His eyes are downcast, fixed sowhere near his feet.
The weight of what he’s done presses him down.
I stare at him for a long mont.
He doesn’t look well.
His eyes are red and swollen—the kind that co from crying too long, from sleepless nights spent replaying mistakes until they beco unbearable.
My voice cos out low, quiet—careful not to startle him.
He flinches at the sound of his na, a small, involuntary movent rippling through his shoulders.
His red-rimd eyes et mine. And I see everything there—guilt, sha, and a desperate hope for forgiveness he doesn’t believe he deserves.
"Co here."
Each step seems to cost him sothing—his feet dragging slightly, his movents slow, weighted.
His fingers twist in the fabric of his shirt—a nervous habit I’ve seen a thousand tis before.
"Aren’t you going to say sothing?" I ask.
"I’m sorry. Please forgive ."
"I didn’t know it would be so dangerous."
"The woman... she said it wasn’t dangerous."
"Angel. Look at ."
Slowly—so slowly—he lifts his head. His eyes et mine. Red. Swollen. Still streaming with tears that catch the light like broken glass.
My voice is calm. Steady.
"I’m not angry with you."
For a mont, he doesn’t breathe. Doesn’t blink. Doesn’t move at all. Then confusion flickers across his face—soft, uncertain.
I keep my gaze on him, steady, unwavering.
He doesn’t.
"I’m not angry with you." A small pause. "So stop crying."
"Angel." My voice is soft, almost gentle. "Did soone tell you to do this?"
"Then why?"
"Because I love you."
My hand slowly falls from his face.
But he was the one who rejected Zyren.
He said he never had.
"I really love you, Zyren... but you started ignoring . Like I didn’t exist in your life anymore."
"I texted you. I called you... but you didn’t reply. You didn’t call back." His voice drops, fragile and thin. "You didn’t even look at ."
I stare at him, and sothing cracks open in my chest.
"You did this," I say slowly, asuring each word, "even though you know I love soone else."
"That woman... she said Alphas and Ogas are ant for each other."
"She said Betas can’t give an Alpha what they really need."
"She said if I sleep with you... just once, you would forget about him." Another pause. "You would co to ."
A breath.
So this is what he dreams of.
A life built with at the center of it.
"I know," I say softly, "my Angel didn’t think of this on his own."
"Angel... that woman manipulated you. For money."
"You’re too innocent for your own good," I say gently.
"I didn’t ignore you. I didn’t forget you." I pause, gathering my thoughts, choosing my words carefully.
Another pause.
His eyes stay on —waiting, patient despite everything.
His face shifts, confusion deepening, a crease forming between his brows. "Why didn’t you tell ?"
"Angel, you’re still new. You’re just starting. If I told you, you would have co back—left your work, your shoots. Co running to ."
"I wanted to see you succeed."
"And... I’m not an Alpha anymore." A breath. "My rut is gone. My trait is changing."
"I’m becoming an Oga."
I squeeze his hand softly. "I should have told you sooner." A pause. "And what that woman told you about love... she was wrong."
My voice softens. "We just love them. We just want to be with them."
"Please forgive ," he whispers. "Please..."
He nods quickly—desperately—like a drowning man reaching for a lifeline.
"Accept the photoshoot proposal you received. The one from overseas."
"And don’t trust people who don’t deserve it. Be strong. Find soone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved."
"How can I think about soone else?" His voice breaks. "I love you..."
His eyes widen. He freezes, breath caught in his chest.
A pause.
He nods slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. "That’s what real love is."
"We’re family, Angel."
"Yes... we’re family."
A small pause.
"As your family."
His arms wrap around like he’s afraid I’ll disappear—like he’s been holding himself back for too long, and finally lets go.
He whispers against my ear, his voice breaking. "Zyren... I’m sorry for what I did. I promise I’ll beco successful—the way you want to be."
His tears soak into my shoulder—warm, quiet.
"Hmm."
"Don’t let anyone fool you again," I say softly. He nods again.
I try to hold it together... but the tears slip down my cheeks anyway—silent, warm.
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