His voice cracks as he starts to cry. I nod as I reach towards his face. “I know it’s hard but you admitted that you told Deven and I two different things regarding your concept of sex. Now, I feel that it’s important for you to understand that the deep seated fear that you just showed was not a reaction you had with me last year. What did you tell Deven?” I run my fingers through the hair along his temple. His body shakes as it tries to regulate the emotions he’s going through. “I can’t keep talking about it.” “Why can’t you talk about sex? You didn’t struggle when going through the sexual activity questions last year with me.” I prod gently. Slowly I have worked my way behind his head and have started working him towards my shoulder. “Lay your head on my shoulder. My aura and scent will help to calm you. You have had a very bad panic attack based on this conversation and I don’t want your answer to stir it up again.” I’m relieved when he submits. I wrap my arms around him, on
“No Cole. That’s for you.” I stop him from handing the water to the pup in his lap. “Clay, right? Are you thirsty?” “It’s short for Clayton.” He nods but hesitates to take the water. “Dev?” His voice waivers with nervousness. Something I wasn’t expecting. “It’s okay Clay. If you’re thirsty, take it. Just make sure you use the bathroom before bed.” He nods but still looks nervous as he takes the bottle. He immediately starts heaving with heavy breaths. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” He whimpers as he puts the bottle back in my hand. “Put the water on the table and cover Cole’s ears. He can’t handle the screams of a pup.” I’m shocked by Deven’s directions but quickly do as he asks as it’s obvious that Clay is starting into a panic attack. Just as I get behind Cole and cover his ears Deven has come behind Clay. “Don’t fight me little buddy. I’m not going to hurt you.” He states quickly as he grabs the child from behind, lifting him off Cole’s lap. His scream is one of fear before he sta
“While there’s no evidence to indicate that she knows she’s a witch or has embraced the craft, the most powerful witches and warlocks tend to be born to alpha parents. With her fraternal twin doing a trial run as alpha for the Purple Mountain pack it would be fair to assume that their parents were natural born alpha’s. For a long time an alpha born wolfless used to be looked at as an abomination but recently it has been revealed that those werewolves are very powerful without the ability to transform into a wolf. Now, I apologize for taking this out of order but I wanted to start with facts before introducing the myth. It is a known fact that most if not all werewolves originated from the union of some of the most powerful witches and warlocks that have existed for centuries. Compared to them, werewolves are the new guys trying to make a name for themselves.” “If it’s known that werewolves originate from witches and warlocks then where does the myth come in?” Cole has finally opened
“As a result, instead of being embraced for their gift they were often abused physically and if they were a female, sexually, before being abandoned nearly dead hundreds of miles from their home during a time where alphas beat trespassers first and asked questions only if they survived, which brings me to my own family history and how sanctuary packs started.” He pauses a moment pulling his mate gently into his lap. “My great grandmother, Rose Leroux, was the first in her family to discover that she was gifted with the ability to feel what others felt. While her family was aware of the mixing of witches and warlocks in our long lineage, her gift was unexpected and unappreciated when it was finally discovered. She didn’t tell me much about her early years. All she really remembered was spending a lot of time alone as that was the only way she could get rid of the pain that constantly flowed throughout her body. It was during her thirteenth birthday party that she randomly approached
“We’re related? Why haven’t I heard about any of this?” Cassius is shocked by the revelation. “There’s a little distance between us but yes, we are cousins. It’s part of why I never suggested a dual alpha leadership. While they have been done before, I was under the impression that the council didn’t like having relatives running the pack together. It’s only under extreme circumstances that they allow brothers to be co-rulers.” “I haven’t researched the history of the White brothers but that might be why the White Fang and White Moon packs are separated.” I add in. “If the pack is large enough then that’s the normal option the council seeks.” Deven nods his head. “Deven?” I start cautiously. “Were you aware that Clay fell asleep?” I relax as he nods. “Although he’s more educated on sex than we were prepared for as he’s only six and a half, I wouldn’t have exposed him to the fact that my great grandmother was raped repeatedly before being dumped.” “How do you know he can’t hear
“Nick and Chrissy went on to have six pups, three boys and three girls. The last pregnancy was a surprise set of twins just like the first. Their first born son, Cannon, was taught from an early age that he would one day be alpha. It took some time to calm him down but in the end, when his father died an early death in battle, he became the alpha Marcus and Nicholas would be proud of. He found his fated mate, Charlotte and continued the pack’s sanctuary roots. If you need help we will care for you gently but if you cause trouble you will pay dearly. As you’re already aware, your mom and dad only had you and you started your rule very young.” Cassius is nodding his head as he obviously recognizes this portion of the family tree. “After Nichole and Henry wed they immediately started trying to create a family. They too had a large family consisting of three girls and three boys, none were twins. It was Niki’s youngest daughter, Megan, that showed the gift of being an empath. Both Rose
“I haven’t found any alphas currently ruling that have had this classification but I found close to fifty packs on the east coast where an alpha or beta that was being brutally abused, challenged the ruling alpha and won the duel. All of these challenges happened in a forty year time frame from the early 1940’s to the early 1980’s. When the council visited each pack the ruling alpha was tested after telling his story and each one was granted the special status of being a protector. While these alphas still ruled with an iron fist it was only because of the abundance of abuse and rape that these alphas felt it was necessary to continue the practice of physical punishment. Once the roots of progress started to be seen the alpha often calmed down and started intense reeducation programs to help parents who relied heavily upon abuse to parent in a more effective and respectful manner. Those who suffered the abuse received therapy so they could heal and learn what was normal. Although th
“He’s stopped talking but what I see isn’t stopping. He’s whining that he’s sorry. That this is the reason he doesn’t share his memories, our memories with me.” His entire body shakes as his panic and fear rises. “Noooo!!!” He yells as he leaves his seat. The hallucination is strong enough that he attempts to run from whatever happened in his past. “What’s happening? What do you see, Cole?” I speak firmly without anger in the hopes of reaching him as I stop his ability to run. “Help me!!!!” He screams as he fights my hold. It only takes a few minutes before he relents and collapses into me. I hold him gently as he whimpers. “What’s going on, Cole?” I ask as I rub his head. “It hurts. I don’t want this.” He whispers after a long pause. “It’s hard to remember what happened but it’s also important. I don’t normally encourage this but I need to know what’s happening.” I explain as I continue my gentle rub on his head. “It hurts, I’m hurt.” He starts off slowly. “What’s hurting
“It was during his return that things became more active in his case. Alpha Demetri made the trip with his mate to the Shadowlands pack. Turns out she’s an empath and was very sick with silver poisoning. They were able to save her and to the best of my knowledge he returned to Crimson Dawn around the beginning of the year.”“He did it? He made it home?”His face lights up like a child on Christmas day.“Yes, he is with his mate in the protections of Alpha Demetri Black. Unfortunately, his amnesia has not yet resolved and as a precaution, in order to obtain custody of Cole, Alpha Black had to agree to restrict his movements until his mental health improves.”“He’s a prisoner there?”I had a feeling he would take this part hard.“Not necessarily. Considering what little I know about the hell he lived through next door and his encounter with the alpha of Purple Mountain, I don’t see where he’ll have the desire to leave that territory any time soon.”He nods his head a little more relaxed
(Julius’s POV) I smile as the tall frame of my son in law stops and knocks on my open door. “You wanted to see me?” “Yes sir. Please come in.” He steps inside the room but only manages to close the door halfway before the demons of his past creep back upon him. “I would prefer this to be a private conversation but if closing the door makes it feel like you’re going to be punished then I encourage you to keep it open.” I speak my true feelings as he slowly turns around. The look of disbelief on his face. While it takes him several deep breaths he does manage to shut the door by the time I’ve stood from my desk. “Where would you like to sit?” Once again he’s in disbelief. “I need you as relaxed and level headed as possible. Where would you be the most comfortable?” I try again. “The recliner?” He manages to speak after a hard swallow. I nod and allow him to lead. He chooses the rocking recliner allowing him to rock subtlety as Hayden stirs gently. I smile as he console
“I threw a fit. Charles waited until I was outside the courtroom to start punishing me for embarrassing him. He punched me in the face several times before I fell to the ground, then he started kicking me. He kept me on the ground until he was certain Heather and Marcus had left. Even though I had driven my own car to court he dragged me to his. He drove me home, only he didn’t go to the garage. No, he went to the back of the west wing where the room he modified for Cole is. I’ve only been in that room a handful of times when participating in my brother’s torture.” I stop as the memories of wrapping the silver belt around his leg and the condition he was in when I rescued him eight months ago blend together in a confusing mess. Murmurs float around the room, commenting on my unprompted confession. “Breathe, Andre. That was a very difficult truth to admit to. No comments will be made.” I know he’s addressing the pack as I continue to struggle. “You knew what was going to happen to
“I’m concerned about you Andre.” Julius now has my attention only he has crouched down to my level. “While your statement seems to have helped Hayden it gave me the clue I was looking for.” “A clue to what?” “The true reason behind the terror you have in gaining custody of your kids. While any other wolf in this pack saying such a thing would be passed off as simply being very serious about their statement, you stating that you nearly died once to fight for them is something I take very seriously. What happened the last time they were taken from you?” I shake my head hard, holding my breath as I fight against the flashbacks trying to invade my thoughts. “Andre?” He tries again but all I can do is shake my head slowly. “Papa Redmen hit him. He made him bleed.” The innocent voice of my daughter breaks through. “You saw it?” Abe seems shocked that it would be done in front of her. I watch as she nods her head. “Mommy spanked me for crying.” She whines hard before laying against h
(Andre’s POV) Stepping into the pack house is surreal at best. My head is spinning out of control with thoughts I had desperately tried to put behind me. I had relinquished all hope of ever having my kids just for the full force of the unpredictably of my life to cripple me when I need to be my strongest. The house is silent as I pick my way through the crowd. Julius is carrying Harper and Abe is trailing behind the two of us. It seems Julius wants as much of a barrier as he can create between Hayden and any escape route he may manage to find. I’m more concerned about him getting lost inside the pack house than him getting outside it. This place has proven to be a maze to me despite living here full time for the last six months. The house is completely silent except for the television quietly counting down the seconds until the new year. I can only hope that this year is different. That the New Year will actually be the change I’ve needed for years. Shamefully, I feel the dread tha
“To show him the effects that abuse has on others. To prove to him once and for all that what his father taught him is wrong. Besides, Charles has been extremely cruel to Andre as well.” “How so?” “Well, I just learned tonight that Alpha Redmen gave each of his sons permission to have sex, to even rape, at the age of sixteen but lied about the penalty for getting the lady pregnant. Andre has been beaten multiple times for pregnancies. The first two were not his, yet he was mercilessly beaten three times during both of those pregnancies. He was forgiven a fourth when the pups came back not his. The beatings got worse when he got three others pregnant just to be denied the ability to be their father. The two older ones with two different ladies are in better packs than Red Fang but the two with him now. Well, their mother isn’t much of a mother.” I state sadly as I pull into the garage, turning off the motor as the door closes behind me. “I need your help. These pups are terrified a
(Julius’s POV)It’s an hour's drive to get from Red General to the Red Moon pack house. Since Charles has been removed, moving through the Red Fang territory has become easier as the borders are completely open while the council is here. The bad news is, it’s gotten a lot more dangerous. While open borders allows the pack members to come and go, even move out if they please, it also allows rogues to infiltrate the territory. I’ve had to up my own guards on the border to account for the vulnerability it’s created for my own pack. The council hasn’t been happy with me accompanying Andre to and from the territory. They felt that, as the coronated heir, he should be able to handle this himself. I took the opportunity of his consistent meltdowns to save the fallout from such visits showing the council exactly how severe his abuse has been. I cringe every time I hear him speak about his brother, Cole. How has Cole even survived if his analogy of the situation is true? That Cole’s suffering
“It’s quite alright. We are used to this type of reaction from children who come in abused. I can tell by the way he’s calmed that you are his biological father. We’ve been waiting for you.” I’m stunned when a voice comes from behind me instead of the nurse in front of me. I turn to see an unfamiliar woman in the doorway in front of Julius and Alex. Something about her unnerves deeply and my immediate reaction is to step back. “Easy Andre, she’s here to help.” Julius tries to calm me. We study each other silently as I sway gently. “I understand that you have had a very rough time with the council’s family court. I promise it is different this time. Take a seat so we can talk. Are you okay with me sitting on Harper’s bed?” I nod slowly without moving. “Mr. Redmen, do you think you can get him to take this?” The nurse hands me a little cup of purple liquid. “What is it?” “Tylenol 3. It has a small amount of codeine in it. Humans won’t give it to children this young but it has be
I wake up yelping, screaming and fighting from the fitful dream I fell into during the ride to Red General. I cling hard to the back of Alpha Julius’s shirt as he silently embraces me. I had no idea how hard dad had been on me until I went to Blister Ridge. I had to harden up while I was back at Red Fang which has not only delayed my ability to process what has happened but it has added to the trauma I’m already struggling with. Josh has diagnosed me with complex PTSD, he did shortly after I moved into this pack after Cole disappeared. He simplified the description as being multiple traumatic events instead of just one causing the post trauma anxiety. Julius waits patiently for me to get myself together as going into the hospital with my own PTSD on full display won’t help me with my kids. I lift myself from his shoulder slowly, taking several deep breaths with my eyes still closed. It’s only as I open them and look into his blue-green eyes that he speaks. “Are you ready?” His voic