Liam POV
I was completely enveloped in the haze of deep sleep when I felt myself being pulled out of it, as though drawn by an invisible thread. My senses returned slowly, but the unfamiliarity of my surroundings jolted me fully awake.
The sterile white walls, the faint beeping of a heart monitor, and the distinct antiseptic scent told me I was in a hospital room. I blinked, disoriented, my mind scrambling to piece together how I had ended up here.
My gaze darted around, and just as panic started to creep in, a soft, familiar voice cut through the fog in my mind.
"Liam, don't you want to meet your son?"
The words struck me like lightning, freezing me in place. My heart skipped a wild beat, then began to race, thundering in my chest. My son?
I turned slowly toward the voice, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and hope.
There she was—Haylie—sitting on the bed, her back propped against a mountain of pillows. Her skin seemed to glow, a faint blush painting her cheeks, and her hair cascaded over one shoulder in soft waves. She looked radiant, even in the plain hospital gown she wore, but my attention was instantly drawn to what she cradled in her arms.
A blue blanket wrapped around a tiny figure.
I swallowed hard, my nerves coiling tightly as I took a hesitant step toward her. Each movement felt heavy, as if the gravity of the moment pressed down on me.
"Come closer," Haylie urged softly, her voice as warm and inviting as the smile gracing her lips.
I finally made it to her bedside, my gaze falling on the small bundle she held. The baby's tiny face peeked out from the folds of the blanket, his delicate features bathed in the soft light of the room.
He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Chubby cheeks, a dusting of soft hair, and impossibly long eyelashes—my eyelashes. But the curve of his lips, the shape of his little mouth, was unmistakably Haylie's.
Tears stung my eyes, blurring my vision. I couldn't tear my gaze away.
"He's beautiful," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.
I looked up at Haylie, tears now spilling freely down my cheeks. She smiled at me, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Liam," she said, her voice cracking with emotion, "he's ours."
A wave of overwhelming love crashed over me, leaving me breathless. Carefully, as though he might shatter at my touch, I reached out and gently ran a finger along the baby's cheek. His skin was impossibly soft, warm, and alive.
My son.
In that moment, everything else faded away. The world could crumble around us, and I wouldn't have noticed. All I could see, all I could feel, was the life we had created together, the family we now were.
"I don't deserve this," I choked out, looking back at Haylie.
She shook her head, her smile never wavering. "You deserve all of it, Liam. All of it and more."
I bent down, pressing a kiss to her forehead, my tears mingling with hers. And as I gazed back at my son, I silently vowed to be the man they both deserved.
"Do you want to hold him?" Haylie's voice was soft and inviting, breaking through the haze of my overwhelming emotions.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks, unable to find my voice, and simply nodded.
Gently, as though the baby might shatter if I held him too tightly, I took him into my trembling hands. I had never held a baby before, and the fear of doing it wrong gnawed at me. But as soon as his tiny, warm body was in my arms, everything felt inexplicably right.
My son.
The thought filled me with a surge of pride and awe. Even if this was just a dream, holding my son in my arms was a moment beyond words. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. He slept peacefully, his tiny form snug in the soft blue blanket.
"He looks so peaceful," I whispered, my voice catching with emotion.
His little hand peeked out from the folds of the blanket, clutching it tightly.
I had never seen anything so small, so delicate. A smile spread across my lips, even as tears streamed down my cheeks.
I lifted a finger to brush against his tiny hand, marveling at the contrast between his fragile fingers and my own, which suddenly seemed impossibly large.
In that moment, my heart felt full, overflowing with love—not just for the baby in my arms, but for Haylie. The completeness I felt, the connection between us, was indescribable.
I glanced up at Haylie. She was smiling through her own tears, her eyes brimming with warmth and something else—something deeper, heavier.
"I will always love you, Liam," she whispered.
Her words pulled at my heartstrings, carrying an undertone of finality that sent a shiver through me. It felt like a goodbye.
"I love you, Haylie," I said, my voice thick with emotion.
I leaned closer, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. But just as my lips brushed her skin, an unsettling sound cut through the moment—a faint, rushing noise, like water.
I pulled back, frowning as I looked around. At first, everything seemed normal. But then I noticed it: icy water pooling on the floor, creeping under my feet.
I glanced back at Haylie, but she was no longer there. Panic gripped me as I looked down at my arms, finding them empty. My son was gone.
Frantically, I turned in every direction, but the water was rising rapidly, filling the room. Before I could react, the door burst open, and a powerful surge of water flooded in, engulfing everything. Within moments, I was completely submerged, holding my breath as the hospital room dissolved into an endless expanse of water.
I kicked my legs and swam, searching desperately for anything familiar. The coldness of the water seeped into my bones, but then I saw it—a figure in the distance.
A woman in a red dress.
Her hair floated around her like flames in the water, and the moment I recognized the red strands, my heart clenched with fear. I swam toward her with all my strength, the icy water dragging at me.
As I got closer, panic surged through me like a tidal wave.
It was Haylie.
Her body hung lifeless in the water; her eyes open but void of warmth. There was an unbearable coldness in them, a stillness that made my chest tighten in despair.
"Haylie!" I screamed, opening my mouth despite the water.
I didn't care that the water rushed into my lungs. I couldn't lose her. Not like this. I reached out and took her hand, but it was cold, unmoving.
"Haylie!" I screamed again, my voice lost in the suffocating silence of the water.
The world around me seemed to crumble as I clung to her, but no matter how tightly I held on, I couldn't bring her back. My chest burned as the water filled my lungs, and the edges of my vision blurred.
Then, just as everything went dark, I woke with a start.
I gasped for air, jerking upright in bed. My heart thundered in my chest, and my body was drenched in sweat.
"Haylie!" I called out, my voice cracking.
But I wasn't underwater anymore. I was in a hospital room, the steady beep of a heart monitor grounding me in reality.
A familiar voice drew my attention, and I turned to see my father standing by the bed. His face was pale, his eyes wide with a mix of relief and disbelief.
"Liam, you're awake," he said, his voice trembling.
I looked up at my father, my vision blurred by the tears burning in my eyes. The vivid memory of what I had just experienced felt so real, so tangible, as if I had truly been there with Haylie.
"Son, how are you feeling?" my father asked gently, his voice laced with concern.
The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor pulled my attention downward. I saw the wires and the stickers attached to my chest, connected to the machine beside the bed.
"I'm okay," I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.
I glanced around the hospital room, confusion clouding my thoughts. How long had I been here? The last thing I remembered was being in Haylie's room.
Fear gripped me, and I looked back at my father, my voice trembling. "Dad, please tell me Haylie is okay."
The image of her lifeless body in the water flashed in my mind, vivid and haunting. I could feel the terror clawing at my chest.
My father let out a heavy sigh, and the weight of it told me his words wouldn't bring comfort. His eyes, filled with sadness, met mine.
"Son, I'm afraid they took Haylie with them. She's been gone for three days, and no one has seen or heard from her," he said, his voice low and somber.
His words hit me like a blow to the chest. Three days. Haylie had been gone for three days.
My mind reeled. Could what I had seen in the dream be real? The thought sent a chill through me, and then I heard it—a voice echoing in my mind, strong and resolute.
"We have to find Haylie."
It was my wolf, stirring to life, his determination coursing through me like a fire.
I began pulling the stickers off my chest, the urgency consuming me.
"Liam, what are you doing?" my father asked, alarmed.
But I didn't answer. My focus was singular, my instincts screaming at me to act.
As I ripped the last sticker away, I met his worried gaze and said firmly, "I need to get to Haylie."
He reached out, trying to reason with me, but I was already on my feet. My heart raced with a mix of fear and resolve. If the dream was a warning, then the woman I loved was in danger—or worse.
I couldn't let myself think about the worst. Not now. Haylie needed me, and I wouldn't stop until I found her.
"Liam, are you crazy?" my father's voice cut through the haze of my thoughts. "You just woke up from a coma! You can't just walk out like this!"
I looked at him, my heart pounding with desperation. "The woman I love is in danger, Dad! She might already be..." My voice faltered; the word dead too heavy to say aloud. I clenched my fists, forcing the knot in my throat to stay down. "I can't just sit here when she needs me!"
My wolf stirred within me, urging me on, its growl vibrating through my mind. But as I took a step back, intent on leaving, my body betrayed me. My legs wobbled, weak and unsteady, and I felt myself tipping toward the ground.
Before I hit the cold floor, my father caught me, his strong arms steadying my failing body. Gently, he guided me back to the bed, his movements firm but careful. Once I was seated, I could feel his piercing hazel eyes on me, brimming with worry.
"Do you see now?" he said, his tone sharp yet filled with concern. "You're still too weak. Your body needs time to recover."
His words stung, but I knew he was right. My muscles felt like jelly, and every breath I took felt labored, as if my body was dragging itself back to life. Yet the thought of Haylie out there, possibly in danger, consumed me.
"Dad, I have to..." I began, but he interrupted me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Liam, listen to me," he said, his voice softening. "I know your priority is saving Haylie. I get it—she's your everything. But if Haylie were here, she'd want you to rest first. She'd want you to be strong enough to actually help her. Right now, you need to focus on getting your strength back."
Guilt settled over me like a heavy blanket. My father's words struck deep. He wasn't wrong—Haylie would never forgive me if I pushed myself to the point of collapse.
I looked down at my trembling hands, frustration coursing through me. "I just... I can't lose her, Dad," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"And you won't," my father replied, squeezing my shoulder gently. "But first, you need to heal. Let me help you."
His unwavering presence and steady gaze offered me a small sliver of solace. As much as I hated it, I had to admit that he was right. For now, I had no choice but to wait, to gather my strength before I could fight for Haylie.
JC POV
I stood there, teeth clenched, fists balled so tightly that my wolf-like nails pierced my palms, drawing blood. My blood was boiling, and I couldn't believe what Melody and my brothers had done. It was the final straw when I saw Melody shove Haylie into the pool.
Panic surged through me as I waited for Haylie to surface, but she didn't. Something was wrong. Without a second thought or care for what my brothers might think, I ran to the edge of the pool and dove in.
The icy water hit me like a shockwave, freezing my body and sending a sharp pain through my chest.
My instincts took over as I scanned the murky depths. Then, I spotted her—her red dress floating eerily in the water. My heart raced as I swam toward her, fear gripping me when I realized she wasn't moving.
Finally, I reached her. But the sight that met me froze my blood. Her green eyes were wide open, lifeless like a doll's, and her hair billowed around her head in the water.
Her arms hung limply above her, and I knew the water might have filled her lungs. Was I too late?
No, I refused to believe it. I wouldn't leave her here. Wrapping her cold, stiff body in my arms, I held her close to me. Summoning my strength, I swam upward, determined to get her out.
Thankfully, my wolf senses allowed me to hold my breath for longer than most, but even I felt the strain. My only thought was Haylie—saving her, no matter the cost.
I swam with her until we broke the surface, gasping for air. But as I emerged, something was different—terribly, impossibly different. I was no longer in the castle.
I froze, a deep frown forming on my face as I scanned the area. Surrounding me were dense woods, stretching endlessly in every direction. My brothers and Melody were nowhere to be seen.
The eerie stillness of the forest sent a chill down my spine.
Shaking off the confusion, I focused on Haylie. I swam toward the edge of the water, struggling against the weight of both her limp body and my mounting panic. When I finally reached the bank, I climbed out, cradling her in my arms.
I walked until I found a tree, its roots twisting like arms into the earth. There, I knelt, gently laying Haylie down beneath its shadowy canopy.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked down at her lifeless form. She wasn't breathing. She wasn't moving.
"Haylie," I whispered hoarsely, brushing her damp hair away from her face. My voice cracked as the reality began to sink in.
These past three months with her had changed me. She had grown on me in ways I hadn't expected, and I had come to understand her—both her human fragility and her indomitable spirit. I had promised to protect her, to get her out of this nightmare. I couldn't let it end like this.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I steeled myself. I vaguely remembered how to perform CPR. It wasn't something I'd ever done, but I had to try.
With trembling hands, I placed them over her chest, pressing firmly but carefully. Desperation fueled my movements as I counted under my breath. Then, leaning over her, I pressed my lips to hers, forcing air into her lungs.
"Come back to me, Haylie," I pleaded between breaths, my voice breaking. "Please, don't leave me."
I did not stop and try again. The same routine I did before to breath in her mouth and then press on her chest. "Come on "I pleaded while looking down at her. I promise her that I would not let them hurt her and I am not breaking that promise with her. She is not going to leave me like this.