Chapter 116
He pulls away from me but his head is bobbing, almost as if he is fighting sleep but I can tell that it’s different. His refusal to open his eyes is having quite the negative effect on him and he keeps moving towards Madilyn as if he wants to scent her.
“Wait, what? What did Lucas tell you that makes you think Demetri would do such a thing?”
“That his father would never leave Madilyn with someone who would hurt her. That the pack house was in a frenzy searching for her.”
I can’t help but glare at Lucas, who is the only one nonchalantly eating his food at this point, everyone else has stopped.
“I saw you with Madilyn before you stopped and tried to sit with Jamie. I will admit that it made me nervous to see you coming from the dorms to the playground in a change of clothes but I know better than to attack you. That’s not the way this pack works.
No, I linked with Demetri and he told me that he and Lilly felt it would be good for both of you to be with each other. That you respond extremely well to pups. That you’re very caring and protective of them. Cole, please. Open your eyes and look at me. I’m going to do a partial to change my eyes so that it’s easier for you to adjust to.”
He stills his movements but I can’t tell if he’s trying to do what Patrick has asked.
“It took me four years to be able to use my eyes during a partial shift. I discovered quite by accident, that looking at the eyes of another wolf with black-out eyes allowed my eyes to adjust quicker to my surroundings than if I just forced them to open. Based on your reaction I believe you’ve shifted like this before but you haven’t had anyone with experience to help you with it.” He nods his head slowly against my arm.
“Open your eyes slowly. Look straight ahead at Luna but slightly up so that you can see me. If they start to hurt then you shut them and start again when you’re comfortable.”
I watch my beta interact with Cole, even if it is at a distance I do feel that it’s progress from two nights ago when he was completely against Cole even staying here.
A sudden sharp whine and a harsh duck into my arm reminds me of what is going on.
“That was a good first try with me, Cole. Give it a minute for the sting to die down then we can try again.” Patrick instructs.
“Did you see his eyes?” Patrick and Lilly both nod.
“He’s a black-out and it’s going to take some time and persistence to get him used to how his eyes function when he’s in both a shift and a partial shift.”
“You had issues when you were shifted?”
“Full shift wasn’t nearly as bad because I was working with my wolf’s eyes over completely black but they were still quite sensitive. I actually avoided partial shifts for a long time, even after I got through the most painful part of the process. Are you ready to try again, Cole?”
“No.” I interrupt before Cole can answer. “He already has a significant concussion between what happened to him Saturday and what Lucas did this morning.”
“Yes sir.” Patrick responds quietly. He closes his eyes, then opens them back, revealing his light brown eyes.
“Cole.” I start rubbing his head again. “Madilyn is sleeping. I don’t think those cramps are bothering her anymore. Can you get out of the partial?” He shakes his head again causing concern.
“What’s wrong, Cole? Why can’t you get out of the shift?”
“He’s not satisfied. He thinks she’s going to cramp up again like the other girls. I can feel his desires but he has it all wrong. He won’t listen to me. Please alpha. Take her from me.”
“Fighting your wolf is unnatural, Cole. You’ve been taught to fight your instincts when it comes to him. Relax with him. Duck you head down to Madilyn’s neck. There’s nothing sexual about scenting a child. Parents do it all the time.”
I try to guide him into her neck.
“Alpha, no!” He cries out as he bucks against my hold. “Take her please. You don’t understand what he wants to do to her. She’s just a baby. She can’t handle what I do to the girls at my pack. You must take her. Alpha please! I can’t fight him!”
“Stop fighting me!”
I command as I place one hand back on his chest and the other against the back of his neck, freezing him instantly.
“You need to calm down Cole. You are extremely fearful of your own wolf and that’s not something that is natural or easily overcome. I’m sorry Cole but at this point you will follow my commands.”
“No, Alpha please. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Yes, I do.” I reassure him softly.
“You are to allow your wolf to come forward. Stop fighting him.”
“I can’t!”
“You must, Cole. Give into your wolf. Maintain just enough control that you stay in your human form but give him control.”
“What the hell are you doing, dad? Even he’s afraid of this and you’re going to give him Madilyn without hesitation?”
“You don’t have the information we have, Lucas. Look at your mother, son. She’s not worried.”
I look at Lilly. I know what I feel through the bond but her face is reassuring that she thinks the same as I. Cole’s head has started bobbing like he’s fighting sleep again. I move my hand from his neck and start gently trying to get him to lay against my arm.
“Cole, I know you feel my presence. Let it give you the confidence you need to allow your wolf to take control. Trust him to see me as the leader. Give in to his instincts.”
“Cole, Demetri has been doing some research, trying to figure out why you’re so afraid of talking about your involvement with the pack girls.”
I look intensely at Lilly as she speaks to him.
“I assure you, Demetri and I will keep your confidence until you are safe and it’s appropriate for your involvement to be known but I feel it’s important for you to understand that we don’t think you fully understand what’s happening. If you are doing what you admitted to last night then your wolf’s instincts are the same as yours. He has an innate desire to protect these pups and we have no reason to believe that Madilyn is in any danger by allowing your wolf to verify that she doesn’t need what the others needed.” She tries to explain gently.
“She’s right Cole. I’m staying close so that you’re more comfortable with my ability to intervene if I see it necessary but I truly believe that you just need to let go.”
He’s finally starting to settle down. His body shakes from fear as he allows himself to give up the control he’s desperate to keep. As his movements become more relaxed I’m able to pick out more purpose in his movements.
I pet his head gently as he lowers his head down towards Madilyn. Everyone is quiet as he brings his nose down to her neck, inhaling deeply. I hear several people gasp as he opens his mouth, his canines visible as he places them on either side of her shoulders in the crook of her neck.
“What the fuck, dad? Stop him!”
Lucas jumps from his seat and runs into Pat trying to get to Cole.
“Sit down, Lucas. Your sister is fine.”
I growl as Cole breathes in deeply, his teeth resting lightly against her skin. Madilyn squirms slightly with the new sensation but doesn’t appear to be in any pain or distress. His teeth graze along her skin slowly as he pulls away. His hold on Madilyn changes, using both his hands to hug her closer as he lays his head upon hers. I smile lightly as I speak again.
“Very good Cole. That’s exactly what he needed. Now, I need you to start taking control back. You need to move slowly without force. I’m going to help you along by putting my hands on you. One, flat on your back on top of your spine just below your neck and the other on your chest. Your wolf should respond with submission to my touch now that he’s satisfied that Madilyn doesn’t need to be protected. You push forward as he pulls back at the same speed. You will feel your claws, fangs and eyes all slowly change as well.”
As I’m talking him through his shift back I can see all the features of a partial shift retreat and become normal again. His breathing is normal but his body is still shaking.
“Wonderfully done.” I whisper as I move my hands to his head. “Be still Cole. I saw the footage from the hallway and I just need to check. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“What do you mean the footage from the hallway and what are you looking for?”
Patrick asks as Lucas suddenly finds the single carrot left on his plate extremely interesting.
“Come stand on his right side and I’ll show you as I talk.”
I invite as I slowly part the hair near the laceration we fixed last night. His sudden whine alerts me to the tenderness and pain he’s in causing me some concern as to what Lucas did.
“Be still for me.” I whisper as I slow my movements even more.
“There it is.” I state as I gently lift the hair away from the wound.
“Is that part of what Lucas did?”
Patrick exclaims harshly. I’m surprised when Cole starts trying to sink away from Patrick. I’ve never had an alpha fear a beta before.
“No Pat. This is why I stopped you from going any further with his eyes while he was in a partial. He already had a significant concussion when he came here. We found two more significant injuries last night after he had a major night terror. We did X-rays but not the CAT scan that he had today.
He encountered Lucas in the hallway before he and Madilyn went to breakfast. Lucas hit him with a flat hand in this area. Since we did glue instead of stitches on the outside, I wanted to make certain it didn’t bust open.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
