KARIN
The question stayed between us. It felt heavy, shaped by three years of pain that never really left. I felt his regret clearly. I felt how much he hated himself, how badly he wanted forgiveness.
And beneath all of that, I felt something he had tried to kill and bury. Love. Deep and steady, hidden under fear and cruelty.
“Especially after everything you did to me,” I said quietly. “Because now I understand why.”
He recoiled like I had hit him. “That doesn’t excuse it.”
“No, it doesn’t. But it explains it.”
I stood and walked around the desk until I was in front of him. “You were trying to protect me the only way you knew how. By making me too afraid to leave. Too damaged for other Alphas to notice.”
“I was breaking you.”
“Yes.” I lifted my hand and touched his face, slow and
