Garcia' POV
The sound of Collin's anguished scream still echoes in my mind, that single word carrying so much raw pain it nearly shattered my heart into pieces.
The moment his eyes find mine, he pulls me against his chest with desperate urgency. I feel both myself and Nancy settle as his strong arms wrap around us. Atticus moves closer, positioning himself beside us on the bed. His hand slides around my lower back while his other rests gently on Collin's head.
We remain tangled together in silence, drawing comfort from each other's presence. The tranquil moment breaks when someone knocks on our door. Atticus reluctantly pulls away to answer it.
"Herbert's back from his mission and we've got one seriously pissed off Alpha waiting downstairs," Philip's voice carries through the door. The situation demands our immediate attention.
"Give us a minute, Philip," I call back, listening to his footsteps fade down the hallway.
