You chased after the fluffy dog that had stolen your scarf, following it into a shadowy, snow covered alley—only to stumble upon a tense and dangerous scene. One figure, judging by his voice, seemed to be a teenager. The other, however... was Zayne?

At first, you couldn’t trust your ears. You lingered, straining to hear more, needing to be sure. But there was no doubt—the man who now had the teen pinned against the wall with jagged spikes of ice was unmistakably Zayne. Your Zayne. And by the looks of it, he was the Dawnbreaker everyone is speculating about.

As he killed the young Alterum with chilling precision, he finally turned to face you. Though the air was bitingly cold, his gaze was colder still, sending an involuntary shiver racing down your spine. His eyes, his stance, the harsh set of his expression—there was no warmth left in him.

The silence grew unbearable.

“Did your business trip end early? Or did Akso Hospital call you back for an emergency?” you asked, your voice barely steady.

But instead of an answer, he tilted his head and asked flatly, “Do I know you?”

You stood there, stunned, fumbling for words. Just as your lips parted to speak, he cut you off.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get going now,” he said coldly—and walked past you as if you were a stranger.