(Demetri’s POV) I hang the phone up with a sigh, burying my face in my hands. This callback didn’t end the way I needed it to. The council is taking the case and looking into it, that’s perhaps the only good news I’ve received from it. Otherwise it feels like a huge mistake, one that’s ultimately going to let Cole down.Unlike protection from abuse orders this doesn’t lock him into my pack, preventing him from leaving or his father from coming and getting him. He remains just as vulnerable as if I did nothing at all. If I could just get him to talk to me, to tell me about the abuse he’s suffering. I know that it’s severe enough that getting into the depth of it would result in him needing a psychiatric hold in the hospital. Perhaps that’s why he refuses to talk. He did say that every time he talks he ends up in the hospital. I stand from my desk as I hear the thunder of running feet coming down the hall. I make my way to the door, slipping my feet into my shoes before swinging it op
“Are you certain that’s the best way?” I ask as he places the call and puts it on speaker. “Dad, are you busy? Alpha Black needs help with Cole. He’s gone into a black out.”“Well that doesn’t sound too good. Fortunately, I am at a stopping point for the evening. What’s going on? How can I help?” Jamie places the phone into my outstretched hand. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I am sorry for the sudden call, Mr. Jenkins.” “Not at all an issue Alpha Black. Cole is like a son to us so it’s always disturbing to hear that he’s struggling.” “I’ve been having issues with my sixteen year old son and unfortunately it appears Cole has become his target. He’s already been sent away to his room, house arrest again until I can figure something more out as it’s imperative to get Cole back into a functioning state before something else happens.” “The only way I’ve been able to bring him back is through submission, alpha. It’s not the best way considering the triggers it create
“Please alpha, don’t do this. Please don’t hurt me this way.” “I’m not going to hurt you at all Cole. Step into me. Lay your head down. Let me hold you a minute as what you really need is a father right now.” My explanation falls upon deaf ears as he mildly tries to fight my desires for him. He seems incapable of accepting such a gentle and loving approach to his black out. As gentle as I’m certain Jon wishes to be towards Cole, he is stuck in a bad way with Cole being an alpha. Sure he’s been able to wear him down to submit him out but it still has to be a painful and terrifying way to come back to an equally as painful and terrifying reality. He keeps repeating himself as I pull him into me, gently rubbing his head until I can get him to move. Slowly he submits to my downward pressure but he doesn’t relax. It saddens me beyond description as I feel his body trembling against me, to hear the whine behind his whisper as he begs not to be harmed. I remain silent as I gently reassur
(Cole’s POV)My wolf starts whining loudly as soon as the mule pulls into a spot at the north end of the pack house. How I’m even recognizing the pack house is a mystery as I’m really struggling with maintaining my mind in the present. Lucas coming after me again has put me back, damn near to where I was when I got here.The more I come back to reality the more it physically and mentally hurts, discouraging me from keeping the connection. Is it odd to say I can choose not to be here? But then again it’s not any better to be in my own head, filled with the terrible memories of my childhood and my not so distant past.I’m present enough to follow alpha’s orders and follow his beta through the doors. The smell of antiseptic hits me hard as we enter the first room we come to, bringing me back to reality enough to know I’m where I don’t want to be. I turn hard and attempt to leave out the same doors I came through but alpha easily blocks my way and I’m not present enough to work my way ar
I close my eyes as silent tears fall. I will never admit to it but my father’s abuse has been getting worse over the last two years. Enough that I struggle every morning to get out of bed as I can’t help but wonder if that day is the day he’ll put an end to my misery. “I need you to connect with the bond. Let it relax you, calm you so that my read on you doesn’t hurt. You’ll feel me because of your sensory sensitivity but I really want to make this painless and I need you to relax for that.” I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I can hear alpha in the background talking with Dr. Pierce. “Radiology wasn’t a strong subject for me in med school but considering he’s never had cracked ribs before it certainly does look like he has them now. Is that all he’s complaining about?” “He’s complaining about his wrist and ankle as well but Jessa didn’t get strong pain signals from those areas.” “She’s wrong dad. How many times have I got to tell you to stop relying on that bitch?” I
Alpha stops short of actually sharing what he believes would happen to me but in my head I already know. The council investigating me as a reported rapist and pedophile would, quite literally, be the death of me.“Once again this is all about him.” Lucas grumbles quietly. “No, son. It’s about both of you. While you’ve made it quite clear that you don’t like the fact that your mother and I have developed a fondness for Cole. Our desire to protect him from anyone that wants to pursue these rumors is very real and will not change. I will do everything I can to make him comfortable, to allow him to feel what it’s like to live, not simply survive. I’m completely baffled as to why you can’t see beyond what is obviously a lie. So, before things get out of my control, you’re going to start seeing Julie.”“Dr. Richards? No! Why would I talk to her about anything?!” “You’re headed down a dangerous path, Lucas. First you start having sex two years before you shift and you admitted that you’re
“Breath Cole. Accept the mate’s bond. What you’re feeling will help to calm and relax you.” Unfortunately, what I feel is unlike anything I’ve felt before making it uncomfortable and overwhelming. I finally let go of the breath I’m holding, attempting to get a basic rhythm back but this attempt only serves to make my ribs scream. I can’t help but whimper and squirm after taking my first full breath in a while. Major mistake, I tell myself. “His ribs are bothering him.” Jessa speaks quietly. “Are you able to read him as you are?” Alpha seems curious as to her abilities. “Not really. I can feel where he has pain but that’s about it. I think it’s only because of the bond that I’m able to feel that.” “Tell me what you can. It will give us a starting point until we can get more meaningful information from him.” “His face, neck, ribs and wrist on his left side and both of his hands.” “Cole, I’d like to get a soft cloth and start working on getting the blood off your face. Do you thin
(Demetri’s POV)It doesn’t take long for the X-rays to be completed and to get Cole comfortably dressed again. Although he’s still quite nervous, it seems like the after effects of the protective shock he went into have worn off and he’s functioning relatively close to an adult. I’ve invited him to my office. I want him to see himself in action and I’m curious as well. With Cole being the last patient in the wing and still an hour before dinner is ready, I encouraged Jessa to come along to my office and to have dinner with us tonight. My hope is that the more I have them together the more Cole will want this different life, one that is filled with love, understanding and support. I turn into my office, turning on the lights as I step out of my shoes. Jessa follows after me with Cole close behind. “Jessa?” His voice is calm but quiet as he calls her attention to my shoes by the door. “Sorry, alpha.” She apologizes meekly. “Not a big deal really. I only instruct those coming in her
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