I swam toward her with powerful strokes, fighting against the numbing cold. When


    I reached her, I wrapped my arm firmly around her waist and kicked toward the


    surface.


    Breaking through, I gasped for air, pulling Olivia''s head above water. Her face was deathly pale,


    her lips tinged blue. She wasn''t breathing.


    With renewed determination, I fought the current, swimming one-armed toward the shore


    while keeping her head above water. The riverbank was rocky and steep, making it difficult to


    climb out with Olivia''s limp form.


    Finally, I managed to drag her onto a t section of the bank. Water streamed from her unmoving body asid her down.


    "Olivia!" I called, tapping her cold cheek. No response.


    I immediately began CPR, pressing rhythmically on her chest before tilting her


    head back to breathe air into her lungs. Betweenpressions, I used her phone to call emergency


    215


    < Chapter 111 Into the Dark W..


    services, barking our location into the device before returning to my desperate efforts.


    +15 Points2


    "Olivia! Wake up!" I demanded, continuingpressions. My usualposure cracked as I struggled to find a pulse. "Olivia Winters! You can''t be like this, do you hear me!"


    My voice broke with an emotion I hadn''t expected to feel-raw fear at the thought of losing her. This woman, another man''s mate, had somehow be important to me in ways I couldn''t fullyprehend.


    I continued CPR relentlessly, refusing to give up. "Breathe, damn it! Breathe!"


    After what felt like an eternity, she convulsed suddenly, water spewing from her mouth as her body fought for air. Relief flooded through me as she coughed weakly, though her eyes remained closed.


    In the distance, I heard sirens approaching. Help wasing.


    I gathered her cold body against mine, trying to share my warmth. "Hold on, Olivia," I whispered against her wet hair. "Just hold on."


    The ambnce arrived minutester, paramedics rushing down the embankment with a stretcher. They worked quickly, wrapping Olivia in thermal nkets and attaching monitoring equipment before loading her into the vehicle.


    "I''ming with her," I stated, my tone leaving no room for argument.


    The paramedic nodded, recognizing my authority as an Alpha. I climbed into the ambnce, my clothes soaked and dripping, my focus entirely on Olivia''s pale face as the vehicle sped toward Silvercrest Pack Medical Den.


    Throughout the journey, I held her cold hand in mine, willing warmth and life back into her. The paramedics worked efficiently around me, administering oxygen and monitoring her vital signs.


    When we arrived at the medical den, a team of healers was waiting, alerted by my urgent call. They whisked Olivia away on the stretcher, leaving me standing in the corridor, water pooling around my feet.


    A nurse approached with dry clothes and a nket. "Alpha ckwood, you should change before you catch a chill."


    I barely heard her, my eyes fixed on the doors through which they had taken Olivia. "How long until I know something?"


    "Dr. Fletcher is with her now," the nurse replied gently. "He''s our best healer. Please, change


    < Chapter 111 Into the Dark W.


    your clothes while you wait."


    +15 Points


    I epted the items mechanically, retreating to a nearby bathroom to change. The dry clothes. did little to warm the chill that had settled in my bones-a chill that had nothing to do with the


    river water.


    When I emerged, Thomas Griffin had arrived with fresh clothes from my own wardrobe. I nodded my thanks but remained silent, taking a seat in the waiting area, my eyes never leaving the treatment room doors.


    "Alpha, what happened?" Thomas asked quietly.


    "She tried to kill herself," I replied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "She jumped into the


    river."


    Thomas''s expression remained neutral, but I sensed his surprise. "The Luna of Silvercrest


    Pack?"


    "Former Luna," I corrected automatically, though the distinction seemed meaningless now. "She''s been through hell, Thomas. Her daughter died, her mate abandoned her, and now Matriarch Evelyn is gone too."


    My fists clenched as I thought of Ethan Stone''s treatment of Olivia. The man had everything I had ever wanted-a true mate, a daughter of his own blood-and he had thrown it away for


    Victoria Frost.


    The treatment room doors finally opened, and Dr. Marcus Fletcher emerged. I was on my feet instantly, crossing the space between us in three long strides.


    "How is she?" I demanded, gripping the healer''s arm, my voice betraying more emotion than I intended.


    Dr. Fletcher''s expression was grave. "We''ve stabilized her physically. Her werewolf healing abilities helped purge the water from her lungs."


    Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived as I noted the doctor''s hesitation. "What aren''t you telling me?" I pressed.


    Dr. Fletcher sighed. "Physically, she''ll recover. But mentally..." He shook his head. "She''s not responding to stimuli. It''s as if she''s retreated deep within herself."


    As if on cue, the doors opened again, and a nurse wheeled Olivia out on a hospital bed. My heart sank at the sight of her. Though dry and wrapped in nkets, her face remained ashen, her emerald eyes closed. She looked peaceful, but it was the peace of someone who had


    given up.


    I moved to her side, taking her hand in mine. It was still cold despite the warm nkets.


    "What does this mean?" I asked, my voice low.


    +15 Points >


    Dr. Fletcher''s expression was sympathetic. "It means that although we''ve revived her body, her


    will to live is gone. She''s retreated so deeply within herself that she might never resurface."


    The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared down at Olivia''s still form, trying to reconcile


    this broken woman with the fierce, protective mother I hade to admire. "There must be something you can do," I insisted, my grip tightening on her hand.


    "We''ll continue to monitor her and provide supportive care," Dr. Fletcher replied. "But


    ultimately, the decision to return must be hers."


    I looked down at Olivia''s face, peaceful in its emptiness. What could have driven such a strong woman to such despair? What had happened after Matriarch Evelyn''s funeral to push her over the edge?


    "I''ll stay with her," I decided, pulling a chair close to her bedside.


    Dr. Fletcher nodded. "I''ll have a private room prepared."


    As the nurse wheeled Olivia toward the room, I followed, still holding her cold hand in mine. My heart ached with a mixture of emotions I hadn''t expected to feel for another man''s wife.


    What could have driven such a strong woman to such a desperate act, leaving her with no desire to continue her existence?