Friday, August 30th Pt. 2
After exactly two hours on the road Bradley turns the traverse down the gravel drive. The entire drive has been spent listening to Brad and Al talking business, mostly the new laws that have passed. I’ve been steadily conversing with Demetri through text messages so I know exactly how to approach a young man who is likely to be terrified and ready to run. While I have worked with several individuals during my time with Operation Underground the briefing I received to prepare me for caring for Cole was flooring to say the least.
“Do you know where Dresden holds his public punishments?” I ask as we all get out.
“We have a source here that said they change their training facility to accommodate it. They are supposed to be meeting us here.”
An additional set of four council members are standing in front of the pack house.
“I’m not certain if they went over this but the three of you are going in first.”
I nod silently as they’ve yet to introduce themselves.
“Sorry I’m late. Getting away from Alpha Draven without being noticed has been very difficult as there is a certain audience he expects to be there while he’s administering the punishment.”
A young man with black hair, brown eyes and tanned skin approaches us breathlessly.
“We need to hurry. His fight has bought him time but not much.”
We follow the young man at a light jog to a building about a hundred feet west of the pack house. We can hear announcements from outside the building as we approach. The lad leads us easily to the first door we come to, holding it open as we all file in.
“Colton Allen Xander, has been found guilty of the assault and rape of a twelve year old girl. He was caught in the act by her father who pummeled him to get him off. It’s laughable how he thought he could come to me and report her father as doing it. Did you really think I would believe a rogue over a member?”
He chuckles softly as he spouts off what we all know are lies. Maverick Ashlock told the council that he was tending to Cole, unconscious in the jail cell, during the time Dresden claims to have had a trial.
An intense struggle attracts my attention to the center of the building where a simple rectangular frame is bolted to the floor. It’s obvious this wasn’t something put together suddenly giving me a queasy feeling that Dr. Ashlock is correct, this isn’t the first time a whipping has been used.
“I’m innocent. I heard her screaming. I tried to intervene.”
His cries are fearful as he fights against the chains that hold him. The smell of burning flesh is in the air indicating that he has been cuffed in silver. While this is common to prevent the prisoner from breaking loose, to make it humane, a special cloth is always wrapped around them.
I move through the crowd that has gathered along the edges of the building. I want to be in front of him so he can see me coming. As I move around to the north side of the building I can better see the set up. The male is without shoes and shirt, his wrists are indeed tightly cuffed with chains attached to each one. His feet are flat on the floor but his arms are stretched tightly outward as the chains are attached to the frames on both sides of him. The rattling chains make it difficult to hear Dresden as he continues with the formalities of this young man’s sentence.
“He will receive ten strikes with the whip for his atrocities towards this child.”
There’s the sentence the council needed to record now we just wait for him to attempt to execute before we make our presence known. Sure enough he picks up a whip that was sitting on the table to the right of where he stands, the black leather blending in well with the black table top. He lets go of the loops, letting the full length of the eight foot tail fall to the floor while only maintaining a grip on the handle. He steps towards the backside of Cole several feet before whipping the weapon sending several loud cracks echoing through the air.
“Noooo! Don’t do this! I didn’t do anything! I would never hurt anyone!”
Cole cries out again struggling violently against his silver restraints.
“You will stop!” I call out loudly as I make my appearance from the crowd.
“Who are you to disrupt my discipline?” “Dresden asks angrily.
“I am Alpha O’Malley of the Bluetail Pack. We have been looking for this individual ever since he ran from the hospital.”
I explain as I notice my approach is being received with great fear from him.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve been looking for him. He committed a crime on my land. I am allowed to punish anyone for such a thing.”
He raises the whip again, ready to strike.
“You will stop by order of the council!”
Alister and the others finally emerge from behind him. Dresden turns to face them, looking as if he was willing to strike them until he realizes there’s six surrounding him. I turn my attention back to Cole as he continues to fight his restraints, yelping and screaming from the pain the silver is causing him. I can tell he’s going into a deep panic attack and I can only think of one thing that might get him back.
“Alpha Cole Jonathan Redmen, you will submit?”
To my surprise and relief the young man freezes. His fear filled eyes lock onto me, watching closely every move as I slowly move towards him.
“I promise you. This is over. You will not be whipped.”
I keep my tone firm but low so as not to scare him any farther. He’s panting hard as he tries to recover enough to interact with me.
“That’s not my name.”
His whisper is barely heard and I’m grateful that the crowd doesn’t seem to support this atrocity.
“Who do you think you are?”
I continue my slow creep towards him.
“I was told that I was Colton Allen Xander.”
He continues his extremely soft and submissive way of speaking.
“You were told that where?”
“At the hospital. When I woke up.”
“I believe the alias given to you was Colton Alexander Carter, the identity of Dr. Alexander Carter’s late son. You were barely awake for three days when something spooked you into running.”
I pause my actions waiting for him to respond. Slowly he nods his head yes.
“Very good. That means you are indeed Alpha Cole Redmen.”
He shakes his head quickly as he starts to struggle against his restraints again.
“Easy son, don’t fight. We’re going to start getting you loose as soon as Alpha Draven is secured. Alpha Demetri told me that it will be a struggle for you as your history has taught you to fear being touched but that touch is what you need to help regulate your emotions.”
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