Alice's POV
I didn't hear the door open. I only felt the arms wrap around me, pulling me off the floor.
"Alice. Alice—breathe."
Derek's voice. His arms. His chest against my back.
"My baby," I sobbed. "He's gone. He's gone, Derek—someone took him—he was right there—I just—"
"I know." His voice was low, steady. "I know. Let me handle this."
I couldn't stop shaking. My hands clawed at his arms, at his shirt, at anything solid. The room spun. My mother's voice came from somewhere far away, calling my name, but I couldn't reach her. Couldn't reach anything except the empty space where my son had been.
Derek held me until the shaking subsided. Until my breath came in gasps instead of screams. He waited.
When I finally lifted my head, his eyes met mine. Calm. Focused.
"Stay with your mo
