Because if there was old dark magic tied to her soul, I did not care what it had done to mine unless my damage could be used to shield hers.
Because she was not just my Alpha.
She was my world.
And the Goddess, in her infinite cruelty, had made sure I knew it without making her my mate.
Penny’s hand moved.
For one wild second, I thought she would touch me.
She did not.
Her fingers curled around the edge of her chair instead, tight enough for her knuckles to pale.
“Liam,” she said.
Just my name.
I looked at her then.
Mistake.
Her eyes were wide, angry, scared, and something else I could not afford to name. Something that reached into my chest and pulled.
I wanted to tell her it was fine.
I wanted to tell her I could take it.
Whatever it was. Whatever curse or spell or soul-bi
