57

He shook his head, and his long thin hair flew around his head. “Don’t talk about it. Don’t. It’ll come back and get me, too.” He went to his bed and crawled into the far corner of it. He trembled as he pulled the blankets up to cover him.

“Samuel?” Bryn asked.

“No!” He shouted so loud the entire cabin seemed to shake. “No, no, no!” He repeated this, winding the blankets tighter around himself. His shoulders trembled under the covers, and small sobs filled the room.

Footsteps stomped up the stairs seconds before Cathy shoved the door open.

She gasped when she saw Samuel’s state. “Look what you’ve done to my boy!” She rushed inside and climbed onto the bed with him, pulling him into her arms and rocking back and forth. “Oh, get out, get out! Leave us be!”

“Let us help you, Cathy,” Bryn said evenly. “I put him in this state. I want to help make it right.”

Cathy seemed hesitant, but seeing the concern on Bryn’s face made her ease her order.

“Fine. You can stay, Alpha. But that one”—she j