Page 83 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

He swallowed hard, “through a ritual.”

Athena’s head throbbed hardly as she took in the information.

What?

“There was not much I could do,” he said, his voice raw. “Not then.”

“You should have told me,” she breathed shakily.

“I was young. Stupid. Arrogant enough to think I could fix everything alone.”

“I thought pushing you away would save your life.”

His voice cracked. “It was the worst thing I had ever done. By the time I realized my mistake, you were already gone.”

Athena stared at him, the weight of old pain pressing on her chest. She wanted to scream.

She wanted to throw something at him. Yell at him to tell her he was lying. Or making these up. But he knew he wasn’t.

Tears stung her eyes. The sky started to release little droplets of water on them.

All this time. He had been protecting her.

“You let me believe you hated me,” she whispered, the words heaved against her lips.

Marcus sank beside her, his hands trembling. “I thought it would be easier than watching them destroy a part of you.”

“I don’t expect you to forgive me,” Marcus said, stepping closer.

“But I need you to know… if I could go back—if I had even a hint—I wouldn’t have left your side. I wouldn’t have let you go through the last six years alone. I would have fought for us.”

“If I could go back—” he stuttered, “if I had known about Riley—” his voice cracked on the name.

“If I had known you were pregnant, Athena, if I had even a hint…” His voice broke, and that’s when Athena looked up at him.

His eyes were glossy, and she looked just in time to see a tear fall down his cheeks.

Marcus Vale was crying.

“You have to believe me, I would have done everything differently. Everything.” His voice was barely a whisper.

Her breath hitched.

“But even if you weren’t... I still hated what I did. I still do.”

The confession hung between them.

Athena’s tears fell hot and fast. She stepped backward.

It was too much.

“You hurt me,” she said, her voice shaking.

“I know,” he whispered.

“You. Hurt. Me,” she emphasized as her lips trembled in tears.

“I hated myself for it more.”