The moment he revealed his truth, he saw her walls go up, not to shut him out, but to shield them both from the world. He understood her fear—of what it might mean for them if his secret got out. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, an unspoken promise of protection.
"I know it's a lot to process," he said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. "But I want you to know, I've kept this secret since they started hunting my kind. It's just us, Daisy. Always will be."
The weight of his confession hung between them, heavy with the burden of their shared secrets. She wanted to be angry, to push him away, but the mating bond pulsed with an intensity that rooted her in place. Their connection had grown stronger, a deep understanding forged in the shadow of their revelations.
She shook her head
