Ryley took a step back, gently but firmly pulling himself away from the Alpha's touch.
"Why bother bringing me and our children here," he asked quietly, "if you're only going to keep me in the dark?"
His voice trembled despite the restraint he tried to keep.
"Do I not deserve your trust?"
Clyde froze.
His lips parted slightly, brows knitting together as the words struck him harder than he expected.
The look Ryley gave him—hurt, pleading, almost fragile—twisted painfully in his chest.
Because Clyde knew. He had always known.
No matter how much time passed, no matter how many arguments they had, one thing never changed—
Hurting Ryley hurt him just as much, if not more.
But Clyde forced himself to endure it, because he needed Ryley to see something—something Clyde feared he might have failed to make him realize sooner.
"Keeping you in the dark?" Clyde repeated, his voice steady as he stepped forward.
The movement made Ryley instinctively step back.
Then another step.
