“It was just a dream, baby. It won’t happen again. I promise. I would never leave you again.”
Alexandra continued stroking Blake’s hair, repeating those words to calm him. His sobs would not stop, and he refused to loosen his grip around her neck. He was holding on so tightly that her muscles were starting to ache.
“It felt so real, Mommy. It wasn’t just a dream for me. You’re going to leave me again…” He shook his head against her neck. “I don’t want that to happen.”
“I told you, it won’t happen again. See? I’m here. We’re even hugging.”
Blake kept shaking his head. It seemed difficult for him to believe her. Slowly, she realized something painful—her son no longer fully trusted her words.
Her heart ached as she looked up at Damon.
He towered over them at around six-foot-two, broad
