"Anyway," Axel started, his voice rough, tight with tension and emotion, "no one has to know. No one should know. I'm counting on you." He met Dallas's eyes, letting the weight of his words settle.
There was no point in lying, he wasn't going to end things with Ivan.
Especially after hearing Dallas describe Ivan's suffering without a mate for all those years.
Axel's chest tightened just thinking about it. Ivan had been longing, aching, craving something he couldn't have for so long. And now that he was here, right in front of him, Axel wouldn't abandon him. He wouldn't leave him, no matter the danger surrounding them.
Whatever was meant to happen, would happen in its own time. For now, Axel would keep him close, and even if he couldn't satisfy him fully, he would still be there.
And most importantly… he wasn't going to let Ivan be with someone else. Not ever.
