Genevieve POV:

The ride to the Royal Manor was silent, but it wasn't empty.

Kaleb sat next to me. The scent of him-rain, ozone, and deep forest-was the only thing keeping me grounded.

"You saved me," I whispered.

"I felt you," he said, taking my hand. His thumb traced my knuckles. "When you... when the baby died. I felt it break you."

I looked away, shame burning my cheeks. "I chose him, Kaleb. I rejected the bond five years ago because I wanted a 'normal' life. And look where it got me."

"You made a choice based on love," Kaleb said firmly. "That is not a sin. His betrayal is the sin."

We pulled up to the Foley Manor. It was a fortress.

Kaleb didn't let me walk. He scooped me up, carrying me inside like I weighed nothing.

"I can walk," I protested weakly.

"You've walked alone long enough," he murmured.

He brought me to the dining hall. He sat me down and placed a plate of rare steak in front of me.

"Eat," he commanded gently. "Your wolf needs fuel to heal the damage from the silver."

I took a bite. It was incredible. As I ate, I watched him. He wasn't looking at me with pity. He was looking at me with a fierce, possessive adoration.

"Why?" I asked. "I'm damaged goods."

Kaleb leaned in, his eyes intense.

"Because you are the other half of my soul, Genevieve. I don't care about your scars. I only care about the man who gave them to you."

He smells like home, my wolf whispered.

"Rest now," he said, wiping a tear from my cheek. "Tomorrow, we finish this."