Dawn's hand was warm and firm around mine and it was the only thing grounding me in the present. I had demanded the truth about the memory-wipe, and he had given me his version: damage control. A lie to protect me from whatever happened that night.
"I want the truth," I repeated, staring at the joining of our hands. "All of it."
Dawn sighed. He let out a low, weary sound that belonged not to the ruthless Alpha but to a man carrying a burden too heavy for his broad shoulders. He pulled his hand away and ran it through his messy black hair.
"Bambi, I told you all I can about that night," he said, his voice regaining its colder, Alpha tone. "I did what I did because you were not ready for the full impact of my wolf. It was a tactical decision. A necessity to keep you compliant until you could build trust. It was for your own good, and nothing more."
What was he even saying?
