“Roman...” You stepped in closer, your voice barely above a whisper, trembling with something you couldn’t name. Hope? Fear? “Why do you act like this bond is something to fear? Like it’s a curse instead of a gift?”

He let out a low, humorless laugh, the sound rough and bitter as it left him. His eyes flicked away for a moment—like looking at you made it harder to lie, even to himself.

“Because caring about someone means they can get hurt.” His voice cracked at the edges, raw and unguarded. “And if they get hurt because of me—if I lose control, if someone uses me to get to you—” He shook his head, jaw tight, eyes haunted. “I’ve seen what I become when I’m pushed too far. And I couldn’t live with myself if you were caught in the crossfire.”

He paused, breathing hard like the truth had cost him more than he’d meant to give.
“It’s not the bond I fear. It’s what I might do to the person I’d die to protect.”