You jolted awake, heart pounding, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to your mind like a suffocating fog. Shadows of faceless figures lingered in the corners of your thoughts, their cold hands reaching for you, their voices echoing with fear and desperation. You had been running—always running—through a darkened forest, branches scratching at your skin, the howls of creatures just behind you. But when you turned, there was nothing. Only emptiness. The cold, endless void. And in that silence, you had lost them.

You glanced to your side, your pulse still erratic, seeking the warmth of Alex’s presence. His steady breathing reassured you, grounding you in the here and now, though the fear from the dream didn’t entirely fade.

The room was quiet, save for the soft, rhythmic sound of Alex’s breath and the occasional whisper of wind outside. You sat up, hands trembling, trying to steady yourself, but the shadows in the room felt too real—too familiar. They were still there, just beyond your sight.

Alex stirred beside you, his hand instinctively reaching out in his sleep. His fingers brushed against your thigh, grounding you, his warmth a reminder that you were safe. He blinked awake, his gaze immediately finding yours, concern flooding his features the moment he saw the distress in your eyes.

“Hey,” he murmured, voice husky from sleep. “What’s wrong?”

You swallowed, trying to shake the remnants of the nightmare. “Just a nightmare,” you whispered, your voice still thick with the fear that clung to your chest.

He didn’t need more words. Without hesitation, Alex shifted closer, pulling you into his embrace, his strong arms wrapping around you in a protective hold. His chin rested on your shoulder as his warmth flooded through you, chasing away the chill the nightmare had left behind.

Lyra stirred between you, her tiny hand reaching out in her sleep, sensing the shift in the air. She found your arm and clung to you, her soft breath a grounding reminder of what was real.