Kaius couldn't push her any further.
Austin had shut down, her emotional walls back in place.
He knew better than to try and force his way through them.
"When you're ready to talk," he said gently, "just tell me. I'll be here."
"Okay," she whispered.
He never thought something this cruel could've happened to her.
But now it all made sense.
The way she pulled back. The coldness. The distance.
She'd been hurt. Really hurt.
And she didn't trust men anymore.
God, he wanted to tear the bastard apart. His wolf snarled just beneath his skin, hungry for blood.
But she had survived. She hadn't done anything drastic. She was still here, standing in front of him.
"Elena is..." He hesitated, voice low, like he wasn't sure if he should say it out loud.
"She was
