Belladonna’s POV
My head felt like it was spinning.
It was too much, too many truths in one night. It didn’t make sense and so how made sense at the same time. And yet, one question burned louder than the rest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, my voice raw, barely holding together. “All this time… why didn’t you tell me?”
Nathan looked away as shame shadowed his face.
“I don’t know,” he said, almost to himself. “I wanted to, so many times. But I—” He dragged a hand through his hair, jaw tightening. “I kept telling myself it wasn’t the right time. That I needed to be sure. That maybe I was wrong.”
His shoulders dropped.
“But mostly… I was afraid. Afraid I’d lose the only chance I had to protect you.”
My throat tightened again , he looked so broken in that moment. Not the strong,
