September 3rd Pt. 3
“Can you still feel them?” Arianna asks as we walk into the room.
“No Luna, they have stopped.”
His answer is barely a whisper. The sudden slamming of the door results in several frightened yelps from Cole, followed briefly by Arianna. The door slams against the wall before slamming shut again and the entire room has suddenly spiraled into the chaos I was trying to avoid.
“Freeze!”
I command with all of my alpha aura out. I can hear Cole whimper as the power hits him even though it’s not angry.
“I told you he was unstable. He’s hurt your pregnant wife.” Dr. Harsher spouts off before anyone can say anything.
“She shouldn’t be in here. He needs to be sedated so he doesn’t…”
“You can stop that garbage. He didn’t hurt me.” Ari speaks boldly against the doctor’s harshness.
“Don’t lie to protect me. I deserve to be punished. My reaction to the door hurt you.” Cole whimpers softly.
“No Cole, you didn’t hurt me.”
“You yelped. I know I did.” I can tell by his voice the struggle he’s having trying to keep calm.
“I yelped because I was startled. Yes I did stumble when you reacted but you have very quick reflexes. Your grip on my elbows, while gentle, is very strong and kept me on my feet.”
“I’m sorry Luna. It should have never happened. I deserve the belt. Just lay into me. I won’t fight.”
“No Cole.” I finally speak up. “There will be none of that.”
“Please. You don’t understand. I deserve to be beaten.” I shake my head as I’m lost by his comment. It’s as if he’s begging to be punished.
“Cole, I need you to listen carefully as it’s important for you to understand that you have done nothing wrong. The touch you have engaged in with Luna Arianna has been innocent from the start. The slamming of the door was Deven and I’s fault. We are both very aware of how high strung you are right now and didn’t anticipate it closing that fast or hard. You have been in nonstop fight or flight mode, very likely since the whipping and Dr. Harsher… While she means well she really doesn’t have the experience needed to handle a wolf like you. None of what has happened is due to something you did wrong. Now, if you can handle it, I’d like to take Ari’s place so she can get a cold drink and prop her legs up.”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
I can see a look of confusion on Dr. Harsher’s face.
“This is part of why he’s here. You just explained…”
“No Cole. I will be touching you but it will not hurt you.”
I reassure him again. I watch as he slowly loosens his grip on Ari’s arms allowing me to gently escort her towards the door. Cole immediately starts pacing with a frantic hand stim, clenching and unclenching his fists as he walks the short length in front of the bed.
“Deven, can you take her to Meredith? I believe she was offering a drink before I ran off in search of Cole.”
He looks at Martin, standing just inside the door. He nods as he opens it, escorting the two out of the room.
“What would you like to do with this?” Dr. Harsher asks as she shows me Deven’s phone.
“Are you still with me Demetri?” I ask as I take it from her placing it in my shirt pocket.
“Yes sir. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is under control.” I sigh as Cole is far from being okay.
“Your Luna?” He asks.
“She’s fine. While what you were concerned with did happen, Cole kept her safe.”
“You had no doubt that he would.”
“She had no doubts. She wouldn’t risk her twins if she thought he wouldn’t.”
“What are you talking about?” I look quickly at Dr. Harsher, surprised she’s still here.
“Despite the name, I’m not a harsh doctor.” She tries to reassure me.
“I don’t react well to others taking over even though I was in over my head. While it is an excuse it is also the reason behind my reaction and I’m sorry.”
My attitude softens with the sincerity of her apology allowing me to nod while holding my tongue.
“What’s your name?” I finally ask her.
“Anna.” She responds softly.
“Well Anna. For the last month Arianna has been obsessed with researching protection wolves. It turns out they are even more rare than empaths and intuitives. In the eighty years since the council was formed, only fifty wolves have been identified as true protectors. All of those wolves had the misfortune of having to rise out of the ashes of some of the most morally corrupt packs known to the council. When I first met Cole he had all the classic signs of a wolf that somehow survived walking through a literal hell. Despite being highly sedated and injured from a life threatening fight, he intervened when he witnessed an orphan pup entrusted to my care, being abused by my beta. He not only made a difference in Clayton’s life but in my entire pack as I found out that he had been abusing many pups for the last three years.”
“He’s also made lasting changes at Purple Mountain as well. Dresden Draven has been removed from power and is awaiting trial at the council’s headquarters. Maverick was able to do a full examination of Elizabeth before she woke and the semen he collected was compared to Cole’s DNA clearing him of all wrongdoing. When Elizabeth woke she spoke to the council about what has been happening for the two years since her mom died. The council turned the kids over to Melissa and she was able to find a rogue werewolf family to foster the three kids until the council finds a better placement for them inside a pack. Meanwhile, Maverick has taken the reins. The council agreed to a one year trial instead of them taking over. If everything works out he will be coronated the alpha next December.”
I’m surprised to see Martin standing next to Anna.
“What does all that mean?” She’s still confused.
“Protectors, much to their own detriment, are drawn to those who cannot protect themselves. While I do believe that his need for help is what attracted him to Deven, it’s without a doubt that Melissa’s lack of a wolf drew him in. She may have found him and wrapped her arms around him, but once he understood her fear he took on four wolves to keep her from being taken.”
“You’re saying he’s a protector.” She’s finally starting to figure it out.
“While it will take some time, I have been researching how to apply to the council to recognize him as a protector.” Demetri finishes the conversation.
“You believe that your Luna knows he’s a protector?” Anna asks again.
“He fits the profile of a protector and we came to that conclusion before speaking with Demetri. Finding out that he’s actively working towards a protector title for Cole simply justified our belief.”
I finally approach the young man as his pacing has steadily increased as the room has become more crowded.
“I’m sorry, Cole. You’ve gotten all amped up again from all this chatter about you.”
I try to slow him down.
“As much as you try to avoid touch, you really need it right now.”
I close the gap between us suddenly, touching his hands, forcing him to stop with a small whine.
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