Chapter 114
“You managed to graduate a full year early?”
Patrick voices how impressed we both feel. For him to turn his schooling around that quickly is a sure testament to his intelligence and perseverance.
“Nearly a year, yes sir. It made it a lot easier to get into the apprenticeship with Jon. Dad was under the belief that I dropped out of school. I think that made him a little more willing to let me move in with the Jenkins three months after I turned eighteen.”
It’s as he’s talking that several of us notice Madilyn quietly crawl out of her seat beside Lucas. She’s had tears falling for several minutes but I didn’t want to interrupt Cole to ask what was wrong. She makes her way in between her mom and I, gently placing her tiny hand in mine.
“What’s wrong, Lynnie?” I ask her softly as I gather her into my arms.
“My tummy hurts again. I don’t want to eat.” She whimpers as I bring her against my chest.
“I know it hurts, baby. Mine got tight too. Is that why you started hitting Lucas?”
Her resolve to stay quiet completely collapses into full body sobs as she wraps her arms tightly around my neck. I push my chair away from the table as I hold her, gently rubbing her back.
I slip my hand under her dress and adjust her leggings down to her hips giving me access to the lower left side of her abdomen, the same place a knot has formed in my own body. I place my hand gently on the spot and I’m surprised that the very same spot is knotted up tightly.
She whimpers and squirms at my touch causing everyone at the table to look at me with concern. I sigh hard, not wanting to put him in this predicament but feeling like I have no choice.
“Cole?”
He looks up from his plate, gives me a silent nod and motions for me to bring her over. My eyes meet Lilly’s as I start to stand. She knows exactly what’s going on and responds with a reassuring smile.
I walk down the side of the table that Madisyn, Damian and Cole are sitting. I stand behind Damian’s chair as Cole pushes his away from the table.
“I know you prefer to keep this quiet and a lot more private but it took a lot of effort to get you out here.”
“I don’t need to lay with her. It’s just easier on both of us if I do it the way you saw last night. I’ve had to modify it because several of the girls are so terrified that I can’t lay with them.”
“What the hell dad? You’ve got to be joking. You’re going to let the pervert put his hands on her in front of everyone. She’s your daughter. We almost….”
“Shut it and park it. No one intervenes.”
I growl out the command calling everyone’s attention to the situation. It’s as I start handing her to Cole that things get really crazy. She starts kicking and screaming worse than last night forcing me to take her back.
“Madilyn, what’s going on dear? You’re worse tonight than last night. You know there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
I try to soothe her terrified response. Lucas is glaring hard at Cole as Madilyn finally answers.
“He will hurt him.” She hiccups through as she buries herself back into my neck, squeezing me hard.
“Who?”
“Lucas!” She sobs. “Lucas broke him because he touched me last night. I don’t want to hurt him.”
I put my hand on her head as I rock her slowly, trying to calm her wild sobs.
“I knew it. I knew he fucking hurt her last night.” Lucas is really getting on my nerves.
“One more word about Cole being a pervert and Patrick will hold you while I take the belt to your bare ass. Dr. Pierce, your mom and I were all there last night when she cramped up like this. There’s nothing perverted in what Cole does to help her.”
I take a few steps away from the table as I see Cole starting to shrink away from me. There’s a look of concern on Patrick‘s face, making me wonder what is going on in his head. Once Madilyn and I are calmer, I approach Cole again.
“Are you still up for this?”
My voice is hushed, uncertain if my aura is under enough control for him to handle. I hear him take several deep breaths before speaking.
“Madilyn, I know last night your father and I forced this. That’s not something I ever do. With the pain you are in it’s important that you make a decision about how to take care of it.”
“I like you. I want you. I’m scared Lucas will hurt you again.”
She breaks down into hard sobs again.
“Hand her here, alpha.”
She clings to me hard as I lower her down to Cole. I gently pry her hands from my shirt, setting her gently in his lap.
“No Cole! Please, he’s going to hurt you.”
She’s screaming and sobbing hysterically at the thought that Cole may be attacked again.
I step back, giving Cole space to work. His instincts for working with children are nothing short of amazing as he wraps his arms around her. One around her waist, drawing her against his chest, the second cradling her head as she sobs into his neck.
“Your dad seems to be okay with me helping you, sweetpea. And I don’t think your brother is too eager to get that belt on his backside again. You know I can help you.”
She pushes herself up off his shoulder and looks into his eyes.
“He’s hurt you twice today. I don’t want him to do it again.”
“He won’t.” I reassure both of them as I stare him down until he submits.
Cole wipes the tears from her eyes as she calms slightly.
“Is the cramp still there?”
He asks her gently. She nods her head with fear and pain still in her eyes.
“May I touch your belly?”
She nods her head again as they lean their foreheads on each other. Madilyn continues to cry quietly as Cole slips his hand under her dress and on her stomach. Closing his eyes, he zones out until his focus is on her and her alone. I’m surprised when he stops in the center, a spot I didn’t pick up on. I watch her cringe as a small whimper escapes. She wiggles in his lap with the discomfort she feels.
“Be still Lynnie.”
“No commands, alpha.” He speaks softly.
Everyone except Lilly and I are watching him intensely, trying to understand what’s going on. My focus is split between keeping Lucas in line and helping Cole where I can. A small yelp followed by quiet cries brings me back to Madilyn.
“Alpha, who would be better at comforting her? You or Luna?”
“I’d say we’re equal but considering Madisyn is quite upset and in Lilly’s lap I’m the best one.”
“I need her to relax. The knots in her stomach are tighter than last night making me believe that her own stress adds to the effect that being an intuitive creates. That yelp she made was one of the smaller ones behind the big one I’m on, letting loose.”
He lets out a heavy sigh as his hand moves in a circle under her dress.
“What’s wrong, Cole?”
“Although this is a better position to work with when the cramps pop before they relax, it’s a lot harder to get the little one to relax. If you can’t get her to relax we will have to get Dr. Pierce involved in sedating her.”
“They’re that bad?” Patrick’s voice is a mix of awe and concern.
“Adjust her position so she can lay on your shoulder.”
I’m trying to give him a start with how I comfort her. He pushes on her bottom, moving her closer to his chest.
“Lean into me so you can lay your head down.”
I take a position directly behind Cole to help enforce what he needs from her. Unfortunately, as she bends around his hand she starts whimpering and fighting his hold.
“You can’t fight me, sweetpea.” He whispers near her ear.
“It hurts.” She whines as she tries again.
“I know sweetie, I’m sorry.”
He tries to comfort her as she leans in again. This time I reach over and place my hand on the back of her head, using my fingertips to lightly brush against the back of her neck.
She cries lightly as she attempts to push away. It’s heartbreaking to see her in so much pain, especially since this miserable round could have been avoided if her brother had just left his hands to himself. I would have dealt with him skipping school a lot better if he hadn’t taken it upon himself to attack Cole.
“Relax sweetpea, it’s just pressure.”
He reassures as he uses the hand on her back to slowly increase the pressure on her belly.
She struggles with the change, clearly fighting the process until a loud pop could clearly be heard followed by Madilyn’s screams. We all cringe at the sound of Madilyn’s struggles. Why these cramps are so painful, I don’t understand but it’s clear as the chaos of that first large knot releasing dies down, Cole has taken her reaction the hardest.
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