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
“You had that much foresight at nineteen?” “Honestly, at the time I didn’t know what I was going to do with the access, the information. All I knew was I had to have the information. Something inside me was guiding me, causing me to obsess over figuring out how to get back into my dad’s computer. I controlled the urge for two months before I cracked under the pressure of my own brain relentlessly asking ‘what else does he have in that file? What could he be planning to do with it?’” “He changed his computer’s background screen which made it harder to recognize that I was in it. I had actually accessed it about two hours before then but I saw the mouse cursor moving so I backed out and gave him time to get off of it. It didn’t take me long to make copies of the file with my name on it and several others that I felt might be useful. The Big Brother program was a bit harder to copy. I had to repeat the process of getting into my dad’s computer then figure out the programming before I
“Look at me, Cole. You have nothing to be ashamed of and you're not in any trouble. It’s simply a recognition of where we’re at in that particular conversation. I don’t expect it to be easy. Thank you for sharing with me.” It’s at the end that I get him back. He lifts his head and looks at me briefly before I start again. “I’m not certain how far you’ve gotten with the program but if you’re comfortable with it, it would be a great help to me if you could scan footage of Lucas’s bedroom and time stamp when he has had girlfriends over so I can go back later and try to identify them.” He looks into my eyes, searching them. While I will not pretend to know what he’s looking for, it no longer disturbs me like it once did. Once he’s satisfied with what he sees he turns back to the computer, typing and clicking quickly.“How far back would you like me to go?”I take the time to lay out exactly what I’m looking for in the video feed and he gets straight to work. About four hours later he’s
(Cole’s POV)The kindness Alpha has shown me while working on his computer wasn’t something I expected considering how our conversation about my pack went. I am dying inside to leave the hell that I live behind but I have never challenged his threat. I have only been at another pack for three months at the most before being sent home. With me now passing the two month mark last week I’m certain he’s pacing his office and taking his frustrations out on any wolf that crosses his path the wrong way. I’ve heard rumors that when I’m not home things tend to get rough for the omega and gamma helpers of the pack, even worse for the female pups the longer I stay away from home. The more Alpha talks about me staying the harder I have to work to convince myself to leave. My mate is here and Alpha has been nothing but supportive over the last several months. Even when he gave me space after the duel with Lucas he was still very supportive even though it was indirect. I am further surprised whe
I take my time entering the room, placing the small box of items I gathered on the dresser beside the door. I pull the body pillows out first, tossing them gently on the bed. I pull my medication out next, looking at each one before placing them on the dresser as well. They started me back on all my asthma medication as quickly as they could and they have given me my refills without me asking for them. While I was in the med wing for several weeks Dr. Pierce came in and helped me with my nebulizer treatments three times a day. Once I was able to move upstairs they gave me a machine and permission to back down to twice a day as long as my symptoms were under control. This is the first time that I haven’t had to fight to take care of myself. It should be a relaxing revelation but tonight I’m falling apart. I stop at the bottle labeled Effexor, open the lid and remove a single pill before realizing I didn’t bring anything to drink back with me. My eyes dart around the room, landing eas
(Jessa’s POV) It’s been a month since I last saw Cole. As much as I want to be near him, the pull isn’t nearly as strong for me as it is for him. While his wolf has been given the opportunity to heal, now that the silver that was slowly poisoning his body was successfully removed two months ago, my wolf hasn’t been so lucky. For the first time in years my wolf is awake and searching for him. I can actually feel her inside me, hear her whimper for the mate she longs for but this new activity with her comes at a price for me. While it’s mild, I recognize the classic symptoms of silver withdrawal and the cold-like symptoms I came down with the day he arrived has slowly morphed into flu-like aches plaguing my entire body. I’ve gone through repeated withdrawals from silver poisoning over the three and a half years that I was a rogue, bouncing in and out of packs like the pinball inside an arcade game until Dr. Pierce found me three years ago. She knew Alpha Demetri was looking for some
I enter the bathroom to find that he’s still sitting on the floor where I left him. Kneeling down in front of him, he struggles to look at me. “Cole.” I whisper. “Let’s get you off this floor. Alpha’s going to come back in a few minutes. I’ll get him to show us where the thermostat for this room is. It’s a little cold for you right now.”I keep my voice soft and gentle as I stand again. I reach my arm out to help him. I can tell that it’s a struggle for him to get to his feet again but he eventually manages to do so with a long groan. I guide him slowly to the bed where he sits on the edge. “Cole, I need you to watch as I know you don’t trust me and it will be even worse in your current state.” I instruct him gently. I hand him the bottle of water knowing that he would want to look it over. “Don’t open it yet as I feel your tremors will make it difficult for you not to spill it. I’m going to help you take some medication and drink the water until we can get this panic attack under
(Demetri’s POV) “Everything okay, Jessa?” I’m calm yet concerned when I see his mate hurry to the fridge. She shakes her head as she talks. “He’s in some sort of panic attack. Do you know any reason why?” She sits down in the chair Cole just left beside me. “I have a few ideas what may be causing it but it’s important for him to voice what’s going on. I’ll link with Julie and come to his room in a few.” “Thank you.” She whispers as she hurries from the room. “What do you think that’s about?” Lilly asks me gently. “Several things. My biggest concern is that talking to me while hacking my Big Brother program may have triggered some intense feelings of hopelessness.” “Why would that cause a panic attack?” Damian asks quietly. “Talking in detail about his involvement with the girl pups of his pack combined with the reason he can’t leave his pack are more likely the triggers than the feelings of hopelessness. In the past I have found that speaking what’s going on out loud tends t
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