Kael stood frozen, his hands curling into fists at his sides. Every word Lea had spoken pressed against him like iron chains, pulling him down into the weight of his own choices. He had thought himself a protector—a father who put his family first. But now, staring at the fragile figure of his daughter trembling in Hugo's embrace, he saw the truth laid bare.
I failed her.
It was not the monsters outside their home that had hurt Lea most—it was him. His suspicion, his hesitation, his inability to embrace her as his own had carved deeper wounds than any blade could have done.
Kael's thoughts tangled, suffocating. If only I had welcomed her differently. If only, on that day at the beach, I had not let my fear speak louder than my love. If only, when her pheromone surged, I had seen not a threat, but a cry for help.
