“Why? The moon goddess gives all wolves the power of free will. Any wolf can defy the alpha in cases of self preservation and immoral acts against others.” “Actually, the moon goddess causing pain to anyone who disobeys a higher rank is just a myth. I don’t know if it ever actually existed. I just know most parents of lower ranks raise their kids to believe it.” I smile gently at alpha’s interruption as I have stopped moving my right hand on his left temple and I’ve introduced my left onto his right. He’s allowed himself to relax enough that he’s closed his eyes again and is leaning into my right hand. “Cole, I don’t want to surprise you with where I need to touch to read you. I’m actually enjoying your reaction to me so far but I will need to touch your neck.” I feel him tense up with a subtle whine at the thought. “It’s not going to hurt you. Do not fight. I'm not going to stay just yet but it will calm your fears to feel what it will be this time.” I can tell he’s getting wea
Friday, February 2nd (Dimetri’s POV)It’s been a week since we admitted Cole to Crimson General’s ICU. It’s been nearly two since he arrived in my territory and he’s spent more time in medical than any prospect I’ve ever had. I managed to get over to the hospital Monday as well as yesterday. He responded to me yesterday but he was fearful, as if he didn’t recognize me or where he was at. Due to his severe anxiety they’ve been keeping him mostly sedated. I agreed that was best until he was stable enough to return to the wing. They did a spinal tap on him Monday after I left. I am far from pleased with the report Dr. Christiansen gave on how it went. Although the test came back negative for infection they didn’t sedate him enough and he didn’t respond to the local anesthetic resulting in an extremely painful procedure. Outside of that disaster of a procedure, his stay at general is going well. I met with Jamie Saturday, Cole’s birthday of all days. I made sure that
I’m staring into Lucas’s eyes hard as my aura starts flaring. He’s set his mind hard on this and is challenging me on my stance. “Take your shoes off and stand behind the desk.” I’m growling loudly and he’s lucky his mother and I came up with this punishment together as I’m angry enough to change it. I feel Lilly’s hand in mine as he finally breaks his stare and walks back over to the door, kicking his shoes off where Damian left his. I turn roughly to face her, she can feel how pissed he’s made me with his attitude towards Cole. I lay my head upon her shoulder as she runs her hands up my back underneath my shirt. The skin to skin contact allows the pleasing tingling of the bond to flow through my body, helping me to calm my anger and keep my head. I lift my head enough to lean my cheek against Lilly’s head. “You know why I feel the need to do this, don’t you?” She takes a step back and looks into my eyes. “It’s not going to be easy for me to be here but this is what we agreed o
“That’s what I did to Cole.” Lucas admits quietly. Madilyn turns on Lucas’s lap to look him in the eyes. “Why do you not like Cole?” “A wolf from his pack claims that’s he’s raping his luna and he has a weird relationship with the young girls in his pack. He marks them like they’re his mate. Dallas said he’s seen girls as young as seven with his mark.” “Doesn’t the mark hurt?” Madisyn asks, cocking her head in curiosity.“Yes, receiving the mark can cause a lot of pain depending on the circumstances under which it’s received. After you’ve shifted into your wolf it’s a lot easier to handle the mark than when you’re a young child.” I try to explain. “Your mom and I recently ran into a painful situation where hurting her was the only way to fix the problem.” The girls’s mouths are open and the boys are looking at us intently. While I would never go into details on their mother and I’s activities I have never shied away from being honest about mates and one’s relationship with you
I’m horrified at the yelps I hear coming from the direction of Cole’s room. I let go of Madilyn’s hand, calling for Damian and Lucas to follow as I take off in a sprint down the hall to Cole’s room. I fling the door open without so much as knocking first and barrel into the room, my alpha aura blazing hot. It only takes a moment for me to see what I never dared to think would happen to him here. The young nurse assigned to Cole is actively striking the young man in the face with his only true defense is to block the incoming blows. “Enough!” I bellow stopping her in her tracks. “What the hell is going on here?” “He’s combative and won’t let me do my work. I haven’t been able to do a thing with him all day.” I hear my boys walk into the room as she’s finishing her explanation. “Lucas, go to the desk just outside this room and have them call Dr. Christiansen. I want him down here now! You, what’s your name?” I point to the nurse who’s still standing beside Cole’s bed with her arms
“Sir, it’s going to take me hours to calm him enough to get everything done. Perhaps it would be better to wait until morning?” Caspian speaks shyly. “Now that, I disagree with. I’m taking over Cole’s care and I want that four day supply of medical supplies ready to go by eight. Sooner than that would be better as I’m not leaving until he’s in my wing. I need everyone who’s coming back to the wing to follow my directions.” I turn to face Caspian. I meet his eyes briefly before he looks to the ground. “I need you to follow without question.” I see Caspian nod without any further explanation of my needs. “Day, get a hold of Jessa or Angela. We need the ambulance in order to move him. When they get here they need to bring the bed to the third floor room fifteen. Luke, help your mom with the girls. You’ll understand why in a minute. Caspian….” “Casper, alpha please. Caspian is when I’ve done something wrong.” “Casper, I need you to look Cole over without touching him. This may take
“I’m sorry Cole. The bed is too small.” “What are you trying to do, Lynnie?” I ask as I motion her to come over to me. “I want to lay with him. It makes him less scared.” I pull her into my lap as Caspian comes over with a syringe full of medicine. Madilyn’s eyes get wide as she sees Caspian pull the cover off the top of it. “He’s still getting shots?” Madilyn asks with a quiver in her voice. Caspian slides his hand into Cole's, giving Madilyn a smile.“Cole, I normally show you the medicine before I give it but I think alpha wants to get you out of here quickly.” He pulls the cap off the needle, earning a soft whine from Madilyn, before he inserts it into the IV port. Cole seems to sense what Caspian has done and pulls away from him hard. Only Caspian doesn’t let go. He follows Cole’s erratic movements easily, allowing the young man to calm before attempting to take back control. “Is this what you’re calling combative?” I hear Allen speak for the first time in a while. I hones
Caspian walks Madilyn to the side of the bed, sitting her on the stool he was just on. I feel him beneath me moving Cole’s hand until it’s far enough out to get to the IV port. “Casper,” “Yes sir?” “It sounds like you’re planning on giving him the Valium as well.” “I am, sir.” “How much?” “He’s supposed to be receiving five milligrams every twelve hours.” Allen suddenly chimes in but before I can speak my mind Caspian speaks his. “We found that five was depressing his ability to breathe so Millie and I agreed on giving him three. My plan right now, alpha, is to give him one in the hopes that it takes the edge off the anxiety attacks he’s having in relation to receiving the medication.” Guilt can be heard in Caspian’s voice yet at the same time it does not waiver. “Who authorized lessening the dose?” “No one, sir. My sole duty is to do what’s right for the patient. For a day and a half Millie and I struggled to keep his oxygen levels up and it was at the end of Millie’s shif
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