Chapter 117
“That’s a decent laceration. What happened to cause that?”
“Andre and the counter ganged up on me.”
We hear him mumble into Madilyn’s hair.
“What?” Patrick looks at me confused.
“His head was slammed into the counter before his meeting with his father. The incident in the hall that I’m talking about was when Lucas smacked him on this side of his head. The problem that I’m having now is why?”
“Alpha, I need to speak to you in private about my encounter with Lucas and the young lady he was with last night.”
Everyone stares at us at Cole’s request to meet with me. It’s quite a first considering how afraid he is of me.
“After dinner when I get you settled back into your room upstairs. I know this incident with Madilyn and your wolf has you quite unnerved but I still need you to eat. All you’ve managed so far is to push your food around your plate.”
“I’m sorry alpha. I’m not going to be able to eat.”
“Cole.” I sigh. If you can’t eat on your own then we will have to put the feed tube back.”
“I know.” He states quietly as he nods his head.
I walk back over to my seat, satisfied that the girls are comfortable with those they’re sleeping on. I start working on my own meal, quietly observing the table again. The mood has changed though. Cole is extremely tense. I can tell that he really doesn’t want to be here and something is weighing heavily on his mind. Damian joins Parker and Patrick’s conversation about the upcoming Super Bowl and dinner slowly gets back to normal.
Lilly places her hand on my arm, getting my attention.
“I’m going to take Madisyn up to her room.”
I give her a nod as I stand to help her from her seat. I sit back in my seat as she disappears around the corner and up the stairs. It’s only as I finish my plate and the sports conventions die down that I notice Cole is still having a hard time. I had hoped that leaving Madilyn sleeping on his shoulder would help calm him but whatever is on his mind seems to be really heavy.
“Cole, talk to me a little. What’s on your mind?”
He shakes his head before sighing hard.
“I was just worried about the wolves that got sent home. I haven’t heard of what happens to anyone who gets sent back the next day with physical punishment recommended.”
“You’re worried about what your father might do to them.”
I ask him as I return from taking Lilly’s and my plates to the kitchen sink. He nods silently as my kitchen help arrives.
“Good evening Alpha Demetri, are you finished or shall I return later.”
“If you could take care of putting away the food, I’m certain everyone has what they need. We will tend to the dishes when we’re finished. Thank you, Amber.”
“Yes sir, my pleasure.”
As Amber starts taking the pot roast from the table Damian jumps up and grabs a second helping of macaroni and cheese.
“You should try at least a bite of this.”
He proclaims as he puts a small forkful on Cole’s plate. Cole responds with a weak smile but refuses to look up from his plate.
“Do you have any siblings?” Parker asks as he returns from the kitchen.
Cole nods his head as he continues to toy with his food. I’m shocked when a single carrot finally makes it to his mouth.
“Mom had three sets of twins. Andre and Ashley are six years older, Kristoph and Kristal are three years older and Chloe is my twin, but she was born January 13th.”
“I thought you have a birthday coming up this week?” I ask, surprised at the date for his twin.
“Yes sir. She was born fourteen weeks early. I was twelve, but she went home with mom shortly after I was born. I was a lot smaller and weaker. I was two months old when I made it home.”
“Considering how he blurted out such personal information about you and what he did to your friend Jamie, why would you be worried about Dallas at all?”
“Damian!”
“What dad? I’m curious why he would be willing to worry about someone who’s out to hurt him?”
“It’s not….”
“It’s okay, alpha. No one deserves to be belted by my father. He truly has no mercy.”
“What about your siblings?”
“Patrick, now you’re getting personal?”
“Isn’t that the point when you single out one you’re interested in bringing back? To get to know them?”
For the first time since I’ve sat back down, Cole looks up at me. He appears lost and uncertain, looking for guidance and reassurance.
“He is correct.” I sigh as I lean forward with my arms on the table. “Although it’s rare for me to have an interest in any particular prospect before they have all arrived, let alone before they’ve gone through the physical, the ones I do become interested in are given the opportunity to live in the pack house. They are given a guest room on the ground floor for a week to two weeks and I engage them in different activities and one on one training that the others don’t get. It gives me a much more intimate view of who they are. Dinner is the time frame we use for personal questions since I never have more than one prospect in the pack house at a time. Although I had hoped to have had more time with you to gain your trust. You are allowed to be reserved when it comes to personal questions Cole. It just helps us to understand who you are.” He nods his head.
“Beta Patrick, could you be more specific with your question.”
“Just for clarification it seems you refer to a spanking as a belting?”
“My father doesn’t spank.” Cole responds robotically.
“Then what does being belted mean?”
Patrick tries to understand what the word means since it’s not a common word here. Unfortunately Cole simply shakes his head staring at his plate.
“Have others received this belting?” He nods but doesn’t explain.
“Have your siblings received this belting?”
“Receiving a belting from dad isn’t something you brag about. I’ve tried to convince several parents not to allow Alpha Redmen to punish their children but with the rumors about me having made it to every man, woman and child no one is willing to believe the cruelty he’s willing to inflict even on children. Not until they’ve seen the aftermath of giving their child to him the first time. Some parents with multiple pups will give him each of their pups for punishment at least once just so they can use the threat of them receiving another as a means of control over them. Once pups turn eighteen the parents have no say in the punishment they receive.
I can’t say for certain if my older siblings have had it but I can say I’ve seen the signs. As I’ve gotten older it’s become easier to tell when the adults have visited him for a belting. Only the youngest ones manage to come out without being cut and that might only be because of their age.”
“Cole,” I jump in while he’s in a pause, not certain if he’s going to continue or not. “Do you have a general understanding of the discipline structure of your pack? Specifically how your father deals with spankings? I know you said he doesn’t spank but it does sound very similar to it.”
He nods his head slowly as he finally puts the forkful of macaroni in his mouth before going back to toying with the carrots on his plate.
“Alpha Redmen’s general rule is your age on your bare ass.”
“Are there any adjustments to his strength based on age or rank?” He shakes his head, slowly drawing a deep breath in.
“You're saying you believe Alpha Redmen puts his full strength into the backside of a pup?” Parker’s voice is as shocked as I feel.
“I know he does.” His voice is pained as he pushes his plate away. His eyes close and he turns his head away, cringing at a sight or sound that no one else hears.
“Cole?” I speak quietly with a great amount of concern holding my hand up to stop anyone else from talking.
“Her screams, alpha. Goddess, why can I still hear her screams?”
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