Monday, May 13th Pt. 15
“Can you tell me what’s going on between you, Lauren and David?” He shakes his head.
“No?” Cassius is easily as shocked as I am. “Why, little buddy? I can’t help you if I don’t know.”
He shakes his head as he speaks. “I tried to go to you. I talked to Braysen instead. He started meeting with them and now he adds to their punishment every day.”
“You feel that talking has made it worse?” He asks gently. I can tell that he’s hoping to gain a little confidence to keep him talking.
“It did!”
He suddenly steps back forcing Cass to grab his hands. He yelps and screams again, fighting to get away. I’m surprised when he succeeds. I know that Cassius allowed him to pull free. What I didn’t expect was Colton’s reaction to the child’s desire to flee. With energy he shouldn’t have while under the drugs he’s on, he leaps from under my arm and across the room pulling the young pup into his legs. Clayton immediately wraps his arms around him, crying softly into his thigh. Colton leans his shoulder on the wall, his hand caressing the back of his head. Cody and the ladies’s eyes are all wide with shock.
“Try to relax.” Cassius addresses them. “This explains what happened in the pack house. Colton, I had a suspicion that you just confirmed when I let him go. It’s obvious you’re protective of pups. I need to know what happened when you were waiting for me at the pack house.”
I move from the back of the seat Colton started in. I keep my distance as I know this is something Cassius must establish himself as the leader no matter how close in age the two appear to be. Colton shakes his head.
“No? You’re not willing to tell me?” He asks slowly but again Colton shakes his head.
“I don’t remember, sir.” Colton whispers just as slow.
“I see. I need you to tell me what you do remember.” He shakes again before whispering.
“I deserve to be beat. I hurt him.”
“Clayton?” He shakes again.
“I don’t know his name but he was dragging Clayton by his hair down the hall. He was screaming, crying, begging him not to spank him. That he already had two. It reminded me of the boy in my dreams.”
“Keep going Colton. What happened to the boy in your dream?”
He shakes his head. It’s easy to tell the stress even thinking about what happened is causing him. His eyes are closed as he leans his head against the wall. His breathing is tight and his hand visibly shakes with every stroke he makes against Clayton’s hair.
“He is bent over something hard. His hands are tied so he can’t run and he’s being hit…..” He pauses as Clay’s grip tightens around his leg. “The boy is being beaten with something cold, hard and sharp. It cuts into his back, bottom and legs with every hit.”
Cassius waits to respond, uncertain if there’s more Colton wants to share.
“When I was waiting. A man I haven’t been introduced to came in from the side of the house. He had Clay by his hair, cursing at him. Threatening him with tearing up his backside. Clay screamed that he didn’t push her and both Lauren and David spanked him. The man responded with it not being enough. That he had been causing trouble since he got here and he needed to learn submission. That he wasn’t going to walk for a week. It was time for him to meet the buckle end.”
He opens his eyes, looking straight at Cassius before lowering them to the ground. Cass reaches out slowly but the fear is obvious as Colton attempts to back up. To Cassius’s benefit, Clayton is frozen stiff and Colton won’t move without his cooperation.
“No pain with this Colton. Just touch. Keep talking. Tell me what you remember.”
“Not much until we left.”
He admits with a whine as Cass gently guides Colton’s head away from the wall, visually examining the left side of his face.
“Tell me exactly what you remember.”
“Nothing until Clayton started shaking me. Yelling at me that we needed to leave. He helped me get up and walk out the front door. It took me several questions but I was able to get him to head towards the clinic where I was able to get us to Deven.”
“Colton, I need you to understand that no punishment will come to you, not today. I never immediately punish, especially physical punishment. I research the story and find evidence that supports the truth. Too many times the more convincing person was false. I have cameras all over the place. I promise I will be looking into what happened. Right now, it’s important that I talk to Clayton and you need to head back to bed. It’s been a very long and painful day for you.”
He shakes his head.
“Colton?” Cass inquires.
“I’m not leaving him to be taken back to them. I heard enough to know he’s safer with me.”
His statement is surprisingly firm as his fingers close around the fabric of Clay’s shirt at his shoulder.
“I didn’t think you would feel safe giving him up. Not with how strong your protection aura is. Despite a dormant wolf, it would appear that your auras are still intact even if they’re not purposeful.”
“Auras, sir?”
“I expected it to be confusing. Werewolves produce different auras. Omegas and two-thirds of gammas cannot produce an aura, while the upper tier of gammas, plus all deltas and higher ranks can. The aura is used to enforce one’s rank, to calm and comfort when mates or pups need a shoulder to lean on and to provide protection. Based on the strength of this aura I have no doubts that your statement in the bathroom is true. You are an alpha. It’s only because I mean Clayton no harm that I’m not phased by your protection aura but it is going to make taking Clay from you very difficult. It’s important that you don’t fight. I have to talk to and examine Clayton for injuries. What I hear and see will determine where he stays the night.”
He nods his head but doesn’t move.
“I need help.” He whispers. “I don’t know how to trust you. I can’t let go.”
“I know. That’s why I don’t expect taking him to be easy. Deven is going to help.” I nod when he looks at me, closing my approach. “Deven’s going to loosen your grip on Clay and hold your hand as I loosen Clay from your leg. I need you to fight your instincts to protect him. Neither of you are in trouble.”
He emphasizes what he needs as Colton stifles his desire to yelp. My touch is gentle as I massage him loose. His fight is minimal as I guide his arm across his chest.
“Squeeze hard Colton.”
I direct him as Clayton squeals from Cassius’s touch. It’s easy to tell how the pup’s crying affects him.
“Once he’s loose I need you to seek me. You need to let Cassius take him. I promise he will not hurt him. I promise his cries will calm down.”
I reassure him as I know Cassius is about to win the war of prying Clayton away. The simultaneous scream combined with Colton’s burial into me, trying desperately to cover his ears unnerve me. It’s been several years since we’ve had to team up on helping two abused individuals at the same time. I wrap my arms around Colton waiting patiently for Clayton’s terror to pass. It takes several minutes after Clay quiets for Colton to even try to function normally.
“Do you want to lay down?” I ask hoping that he’ll take the hint.
“No sir. I want to help Clay.”
I respect his decision and help him return to his seat. They are both spent as Cassius continues to work with Clayton to gain his trust. I sigh hard as I look upon the child’s back. Removing his shirt is as far as Cass has managed to get but it’s enough to get everyone’s attention. Bruises in various stages of healing cross his lower back. Clayton is back to fighting hard as Cassius removes his pants. Now clad in a pair of underwear, he’s convinced that he’s getting a spanking.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
