Alpha Damon (Sienna) novel Chapter 294

“Delilah…”

“I can’t,” I snapped, taking a step back. “You don’t get to keep pulling me in like this. You don’t get to play protector after everything. You played me before. You lied to me before, you pitied me before. I do not need that, Ethan. I need peace. I need my own state, and your presence is not helping me with that.”

His jaw flexed. “I’m not playing anything. I care. I am standing by your side. I’m doing my best to show you that I care. I’m not doing this because I pity or because I feel sorry for you. I’m doing it because I want to. I’m trying to prove myself to you, Delilah.”

“Well, don’t.”

That shut him up.

I let the silence thicken before I spoke again. “You shouldn’t care. Not after what I said. Not after what I did. After what I heard, after everything that we’ve been through, you shouldn’t be caring. You heard the last person that should be wanting me in your life, just as I don’t want you in mine.”

“I will always care,” he said, voice quiet but firm. “You can hate me, push me, scream at me… I won’t stop.”

I laughed, cold, tired. “Then you’re a fool. Because it’s not going to change anything, you’re just going to end up wasting your time.”

“Maybe.”

“Ethan…” I shook my head, voice lowering. “Please. Just stop trying. I’m not a person for you to love. I’m not a person for you to just want to hold in your arms. I’m not that girl. I’m a woman who is going to stand and fight. I am a warrior. I was built to kill and built to be killed if needed. I don’t have time for a family or for love or for whatever this is. I’m just here for one reason, and once that’s done, I’m going to be out of here.”

He looked at me, really looked at me, like he was trying to find the version of me he remembered. The girl who used to snap at him with sharp words but soften when she thought no one was looking.

But she wasn’t here anymore. That girl was gone, and I knew that he understood it.

I saw it in his eyes. The confusion. The heartbreak.

And I hated how much it hurt to see it.

“I don’t want this,” I whispered. “Not with you. Not now. Not when everything is wrong. I can’t think of something like this.” “I can help you.”

“No, you can’t.” I swallowed hard. “Because I don’t even know who I am anymore. And I’m done letting you fight battles that leave you bleeding for someone who doesn’t even know if she’s worth it. Because I thought that I was and I was just broke and I was just disappointed and I don’t want to feel that again. I cannot allow myself to feel that again, Ethan.”

And the minute his footsteps disappeared as he walked away, I felt the weight collapse over me again.

I didn’t cry.

I couldn’t afford to.

I stared at the sky for a moment as I took a breath, bracing myself for the feelings that I was going to feel.

“Whatever this is, whatever the reason behind this, you really need to allow yourself to stand.” I whispered to myself. “You

can’t allow yourself a moment of weakness. That’s not possible. Not for you, Delilah…”