Briar
In one swift motion, Damian turned me to face him. His eyes blazed with an intensity that took my breath away.
"That was for you," he said softly, cupping my face in his hands. His thumbs brushed my cheeks, the gentle touch at odds with the storm in his eyes. "But I never accepted that rejection. You'll always be my mate, Briar. Always."
I stared at him, my mind reeling. Part of me wanted to melt into his touch, to believe every word he said. But the other part, the part that remembered years of hurt, held back. "But... you hated me," I whispered, hating how vulnerable I sounded. "For years, you made my life miserable. Why are you suddenly so determined to hold onto me now?"'
Damian's expression softened, guilt flashing in his eyes. He leaned his forehead against mine, his breath
