Monday July 23 Pt. 2

Jamie coaches me quietly over to the couch, waiting patiently for me to let him go and take a seat. It takes me several minutes before I’m able to pry my eyes from the floor enough to look around the room. I’m surprised to discover that the doctor and the beta have yet to join us. The room is indeed a library but it’s unlike any I’ve been in before. The room is longer than his office is wide, making me believe that it extends all the way to the other side of the wing. Bookshelves completely filled with books line the north wall from floor to ceiling separated into four equal sections. Windows with long beige curtains separate the ends from the center and a fireplace separates the center. A large eight by ten foot area rug sits beneath my feet donning a simple motif of beige, black, and magenta squares. I move my toes slowly across the fibers. They are short but soft, giving me something simple yet pleasing to concentrate on. 

The loveseat we sit on is comfortably plush with a magenta colored microfiber covering sitting perpendicular to the shelves about five feet from the fireplace. A simple, espresso finished wooden table sits in the center with two recliner chairs on the other side. They are angled towards the center so that those sitting on the furniture can easily see and interact with one another without much effort. 

We sit in silence as the doctor and beta finally make their way into the room. Dr. Moore approaches first placing a variety of meat, cheese and crackers on the table followed by Beta Greene with a variety of drinks. Jamie immediately reaches for one of the drinks and hands it to me. Turning it slowly in my hand, I recognize the packaging as the protein drink that Luna Black would often supply me. 

“Chocolate is your favorite. Since you’ve calmed down I was hoping that you might try.” He explains calmly. 

“Now that you’ve calmed down, I think some of these will help.” Dr. Moore speaks as he holds out a small pack of medication. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to get in contact with Alpha Black at Crimson Dawn. He is quite worried about you. He requested that I pass on the message that you need to call him. He said he gave you a cell phone?” 

I nod silently as I take the Zofran from his hand. 

“I misplaced it. I remember playing games on it in the van. Delta Ashman had a charger that I plugged it into just before I fell asleep about an hour into the trip. My memory of leaving the van is spotty.” 

I cock my head when he pulls a pen from his shirt and writes something down. 

“Relax. It’s just a note reminding myself to ask Delta Ashman if he found a phone in the van when he cleaned it. I’m certain he did as he details it after every use.” 

I nod again as I open the packet of Zofran and place it on my tongue. Closing my eyes I lean back into the chair pushing away my swirling thoughts in an effort to focus. He told me yesterday that he wasn’t coming for me. I was foolish enough to hope that he was lying. My close proximity to him without being in his territory is part of my current mental health crisis. He attacked me through the link last night and has promised to continue the attacks until I’m home. I shiver at the thought of being here several months without proper sleep before returning. 

“Cole, are you okay?” 

“I’m not sure how to answer that.” 

I answer the doctor honestly. To my relief all he does is nod. 

“Now that you seem more relaxed, I would like to get started telling you the information we have gotten so far from your father as well as Alpha Black. We also believe that telling you some history about the pack and why some members from the council integrated into the pack will help you to relax for the time that you are here.” 

I simply nod my head as I look down at the drink Jamie gave me. I slowly remove the wrapper from around the top, patiently waiting for Beta Greene to start his story. 

“If you don’t mind I would like to start with what we have found out about you.” 

I nod while staying silent. Silence has always been my friend when I’m uncertain about what’s going on. I take a small sip of the drink in my hands and jump back with an involuntary whine. 

“Is something wrong with your drink?” Dr. Moore speaks before Beta Johnson can continue. 

“No sir, I just wasn’t expecting such a strong taste.” 

“I brought two different chocolates in. Dark chocolate tends to be stronger. You can switch your drink if you want.” Beta Greene offers. 

I shake my head. “It’s okay Beta Greene.” 

“Michael. It’s just us in a private room. It’s okay to call me Mike or Michael.” 

I nod before finding a spot on the rug to concentrate on. 

“I’m not scolding you, Cole. If what Andy believes is true then having a strict set of expectations will make things easier for you. While there are some members that stick to the old formalities of their title and last name most go by their first.” 

I shift uncomfortably in my seat but remain silent with his request. 

“Alpha Whiteman is one that goes by the old formalities so when you meet him Wednesday, if you address him by name, it is Alpha Whiteman.” 

I nod again with a quiet ‘thank you’ for the information. 

“While Alpha Whiteman is not a gentle alpha there are several alphas here that are. I am very worried about the behavior that you are showing me. Your mental health has gone down dramatically since finding out that your father added you to this run. Are you a part of the prospect program?” 

“Yes, Dr. Moore, I am a prospect.” My voice is quiet and pathetically meek. 

“Why are you so afraid of being in this run? You’re not new to the program if you came straight from Crimson Dawn.” 

“No sir, I’m not new. This is the fifth pack I’ve been to.” 

“Have you been mistreated by other packs? Is that why you’re afraid to be here?” 

“I have but… but…” 

I’m struggling just to speak as this feels like it’s turning into an interrogation. 

“Try to slow down, Cole. I genuinely want to help you but I can’t without an understanding of what’s going on.” 

I leave my seat in a hurry with a growl, pacing in the space behind the couch. 

“Cole.”

“Give him space Alpha Moore.” Jamie offers quietly. 

“I’m just like Mike. You are welcome to call me Andrew or Andy.” 

He speaks easily to Jamie loud enough for me to hear. 

“I don’t want to talk. Please Alpha Andrew.” 

“Alpha Angela Pierce is a colleague and a friend of mine. I managed to talk with her on the phone the night you got here. She relayed my concern for you and I had a call from Alpha Demetri Black first thing in the morning. As a member of the council I have easy access to information that can take inquiring pack leaders some time and effort to get. It is a side project that I’m working on to make that information easier to get to.” 

“What information do you have that they don’t?” 

I struggle to keep my tone in check as thoughts of Alpha Black betraying me swirls in my head. 

“In the years since Angela left it’s become harder to get good wolves into the council. Fortunately, the committee has proven quite difficult for those who want to change things back to the old ways to penetrate so your trepidation towards the council is well warranted. Can you sit back down with us so I can explain what I was able to find?” 

I can’t help but stare at him, trying to figure out the truth behind his answers. 

“I have something else that I hope will help you with this meeting. We just ended up moving a little faster than I had anticipated considering the fear I saw. Demetri does seem to know you quite well.” 

I slowly start making my way back to the couch as I hear his phone start to ring. He pulls it from his pocket and quickly answers it.