Jude wanted to see if Everly could use telepathy with him, but was interrupted by Cope and Wolf coming into the room. Wolf climbed up onto the bed. “Are you okay, Daddy?”
“I’ll be good as new in a few days.” Jude ruffled Wolf’s dark hair. “Areyouokay?”
“I have a little concussion, so I gotta rest for a while.” Wolf frowned.
“We’re gonna be out in the waiting room,” Ronan said. “I’ll take you guys home.”
Everly gave Wolf a hug. “I’m so glad you’re gonna be okay, Woofie. The second I saw you were in danger, I tried to get to you but Carson didn’t want me to. It took a few minutes to escape.”
“Did you happen to glamour Carson?” Ronan asked, sounding as if he didn’t want to know the answer.
Everly shrugged. “I’ll come see you tomorrow, Wolfie.” She hugged Wolf again and left the cubicle.
“Cope, can I have a minute with Wolf?” Jude asked.
“Sure, I’ll go see if I can speed up getting the two of you discharged. Text if you need anything.” Cope followed Ronan and Everly out of the cubicle.
“We’ve gotta talk, huh, Daddy?” Wolf wore a serious expression.
“Yeah, we do.” Jude hated seeing his son hurt and didn’t want to pile on, but this was a conversation better had now than later. “Talking Carson into bringing you tonight when I’d told you no, is pretty serious. You not only put Carson in the middle of this whole thing, but you put yourself in danger too.”
“I know, Daddy. I understand what I did wrong and I’ll accept my punishment, but you have to know why I did it.”
Jude bit his bottom lip. He’d known exactly why Wolf had begged to come along. Wolf wanted to go on a “mission” as he called it and to protect Everly. “Sure, tell me.”
“You’re my hero, Daddy,” Wolf said, sounding matter of fact. “You’re brave and you get the bad guys and keep Ronan, Fitz,and all of Salem safe. I wanted to do the same thing. I wanted to be a hero too.”
Jude sniffled and burst into tears. He grabbed Wolf and held him close. He’d missed Wolf’s reason for coming tonight by a mile. “You are a hero, Wolfie. You’re an amazing classmate, friend, nephew, and son. You make people smile when they have a bad day. Lizzie looks up to everything you do. She wants to be just like you.”
“I know. I let my sister down tonight.” Tears fell from Wolf’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Daddy.” Wolf leaned against Jude’s chest and let his emotions out.
Jude hugged his son tight. Wolf had made a mistake that put him in danger. Jude was certain he’d absolutely learned from it, but he couldn’t say if Wolf would ever do anything like that again.
Who was Jude kidding? Wolf’s apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree. Of course he was going to do it again and again and again. Like father. Like son.
EPILOGUE
Cope
Two days later…
Cope was in the kitchen stirring the contents of the crockpot. By request, he was making his famous pot roast for dinner the night before the kids went back to school and Jude went back to work full time.
The last thirty-six hours had been jam packed with making sure his hard-headed husband and son didn’t do anything to injure themselves further. Thankfully, Jude had pulled out a LEGO kit and sat with Wolf and Lizzie around the coffee table and built together.
He heard the doorbell ring and knew it was Ten’s family. Thank goodness, Cope could use some adult conversation.
“Hey, Uncle Cope!” Everly ran to him and gave him a hug. “I brought someone who wants to talk to you.”
“Hello, Cope,” Amity said, appearing by Everly’s side.
“Amity, this is a surprise.” Cope hadn’t expected to see the spirit again. He’d been so busy with Wolf and Jude at the theater that he’d lost track of her when the paramedics arrived.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Remember, Amity, you can come see me anytime you like, although I think you’re gonna be busy for the next little while.” She offered a mysterious grin and ran out of the room.
“What a lovely child,” Amity said. “She’s brilliantly gifted, eager to learn, and strong. Just the kind of young woman I always imagined my Verity would be someday.”
“You have never reunited with your daughter?” Cope couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
