(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
“Is your computer password protected?” “No sir. You should be able to get right on it. Are you familiar with the Big Brother program?” “Yes sir. My father uses the same one.” “I’d like to view the sparring match between you and Lucas. Could you look for that first?” He remains silent with my request as he waits for the computer to come back from sleep mode. I keep my distance from them, standing in a spot behind my desk where I can observe without becoming overbearing. It doesn’t take him long to navigate the program and start loading today’s footage from the training facility. I creep closer to the computer as Cole fast forwards through most of the day, slowing down the pace as it approaches four o’clock. I grab a seat and place it right beside Cole as he starts rewinding. “What did you find?” I ask casually as he starts playing the video feed. “I pulled the timestamp of when he first entered the training annex. From here until I pull the next time stamp it’s going to copy the
Tuesday, April 3rd(Cole’s POV)It’s been nearly a month since my second encounter with the alpha’s son, Lucas. He was right though, I have done everything I can to avoid not just Lucas but the rest of the family as well. I have refused to come down and join them for dinner and I have fallen back into my old habits of making myself as scarce as possible. Not even Jessa has seen much of me. I can’t bring myself to approach her. I could feel her heart break through the bond from what I said. I guess we’re stuck as neither of us has the heart to reject the other. I make my way down to the kitchen. I’ve familiarized myself with the pack’s schedule and I have created my own. Breakfast at the dining hall ends just before eight, which means leftovers are in the kitchen by nine. Lunch is available around one but I wait to get dinner until eight so that alpha and his family have plenty of time to eat and clean up before I come down. It’s slightly before one as I head down the stairs towards
(Demetri’s POV)I’m liking what I see of Cole at the table. It does appear that giving him some space after Lucas attacked him a second time is what he needed. He’s still nervous and I could tell that asking again about the Big Brother program spiked his anxiety, which is why I stopped him from speaking before he even tried. He follows me easily from the kitchen. He remains silent but he’s close enough for me to catch his scent, reassuring me that he’s following behind me. I take him out of the dining room and briefly through the common room heading north towards the stairs. I guide him towards the hallway behind the stairs, stopping at the first room on the right. I type in the pin code, pushing the handle downward before pushing the door open. I turn the lights on as I step inside the room giving Cole the space he needs to enter. He steps inside slowly, silently taking in the room’s features. It’s our largest guest room and nearly equivalent to the prospect dorms. There’s a plus
There’s something about his refusal to talk that tells me he’s determined to leave in July and I can’t stand the idea of him leaving me. I feel this is a unique situation where we are completely alone and I can push him a little farther than I normally would to get answers from him. “I understand that you don’t want to talk about breaking into your father’s computer. I get that, I really do. This room is soundproof and no one is going to bother us. I need you to open up to me. It’s a lot to ask of you but it seems like you’re determined to return home and I need to understand why.” I explain my position gently as I slowly walk back to the desk. He’s completely stopped working on the computer, staring at me intently. Worry and fear consume him as he briefly makes eye contact with me. I watch him as he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. A clear sign that I spiked his anxiety. Using that to my benefit is a dangerous move but I’m hoping to get him angry instead of the normal ch
The desperation in his voice floors me. Good thing I was already seated as I certainly wasn’t expecting such a confusing response. I stand from my chair and make my way over to him. He’s stopped his pacing in front of the large window on the back wall of my office. He adjusts the blinds so he can look outside towards the dense forest that surrounds my territory. This land has been in the pack’s possession for centuries and I have kept with previous generations' way of keeping as much forest between the border and living area as possible. His deep, predictable breathing alerts me to his anxiety. His clenched fists, to his anger. As I get closer his scent is marred by the bitterness of fear.“Cole?” I speak softly so as not to startle the young man as I get closer to him. I stop and flick on my phone, silently turning on the recording app and sliding it back into my pocket. “I need your help understanding what that means. Are you referring to the rumors that you’re a pedophile and
“The power?” I can't help but question. “Yes sir. It was when she brought me Annabel that she told me that not only did the marking relieve her intense pain and overwhelming fatigue but it prevented the pack members from assaulting her. She begged me to provide that same relief to Annabel.” “Now you said before that your father discovered these marks and called you to his office about a week after you did it. You also mentioned just a few minutes ago that he started punishing you monthly. What made you believe, other than the timing, that he was punishing you for the markings?” “Whenever he punishes me he rants about what I’ve done wrong. ‘You filthy rapist, how dare you mark a pup.’ Tends to stay with you awhile.” He stays silent for a minute after finishing the statement. I remain quiet as well, giving him a minute to digest the memories of such atrocities. “I understand the purpose behind the markings, the reason they look for you when you’re gone. When I was on rotation at di
He put air quotes around the word ‘into’ to emphasize the meaning behind the statement. “The one night I visited her at her house, met her parents and ate dinner with her, she dragged me up the stairs into her room. She sat in my lap and started making out with me on her bed. She started putting her hands all over my body, underneath my shirt.” “I was stiff and uncomfortable but I tolerated her advances until she started trying to take my pants off. I’m ashamed that it took her undoing the button and zipper of my pants before I realized what was going on. I stood up quickly, dumping her into the floor causing her to cuss me before whimpering about how she just wanted to have fun. I left and stopped answering her calls and texts. Rebecca came after me next. I didn’t find out until later but she’s Rachel’s best friend.” He sighs again. “Things went nearly identical with her as it did with Rachel. The big difference was she wasn’t shy about talking to my dad. He punished me every mo
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