Catherine's POV
Julian's tremors hadn't stopped; they had only deepened, his muscles locking in a state of primitive terror. I didn't waste a second. I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around him with a force that nearly knocked us both back against the shelf. I held him with everything I had, pressing my cheek against his damp, hot skin, trying to be an anchor in the middle of his storm.
"Julian," I whispered into his ear, my voice trembling but firm. "I'm here. It's your Wildcat."
Slowly, I pulled back just enough to frame his face with my hands. I gripped his jaw, my thumbs brushing over his cheekbones, forcing him to look at me. His eyes were wide, the pupils blown so large they nearly swallowed the gray of his irises. They were darting around the room, still seeing the ghost of his father.
"Look at me," I commanded, my tone hushed but piercing. "Empty your mind and focus on just me. Look at my eyes, love."
