FATE'S SECOND CALL

TER

AST R

h Elena's spine. Clara stiffened beside her, eyes wide with concern. Elena stood frozen

mi

he way he had once spoken to her-full of affection, warmth, and promises. There was

. Open

bled as she gripped the door frame. "What do I do?

ou can't keep hiding from him forever. He's not

r body was on autopilot as her hand reached for the door handle. Each sec

xhale, she turned the k

yes locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a jolt through her. His express

r, but the demand for her attention rem

f the night he rejected her came rushing back. *You're not my mate. I never

h she fought to keep it steady

his jaw tightening. "I didn't hav

could no longer contain. "You didn't have a choice? You *rejecte

closer, and Elena instinctively took a step back, her heart racing. Sh

omething that sounded like regret, but it was too little, to

. "I don't need to know the whole story. What I need is

his hand shot out, halting her. "El

her. Her instincts screamed at her to push him away, to slam the door in his face and walk away from

but she didn't know if she co

Elena hadn't seen before. "I know you hate me. And I deserve it. But there are

of her wanted to refuse him, to push him away and move on with her life. But a

d, her voice colder than she i

ice cut through the tension, sharp and unyielding. "Elena,

tern. Clara had always been the one to protect her, to keep her grounded when everything

f hurt-reacted. She wasn't sure what it was. Maybe it was the faint hope that he still cared, that there was a reason for ever

g. She turned back to Damien, her gaze unwavering. "Go on. Talk. B

himself before finally speaking. "I never wanted to reject you, Elena. It wasn't about you, it was

emanded, her voice steady d

k he is. And the woman I married-" He paused, his eyes darkening. "She's not who you think she is, either. Everything I di

, a rawness that made her question everything she had k

red, but he didn't a

Elena felt herself unraveling with each passing second. Wha

ing to let her go without e

"Elena... there's something I need to tell you. Som

a beat, a cold shiver

t did he know a