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Friday, October 18th Pt. 23
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, October 18th Pt. 24
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday, October 18th Pt. 25
It takes far longer than I anticipated to get Cole settled into bed. Somehow the memory of his brother forcing him to receive Viagra and silver has become twisted in his head causing him to believe that he’s the rapist. I just don’t have the heart to explain that it’s the opposite when he counters my claim that his interpretation of events is wrong. It wasn’t until Deven gave me his Ativan that he was finally able to settle into sleeping in the same bed as his mate. The lad is truly exhausted and I don’t see much sleep happening for him with the awaking of this memory. I wait fifteen minutes after he’s fallen asleep before attempting to leave the room. It’s taken him nearly two hours to settle down. I walk back into the living room with Deven after he checks vitals on Jessa, flopping carelessly into the chair Cole left. His scent lingers on the cloth as I lean forward, placing my face into my hands. “It’s obvious that finding out about the shots he received are disturbing but I don’
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th; 5am (CW)
(Demetri’s POV) “Noooo! Please mama! Don’t do this!” A young boy in his teens screams and fights as he is dragged down the hallway by an older woman and man to an open door. His fight intensifies as they enter the room. “Don’t do this! Please! What have I done to deserve this?!” He stops his fight just long enough to look up through his right eye. I roll uncomfortably in my bed as the pain this young lad is already in creeps into my body. His sight holds the telltale signs of his left eye being swollen as his vision is partially blurred and it’s painful to open. The man that held one arm of the teen lets go as the child freezes in terror. “You have no right to say a thing about what happens in this room between us. You have a harsh lesson to learn in keeping your mouth shut.” A grown man twice the boy’s size growls as he towers over him. His mother lets go of his hands before hurriedly leaving the room. The sounds of the door clicking shut and a bolt on the outside being loc
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th; 5am
(Cole’s POV)My briefly peaceful sleep is violently interrupted by my own screams. Without a moment to wake, I dart into the bathroom and kneel before the porcelain god forcing the contents of my twisted stomach into the water below. I continue heaving and retching despite there being nothing but bile available to pull out of inside me. My lungs burn as I struggle with a deep wheezing and my entire body shakes violently with pain and fear. I stay on the cold floor, trying to put the pieces together. I shake my head, unwilling to believe that it happened. That it wasn’t just a dream but a memory of what I ran from. Just like the description of sex that I gave Deven. Two shots leading to a painful hard on that the ladies ride. This is even more depraved than that. I whimper on the cold tile floor as I long to be held and cuddled like a young pup. It’s only as the sound of Jessa retching in the bed reaches me that I finally stand. I grab and lean against the wall holding my breath as m
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th Pt. 3
I wake to find myself wet and freezing cold only I’m no longer in the tub with my mate. My body screams in pain, I can’t open my eyes and I’m struggling to breathe when I hear multiple voices surrounding me. “How do we know if that water woke him when his eyes are swollen shut?” A vaguely familiar voice asks as I feel a hand grab my arm near my shoulder. “He’s awake. His breathing has changed. He’s trying to take deeper breaths to accommodate his asthma attack but he’s too beat down to realize all he’s doing is causing more pain. Doesn’t matter much. He hit me. You’re witness to that. He’s about to experience a whole new pain that makes the rest of this child’s play.” Another familiar voice has grabbed the other arm and the two of them walk together dragging my feet on the floor. “Are you really going to take the whip to him?” The first voice sounds nervous, almost scared for me. “He’ll be the youngest I’ve ever done. I’ll be surprised if he survives the night once I’m through
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th Pt. 4
“You’re still…” He seems to get cut off as my body flinches from the echo his voice produces. “I need you to come close.” Demetri nearly whispers. “What’s going on?” Deven asks just as quietly, allowing me to relax. “I haven’t worked with a fully trained empath so please pardon me if I tell you what you already feel. He’s in bad shape mentally and physically. This is one of the worst panic attacks I’ve seen him in. The panic induced asthma attack that alerted me to his dire condition his first morning on my land wasn’t this bad.” There’s a pause before the cold of a stethoscope can be felt on my back. Despite my sight not returning to normal just yet I am instinctively aware of how close to Demetri I am. I hold my breath as the cold metal touching me causes a painful burning that I can’t pull myself away from. “Breathe Cole. I can hear you wheezing and I need to hear how constricted your lungs are.” Deven instructs but I can’t and shake my head against Demetri’s shoulder in an
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th Pt. 5
I feel a light pressure between my shoulders before his hand reaches my hair. “Demetri?” Dr. Leroux questions. He sighs hard. “I need him tested for Hyper-sexualization Disorder.” His voice is quiet, sounding ashamed of what he’s asking. “He has none of the signs of HSD. Why do you want him tested?” “I can’t explain. At least not right now but I need it done. I will pay for it. Just let me know the cost.” “Are you aware that sexual assault after the first shift will not result in HSD?” Dr. Leroux seems to be having a hard time with his request. “I do. My reasoning is not because of the sexual assault that occurred before he left.” “Do you have reason to believe that it happened during his childhood?” He continues to question as I struggle with remaining awake. “Anything is possible.” He keeps it simple. There’s something about the way he says it that makes it clear he’s not going any further with the conversation. “Evelyn, are you familiar with the four marker
The Return to Crimson Dawn Saturday, October 19th Pt. 6
“No!” I yelp as I attempt to fight. Demetri’s hold tightens around me until I settle. “It’s okay. I’ve read your chart and the first few times I do this is going to be rough controlling your reaction. Sharing your previous experience with it helps the others understand why this is difficult.” I whine sharply as I feel the sharp tip against the inside of my arm again. “Very well done. I need you to describe what you feel.” “No.” I nearly yell again as I try to pull away. “It’s sharp. Just like a needle. Please stop putting it in me.” I finally break, completely defeated as the realization that I can’t get away and I can’t stop it overcomes me. Between the pain I’m in and the fear of this testing I can’t hold back any longer. I bury my face against Demetri’s arm. My body shakes as I finally allow myself to cry. I want to grab Demetri’s hand but something about the situation has me frozen. He massages my head gently, silently waiting for me to calm. “Demetri, can run your hand
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The Return to Crimson Dawn Friday January 10th, Pt. 2
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Epilogue, Friday January 10th, 2020; 2pm
(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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 10
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 9
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 8
(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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 7
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 6
(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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 5
“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
The Return to Crimson Dawn Tuesday, December 31st Pt. 4
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
