♡♡✿♡✿♡✿♡♡
"How can you say a thing like that?" she asked softly. She lifted her hand and placed it against his cheek, her touch gentle, her voice calm.
"The love we once shared was real. We were happy—truly happy—until you found your mate."
"My mate?" He let out a hollow chuckle. "You still don't know how hopelessly in love I was with you." His words took her by surprise.
"Then why did you hate me so much?"
"I never hated you, Alicia." His voice cracked.
"I hated the fact that you left—that you walked away and never returned."
He drew in a shaky breath.
"Back then, I promised to kiss you under the sun, under the rain, and beneath the moon—and then in front of everyone, so the world would bear witness to our love. But that night changed everything."
"I knew loving a Lycan was dangerous," Alicia said, her voice trembling. "I knew you would one day be mated to someone else. Yet I pushed forward anyway—only to be left broken—"
