Thursday, April 4th; 12pm
(Andre’s POV)
“I’m so sorry Andre. Someone followed him into the buffer zone. After I introduced myself I could smell another wolf nearby and the wolf that I believe was your brother Cole, darted into the woods. By the time I called for reinforcements and my trackers caught his scent, he had been removed from the cave. The other wolf must have gotten to him and brought him back as my trackers were able to trace his blood back to the footbridge. It was different from the way he got to the cave so we know it was a second trail. Whoever came after him, wanted him as badly as Cole wanted away from him.”
I can’t believe my ears but hold my tongue. I have no doubts that dad told Kristoph to head over to the Red Moon cabin as I made the mistake of telling him that I needed to stay several nights there. No matter how much I insisted on needing to go out, that I needed to clear my head after discovering the truth behind Sasha’s infidelity, he maintained the need for me to train.
I learned a long time ago that once his mind was set you obeyed. It was during our third hour sparring that I was tired enough to understand what he was doing. Normally, our spars are a maximum of an hour as the council has made it illegal to go longer than that without shifting. Dad has been known to go longer, but he slows down at the same rate as the individual he’s sparring with. He gave both of us the usual twenty minute break after each hour but I believe that was more for him than me. Both times he returned angrier than he left and it was at the end of our last round that he finally disclosed what I knew this sparring match was meant to be. I wince with a hard whine as I breathe deeper than I intended.
“Andre, when were you injured?” Alpha Julian’s voice surprises me over the phone.
“I’m sorry. I forgot you were still on the phone.”
“Quite all right but I’m worried.”
“I don’t want to speak of it over the phone.” I just about whisper, ashamed that I can’t handle what my brother has been forced to handle his entire life.
“Can you come to me?”
“I need to.” I admit, keeping my voice low.
My room in the pack house is sound proof but I don’t want to take a chance on big brother hearing it.
“Can my upper ring come?”
“Yes, son. Bring what and whoever you need.”
“Thank you sir. Tonight? After dark?”
“Try to get here sooner. 5pm? Use a vehicle. I’ll tell my gatekeepers that you are expected as well as my hospital wing. You’re going to strip down in front of me before getting a medicated bath. I don’t like that whine from just breathing.”
“Yes sir.”
I agree no matter how much I don’t want to expose my injuries, he’s my mate’s long lost father. Bringing her home to him, despite the damage she has suffered, has created a bond deeper than with my own. Crazy considering I’ve only known him since Thanksgiving but he’s the strict yet kind alpha a pack needs. Like Alpha Black, it’s the things that hurt others that he doesn’t forgive. I pocket my phone as I head to the door.
‘Max, Amos. I need you ready to leave by two. Three days at a neighboring pack. Heading to dad for permission.’
I don’t need them to say a thing to know they heard me. I regret my intrusion as I was able to hear Max in the middle of loving his mate but I quickly shove it aside. He’s got two hours to get tied a few times before he leaves with me. More than enough to satisfy him while he’s gone.
I make my way to dad’s office, pausing outside the door as I hear the screams of a child being punished. I walk down the hall and out the door stepping into the slowly melting snow. I have never been able to handle the screams that come from physical punishment and I vowed a long time ago that I would not continue such cruelty.
‘Dad, I need to leave. Can we talk?’
I know the short message got through and I can only hope that it might lessen the punishment the child is receiving.
‘Five minutes, I’m not done yet.’
Fuck. The last thing I wanted to hear.
‘No dad, now.’ I know I’m pushing it.
‘Five minutes or you receive what this boy is receiving.’
I march right back in and pound with fists on my father’s office door. The door is opened harshly. I shove my way past Douglas, a beta warrior for my father. I look at the desk to see his naked, squirming, screaming four year old son pinned by his neck to the desk.
“Move!”
I speak with purpose as I shove my father out of the way. I pick the screaming boy up from the desk, he fights my hold violently as I know my arm under his bottom is hurting him. I walk swiftly past Doug, out the door and quickly to the medical wing. I can hear Doug storming after me only stopping once I’m in Dr. Johnston’s office. He looks up from his papers and immediately stands. I follow him to the room he wants to use.
“What happened?” Oliver asks as I lay the child on the bed.
“I interrupted my father’s punishment. He passed out on the way over.”
I leave the boy and head to the large sink to scrub his blood off my arms.
“Why was he being punished?”
“He took a toy from his sister. Alpha wasn’t finished.” Doug states as he tries to pick the child back up.
“No! You will leave him where he lies!”
I can feel Oliver’s alpha aura come out strong and angry. Doug stops in his tracks. The moon goddess may grant free will but the angry aura of an alpha male is instinctively scary.
“I’m coronated heir of this pack which grants me certain privileges under the eyes of the council. While I cannot jail my father or Douglas for such a heinous act against a child I can remove him from his family.”
“What?!!” Doug has the audacity to suddenly act as if he cares about his son.
“Tread carefully Andre. You don’t want your father to rescind your coronation.”
“He can’t.” I respond to Oliver’s gentle warning. “I learned a lot from Blister Ridge and while no one knows the mechanism behind their sudden interest in stopping abuse and torture for good the writing’s on the wall that it’s happening. They have passed numerous laws in January of this year and last year as well as July of last year. While it may not seem related, once the next in line is officially coronated only the council can rescind it and there are steep penalties for the alpha that named an heir then wants to cancel it. Now, Doug, you can turn tail and explain to the woman in your house why your son isn’t coming home. I would advise preparing for the council as well as I will be filing a report of the injuries Caidence has acquired from this beating. Dr. Johnston, I do apologize but this pup is not to remain in the wing. I need you to take him to your home as soon as all necessary tests and procedures have been completed. He will stay with you until a suitable foster is found outside of the pack.”
I receive a thumbs up from Oliver. I knew he wouldn’t argue but the shock on Doug’s face is infuriating to say the least.
“Now, I get to present my bare ass in place of the child’s. Go home.”
I speak loud and firm in Doug’s face, standing within inches of him as I wait for him to move. He finally tears himself away from his only son and youngest child, walking slowly to the door as the soft commands of what needs to be done can be heard from the doctor. I close the door behind me knowing that only medical personnel will be able to enter and make my way back to the office.
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