Author's pov
Alpha Damien gripped the sweater hard, his thumb brushing over the tiny stitched initials.
He had no idea what she had carved into the old golden pendant, but he knew what she had left behind here.
On this sweater she'd knitted for him with her own hands, she had sewn their names together: D & A.
He had never thought about whether their names sounded good together.
But seeing them now, side by side, he felt something tighten in his chest.
They fit too well.
Sally stood there, watching him in silence.
Her eyes shimmered until the tears finally broke free. Her chin trembled, her voice a whisper.
"Damien, you really loved that woman named Aria, didn't you?"
He froze.
Love her?
No. That wasn't love. That was a wound that never healed right.
