n a dark corner of the city, the echoes of the past returned to haunt her, hitting her thoughts with the brutality of a slap. She couldn't forget what she had

was something about him, something that attracted him despite herself. Something that seemed to understand her pain without having to tell him. It was not a simple physical att

gine it. Her eyes seemed to look for something in her, as if he pressed that behind this mask of coldness, something more complex

or the pain they both wore. But Caleb was unaware of her injuries, all of the Alpha who had marked her, everything she had to endure to su

o a man of whom she could not afford to become too close. He was not just any Alpha. And she was not just any omega. But his gaze, his aura,

carried away and looked away before he could read in hers. A shiver traveled his skin to the idea th

rse voice that made her shiver. "There is s

t give in to this strange feeling of being understood. "Everyone has secrets," she replied, her more t

is eyes, he walked slowly. He hadn't insisted. But Mia knew he would come back. He would still com

all in him he said he had seen more than what she was ready to show. He reminded her of what she had fled for so long. He reminded her of t

fferent. She felt exposed, vulnerable. And every look he put on her, every word he whispered, seemed to break the walls she had erected around her heart. But that was not what s

, each exchange seemed to bring them together, as if the universe pushed them to confront each other. Bu

t. Caleb was there, leaning against a wall, arms crossed, an almost defensive posture. But he looked at her,

you flee. I saw you fight against something you don't want to admit. But what do you know? I'm

ved in spite of herself ... It made her vacillate. She didn't kn

e broken voice, almost inaudible. "I h

he hid, but he felt it. He felt it deeper than anything. Her eyes sc

enough. She does not shy away. Because at this moment, everything there was between them was a

eb. "I know you are doing scars, Mia. B

e could believe it. But, in this suspended moment, something changed in her. She had always run

r, the one she had sworn to keep buri

ere often simple pawns in a dangerous game between Alphas. His partner, formerly his strength and his refuge, had perished because of a trap set by an alpha rival, and this loss

n her smile, hide his injuries under carefully chosen clothes and words. But every look he was on her, every gesture she made, told her that she was not like the other omega.

leb had perceived that something was wrong, that the distance she had always maintained between them was start

al. He approached her, his instinct pushing him to take one more step. He looked at her witho

a?" Asked Caleb, his sweet voice than he had w

rful radiance that he pierced him. Without a word, she got up suddenly, but her body was shaking. She was not tryin

.. "She put her hand on her heart, then on her throat, where the Alpha Rival had marked her, left like an indelible shadow

m, was simply an omega lost in an Alpha world that had not known how to accept it. But he was wrong. The truth that she had just reve

eacts to him in despair in his voice. He had never imagined that an omega could wear such a heavy, so desperate burden. Guilt and anger were bubbli

ou are not alone," he said, his words more sincere than anything he had said so far. "I know you wear

she stopped. He felt his resistance weaken. Slowly, she turned to him, and this time it was a look of pure vulnerability. "I don't k

t like those who hurt you. And I'm not going to ask you to believ

on't know what you say." Pain, it never disappears. She stays

ice. "But if you leave me, I will help yo

he really saw him. And in this suspended moment, Caleb felt something change between them. It was not love, not

d on hers. "Okay," she whispered, almost imperceptible.

is eyes, but which bore the certainty that, in one