Ch. 24

Cole’s POV

Several long hours later, Cole trudged his way into Cassia’s room.

He’d fought the urge to run to her sooner, but his mother had informed him she was sleeping, so he’d taken his time showering.

When he reached the room, he knocked lightly on the door, whispering “it’s Cole,” before quietly entering.

Sam and Samuel both stood, tense, as he entered, and immediately relaxed as the dim light from the floor lamp by the door illuminated his haggard face.

Cynthia stood and rushed to him, flinging her arms around him.

He embraced her eagerly, and for a moment, he felt like a child again, even though he was now so much larger than her.

He felt her tears hit his skin and held her tighter. She’d probably put on a brave face until then.

“Shh,” he murmured, stroking her hair.

“Garrett?”

“He’s fine, Momma. Dad’s just come off a watch shift. Go to bed, and you can see Garrett in the morning. He has a nasty cut on his neck, and he needs to sleep off the wolfsbane concoction, but