Zane’s POV The sterile glow of the hospital room seemed almost overwhelming in its brightness, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me. I sat motionless beside Avery, her fragile hand clutching mine—the only anchor I had in this sea of uncertainty. Every beat of her heart, every shallow breath she took, was etched into my mind, a reminder of how delicate this precious moment was.I stared at her face, exhausted yet resilient, and my chest tightened with a mixture of fear and admiration. How could someone so tiny carry such strength? How could she be so brave when everything was so unpredictable? I wanted to shield her from this pain, this fear, but I knew I couldn’t. All I could do was be here—present, steadfast, unwavering.The monitors beeped softly in the background, their rhythms echoing the fragile hope I clung to. I kept telling myself that we were doing everything right, but the truth was—every second felt like walking on a knife’s edge. The doctor’s words ab
Zane's POV The night had been quiet, almost too quiet, as if the world outside was holding its breath. Avery had been restless, her body tense with anticipation, but I had convinced her to rest, telling her everything was fine. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.Suddenly, she sat bolt upright in bed, her face pale and her hands clutching her belly. A sharp, unmistakable ache shot through her, and her breath hitched. Her eyes widened with alarm as she looked at me, her voice trembling.“Something’s happening… I think I’m going into labor,” she whispered, voice strained.My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I leapt out of bed, grabbing the phone to call the hospital, but before I could dial, Avery’s body tensed again. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her grip on her belly tightened.“No,” I muttered desperately, rushing to her side. “Not yet, Avery. We’re not ready. We can’t—”She shook her head weakly, eyes filled with fear and tears. “It’s too soon… I
Zane’s POVThe first light of dawn slipped softly through the curtains, casting a warm, amber hue across the room. The quiet hum of the city outside was just faint enough to be a distant murmur—no hustle, no chaos, just the gentle rhythm of morning settling in. I lay there, still and silent, watching Avery sleep. Her face was peaceful, her brow smooth, her lips parted slightly as she breathed in steady, even breaths. For a moment, I allowed myself to simply take in the serenity of her—this rare, fragile calm that had settled between us after everything we’d been through.Her hand rested lightly on her belly, fingers splayed out as if trying to hold onto something precious. I watched her, my gaze softening as I felt her warmth, her quiet resolve. There was a stillness in her that I hadn’t seen before, a vulnerability that made my chest tighten. She looked so small and vulnerable in that moment, yet there was an undeniable strength in her—something fierce that refused to break, even in
Avery's POV The quiet lingered between us, filled only by the faint sound of my ragged breathing and the distant hum of the night outside. For a moment, I allowed myself to simply exist in that fragile space—held, protected, and painfully aware of the shadows still lurking just beyond reach.Zane’s hand stayed warm against my face, his thumb still softly brushing my skin. His presence was a steady anchor, grounding me in a way words never could. I looked into his eyes, searching for the reassurance I desperately needed, and found it there—steadfast, unwavering.“Tell me,” I whispered, voice trembling but determined. “What’s really going on? With them—Carolina and Craig. Why do I keep seeing their faces? What am I missing?”He hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowing as if weighing the right words carefully. Then he exhaled slowly, his gaze softening with something like regret.“I don’t have all the answers,” he admitted quietly. “But I know they’re tied to something bigger than you
Avery's POV The room was heavy with silence, thick enough to almost suffocate me, yet strangely comforting in its stillness. My trembling hand clutched the sheets, trying to steady the storm raging inside me. The nightmare’s shadows still flickered behind my eyelids, haunting me like stubborn ghosts refusing to fade. I could still see Carolina’s terrified face, hear her desperate whispers—so real, so vivid—and Craig’s furious, anguished eyes burning into my mind.Zane’s hand was warm and grounding on my shoulder, a steady presence amidst the chaos. His touch was familiar—calm and reassuring—and I found myself instinctively leaning into it, desperate for the anchor he offered. I took a shallow breath, trying to push back the waves of fear that threatened to drown me again.“Thanks,” I managed, my voice trembling as I spoke into the quiet darkness. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”His grip tightened just slightly, a silent reassurance. “You’re not alone in this,” he sai
Avery's POV The nightmare stretched on, the forest dissolving into an ocean of swirling mist and shadow. The ground beneath my feet shifted like quicksand, pulling me deeper into the darkness. The distant screams of Carolina echoed faintly, muffled and distorted, as if submerged beneath icy water.Suddenly, the air grew colder still, and a heavy fog parted to reveal a narrow, winding path lit by flickering, ghostly lanterns. Each step I took felt weightless, as if I were floating—adrift in a liminal space between reality and nightmare.Ahead, a figure emerged—a tall, cloaked woman with hair flowing like black silk, her face obscured by a porcelain mask cracked and stained with age. She beckoned softly, her voice a whisper that cut through the silence:“Come closer... you’ve been waiting for this.”As I hesitated, the ground trembled beneath me, and the scene shifted again. I was now standing at the edge of a vast, desolate plain, where the sky churned with dark, swirling clouds. A si