I reacted before I could think, flinching back and folding inward. My arms crossed tightly over my chest, palms pressing against my breasts as I tried to cover the scar again. My legs snapped shut.
A small whimper slipped out before I could stop it.
“Hey—shhh.” Knox’s voice softened instantly. “Look at me. Silas isn’t mad at you. I promise.”
I peeked up through damp lashes.
Silas looked different now. The cold fury that had locked his features a moment ago was gone, replaced by something rougher. His jaw flexed as he dragged a hand down his face, frustration written in every line of him.
“I didn’t mean to growl,” he muttered. “It’s just that…that fucking scar,Lena.”
"Fuck!" his voice rose again, sharp with emotion.
Knox shot him a look.
Silas exhaled hard and looked away toward the window. His hands braced on his thighs like he needed somethingsolid to hold onto.
“What he means,” Knox said calmly, “is that it’s hard for us to think about what you went through.”
His fingers circled my wrist, tightening carefully.
“Remember what Dr. Hampton told you? Alphas are wired to protect omegas. It’s instinct.”
“We’re not angry withyou,” Knox repeated
Silas scoffed under his breath, the sound edged with bitterness.
“We’re angry withhim,” Silas continued his brother's sentence, disgust threading through his voice.
“And with ourselves,” Knox added softly. “Because we weren’t able to protect you when he did this.”
He guided my hand away from my chest, exposing the scar again. Its thick, ragged line cut through the soft curve of my breast, bisecting my nipple, making it uneven and distorted.
I stiffened, bracing for their angry looks.
But Knox only studied it with quiet focus.
“I know you’re ashamed of this,” he said.
His fingers lifted to my chin, turning my face toward his.
“You shouldn’t be.”
His voice didn’t waver.
“You’re so beautiful.”
His hand drifted down my body, fingertips brushing lightly along the raised line of scar tissue.
“This,” he whispered, tracing the jagged path with careful reverence, “is proof you survived.”
Silas shifted behind him.
He still wasn’t looking at me.
His gaze stayed locked on the scar, jaw clenched still.
“We want every part of you,” Knox continued. "Even the broken ones. Even the ones someone else tried to destroy."
