"I was going mad thinking I had lost you. But unlike you, I wouldn't abandon our son."
Ren shut his eyes tight, his chest twisting in pain. Was this what he deserved—for being selfish? What was he supposed to do? The guilt weighing on him had been unbearable; he thought dying would be easier than living with it.
But now—after Ilyan's words, after being told it was alright to move on—he could finally… breathe.
His hand trembled as he brushed Zayden's skin, only to feel something warm and wet against his fingertips. When he looked up, he found Zayden crying—openly, without restraint.
"Are you crying?…" Ren asked softly, brushing Zayden's tears away with his free hand.
The other remained trapped in Zayden's grasp—no matter how gently he tried to pull away, the man refused to let go, clinging onto it.
"Yes, I am. Why? Are you going to tell me alphas can't cry?" Zayden's lips curved into a faint, trembling smile.
Ren shook his head.
