“I’m not your responsibility, Kierra,” he said, his tone clipped, still refusing to meet my eyes. His words stung, but I tried not to show it.
“M-Maybe you’re not,” I whispered, my voice wavering. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I care about you, Alpha Damon. More than you know.”
He finally turned to look at me, his eyes narrowed, dark with frustration. “Don’t do this, Kierra. Don’t make this harder than it already is. I don’t need anyone’s pity.”
“It’s not pity,” I insisted, stepping closer, my gaze locked onto his. “It’s love. Alpha Damon-”
“Don’t,” he interrupted, his voice a low growl. He looked away, his hands clenched at his sides. “You’re wasting your time here. Just… get lost.”
I bit my lip, feeling the familiar sting of his rejection. I should have been used to it by now, but it hurts just the same every time. And yet, I couldn’t walk away. Not when he was hurting like this.
“I know you don’t want to hear this,” I began slowly, choosing my words carefully. “But… about what the shaman said. About you being… mateless, about not being able to have an heir-”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said sharply, his tone a warning.