Damian dropped to his knees.
I froze.
For a moment, I couldn't understand what I was seeing.
The Alpha who had once stood before an entire kingdom and rejected me without hesitation was now kneeling in front of me.
His head was bowed.
His hands were empty.
And for the first time, there was no pride left in his eyes.
Only regret.
"Lyra," he whispered. "Please."
I took a step backward.
"Don't."
His eyes lifted to mine.
"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness."
"Then don't ask for it."
The words came out colder than I expected.
Damian flinched.
Good.
For once, I wanted him to feel even a fraction of what I had felt.
The night I had stood before everyone.
The silence before his rejection.
The look on his face when he said he didn't want me.
The laughter that followed.
Th
