As night fell, they made their way to Florita's house. Beta and Gamma sat in the front, while at the back, Aldus held Livia tightly in his arms.
She trembled violently despite being wrapped in thick blankets, her fever burning with such intensity that her entire body shook from weakness.
"Livia…stop crying," Aldus whispered, his hand gently stroking her back.
Heat poured from her body like fire, and each quiver of her shoulders cut into him like a blade.
Before they left, Livia had drifted into sleep at the clinic, her hand clinging desperately to the king's. But less than an hour into their journey, she awoke from a nightmare of her wolf, her sobs spilling freely ever since.
> "Aldus… she's slipping too fast. If we don't reach Florita soon, she may lose her wolf for good," Alaric's voice echoed heavily in his mind.
