"So… feeding me soup is your way of saying thank you?" Leia asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.
"No," Ronan replied. "I'll protect you."
Leia blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, really? I thought you just wanted to—"
"I'm sorry for how I acted, Leia," he cut her instantly. "You're the first woman I've ever truly spoken to like this. I… assumed you'd follow orders like the others I've seen, hybrids who were trained to obey without question. But you're not like them."
He looked into her eyes, his tone turning more serious, "You've lived among humans. You see things differently. You speak your mind. That's not something I'm used to. In my world, everyone listens to the Alphas without hesitation… and I expected the same from you."
He let out a breath. "But you're not like anyone I've ever met. You had the chance to earn your freedom by not saving my life. Yet, you chose to give me blood. For that, I'll be forever grateful to you."
