KAIA'S POV
The word 'rape' hangs between us like a loaded weapon. I can see the shock and hurt written across Ronan's face, and suddenly I feel terrible for using it.
"I'm sorry," I say quietly. "I shouldn't have said that."
He takes a step back from me, his hands falling to his sides. "Is that what you think of me?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I open my mouth to answer, then close it again. Because I don't know what I think anymore. This man who saved me from those awful men at the tavern, who looks at me with such genuine emotion... is he really capable of what I've been accusing him of?
"I..." I start, then stop.
"You think I would force myself on you," he says, and there's so much pain in his voice it makes my chest ache. "You think I'm the kind of man who would hurt you like that."
"I'm sorry," I repeat, because I don't know what else to say.
He runs his hands through his hair, looking lost and broken. "Kaia, I didn't mark you because I wanted to force you into anything."
"Then why?" I ask.
"Because my wolf forced me to," he says simply. "The moment I scented you at the river, the moment I saw you, my wolf recognized you as our mate. And when those men at the tavern tried to hurt you, every instinct I had screamed to claim you, to protect you, to make sure no one could ever hurt you again."
I stare at him, seeing the vulnerability in his dark eyes. "Your mate?"
"Yes," he breathes. "You're my mate, Kaia. I can feel it in every cell of my body. The pull, the need, the absolute certainty that you're the other half of my soul."
"How long have you been looking?" I ask before I can stop myself.
"Years," he says. "I'm twenty-two now, and I've been searching for my mate since I turned eighteen. Do you know what it's like, wondering if you'll ever find the person you're meant to be with? Wondering if you're destined to be alone forever?"
The raw honesty in his voice makes something crack inside my chest. I've been so focused on my revenge, on my hatred for his family, that I never considered what this might mean for him.
"I wondered if it was a good idea," I murmur, more to myself than to him.
"What was a good idea?" he asks.
I look up at him, studying his face. Should I tell him about Kelly? Should I ask him directly about what happened five years ago? Or am I walking into a trap?
He stands up from where he was leaning against the wall and moves close to me again. But this time, I don't back away. Something has shifted between us, and I find myself standing my ground, maintaining eye contact with him.
"Kaia," he says softly, and the way he says my name makes my entire body respond.
Heat rises between my thighs, and I can feel myself getting wet despite everything that's happened. The mark on my neck throbs in response to his proximity, sending waves of pleasure through me that I can't control.
Damn this supernatural bond.
"I'll never take advantage of you," he continues, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm not that type of man. Not now, not ever. All I want is to protect you. And I did all that because I need you."
His hands come up to cup my face, his touch so gentle it makes me want to cry. "No woman has made me feel this way. No woman has challenged me in ways that you have. They all fall at my feet without a word, but you..."
He pauses, his thumbs stroking across my cheekbones.
"I love how you are so different," he continues. "I love your fire, your independence, your refusal to submit just because I'm an Alpha. I can't help but fall deeply for you."
My hands start to tremble at his words. The sincerity in his voice, the way he's looking at me like I'm something precious and rare... it's everything I never knew I wanted to hear.
I want to give in. I want to kiss him and shut him up and forget about everything else. But I clench my fists, forcing myself to stay strong.
"Ronan," I whisper.
"I know you're scared," he says. "I know this is overwhelming. But please, just give us a chance."
Before I can respond, he pulls me into a hug.
And I melt.
His arms wrap around me, strong and warm and safe, and for the first time in years, I feel protected. Not trapped, not controlled, but genuinely protected by someone who cares about me.
A tear rolls down my cheek as I surrender to the embrace, letting myself lean into his strength.
"You shouldn't have marked me," I whisper against his shoulder.
He holds me tighter. "I'm sorry," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "I'm so sorry, Kaia. I wish I could take it back and do it right. I wish I could have courted you properly, given you the choice you deserved."
The regret in his voice breaks something inside me. This isn't the monster I've been imagining for five years. This is a man who made a mistake and genuinely regrets it.
But that doesn't change what his family did to mine.
He starts to pull away, starts to move toward the exit. "I should let you go," he says. "Give you some space to think."
"Ronan," I call out before he can reach the door.
He turns back to me, hope flickering in his eyes. "Yes?"
This is it. The moment of truth. If I'm going to find out what really happened to Kelly, if I'm going to get the answers I need, I have to take this risk.
"My sister, Kelly, was raped five years ago," I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. "And she died as a result."
His mouth drops open in shock, his face going completely white.
"What?" he breathes.