Ren jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. His gaze darted around the room, but he couldn't make out the setting—his vision blurred, tears still clinging to his eyes. Had he been crying not only in his dream but also in his sleep?
His hand shot out instinctively to wipe the irritating liquid, only to find it held tightly by a weight. And some liquid on it… Tears?
Zayden's hands were pressed over Ren's, eyes closed, his grip firm yet gentle although his body was shaking like a frail leaf.
Was he having a nightmare?
Ren wondered. Despite not seeing clearly, he could smell the faint smell of musk trailing off from the alpha, unmistakably Zayden's.
Noticing the sudden shift, he blinked and woke immediately. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost, frozen in place for a moment. His mind went blank. Quickly, he shook his head, snapping out of it.
"Y-You're finally awake!—" he stammered, his voice soft, but his words faltered as he saw Ren's face.
