away

from Shevek's words two nights earlier. The way he looked into my eyes when he toldthat he wanted us to

work things out. But that wasn't the end of it all.

He stood by his words and sent his concubines away, all of them, including Vanessa.

At first, | was a little uneasy when | found out. | wasn't sure if Shevek did this to manipulate my emotions. | also

imagined that their absence might suddenly make him realize how much he wants his harem of women back and

that he doesn't wantas much as he thought he did.

Then | saw it, the way Shevek felt about me. The way he looks atwhen he thinks I'm not watching.

He's scared.

| wasn't sure what he was afraid of, but | knew enough about fear to know when he felt it.

Maybe he was scared that this wouldn't work. Or maybe he was scared | would betray him too.

| couldn't say for sure.

Shevek was not an average vampire. He had noble blood and had been alive for quite a long time.

It was hard to imagine he would be scared.

| watered the flowers one by one, taking in their beautiful sight before | stood up and walked through it, allowing

my hand to brush over them.

His voice invaded my head again, and a tingle ran down my spine to the tip of my toes.

"| told them to leave, Rose." He said. His voice was firm, but there was a soft edge to it.

"And Vanessa?" | asked.

"Even Vanessa, | don't want anyone else but you."

| said nothing at first. | was shocked. He must have realized it, because he stepped up and placed his hands on

my shoulders.

"It shouldn't have takenso long to realize that you are the only one | want. | want you to be my woman. |

want you to be the lady of the coven."

In that moment, the hopeful look he gavemade it almost impossible forto reject him.

The memory madeblush all over again.

Suddenly, the wind blew harder, blowing at my hair that stuck all over my face.

| pushed them backwards with a frustrated sigh.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and my ears suddenly picked up subtle movements from behind

me.

I wasn't alone.

| turned sharply and cface to face with a pale-faced, beautiful woman that looked too familiar, but | couldn't

tell exactly who it was. | stepped back quickly, startled by how close she was. "You don't belong." The woman

said with a frown. "Leave."

Beside her, on both sides, two other women sneered at me. They seem to be her sidekicks.

My mind immediately flashed to the first t| cwith Eden and Lord Shevek to the coven.

| remembered a young girl of Eden's age, who was almost an exact photocopy of the older lady before me.

That was why she looked so familiar.

| made a quick calculation and concluded that they must be related. The resemblance was uncanny.

"Who are you?" | asked.

The woman scoffed and shook a

hand over her face like a fan. "Of

course you would have no idea who exactly am." She eyed my full length. "It looks like Shevek only

relays matters of the bed with you,

like a mistress."

It was an obvious insult, but I ignored it.

"Shevek doesn't need to tellwho everyone in the coven is. If you were of any relevance to him, | would have

known, ma'am, | said.

The lady's eyes widened and her lips stretched into a flat line. "Don't callthat. I'm Lady Maria."

"Do you have something to say to me?" | raised a brow.

Lady Maria frowned. "You heardthe first time. You don't belong here. Leave."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Do you really think Lord Shevek

would make you his lady just because he sent Vanessa out? You are wrong. He would never allow a woman like

you to rule with him. You are not one of us." She sapped.

| felt a little hurt.

QUMS

"You have no right to talk toabout this. This is not your decision to make."

"No, it's a decision for everyone in the coven to make, and we reject you."

My heart skipped at that word, even though | knew Maria's words were said out of spite. It was obvious she

fancied Shevek, and from the look of things, he probably doesn't reciprocate her feelings.

But what do | really know about Shevek aside from what he tells me?

| shook that thought out of my head and raised my chin high into the air and squared my shoulders as | looked at

her straight in the eyes.

"If Shevek wantedgone, he would have toldhimself. So stop being a little snake." | snapped.

She looked a little surprised at my tone, then she smiled. A wicked one.

"Oh Rose darling." She tutted. "If only you knew..." she trailed off and bit her lower lip in a suggestive manner as

she wore a forlorn look.

I was confused.

"Don't callthat." I sneered.

She laughed. "You think you've won because Vanessa and others are gone?" She chuckled. "I've known him long

before now, and I've been in Shevek's bed many more times tham can count. He makes BTe feel satisfied much

more than any other."

| gasped; the air left my lungs, and a sharp pang hit my heart.

While the other women laughed, all | could hear was the roar in my head.

Shevek slept with her? How many other women were there?

Tears stung my eyes, and | turned away quickly so they wouldn't see it fall. Before they could say another word, |

ran away, the voices of the other women drowned behind me.