Eloise's silence pressed down on Lucian like a weight he couldn't shake off. Her stillness seemed to say everything that her words had not. For a moment, he stood there, unsure whether to push forward or retreat. He gathered every ounce of his courage and spoke, his voice tentative yet sincere.
"Eloise," he began, his eyes searching hers. "You deserve a chance at happiness. Don’t shut me out so quickly. Even if you can’t be my mate right now, I want you to know you have every right to be happy. You can live a life filled with joy; I believe that."
Eloise felt a flicker of warmth stir within her, his words brushing against the edges of the cold, distant walls she had built around herself. But then, as quickly as it came, the warmth was smothered. She wanted to say yes, to allow herself to
