Darius's Pov

"Because it makes me weak. An Alpha is supposed to be strong and in control but I'm neither of those things. I'm just a broken wolf with a curse I can't fix and a mate I need to survive. What kind of Alpha does that make me?"

"The kind who admits when he needs help. That takes more strength than pretending everything is fine."

I laughed but it came out bitter. "You're too optimistic."

"And you're too hard on yourself."

"Am I? Because from where I'm sitting it looks like I'm exactly as pathetic as I think I am."

Soraya was quiet for a minute and I thought...