Kael’s POV
"Because you don’t see him for who he is. You see your lost child in him and try to mend him that way," I explained to her. "Do you respect his choices, or do you impose yours on him? When we went shopping today, did you consider what he liked, or were you thinking of what you would have liked your own son to wear and play with? Weren’t you just trying to fulfil the wishes you couldn’t fulfil with your own child?"
Utterly confused and guilty, maybe, she stared at me with tears still rolling down her eyes. Her lips trembled to say something in her defence, but words failed her.
"Eira, if you truly want to be Raven’s mother, you need to be real. If you don’t understand how, you can talk with me or any of us. We are family now—our mate—and now we have a son. For his sake, you have to, but more for your own sake."
There was silence for a while as she continued to shed more tears and finally asked, "Does he not like me as his mother?"
"He likes you, but he will accept you as a mother only when you act like one," I said as I reached my hands out to caress her messy hair. "And the first thing you have to do is stop seeing your lost child in him. Treat him for who he is and respect his wishes and boundaries. Don’t impose on him."
"Will he accept me then?" she asked.
"Maybe." I didn’t assure her, as I wanted her to try her best—to think about what she should be doing going forward.
"But instead of trying to make him accept you, you should work on healing yourself. When you yourself are alright, things will fall into place. You won’t be confused anymore, but strong, decisive, and confident. No one will be able to manipulate you. And trust me, every child wants their mother to be that way—the kind they can trust and feel protected by."
The tears didn’t stop, but her anger was gone.
"And you don’t have to hide your pain and anger. Don’t disguise it under the shallow happiness you’re feeling. Be real. Just like now, when you told me how I hurt you. You can always blame us for how we’ve wronged you. We will hear and accept every bit of it."
My brothers finally came to us.
"Kael is right. We will accept it," Lucian said, "and we will also help you with whatever you need."
She didn’t react, but she understood. I inched closer to her and gently hugged her. She didn’t refuse. Maybe her soul was finding comfort in her mate.
I wanted to ask her if she wished to sleep in my room tonight next to Raven, but then, she should be the one to come there on her own.
Jason had brought water for her. She calmed down a little and had a few sips.
"Are you feeling better?" Roman asked.
She simply nodded.
"It’s late now. We all should sleep," I said. "Tomorrow, there’s going to be something good."
As we stood up, I waited for her to say that she wanted to come to my room, but she didn’t.
"Good night," I said and turned to go to my room upstairs.
"Caldwell, you look so ugly when you cry," I heard Rafe tease her.
"Stop teasing her," I heard Roman warning him.
"Alright. Good night," Rafe headed to his room.
Once inside my room, I lay in bed, close to Raven. I caressed his head.
’I hope she gets better soon, so you’ll be truly with your mother.’
I closed my eyes. But her thought came coming to me.
What she said tonight. I will apologies to her again and talk about it. She should know, I am guilty and I accept my mistake. It will make her feel better.
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Roman’s POV
I took Eira to our room. I was thinking she would go with Kael, or that Kael would take her with him, but nothing of that sort happened. If Kael didn’t ask her, it meant he had decided to wait.
I offered her a change of clothes, and I changed mine as well. Once we were ready to sleep, I tucked her inside the warm blanket as it was our usual routine, then got in myself after turning off the lights.
The room was dark, perfect to sleep, but neither of us could close our eyes. I knew she was staring at the ceiling.
I looked at her. "Do you want to go to Raven?"
She shook her head.
She said no?
"Kael and Raven wouldn’t mind," I told her, unsure what was going on in her mind.
"I know," she said softly. "I just want to be here."
I turned to face her. "Are you thinking about what Kael said?"
She didn’t look at me but asked instead, "Am I truly what he said? Am I not stable?"
"What do you think?" I asked. "Are you the real you when you’re around Raven?"
"I just want to be good to him."
"We all want that," I said gently, "but we also keep in mind who he is."
She finally turned her face to look at me. "Will I ever be alright then?"
"You will. We all believe so," I assured her.
She now fully turned to face me. "I will try."
I offered her a faint smile and moved one hand to caress her head.
She let me, and closed her eyes.
"Want to sleep closer?" I asked.
She didn’t respond with words but instead moved closer. It was surprising to me.
I held her gently and wrapped my arm around her, her soft breath brushing against my neck.
"Good night," I said, and placed a small peck on her head.
In response, she wrapped her arm around my waist. Soon, I felt the even rhythm of her breathing. I had marked her, so closeness with me must be comforting to her as well.