Joel's expression shifted instantly. His pupils trembled slightly, and after a brief pause, he pushed Caden's hand away. "What are you doing? I don't need that," he snapped through clenched teeth. Caden didn't say a word. He simply took a step forward, closing the distance between them—startling Joel. "I said I'm fine. I don't ... " Before Joel could finish, Caden grabbed him by the collar and yanked him aside with a hand clamped around his neck. "Caden, what the hell are you doing?" Joel shouted, struggling, but Caden didn't loosen his grip. "If you're so eager to die, then fine. Don't get on the lifeboat. That way, when you fall into the water, no one has to waste time saving you," Caden said coldly. "You ... " Joel was so furious his face turned crimson, but before he could resist again, Caden shoved a life vest onto him and forced it down over his shoulders, not the least bit gentle about it. With the boat still rocking, Joel was already dizzy. Now, with the life vest cinched tightly around him, he broke into a fit of coughing. He shot a glare at Caden, but Caden didn't even glance his way. Without a word, he turned and walked back to my side. Joel stood frozen for a beat, looking awkward and conflicted. Then he shouted after Caden, "What about you, huh? What are you going to do?" But before Caden could answer, the crew had already ushered Joel onto one of the lifeboats. "Caden! You'd better keep Rosaline safe! If anything happens to her, I swear I won't let you off!" Joel yelled from a distance. I stood on the deck, ignoring Joel's shouting. My hand was still tightly clasped in Caden's. I knew he was an excellent swimmer—but in these stormy waters, without a life vest, even the strongest swimmer could drown. I couldn't help but worry. Sensing my anxiety, Caden lowered his head and pulled me into his arms. "It's okay. I've survived worse. This is nothing." Looking at his tightly pressed lips, I reached up and touched his cheek, whispering, "Caden, we're not going to be separated in this lifetime. Ever."He kissed my fingertips gently, then wrapped his arm around my waist. Compared to the panic around us, the two of us were the calmest people on deck. We were among the last to board the lifeboats. Though the tornado had already passed, the sea hadn't settled down at all. Massive waves tossed the lifeboat up and down like a toy, echoing the turmoil in everyone's hearts. I gripped the side rail with all my strength, forcing myself to stay calm. When I turned my head, I saw the cruise ship slowly beginning to sink. "Wave incoming!" a werewolf on the boat shouted. I turned my head—and sure enough, a monstrous wave was crashing toward us. The werewolves on the lifeboat instantly fell into panic. Even the crew members looked rattled—one of them was rowing with visibly trembling arms. "Don't turn the boat! Keep the bow facing the waves! Never take them from the side!" I quickly grabbed the crewman's arm and helped him steady the oar, guiding the lifeboat back into position so it faced the waves head-on instead of being caught sideways. "Everyone, hold on tight!" I called out as the waves drew near, trying my best to stay calm and steady the others as well. But when I saw the massive wave, towering several meters high and rushing toward us, my heart sank. Just then, Caden lunged toward me and wrapped me tightly in his arms. There was a loud boom near my ear, like something had exploded. The next thing I knew, everything was spinning, and freezing seawater slammed into my body like knives. The life vest dragged me back to the surface. I burst up, coughing and choking, and looked around—the entire scene was a mess. Debris was floating everywhere, scattered across the churning sea. Since we were among the last to evacuate, we were still close to the cruise ship. I figured most of the debris had been knocked loose from it by the waves. Wasting no time, I grabbed hold of a floating board and dragged my upper body onto it. The water was bitterly cold, and it felt awful being half-soaked in it. But I didn't have the luxury to care. All I could think about was finding Caden.The wave had completely flipped the lifeboat, and Caden hadn't been wearing a life vest—he was in even more danger than the others. I wiped the water from my face and squinted out across the surface, hoping to spot the overturned boat or some sign of Caden. That's when I caught sight of someone flailing nearby. "Help ... " It was a young werewolf. He seemed to know how to swim, but the chaos must've shaken him badly—he could barely move his limbs properly. Without hesitating, I pushed off with the board and swam toward him. We weren't too far apart, so it didn't take much effort. Once I reached him, I grabbed his arm and hauled him halfway onto the board. He'd swallowed a lot of seawater and was coughing violently, but at least he was still conscious. I quickly glanced around, scanning for anything else that could help us float more securely. "Thank you ... for saving me," the werewolf boy gasped, still catching his breath. "Save your strength. Don't talk," I snapped, not meaning to be harsh, but I didn't have time for chit-chat. The boy hunched his shoulders and obediently fell silent. "Rosaline!" Just then, I heard someone shouting in the distance. I turned—and my heart leapt with joy. It was Caden.