"I will," Elliot promised, his voice low and steady as he nodded. His posture carried the quiet weight of an Alpha making an oath, one that acknowledged both the question and the unspoken bond beneath it. He understood Nigel's concern, just as Nigel understood his.
Nigel's gaze didn't soften. "What if you bind yourself to her tonight, and she tells you she doesn't want more offspring? Will you respect that?" His voice held a rare urgency, as if he were pleading for a future he himself couldn't claim.
Again, Elliot answered without hesitation. "I will respect every single one of her thoughts and decisions." His tone was firm, unwavering, carrying the calm authority of someone who did not need to dominate to be certain of his place beside his mate.
