Looking down at Coco, who was now peacefully lying at Emily’s feet, Mark felt a wave of relief. The tension that had plagued their home was finally lifting. Coco wasn’t the enemy he had feared—he was their protector, a silent guardian in the form of a large, gentle animal.
Mark knelt beside Coco, rubbing his head with gratitude. “You knew before I did,” he whispered. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”
Coco responded with a low grunt, as if understanding. Mark smiled, realizing that their family had grown in ways he hadn’t expected—and that the bond between them and their new capybara was stronger than ever before.