LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S / KELLY THOMPSON'S POV
As I interrogate myself about the Alpha King Jason's genuineness, he opens up even more and takes me aback with a stunning statement.
"When Eden's health began to decline, I started to suspect something wasn't right. But I never imagined..." He trails off, shaking his head. "I should have looked deeper, should have questioned Betty more."
With this, his eyes begin to shine as he fights to contain tears. I place my hand gently on his shoulder in an attempt to confort him. We stand still for a while until our son Eden finally wakes up.
As the sun gradually sets, the young prince begins to stir. His eyes flutter open, focusing first on me, then on his father Jason.
"Mommy? Daddy?" he says weakly, a small smile spreading across his face. "You're both here."
I lean down to kiss his forehead gently.
"Yes, sweetheart. We're here, and we're not going anywhere." I reply with assurance.
Jason moves closer, placing a supporting hand on Eden's shoulder before asking him: "How are you feeling, son?"
Eden's smile grows a bit stronger.
"Better now that you're both here." He pauses, his expression becoming more serious.
"There's something I need to tell you both." He then surprisingly completes.
Jason and I exchange a concerned glance before turning our attention back to Eden.
"What is it, sweetheart?" I ask gently.
Eden takes a deep breath, his small hands fidgeting with the blanket.
"It's about... it's about Bet...," he swallows his words.
I feel Jason tense beside me.
"It's about who, son? Speak freely! I'm here, I will protect you." he says with a calm voice as he attempts to build a bridge of trust between him and the toddler.
Eden's eyes fill with tears as he continues. "She... she used to do bad things to me. When you weren't around, Daddy. She said if I told anyone, she'd make sure you never believed me."
My heart sinks as I begin to understand whom Eden is pointing the finger at. It's unarguably the former Luna Queen Betty. Who else?
Jason has guessed who the accused is too. His face then pales as he realizes the implications of Eden's words.
"What kind of bad things, son?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eden looks down, unable to meet his father's eyes. "She would...touch me. In ways that felt wrong. She said it was our special secret, but it scared me."
I feel sick to my stomach hearing Eden's revelation. Beside me, Jason has gone rigid, his face a mask of horror and fury.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Jason asks, his voice shaking with emotion.
Eden's lip trembles as he responds, "She said you were too in love with her to believe anyone who said bad things about her. That you'd be angry at me for lying."
Jason drops to his knees beside the bed, gently taking Eden's small hands in his.
"Oh, my boy," he says, his voice thick with tears, "I'm so sorry. I failed you. I should have protected you better, should have seen what was happening. Can you ever forgive me?"
Eden looks at his father with eyes far too old for his young face. "It's okay, Daddy. I know you didn't know."
I move closer, wrapping my arms around both of them. For a moment, we simply hold each other, united in grief and love.
Finally, Jason pulls back, his face set with determination.
"I promise you, Eden, nothing like this will ever happen again. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe from now on."
He turns to me, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Kelly, I owe you an apology as well. I should have trusted you more, should have listened to your concerns about Betty. Can you forgive me for doubting you?"
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of years of hurt and misunderstanding between us. But looking at Jason's sincere expression and then at our son, I know what I need to do.
"Yes, Jason," I say softly. "I forgive you. We've both made mistakes, but what matters now is moving forward and protecting Eden."
Jason nods, relief washing over his face. He reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. The familiar touch sends a jolt through me, awakening feelings I thought long buried.
Eden watches us with hopeful eyes.
"Does this mean you're not fighting anymore?" he asks tentatively.
I exchange a glance with Jason before turning back to Eden with a gentle smile.
"That's right, sweetheart. Your daddy and I aren't fighting anymore. We both love you very much and want to work together to keep you safe and healthy."
Jason nods in agreement. "Your mother is right, Eden. From now on, we're going to be a team - all three of us."
Eden's face lights up with a smile brighter than I've seen in years.
"Really? You mean we can be a family again?" He asks enthusiastically.
My heart clenches at the hope in his voice. I look to Jason, unsure how to answer. We've made progress, but there's still so much unresolved between us.
Jason seems to sense my hesitation. He places a hand on Eden's shoulder and says gently, "We are a family, son. That will never change. As for your mother and I... we have a lot to work through. But we both love you very much, and we're going to do our best to make things right."
I nod in agreement, grateful for Jason's diplomatic response. "That's right, sweetheart. Your father and I care about each other and we care about you most of all. We're going to focus on getting you healthy and making sure you feel safe and loved."
Eden's smile dims slightly, but he nods in understanding. "Okay. As long as we're all together, that's what matters."
Jason ruffles Eden's hair affectionately. "That's my boy. Now, why don't you try to get some more rest? Your mother and I need to talk.
In this moment, someone knocks with insistance at the royal chamber's door while shouting: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! We are being besieged. We must act fast."
Our family reunion is instantly ruined as we are all stunned by the announcement. The Alpha King Jason quickly rises from the bed and rushes to open the door and meets his gamma surrounded by three royal warriors in sweat and in a total panic.