"I'm sorry, Anne," Damien said, his voice thick with regret. "I hate that this happened. I hate that I can't make it right immediately. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this. To make sure Jessica pays for what she did. But more than that, I need to know that we're okay."
Anne closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the seat. "We're okay," she said after a long pause. "But I just... I need time, Damien. My wolf needs time. Until I can get her under control, I have to stay away. For both our sakes."
Damien's chest tightened at her words. The idea of her pulling away and keeping her distance was agonising, but he understood. He didn't want to push her or make things worse.
"I'll give you all the time you need," Damien said, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "Just... don't shut me out completely. I'll wait for you, Anne. I'll always wait for you."
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