Sleep did not come easily. Darkness swallowed me whole, thick and suffocating. Shadows moved within it, shifting and writhing, until they took shape. Werewolves appeared, their eyes gleaming, sharp and merciless.They towered over me, circling like predators, their laughter low and menacing. I tried to move, to fight, to run—but my limbs felt like lead. Suddenly, the scene twisted; I was no longer trapped in darkness but running. The forest stretched endlessly ahead, trees blurring past as I stumbled forward. Branches tore at my skin, roots threatened to trip me, but I couldn't stop. Behind me, the werewolves gave chase, their snarls growing louder, closer. But my path was cut short. The ground vanished beneath my feet, and I skidded to a halt. A steep cliff loomed ahead. I glanced down, but there was nothing to see—just a gaping void, endless and ravenous. Footsteps sounded behind me. Sharp. Measured. I turned. It was a lithe woman, the ends of her heels clapping against the ground as she sauntered up to me. It was Heidi. She stood poised, her lips curling into a cruel smile. The light caught her features, twisting beauty into something unnatural. "Caden belongs to me," she said. Her voice was smooth as silk, yet it coiled around me like a snake. "No one will take him from me. Not even you, Rosaline." Then she reached out. And shoved me. I fell. Wind roared past my ears. The pit of my stomach lurched, my arms flailed— I gasped, my eyes snapping open. The cabin lights above cast a dim glow, steady and familiar. The hum of the plane's engines filled the silence. A dream. Nothing more. Yet my breath came fast, my chest rising and falling as I forced myself to steady it. "Rosaline, are you alright?" The voices were immediate, layered with concern.I swallowed, my throat dry. "It was just a nightmare." But it had felt real. Too real. Why had I dreamed of something like that? Was my mind unraveling under the weight of the past few days? Or had I simply spent too much time near Heidi? I lifted a hand to my forehead. Cold sweat clung to my skin. Jasper's gaze sharpened. "You're pale. Are you sure you're okay?" I forced a small smile, though it felt fragile. "I'm fine." "I'll take a look." Hughie rose without hesitation and strode toward me. He placed two fingers against my wrist, his gaze steady. A long silence followed. Then, at last, he spoke. "You're fine. The past few days have worn you down, that's all. Get some rest, and you'll be back to yourself soon enough." I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Thanks, Hughie." The weight of exhaustion settled over me like a heavy cloak. The avalanche, those two harrowing days trapped in the cave, the frantic rush to find Hughie, and the long journey back to Rivemon—it had drained every ounce of strength I had. Even an Alpha's body had limits. "I'd like a glass of lemon water," Caden said abruptly, his voice calm and measured. The flight attendant offered a polished smile. "Right away, Mr. Holbrook." She returned swiftly, holding the drink with both hands. "Your lemon water, sir." But Caden didn't take a sip. Instead, he turned to me and held out the glass. "You like this. Drink some—it'll help." I hesitated, then accepted it. My fingers brushed against his palm. Warmth lingered where our skin touched. A strange feeling stirred in my chest. He remembered?"Caden, I want some lemon water too." Heidi latched onto his arm, her voice light, almost playful. Caden's face remained impassive as he glanced at the flight attendant. "Bring me another glass." "Thank you, Caden." She leaned in, whispering something in his ear. Then, when she was certain he couldn't see, she turned to me with a smug smile, a silent declaration of victory. I clenched my jaw and set my glass aside. "Alpha, tell me I'm not imagining things. This Heidi doesn't seem like the kind, selfless girl Caden described." "She isn't. And I intend to find out exactly who she is." "Good. Dig up everything—her past, her family, her entire history." Freya's voice burned with quiet fury. The hours passed, and at last, the plane touched down at Rivemon International Airport. "Hughie, we're going straight to the hospital." I stepped off the plane, my thoughts already ahead of me. Hughie nodded. "Let's go, then." Yale had arranged for transport, and without delay, we made our way to the hospital. Outside the patient's room, Dr. Williamson stood waiting with Eleanor and Queenie. Caden wasted no time. "How is he?" Dr. Williamson's gaze flickered to Hughie before he answered. "No change. He remains unconscious, but his vitals are steady." He took a step back. "Dr. Watts, you should take a look." Hughie nodded once, his face unreadable. "Everyone out," he said. "Wait outside."