September 3rd
(Cassius’s POV)
It’s been two days since Alpha Martin O’Malley contacted me about locating Cole and retrieving him from that heinous Purple Mountain pack. It was a relief to discover that he had been found by the benevolent social worker Melissa Ashlock. I was amazed at the story Martin repeated from her. How she literally ran into Cole’s arms when she was being chased and how he became her protector when that dangerous gang hadn’t given up despite the time that had gone by. Her twin Maverick took him in, cared for him after he was injured.
It was a shock to hear he tried to stop the rape of a child and was going to be punished harshly when the rapist blamed him for it. What kind of pack does that? Although it was a relief to find him, Martin’s admittance to his medical team being unable to take on such a traumatized wolf put us on high alert.
I’m grateful it only took two days to arrange everything we needed to make the trip. It’s taken us five hours to get to the Bluetail pack and it’s truly a relief when we finally pull up to the pack house. I park on the far side of the gravel drive, just off the edge on the west side. I feel this is the most polite place to park until I receive better information. I slide out of the driver’s seat before making my way to the passenger side, lending a hand to my heavily pregnant wife.
My mom stayed at Shadowlands so the pack had a leader while both Deven and I are away. There are a lot of unknowns and it was important that I prepared for a several day stay. I step into my mate’s back and slide my hands beneath her belly. The subtle kicks of our twins make me smile as Deven climbs out of the Expedition. He wanted to bring Clayton along until we found out what a turn Cole had made. Getting so close to being whipped has brought back memories yet he’s still struggling with amnesia bringing him dangerously close to a complete mental breakdown.
We start together towards the front door. Deven climbs the handful of steps before knocking on the door. We wait patiently as we know they are expecting us.
“Hello.” A young girl speaks as she opens the door.
“Charity, you know better than to open the door to a stranger.” A heavyset, dark skinned lady chastises quickly.
“But papa said we were expecting guests today, Meredith. They’re here to help the man with the burnt wrists.” Meredith sighs heavily.
“Kids nowadays just don’t know what danger is.” She comments as she approaches the door.
“She is correct, we are expecting guests but I need to verify who you are.”
“It sounds like that’s not something you’re used to.”
“That is correct but ever since Alpha O’Malley brought that new wolf home he’s changed his protocols. Something about too many people are looking for him and only certain ones are to be allowed near him.”
“Sounds like things have changed quite a bit since we’ve last seen Colton Allen Xander.”
She cocks her head, stunned and uncertain as to how to proceed.
“Is that not who you know him as?” Deven tries to get her talking again.
“Come inside. It looks like the lady could use a drink and a chair.”
Deven moves inside followed by Arianna and myself. She hurries into the kitchen to the right of the foyer.
“I really want to see Colton. Things didn’t sound good on the phone.” Ari pleads.
“The state of mind that young man is in has resulted in Dr. Harsher placing him nearly nude in the psychiatric observation room.” Meredith remarks with almost a chuckle in her voice.
“How long has he been in there?” I ask with great distress.
“He went crazy when Dr. Harsher tried to treat his wrists the day after he arrived. I think it’s been a day, maybe day and a half. I overheard her talking about never having treated a wolf as bad as him. I’m sorry but in his current state of mind the misses should not go near him.”
“You don’t know him.”
I speak firmly as I shift partially. I raise my nose into the air searching for his scent.
“Follow.”
I call, mainly to Deven, as my arms are still wrapped around Arianna.
“Sir, I need to verify if you are who we are expecting.” She responds to our sudden movement to the left.
“Alpha Cassius Marcellus.” I call as I follow my nose down the hall. I growl as I’m stopped by Alpha Martin.
“Why didn’t you tell me he was on a psychiatric hold?”
“It happened after we spoke. I knew you would be coming soon. While I want to help him I underestimated the damage that was caused by nearly being whipped. I’m sorely disappointed in my medical team. I thought we had prepared better than this.”
“Not every pack is capable of being a sanctuary. It takes more than a benevolent alpha to help those like Cole. Where is he?”
Somehow his admittance to being overwhelmed has calmed my anger towards him.
“The best way is to go back the way you came, then head to the right for two more hallways.”
“You’re not coming?” My question is clipped and edging on disrespecting my elder.
“I am. There’s something I need to grab first.” We all turn around and follow his directions to his medical wing.
“Where’s Cole?” I ask the first person I come to.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.” She responds in a hurry.
I leave Arianna with Deven as I make my way down the long hallway. It seems to go on much longer than the main pack house but every alpha is allowed to do things slightly differently as long as they have one.
It’s the muffled cries behind one of the doors that stops me in my tracks. While my pack has not participated in the sanctuary program for several years the instincts I’ve developed for helping have never left. I reach for the door and turn the knob. I’m surprised when it opens. I step inside to a room I have never created in my pack and I’m appalled to see that it exists at all. Inside the door is a small four foot by ten foot space with chairs and an obvious one way mirror. On the other side is a highly distraught Cole, pacing the confines of the ten by six room.
“What are they doing to him?” Ari nearly cries as she and Deven enter the room.
“We need Alpha Demetri to know that this has happened. As much as he doesn’t like the idea of us taking him back he most certainly isn’t staying here.”
Deven nods as he steps back out to find Martin. I look over his room again, lost as to how any alpha could think this was proper for a wolf as traumatized as Cole. In the corner farthest from me and to the right is a bed with no pillows or sheets. In the corner diagonally from his bed is a single piece stainless steel toilet and a small sink. I quickly lose track of Arianna as I take in the despicable treatment Cole is receiving from the medical team here. That is until she appears on the other side of the mirror. I smile calmly as I hit the button allowing the speaker to play their conversation.
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