Oh, goodness OP, how frightening.
The fact is, he has barely got himself over your threshold before making this major step change in his behaviour to you.
All that stuff about how he will stop drinking and go to anger management? No he won’t. He had a huge opportunity to learn from his previous relationship, reflect on his behaviour and stop himself ever threatening a woman again.
But he didn’t.
Yes, the texts are classic abuser. The manipulative guilt trips and refs to cuddles and ‘looking after you’. If he had ANY integrity or actual understanding of what he has done, or respect for you, he would be saying he understands why you want to keep your distance, he respects that, it is all your decision and he will spend 6 months sorting himself out with no expectations on you.
Block him.
Remember how you felt, when you thought he would hit you.
It will happen again, and when he actually hits you, you will think ‘this is my fault, I had my chance to go and I didn’t’.
It isn’t your fault, of course, but that is how abuse works. It takes away your ability to protect yourself.
So block him and put a stop to it now, while you still have possession of yourself.
So sorry OP. It’s hard to lose something you thought you had, and it’s not wrong to feel sad.
It’s good you told friends. Gather those who give you strength around you.