"What?" Caden's legs ... destroyed? The image hit me like a blow. The mangled, torn mess from the cliffside. Blood. Flesh. Ruin. My heart plummetted. The wheelchair ... I felt it in my gut. A cold, tight twist. I should've seen it coming. But hearing the truth—his legs, shattered beyond repair—it's worse than I feared. All of this ... it was because of me. "I'll check." My hand reached for the blanket. Caden's head shook, his eyes lifeless. "Dr. Watts already saw them. There's nothing left to fix ... " His voice—heavy, like lead—held me in place. I withdrew my hand. No need to press him. Not now. Once, he was Mr. Holbrook—the man who ran Rivemon, feared by all Now, he' was nothing but a shadow, locked in a chair. The power, the ambition, the future—all slipping away in silence. It gnawed at me. If I hadn't ... This was my fault. Why did I end it? He loved me with all of himself. I loved him, too. Why did I wait so long? I took his hand, looked him in the eye. "Marry me. I'm giving you a chance." For a moment, his eyes flickered—then faded. That spark, gone.He pushed my hand away, his voice cold. "I won't hold you back. I'm nothing now. Just broken." His defeat cut through me. "If anyone calls you broken, they will pay," I said, my voice sharp and clear. "Once I've chosen you, Caden, you're mine. No one else." "You mean that?" Caden's gaze was distant, almost empty. "I'm crippled. The Eclipse Pack will never let me take the Alpha's place. I'll lose everything ... even the chance to have children with you." I raised an eyebrow, my voice firm. "So, this is it? You think the great Mr. Holbrook is undone by this? You think this is what breaks you? I can even swear by the name of the Moon Goddess that I will let you mark me if you'd do it right now!" His lashes trembled, like something inside him stirred. "But ... " He hesitated, trying to speak. I couldn't take it anymore. I leaned in, pressing my lips to his, silencing him, letting my kiss tell him everything. Caden's POV: Her movements, sharp and deliberate, felt eerily familiar, like a mirror of what I used to be. She rarely kissed me first, and though this time was no different, it held a certain rawness, an uncertainty I could taste. Her lips trembled against mine. She was nervous. But it wasn't enough. With a boldness that had once defined me, she pushed forward—her teeth gently prying open my lips, her tongue slipping in, eager and sure. The taste—a bitter sweetness—swept through me like a gust of wind, stealing my breath. She was playing with fire. I hadn't expected Rosaline to be so daring. My hand, large and steady, rose to the back of her head, pulling her deeper, taking control. She moaned, soft but clear. It sent a shock through me. My hands gripped her face, holding it with a strength I hadn't known I had. Then, without warning, I kissed her again, fierce, relentless, as if a storm had broken loose.The room's temperature climbed. Only when Rosaline gasped for air, pain flashing in her eyes from her legs, did the kiss break. She pulled back, flushed, breathless, and retreated to her wheelchair. "That enough sincerity for you, Caden?" Her voice was steady, but her hands gripped the armrests, betraying her nerves. "You hesitate again, and I might just change my mind." I fought back a smile, but the corners of my lips twitched. "Alright," I muttered, keeping my expression even. She exhaled, a weight lifting from her shoulders. "When we're both healed," she said, "we'll get engaged." I nodded, my gaze dropping. "I'm going to rest now," she whispered, voice soft. "Okay," I said, not stopping her. Without another word, she turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her. The instant it did, I rose, my legs moving with a fluid grace as I crossed the room. I flicked the light switch, and the room burst into brightness. I sank onto the bed, letting the weight of the moment settle over me. Minutes passed before the door opened again. Yale walked in, Hughie right behind him. Hughie's gaze met mine, and his words came sharp, without hesitation. "If Rosaline finds out you've been lying to her, she won't forgive you."