Thursday, March 28th Pt. 3
“I’m sorry if it’s awkward but Andre believes that positive touch and interaction will help you to trust us so I’m going to help you with this treatment. Your breathing sounds very painful. I’m going to move this pillow and get behind you. Hopefully leaning against me isn’t too uncomfortable considering I’m the same height as you.”
He hands me the mask and turns on the machine before climbing into the bed with me. I would really prefer that he stay away from me but I don’t see where I’m in a position to refuse. I stiffen as he gets behind me, surprised when his first touch is to the hand holding the mask.
“Bring it to your face, Cole. You saw me put the medication in there.”
He tries to calm my fears while using gentle pressure to bring the mask to my face. I fight briefly before the fight for oxygen simply exhausts my energy. He pulls the strap around my head, letting it go without it snapping. He resorts to holding my hands in front of me as I’ve tried several times to remove the mask, yet he’s remained silent, simply allowing me to feel his presence.
“Lay back against me.”
He encourages me as control of my head starts to decrease. I force myself to take his advice as I huff and puff with an open mouth through the mask. I barely open my eyes as the door opens briefly, a gust of cold air making me shiver.
“It’s getting really bad out there.”
Jason informs us as he starts removing his coat and gloves.
“Have you alerted the rest of the crew to your plan?”
“I have. Can you grab the blanket from under his feet and place it over his chest? He’s had numerous broken ribs and this cold weather is going to cause him pain.”
‘You really do care.’ I think without thinking.
Jason cocks his head uncertain as to what’s happening.
“I was wondering when you would start using that again. Jason, turn up the heat a little and grab a seat from the kitchen. There’s a little story I’d like to tell.”
Jason fumbles a moment with the heat before looking around for a chair. When he comes up empty he simply sighs and takes a seat on the edge of the bed at my feet.
“Nine years ago in late January, I was new to the guardsmen crew. Alpha called me and several other guards to the seldom used whipping post very early in the morning. I didn’t even know he had one and had to get directions in order to report. When I showed up, there was a male, a preshift, chained to the homemade wooden restraint in hard submission. Alpha threw water on the boy’s back before Beta Andrew grabbed him by his hair and shook him around. When he reacted violently to their attempts to unchain him, Beta Andrew slammed his head into the box before holding him there. Even in the dark I could tell that he was in rough shape. He screamed when he was touched. Fought with such ferocity when alpha picked him up that he dropped him in the snow before kicking him several times. I was ordered to walk with the young man three miles in the snow, to Red General. The boy had socks but no shoes and it appeared that his shirt was taken from him before the whipping occurred.”
“Wait, what?” Jason interrupts what I know is my story but for some reason Mason has yet to admit that it was me. “You mean to tell me that story is true? That Alpha Redmen illegally took a whip, an actual whip, to a fifteen year old boy?” Jason exclaims.
“Yes, the story parents tell their child about a teen that was whipped by Alpha Redmen is indeed true. I didn’t see the actual whipping but I certainly heard it. Nothing I would ever want to hear again. I was appalled when I was called to report to the pack house yet looking back on it, I’m grateful he chose me.”
“Why would you be grateful to be exposed to such cruelty?”
“Because it gave me an opportunity to show the young man great kindness.”
He pauses as I shuffle my position. His legs are wrapped around me with his arms leaning on them. He removes the mask from my face as the medication has run dry and I only have a slight wheeze left that will work itself out as long as I’m not startled yet I find myself, inexplicably, drawn to him.
“It’s up to you, Cole, but if you want to stay with me, I’d like to change our positions a little so I can wrap my arms around you.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
Jason seems too young to understand my needs. I’m torn after Jason’s comment. I really do want to be held but feel weird admitting my need for it with an audience.
“Lean against me Cole. It’s okay.”
Somehow my channeling ability has betrayed me again as he guides me back into his arms. I close my eyes as his scent hits me. While it’s not nearly as strong, something in his scent reminds me of the fatherly hold Alpha Black always put me in when I felt weak and out of control.
“It’s okay to fall asleep. I’ve been told that asthma attacks tend to zap you of all your energy and you will need it when we start moving again. Are you okay with my story?”
I’m surprised by his genuine concern but I had never heard my story from another’s point of view and I’ve yet to get a flashback from it.
“I’m fine.” I speak for the first time since they’ve arrived.
“As I had explained, I was appalled when I arrived and even argued against Alpha’s directions. The boy was obviously in such a deep shock that it should’ve rendered him incapable of being conscious, yet I was ordered to force him to walk several miles in the snow. I helped the boy up and some how he staggered away from the torture he had just endured. With what little light there was it was difficult to get him far enough away that I could go against the alpha’s command. He made it twenty feet before collapsing into the heavily accumulating snow. When I reached for his hand to help him up, he fought back. Yelling, screaming, begging and crying as he blindly swung at us. Levi had the presence of mind to pull a flashlight out of his pants, shining it on the boy so we could see the damage done as he kneeled in the snow. As much as I wouldn’t want to embarrass him, when I saw his face, it reminded me of when my toddler walked off the couch and slammed his face into the coffee table. It was the memory of how I treated Samuel after his accident that allowed me to approach this child in much the same way. I allowed my parental aura and scent to come through while crawling slowly towards him. I pacified his blind hits easily as I spoke with calm authority. I explained what I wanted to do and apologized knowing that it would hurt him. I was genuinely concerned and knew he would never make it to the hospital walking without frostbite. I took my own coat off and put it on him backwards. I knew the Sherpa lining would keep my scent close and provide a comfortable place to lay his head as we walked. I had Levi verify that Alpha was no longer outside before having him help get the boy standing. He screamed, cried and cursed the moon when I picked him up but once in my arms, Levi got his head positioned so he could breathe adequately while laying inside the hood of the coat and we managed to make the hour-long walk in an hour and twenty minutes. We took turns carrying him. Despite being quite malnourished at the time, he was still about 100 pounds and that gets heavy after a mile of walking. Once inside everyone stopped what they were doing and started helping him. I begged the one nurse to allow him to keep my coat as it was the only thing that pacified him. She understood my concern and said she’d try but couldn’t guarantee anything. I stayed as long as I could, watching everything they did until they wheeled him out of the trauma bay.”
It’s during his pause that I zone out, allowing myself to remember the once imperceptible change in a wolf’s scent. Not all wolves of Red Fang are vile and evil and I’m laying in the arms of that proof.
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