This has been the best trip imaginable. Liam played some fun music as we drove, and soon we were engaged in comfortable conversation and laughter. About thirty minutes into the drive, Liam reached over and took my hand. He didn't let go for over an hour.

"How are you feeling, baby?" he asked, for perhaps the tenth time.

"Liam, I told you ten minutes ago. I'm wonderful. Not nauseous at all," I replied with a smile.

"Good. Just want to make sure. If you need a break, let me know. We can stop anytime," he reassured me. I smiled warmly.

Before he returned to the Inn, I never knew how thoughtful and sweet he could be. The only time he'd shown me genuine kindness was the night my bedroom at the packhouse was ransacked.

I shivered, remembering that night. Everything was so different then. I'd always feared Liam the most, knowing he would become Alpha and could banish me. His immense size compared to mine only intensified my fear. But the night he found me in the bathroom, he was gentle. Even terrified, a part of me felt better after his help.

"What's on your mind, sweetheart?" he asked, startling me.

"Oh, nothing," I said, forcing a smile. I hoped he wouldn't see through it, but I was wrong.

"Your face betrays you. Tell me."

I sighed. "I was just thinking about how scared I used to be of you, and how different you were growing up." I glanced at him, hoping he wouldn't be upset.

A serious expression crossed his face. "My behavior was inexcusable, and I'm not trying to excuse it. But growing up as the Alpha's son came with immense expectations—expectations that were difficult to meet. I changed significantly after rejecting you. My perspective shifted dramatically after discovering you were my mate," he confessed.

I looked down at our intertwined hands, resting in my lap. "What shifted?" I asked, avoiding eye contact. I felt his gaze briefly before he returned his attention to the road. He was quiet for a few minutes.

Finally, he explained, "Growing up, my father showed no mercy or weakness. Our pack grew stronger, but something always felt incomplete. I trained relentlessly to meet his expectations, to be a merciless, strong Alpha. When I took the title, I realized our leadership lacked compassion. My father banished you without a second thought, unconcerned about your survival, your inability to shift, or your small size. The pack respected him as a strong Alpha, but they also feared him. I faced subtle challenges, tests of whether people should fear me. I had to show them respect, not fear. It took time, but I believe we're stronger now. Some still see my mercy as weakness." His gaze returned to me.

I wasn't sure what to think. If we hadn't been mates, would he have banished me? Would I have been cast out as a rogue? Would they have let me leave? These thoughts swirled as I felt the car slow and pull over. I looked at Liam, confused.

Parking the car, he turned to me, taking both my hands. "Azalea, your very existence made me a better Alpha and man. I can't promise it would have happened quickly, but even if I hadn't found you as my mate, I don't believe I would have banished you. But that doesn't matter now. That night, my birthday, my whole world changed. I saw everything anew, including myself. My father failed as an Alpha and as my father. Rejecting you should never have been a question…"

Tears threatened to spill as he finished. Liam released my hands to unbuckle my seatbelt. He then lifted me into his lap as if I weighed nothing, pulled me close, and whispered, "I just want to be a better man for you. I want to be someone who deserves you."

Tears stained my face. My childhood and life in the pack had been painful and frightening; his rejection even worse. But knowing he truly wished things had been different, that he was different from his father, shifted something in my heart. I touched his cheek and kissed him fiercely. I wasn't ready to say "I love you," but I could kiss him, so I did.

He returned the kiss with equal intensity, tangling his fingers in my hair and holding my head close. When we finally broke apart, he leaned his forehead against mine as we caught our breath. He gently stroked my cheeks. "I don't deserve you," he whispered.

I shook my head. He sighed, as if knowing my response and unwilling to argue. He kissed my forehead and returned me to the passenger seat.

"We should go," he said, starting the car. He intertwined our fingers again, resting our hands in my lap, his thumb soothingly stroking my knuckles. We listened to the radio in comfortable silence. My eyes grew heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.

Minutes later, I felt myself lifted into a warm embrace. I inhaled the comforting scent of the forest. My eyes fluttered open to meet his crystal-blue gaze.

"Sleep, baby," he murmured with a smile. I nodded, snuggling closer. His soft chuckle vibrated through his broad chest as he carried me into the house. He laid me on the softest bed I'd ever known, tucking me in. I reached for his hand.

Before I could speak, he said, "I'll be right back, kitten. Just getting your bag from the car. Stay here, okay?"

"Mmm," I murmured, releasing his hand. I snuggled deeper into the blankets, enjoying the luxurious bed. A few minutes later, the bed shifted, and Liam's comforting scent enveloped me. His arms pulled me close, and I melted into his embrace, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.