ELENA
He said it. Just like that.
"Because I was a coward."
And for a moment, I didn’t breathe. Didn’t blink. I just stared at him, this towering Alpha, folded in on himself like the weight of everything he’d done was finally more than he could bear.
It wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t defensive. It wasn’t self-righteous. It wasn’t even an excuse. It was raw. Honest. And the terrifying part was—it made me want to forgive him.
I hated that.
Tears stung my eyes, sharp and hot. But I didn’t look away.
He lifted his head, slowly. There were shadows under his eyes. Lines in his face I hadn’t noticed before. This was a man who hadn’t slept. Who had been haunted. Who had been breaking while I—
While I… had been trying to piece myself back together.
He opened his mouth, but the words cam
