Iva’s words did not just reach Caleb… they struck him.
Hard.
For a long moment, he remained completely still, his body tense, his breath shallow, his mind replaying every single word she had thrown at him with brutal clarity, stripping away every excuse he had been hiding behind, every layer of pride and control he had built over the years.
Because she was right.
Every single word.
A bitter realization settled deep in his chest, heavy and unavoidable, as he finally allowed himself to see it from her perspective, not as a crown prince, not as a future king, not as a man trained to question everything and everyone—but as a mate.
As her mate.
And what he saw… he did not like.
An entitled prick.
The thought hit him like a punch, and for once, he did not try to deny it.
Yes, the black
