Lucien couldn’t sleep. The words of his mother echoed relentlessly in his mind—*“I saw a vision… a heartbeat stopped.”* He kept tossing and turning until his wolf growled low, *“Go to her… before it’s too late.”*

By dawn, he was already behind the wheel, heading for Blue Ridge County. The drive felt endless, every second filled with dread, guilt, and longing. His hands tightened around the steering wheel as memories of Aria’s smile, her voice, and the hurt in her eyes haunted him.

He arrived at the quiet cottage tucked away in the woods and saw her through the window—her back turned, her hair in a loose braid. She was...