Sunday, January 27th, 2019 Pt. 3

(Cole’s POV)

I’ve been back in the Red Fang territory for nearly three months and to say that everything has changed for me is an understatement. I made my way reluctantly back to my room two weeks ago from Dr. Johnston’s house. He’s done everything he could to make me comfortable in his home.
It was over a month after I finally woke up that I was able to get out of bed and move around his house. To my disbelief, he allowed me to interact with his girls and there were several times that he and his mate got an urgent house call on the weekend that resulted in them allowing me to watch over them. I had no desire to leave. They took care of me much like the Jenkins did.
I never experienced hunger and without having to report to my father, I never experienced pain while with the Johnston’s but my father seems to have a sixth sense about me and to keep them from my father’s wrath I left before they were up. No goodbye, no thank you, I just left. Slipping into the darkness like I’ve always have. I’m not allowed kindness or love. I convinced myself long ago that my friendship with Allison is what ultimately cost her, her life.
I walk around my room, stripping my bed of the over worn sheet that barely stays on it and tossing it in the hamper. The littles I have helped for years have assisted me in gaining bedding, air mattresses and memory foam bed toppers for them to sleep on when they need help.
Majority of the time when I’m gone my room is locked except for a single window in my bathroom. It’s half the size of the other windows in my room but something happened this time. My room is never empty when I come home and it’s never been ransacked, yet here I stand cleaning, disposing of the cut up mattresses and other items that have been destroyed. It’s been a lonely two weeks and adjusting to my new reality, new even by Red Fang standards, has been very difficult.
Three taps on my window alerts me to the guests I know are coming. I drop the empty trash bag from my hands as it’s been difficult to even motivate myself to clean the place, terrified to find out how much I actually lost. I unlatch and lift the center window of the three that are clustered on the north wall.
“Happy Birthday.”
The unexpected greeting from Jamie brings tears to my eyes. I blink quickly, clearing the haze my tears bring as I reach towards him, taking the first of several packs from him and his father.
‘Stop.’ I think as I hear a rustling in the frozen grass.
To my shock they heard it. Jamie stares at me without moving.
‘What do you think it is?’ I can hear him without him talking.
‘Security patrols have increased around the north side of the house. Get in, quickly.’
I take advantage of this new ability to silently help them in before shutting, locking and drawing the curtains to my room.
“We can talk freely. My room is mostly soundproof. We just can’t conversate loudly in front of the windows.”
They both nod as they gingerly make their way through my room. I’ve never been awake to let them in, making it easy to forget that they’ve been here, helping me.
“It looks like you could use some help.” Jon comments as he looks around.
“I’ve fallen into a hard depression since returning. I’ve barely been able to get out of bed.”
I sigh as being truthful with my beta and his father is something I’ve never been willing to do.
“Do you know what happened here?”
“Dad got in.” I start slowly. “Olivia came by a few days after I came back to my room. She wanted to help clean it up but I told her to stop. I need to be the one to do it so I know exactly what I lost. She seemed to understand even though it made her sad. She explained that it might be a while before the pups come back. One of the youngest and newest ones had made the mistake. Instead of using the bathroom window they used the door leading into the pack house. They had several cold nights and a lot of the younger ones were ill prepared to stay in my room. Dad had been watching on camera for a while and waited for one to come out. He barged into the room and told the pups to get out. That his pack wasn’t so bad that pups had to seek refuge in a pedophile’s room. If he caught them returning for any reason they would receive their age on their bare ass. She made sure all the pups got out of the room but didn’t stay to see the damage.”
“That would explain why the lights were off and the windows locked up.”
All I can do is nod as I place the pack in my hand on the naked bed.
“Would you like some help replacing these windows with a sliding glass door? I’ve got a small one that the manufacturer made too small for the project I was working. They misread the specs on it so they replaced it for free. It looks like you already started demolition. It wouldn’t take me much to create the opening needed.”
“You’d have to do it at night when Michael and Mason are patrolling. I’m not planning to stay long. It seems useless to do all that.”
“It would make things a lot easier. We actually have more than what’s here just outside your window.”
“More of what?”
“Food from our house. Mostly canned goods and other non-perishable items until I can get an idea of what you still have. You mentioned when you could finally tolerate our link that your dad has cut you off from everything.”
All I can do is nod as he very much has. Now that he’s listed me as a feral rogue the only thing he has to provide is shelter. He no longer has to fund the medical bills he creates or give me an account at the grocery store. He’s cut me off from the dining hall and I haven’t shown my face at the family table since I was seventeen.
“Your beatings will get worse if he finds that you’re helping me.”
“We will see about that.” Jon’s the only one continuing the conversation as Jamie has already started rolling up the destroyed air mattresses still laying flattened on my floor.
“What size bed do you have?”
I look quickly back at Jon as I didn’t expect such a question.
“Standard full. I was surprised when dad offered to get me a brand new bedroom set after I won the challenge he gave me to get this room. I think it was just to get the queen bed and move it somewhere else but he did let me choose what I wanted. It was the last nice thing he did for me.”
“I’ll pack up some bedding from our house. With Molly and the kids at Crimson Dawn we don’t need as much stuff.”
“I’m sorry….”
“No Cole.” He interrupts harshly before pulling me into a hug. “The apology isn’t yours to give.” He explains as I struggle to accept the moment.
“It’s actually the reason I’d like to install the small sliding glass door, it would make it easier for you to get the items that we bring you. Do you know where the cameras are located? That’s the only way we will be able to get anything to you. I need you to talk to me. I need to know what you have and what you need so I can help keep you going until you leave.” I shake my head slowly as I step out of his hands.
“I can’t risk the two of you getting tortured.”
“And I can’t risk you starving to death.” He speaks honestly as he holds my head, keeping me from looking away from his face. His hold is gentle, his voice sincere when he speaks.
“As long as he didn’t find my laptop, I’ll be able to track which way the cameras face and make adjustments if I know what night you're coming. Avoiding the fuller moon phases will help you stay undercover. I have no idea how cut off being listed as a feral rogue is going to make me. So far it seems like I’m not allowed inside any of the buildings so getting anything is going to be a struggle.”
“I know this sounds crazy, but let me do some asking around, try to flush out who we can trust and who’s against you. I’m going to try and get a meeting with Alpha Redmen….”
“No!” I can’t help but cry out against it.
“Hear me out Cole. If you’re not allowed inside any buildings then he won’t want you walking around the pack house. I can use that to ask permission to put the back door in as well as create a deck area. As difficult as he has made it in the past for you to get food I still have a hard time believing he wants you to starve. Now, do you have a microwave or a fridge?”
“I have to clean up to find out if he destroyed those.” I reply weakly.
“Well then, let’s get started.”