No second chances.

Anna couldn’t help the tears rushing out, her body giving in to the weariness she felt. But through that episode of weakness, the one thing a part of her couldn’t fathom was why William was still there comforting her. She had expected everything but that. If he had pushed her away, or said disparaging comments, maybe she wouldn’t have had the courage to let her tears fall.

Maybe she would have wiped her tears furiously and rushed into the house in embarrassment. Instead, she felt exposed to a part of him she had never seen before, and she didn’t, for the life of her, know exactly how to react to that.

William was silent, feeling so much hurt at the sight of his mate sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.

It seemed, he mused silently, that despite his desire to stay away from her, all his instincts to protect her as his mate had overridden his decisions and will. It was like this woman was breaking down his walls one after the other, practically bulldozing through them without any regard