The door creaks open, and Chase's heart drops as Rocky steps into the room, his gaze immediately locking onto Chase with a flash of suspicion and urgency. He strides forward, ignoring the confusion in Skye's wide-eyed stare, his attention focused solely on Chase.

"Skye," Rocky says firmly, his voice edged with a desperate intensity. "Whatever he tries to tell you, whatever he's told you already about me, it's not true!"

Chase's face tightens, and a low growl rumbles from his throat. "Excuse me?" he snaps, his body tense as he instinctively steps between Rocky and Skye. "You don't get to just barge in here and accuse me, Rocky. I'm just talking to her. You're the one hiding things!"

Rocky's eyes harden, and he holds Chase's gaze, unflinching. "I'm not hiding anything. Skye deserves the truth, but not your twisted version of it. She deserves someone who's honest with her."

Skye glances between the two of them, confusion and hurt flashing across her face. "Guys, what is going on?" she asks, her voice rising with worry. "Why are you both acting like this? I don't understand!"

Chase, ignoring Skye's plea, steps closer to Rocky, his eyes narrowing. "Skye's hurt because of you, Rocky. You're the one who kept things from her, who played games while I've been upfront with how I feel. You can't just sweep in now and think you can fix everything."

Rocky's jaw tightens, his gaze never leaving Chase. "Maybe if you weren't trying to control everything, Skye wouldn't be in this mess! I've always been there for her. You're only here now because you feel threatened. Isn't that right, Chase?"

Chase growls, his frustration boiling over, but before he can reply, a familiar beep echoes through the room as their PupTags activate, Ryder's voice cutting through the tension.

"All pups, I need you at the lookout. We have a mission; it's urgent. Meet me there right away."

The call from Ryder is like a cold splash of reality. Chase and Rocky exchange a look, the weight of their feud settling heavily between them. But duty comes first; they both know that. Even in the midst of this personal battle, they can't ignore Ryder's call.

Rocky's face softens just a little as he turns back to Skye, his voice dropping to a gentle tone. "Skye, I know this is confusing. I know you're hurt ... physically and emotionally, and I don't want you to feel like you're being pulled between us. But I promise... I'll come back tonight. We'll talk then. And I'll tell you everything, the truth."

Skye's eyes search Rocky's, and she nods, though uncertainty still clouds her expression. "Okay, Rocky... I trust you."

Chase's ears flick with irritation at her words, but he bites back his retort, his teeth clenched. His eyes darken as he glares at Rocky, his emotions tangled between fury and desperation. "Don't keep your hopes up too high, Rocky," he mutters under his breath, just loud enough for Rocky to hear.

Rocky glares back but doesn't respond. Instead, he leans down, offering Skye a comforting look. "I'll see you tonight, Skye. And... I hope by then, you'll understand."

With a final look, Rocky turns and heads toward the door, and Chase follows, casting one last glance over his shoulder at Skye. His heart clenches painfully, the confession he's just laid bare left hanging in the air, unresolved.

As they leave the hospital, the tension between them crackles, unspoken words and barely contained emotions boiling just beneath the surface. They both know this isn't over, it's just been delayed.

And as Skye watches the door close behind them, a feeling of dread settles over her, a sense that something is about to change in ways she never could have expected.