“I am not.”
“You absolutely are. Also, if you don’t lock that down, I will.”
“He’s just so…” I gestured vaguely at Cole’s retreating form.
“Hot? Competent? Willing to shovel literal shit for you?”
“All of it.”
Cole emerged from the storage closet, wiping his hands on his jeans. “What’s next?”
“The cat isolation room.” Eli’s expression turned grim. “Fair warning. We have a new intake named Salem. He’s feral, aggressive, and has already sent two volunteers to urgent care.”
“I can handle a cat.”
“This isn’t a cat. This is a demon in a fur coat.”
Cole grinned. “Even better.”
We walked to the isolation room at the back of the building. Salem crouched in the corner of his kennel, black as midnight, green eyes blazing with pure hatred.
He hissed at Eli.
“See? Demon spawn.” Eli backed away. “I’m not going near him.”
Cole knelt in front of the kennel. Slowly. His movements were careful and non-threatening.
Salem’s hiss intensified. His back arched.
“Hey there, buddy.” Cole’s voice went soft. Gentle. “Rough time, huh? I get it. World’s pretty scary when people keep letting you down.”
The cat’s ears flicked forward. Just slightly.
“I grew up with barn cats. Feral, mean, half-wild things that’d take your hand off if you moved wrong.” Cole settled into a crouch. “But you know what? They just needed someone to be patient. To prove the world wasn’t all bad.”
Salem stopped hissing.
I grabbed Eli’s arm. “Is he?”
“Shh.” Eli glanced at me.
Cole started humming. Low and soft. Some melody I didn’t recognize.
Salem’s tail stopped lashing.
“That’s it.” Cole’s smile was pure warmth. “You’re just scared. Angry at everyone who hurt you. I’ve been there, buddy.”
He reached for the kennel door. Moved slow. Opened it just a crack.
Didn’t reach inside.
Just sat there, humming the same gentle melody.
Salem crept forward. One tentative paw. Then another.
He sniffed Cole’s hand through the opening.
Didn’t bite.
