I look up again into alpha’s eyes. I linger there a moment really studying him. “I’m sorry about last night.” I finally whisper. He shakes his head as he reaches slowly towards me. “I know your head is sore, I’m not going to hurt you.” He whispers as he touches the side of my head. I can’t keep myself from closing my eyes and turning away from his touch.“You have nothing to apologize for.” “Yes I do alpha. I don’t force the pups to do anything. Last night, we forced Madilyn to accept my help. Her age and fear made it so there was no other way.” “Is that what you tell yourself when you force yourself on to the pups? That you're helping them.”“That’s enough Lucas.” Alpha growls at his son but it doesn’t make a difference. “No dad! Enough is enough. Why are you pussyfooting around with him? You should have gotten rid of him like you did that idiot, Dallas and his friends. He’s the same damn thing. He’s a violent, unpredictable, rapist getting his kicks off of little girls.” “En
“Let me take Lynnie.” Luna states quietly, taking the sleeping pup from my arms. The weight difference throws me off as I stagger slightly backwards into Dr. Pierce. “What happened at dinner to make you so tense and fearful?” She asks as I try to get out of her hold. “I’m not certain, Angela. It looks like we need to get more information from Demetri.” Luna responds when all I can do is shake my head. “Let’s get you in your room. I’m going to help you get out of your pants before you get in bed. I’m going to use your thigh for the shots and I need to change the bandage on your left leg.” I’m panting hard as I struggle to move, her touch is gentle on my arms as I step forward only to stumble back into her. I’m tense and struggling to contain my desire to fight. My movements are instinctual as I pull my hands away from hers. I whine in frustration as I try to move again towards the room but my muscles just won’t cooperate. Luna backs away as Dr. Pierce struggles with me. She tries a
“You have done nothing wrong. Do not fear Lilly or Angela. Do not fight them. All they want is to calm and comfort you. I’m much too angry with Lucas to do that for you but I will be up later. I’ll spend some time with you once I calm down.” I yelp hard as Dr. Pierce moves her hand from the back of my head. Time itself seems to freeze with my reaction to something so simple.“I’d like to get you a milligram of Ativan. Can you hold the mask? I don’t want to strap it to you.” Dr. Pierce’s voice is soft and encouraging as I find the will to place my hand on the mask as she lets go of it. “What’s going on down there with you?” I hear Luna sigh heavily as she gently starts petting my hair. “Things have calmed down a bit. Lucas finally submitted to the fact that he’s not leaving the table until I take him upstairs to his room which allowed Patrick and Parker to go check on the prospects. He’s refusing to give me the information that I’m demanding so I’m trying to work out what I’m goin
(Demetri’s POV) I’m stunned in place as Cole backs away from the table. Considering the effort it took for him to get out here, I’m surprised he’s even standing, let alone that he’s cradling Madilyn protectively to his chest. ‘Do not move. He’s going to take off but he’s going upstairs. He’s in no condition to do anything else. Keep Lucas in his seat and the path to the stairs clear.’ I link with Patrick, Parker and Damian. To my relief, I see Patrick move behind Lucas, putting his hands lightly on his shoulders.Cole’s eyes are darting wildly making me wonder how the young man can even comprehend what he’s seeing. No matter, he seems to see what he needs to take off into the foyer towards the stairs. ‘Angela, Lilly; Cole is headed upstairs with Madilyn.’ I stay seated, steepling my hands, thinking deeply about the information Cole just shared. What kind of hell has this young man been living in? What kind of mental torture has he had to endure? To be the one forced to go into th
I can hear the motor to the nebulizer start up as the hiss from the flowing air gets closer to the phone. It only takes a moment before I can hear him whimper and fight against the mask. “Cole, stop fighting Angela. I know it’s difficult for you but you need to calm down and allow the medication to work.” “Thank you, Demetri.” Angela speaks to the phone. “I’m guessing the phone is close enough for Cole to hear me if he responded that quickly.” “Yes dear. You’re on speaker phone so he can hear you but he’s still really tense and shaking badly. Angela is holding the nebulizer mask to his face right now. He keeps trying to fight it even though he’s wheezing badly.” “I’m not surprised. Considering how bruised his face is now I imagine strapping even the foam lined mask to him would cause pain. Plus when he’s panicking everything becomes confining. Cole, I need you to listen to me son.” I pause a moment before continuing. ”You have done nothing wrong. Do not fear Lilly or Angela. Do n
“I told you last night that I don’t handle lidocaine shots well. The burn is a reminder.” “A reminder of what?” I ask as I start running my fingertips along his temple.His eyes are closed as he moves his left arm blindly, not knowing what to do with it. “Put your hand on my side. Grab hold of my shirt.” “Please alpha.” He barely speaks as he settles his hand against my side. “You did wonderfully downstairs last night. Don’t psych yourself out of getting relief that you need.” “This is different alpha. I swear to you. It’s a deep burn and I can’t handle anything on top of it.” “Are you certain you don’t want to try?” “Please alpha. All it’s going to do is trigger the memory of this and so much more. I barely held on last night. I can’t handle round two. Not all the way around my leg.” I sigh but there’s something about what he’s saying that I ultimately understand. “Angela, what can you do to get him comfortable for the night without the shots?” “That’s the best thing I hav
I gingerly pull it away from his mouth, shocked to see no bite marks on it. “Is that all you were going to do the first time?” He slowly shakes his head, looking at the ground. I feel the light tug of the link in my mind as I gather a plan for getting Cole up.“Give me a minute to get Cole standing, then you can ask your question Lucas.” I hear him sigh but the pull from the link disappears. I squat down again trying to catch Cole’s downward gaze. “You will never be punished for the truth.” He looks up, briefly catching my gaze. “Let’s get you up.” I encourage softly as I stand again. “Take my hands.” I direct him as I hold them out to him. It takes a lot of effort for him to grab hold but he finally does, holding his breath as he stands. I know he’s fighting to keep his yelps and screams at bay but that’s not what I need from him. He sways even harder as he tries to orientate himself to standing. “Take a step towards me, then I need you to not move.” He takes the step forwa
“Why would you want to protect me?” He whispers, shocked that anyone would even care. “For the same reason you protect the pups in your pack.” I hold my hands out to him again. “Come to me. I want you to relax so you can comprehend the change in the terms of your run with me.” His eyes are wary, searching within mine for the lies he’s heard before. Fearful and exhausted, he places his hands in mine. Before he can step towards me I close the gap between us. I can feel the tremors in his body as he grabs hold of my shirt. I wrap my arms around him, pulling him into a hug as he lays his head upon my shoulder. I hold him gently, waiting for the room to relax with the news of my sudden change. “As we were discussing before, I am changing Cole to an off book run. Normally, I go with a semi off book run which means that all information about the prospect comes to me and I document two separate files but I keep the run by the book. The majority of prospects that have come for a run that I
The very breath I breathe is knocked right out of me as he has never commanded me to do anything. Even his father has made a strangled growl in response to his statement. “Even though you are an alpha, I am commanding you to come back.” His tone has softened but the seriousness in his voice has not. “I will return or I will die trying.” I somehow manage to whisper. Luna steps up next as Alpha Damian steps back wrapping her arm around me as Madilyn grabs my neck. I can feel Madilyn trying to wrap herself around me. Luna loosens her hold as I timidly take the young pup into my arms. “No! Don’t leave!” She starts off yelling. “You don’t deserve your daddy. He hurts you when you’re a good wolf. Please stay. My daddy can be your daddy. I promise I’ll share him.” She barely makes it through the last two sentences before breaking down crying. I hold her tightly as I look at luna’s face, her cheeks wet with tears. “I’m sorry.” Is all I can manage to whisper as she takes the little one
(Cole’s POV)It’s a shock to say the least to see Lucas come out to the porch let alone to see what appears to be a forced apology from him. I have a hard time believing what he has to say. I have never heard of Wolfington Academy and the only hint he gave was that he would go away. Not something I would ever want to happen to a newly shifted teen but I certainly wouldn’t want him to continue being a danger to the preshifts either. It’s been easy enough the last few months for me to avoid interacting with him even though I have sincerely missed the twins. These last two months, while they have been terribly hard and mentally painful for me, have also been the best for showing me the support I will have when I’m not myself. Alpha and luna both have gone out of their way to help me through my own decision to return. Every night luna and the twins would come to my room after dinner with a plate of food wrapped in cling wrap and several drinks. They would put the food and drinks in the
He finally lifts his head and stands from the stairs, walking slowly towards me. Suddenly his pace picks up and has taken on a more aggressive look. I start moving to intercept him as he’s headed straight towards Cole. ‘Stop me. Please dad, I don’t want to hurt him.’ His call for help is real, he genuinely fears hurting Cole. I step quickly into his path, silently wrapping my arms around him. One around his waist, the other under his arm allowing me to curl around and place my hand on the back of his neck. He freezes in place and stifles a yelp as I hold him close. I’m struggling to put together what these new symptoms mean. “Lay your head. I need you to relax so I can submit your wolf without causing you pain.” I whisper in his ear as I guide his head down. He whimpers quietly as I massage his neck looking for the best pressure point. “I need you to talk, Luke. To anyone. I don’t care if you confide in your brother, your mother, any of the doctors or nurses in the wing, tell
I wrap my hands around his, sliding my fingers gently between his hands and hair. He surprises me with how easily he gives up his stimming. “Stand up son.” I keep my voice gentle and reassuring, waiting for him to respond. He fights me briefly as he stands, trying hard to get out of my hold. “No, Cole. Accept the contact.” I persist as I refuse to let him run from me. Surprisingly, it seems he wants to run towards the van picking him up, not back into the house. “Stay with me a moment son. Allow me to calm you.” He relents to my desire, slowly giving me the calm I know he needs to make a rational decision. “I know you heard the conversation. I need to know your thoughts.” “Dad sent him.” He whispers, his voice fearful. “I know. Your dad requested the change but the council honored it so the plan remains the same. You have pack members at White Ridge which gives your father no excuses for picking you up.” He nods against my shoulder before slowly pushing himself away.
“Come.” I state as I gently pull him up and into me. He whimpers and fights briefly before taking hold of me tightly. We simply stand in silence, waiting for the trauma of leaving to subside. I wait for him to push away first, following his lead for when he’s ready to start out towards the front door. “Would you like some Ativan? It won’t take effect until you're well on your way north so it won’t alter your ability to decide to stay or go but it will make the trip easier to handle.” “Please.” Is all he manages to whisper against my neck before he pushes himself up to stand on his own. “Stay.” I whisper just as quietly as I step away from him into the attached bathroom, opening the cabinet and pulling out the low dose Ativan that I keep there. I return in front of him cupping his chin in my hands, lifting his head so he’s looking straight instead of the floor. He whimpers subtly as he pulls away but I don’t allow him to leave me. “Easy there, son.” I whisper as I use my thumbs
His eyes are wide with my explanation but he slowly removes his shirt as I’ve requested. “Put it on my desk.” I keep my calm helping him along when he appears lost. “Please.” He pleads helplessly. “It’s okay.” I try to comfort him. “No sir. It’s not okay. I’m not okay.” “I know. That’s why I’m doing this. Don’t step away.”I instruct as I close the distance between us. He accepts my embrace as I pull him into me again. There’s one test that I’ve never done with him as I’ve respected his sensitivity towards his back being touched but today I’m using that sensitivity to break him down in the hopes that he’ll be better able to handle leaving. It could also lead him into a complete breakdown requiring me to place him on a mental health hold but I’m taking my chances. “What are you going to do to me?” He asks as he struggles to lay his head on my shoulder.“I’m going to touch your back.” I explain as I guide his head down and pet the back of his head. “Please, sir. You don’t know h
It’s as we sit in silence that his frantic sobs finally quiet and are slowly replaced by the steady rhythm of his slightly wheezed snore. He hasn’t slept or ate right in the last two months and his condition shows it easily as he’s nearly back to the same weight he was when he got here despite our efforts to counteract his depression by upping his medication. I close my eyes and lay my cheek against his head as I listen to everything around me. I reassigned everyone that normally helps in the pack house to other tasks, closed the med wing with the exception of emergencies and canceled all the meetings that were scheduled today. I knew today would be tough but nothing could have prepared me for the brutal reality of this young man choosing to leave. The pack house is eerily quiet as if the house has been swallowed whole in preparation for the sadness, the sheer trauma of his departure. I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting with him when the shuffle of my mate’s feet starts down t
Friday July 20th; 8am(Cole’s POV) It’s been a month since my meeting with alpha discussing my options for getting out of the hell I call home. I was allowed to take the hard splint off for good two weeks ago but that hasn’t kept me out of the med wing. I’ve been in a steady slide into severe depression and I’ve had to seek the comfort of both alpha and Dr. Pierce when my feelings have become too extreme for me to handle alone. My mood swings have been so wild that I’ve gotten extremely nasty with Jessa. I so much as begged alpha to send her on a trip with Alpha Damian until today because I knew how badly I was hurting her. I didn’t mean to hurt her and I know I’m going to pay dearly for my lack of control when I return. Sleep is scarce at best and eating is nearly impossible. I can’t begin to describe how many times I have screamed myself awake, fighting alpha’s hold around me just to break down and cry in his arms. The anticipation of returning after six months of relative peace
“This is also the reason why we don’t want you to wait for the committee to remove you. The information that your father has access to without much digging on the process says if you make it to the final step in the investigation ten members of the council will move into your pack and you will be simultaneously moved out. The move is permanent no matter if you go to trial or not as the council members that move in are not simply investigating you.” I stop my gentle rub just under the hem of Jessa’s shirt and cock my head slightly as this was where Dr. Pierce had essentially stopped when breaking down the process.“So what are they doing when the committee starts their nine month investigation?” “What they’ve done for ten years now is remove the wolf being investigated to a temporary sanctuary pack within an hour’s drive of the regional committee’s headquarters. The pack has constant contact with the committee and as soon as any feral behaviors are seen the wolf is placed in the pack