Chapter 33

Cora

The hospital room was quiet except for the beep of the monitors.

Kingston hadn’t left, not even once, not to make a call, not to check in with the rest of the world that I knew was demanding his attention.

He stayed. For Riley. For me.

I turned my head as Kingston shifted slightly in his seat. He looked exhausted, the shadows under his eyes deeper than I’d ever seen them, but he was watching Riley with that focused intensity.

“You don’t have to stay,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “You’ve done more than enough. Riley got the help he needed in time because of you.”

His eyes snapped to me. “I know I don’t have to stay. I want to.”

“Why?” I asked. I couldn’t help my curiosity.

“He’s a good boy, and I… I want to make sure he’s ok.”

Something about the way he had said it touched me. I felt an ache growing in my chest.

Riley stirred then, his eyelids fluttering, a little sound leaving his throat like a whimper.

“Riley?” I reached for his hand.

His eyes blinked open. “Mom?”

“I’m right here, buddy.” I smiled through the tears already filling my eyes. “You’re okay.”

His gaze wandered until it landed on Kingston.

“Dad?” he mumbled, half awake and half asleep.

Time stopped.

I looked at Kingston. He looked back at me.

Neither of us said anything.

It was probably the medication. Riley wasn’t fully awake. It had merely been a confused little word from a tired little boy.

But still. It pierced something in me.

“You okay?” Kingston asked after a long, silent moment.

I nodded, though my throat felt too tight with emotion. I was grateful, and yet terrified of what all this meant. Riley didn’t just like Kingston. He’d claimed him, even in his half-asleep state.

“I just…” I began, then stopped. “Thank you. For everything. You didn’t have to stay, and you did.”

He shook his head. “I care about him.” His voice dropped just a little. “And about you.”

That made my eyes sting even more.

He looked at Riley then, a strange expression passing over his face, almost like recognition. He cleared his throat.

“You said it was mango, right?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah. He must’ve grabbed a pastry from the stand near the carousel. He’s always been allergic to mango. Why?”

Kingston’s brow furrowed. “I’m allergic too. Same reaction when I was his age.”

I blinked. “Really?”

He gave a tight smile. “Yeah. Weird, huh?”

Weird. That was one word for it. I tried to dismiss the uneasy flicker that rose inside me. Coincidences happened.

The doctor gave us the all-clear a few hours later. Riley could go home, though we had to monitor him and keep his EpiPen close for the next few days.

As Kingston helped me get him into the car, Riley clutched the stuffed dragon fKingston had won for him tightly and yawned.

“Are you coming home with us?” he asked Kingston, rubbing his eyes.

I glanced at Kingston, unsure of how he’d respond.

He gave a gentle smile. “Not today, bud. But I’ll visit soon.”

Riley pouted but nodded, clearly too worn out to argue.

The ride home was mostly quiet. Riley dozed off again in the back seat, and I kept stealing glances at Kingston as he drove.

After we carried Riley upstairs and tucked him into his bed, Kingston lingered in the doorway.

“He’s strong,” Kingston said quietly.

I nodded. “He is.”

We stepped into the hallway, and he looked at me again, like he wanted to say something more. But instead, he just said, “Let me know if you need anything.”

I gave a small smile. “I will.”

Then he left.

I stood in the middle of the hall for a while after the front door clicked shut, my heart aching strangely.

Later that evening, Riley was curled on the couch, watching cartoons with sleepy eyes. I sat beside him, brushing his hair back gently, still not entirely over the day’s whirlwind.

“Mom?” he asked suddenly.

“Yeah, baby?”

“I think Kingston should be my dad.”

I forced a soft smile. “Sweetheart… I know you like him a lot. I do too. But things aren’t always that simple.”

“Why not?” he asked, turning his head to look at me. “He makes you smile more than Daddy ever did.”

My throat burned. I didn’t blame him for his hesitancy with Zach, but hearing this preference still hurt.

“It’s… complicated,” I said.

Riley frowned, then nodded, not satisfied with my answer but too tired to push further. He rested his head back on my lap.

“If I tell you something, can you promise that you won’t be mad?” he asked.

I turned to give him my full attention. “Of course. You can always tell me anything.”

Riley glanced up, searching my face. “I didn’t like living with Dad. Not even a little bit.”

My heart sank. “I know, baby.” I brushed my hand gently through his hair. “I could tell. But what happened?”

He looked down again, the words reluctant on his tongue. “He was… cold. Not loud-mean, just... not there. He’d ignore me when I cried. If I wanted a hug, he’d say I needed to grow up. He said strong wolves don’t ask for hugs.”

Tears stung my eyes. “Riley,” I said, “you never deserved that. Ever.”

He leaned against me. “Amy was worse. She never even called me by my name. Just ‘that kid.’ One time I heard her tell Dad I was a ‘problem from your past.’”

Anger flared in my chest, hot and sharp. “She said that?”

He nodded against my shoulder.

I hugged him tighter. “Listen to me. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. And anyone who makes you feel otherwise… doesn’t get to stay in our lives.”

Riley didn’t speak, but I felt him snuggle deeper into my side. Slowly, I felt him begin to drift off beside me, like how he used to sleep when he was little, easily napping wherever he was.

And then, just as I began to relax again, there was a knock at the door.

I stiffened, glancing at the clock. Almost nine.

“Stay here,” I whispered, gently easing myself off the couch.

I crossed the living room, peeking through the side window.

My stomach dropped.

Kingston

The evening air was crisp as I pulled into the quiet street where Cora lived. For once, I didn’t tell anyone I was coming. I hadn’t even warned her. I just… needed to see them.

This time, I had even picked up some candies to cheer Riley up. At the last minute, I had grabbed some chocolate for Cora as well. Human women tended to love these treats.

After everything—the hospital, the near-death scare, Riley calling me "Dad,” I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to make sure they were okay. Not from a distance. Not through a report or a phone call. I needed to see them again with my own eyes.

I knocked.

A few moments later, Cora opened the door, wearing soft clothes that clung to her. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t look displeased.

“Kingston?” Her voice was quiet.

“I didn’t mean to drop in unannounced,” I said, keeping my voice low, “but I wanted to check in. On you. On Riley.”

Her expression softened. “He was just about to go to sleep.”

“Is he doing alright?”

She nodded, her features tight. “Tired, but better. He's been talking about you.”

That twisted something inside me, in a place I was still afraid to name.

She stepped aside, and I walked into the cozy living room. It was nothing extravagant, but it felt lived in. Safe.

I was just about to sit down when a loud knock erupted on the door behind me.