Chapter 130
“Many times while I was at Blue Haven I heard alpha Mathias tell a wolf who wanted to move into their mate’s pack that once they leave they can never return. Said the same to Parker and I before we left. I guess this part of my story has more purpose than I initially intended even though it’s filler for explaining why I’m biased.”
“That’s okay.” I’m surprised when he whispers a response when I take a break. “We have more things we can relate to than you think.”
“It does seem like it.” I respond thoughtfully.
“The next day Parker and I explored the grounds and kept busy until the afternoon rolled around. I ended up stumbling upon Demetri sitting in his office surrounded by piles of papers. If he hadn’t said something I would have completely missed him sitting behind them. Parker was quite shy going into the alpha’s office. He acted like he didn’t want to go in but he also refused to leave my side. It was the first time that it seemed he was afraid of the alpha. It made me wonder how many times he had seen alpha Mathias without my knowledge. Demetri picked up on it too. I remember him telling Parker that he wasn’t in trouble and he wouldn’t hurt him before picking him up and putting him on his lap. He encouraged Parker to find his scent as he rubbed his back. He ended up relaxing so much he fell asleep.”
“Alpha? Do you think Parker was abused by alpha Mathias?”
I pause a moment, having never considered the possibility of such a thing. Parker never really acted abused but he certainly was fearful of the alpha.
“It’s possible he was mildly abused based on his level of fear towards me. I personally call it being heavy handed when the pup is really young but I feel it’s more likely that Mathias neglected to complete the imprinting process. All pups are instinctively aware of the hierarchy and are naturally fearful of the alpha. It is the alpha’s responsibility to ensure that once the pup is bonded to their parents that he takes the time to imprint the pup to them as well. It’s a requirement for the pups of the upper ring to be imprinted but I imprint with every pup that is delta level or higher as majority of my warriors are delta and beta level.”
“I wasn’t aware of that stipulation.”
“It’s only shared with alphas when they transition to power. It’s part of the reason I was so forceful with Parker. Considering the trauma of losing his mother and being abandoned by the pack he was born into was so fresh and painful I knew it was imperative for his health and safety to start immediately. I was grateful he responded so well. It made his transition to the pack a lot easier on both of you. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to do the joining ceremony so quickly with an older child. It normally takes a year depending on the pup’s age.”
“You made losing her a lot easier on us. You allowed us to grieve. Even when I was ready to dive right into the paperwork stacked so high that I could barely see you. When we came into your office your attention went straight to Parker, comforting him when he was fearful of being around you. But your attention to his needs is what allowed us to talk. As Parker napped on your shoulder I was able to ask questions about the papers all over your desk. That’s when you explained that the first of five packs, Red Fang, would be arriving that evening.
You admitted that you were in way over your head getting started into the prospect program. You had filed the paperwork and was accepted into the training half of the program as none of your warriors had any interest in exploring other packs but your paperwork had been approved three months before Beta Conner physically left the pack. Even though the council assigned you a trainer for the first run neither you or Conner had any experience in the program. So against your wishes I jumped in. Started going through your paperwork while you cuddled Parker.
Somehow I got through all your paperwork in time for us to go meet the prospects. It was after I met those coming from Red Fang that I was grateful I left Parker with Lilly and your boys. Similar to how your group arrived, they were a rough bunch. I think we broke up three verging fist fights straight off the bus. Half of them got sent home the first month for failing the drug and std screenings, the other half were gone by the second month for alcohol abuse, assault and rape. It left a bad taste in my mouth but I tried to keep an open mind.
The second and again in the third run, all members of Red Fang were the same. They were all lazy, ungrateful, violent werewolves that reminded me more of a bunch of rogues that had banded together to form a pack rather than being an actual pack with societal norms and expectations.
I am sorry Cole but over the years I have become biased towards the Red Fang pack. I have begged Demetri for years to cross Red Fang off the list of packs we were willing to work with. I will admit that Jamie is the first decent wolf from that pack. Being completely honest with you, two days ago I had no desire to work with you and for that, I am sorry.”
“I know what it’s like to have your entire pack turn their back on you. It’s truly an indescribable feeling to live with day after day. Knowing that nobody cares. That if you’re lost or hurt, nobody would look for you.”
“What about the girls?” I ask gently, testing the waters to see how far he’s willing to conversate with me. “Demetri said they look for you when you're gone. Do they notice when you're hurt? Do they try to help you like you help them?”
“Who are you trying to kid, Patrick? How can all of you be so blind? He’s not helping them. He’s fucking them.” Lucas callously bursts out.
“I am not raping them!” Cole returns the energy, amping the tension in the room.
“I am protecting them the only way I know how from the immorality that exists within my own pack. All I want is for it to stop. When the men of my pack stop raping them then I’ll be able to stop m……”
In a sudden, forceful move Demetri grabs Cole by the back of the head and pulls him roughly into his neck. The silence is deafening as Demetri whispers into Cole’s ear.
“Express the emotions but you will stifle your words. Bite me if you need to. Your protection is worth more than any momentary pain you may cause me.”
He’s holding Cole’s head with two hands against his neck, waiting for the young man to calm.
“Come on dad. The pedophile was getting ready to admit to marking them. Push a little harder and I’m certain he’d admit to raping them too.”
“Enough!” Demetri’s voice echoes through the room.
Cole cowers silently into Demetri’s neck as his hold on him has yet to relax.
“I will not tolerate your callous, inappropriate commentary against a wolf who has no documented history of such atrocities. You have no room to talk when you feel the best way to avoid using a condom is to bang virgin preshifts!”
“Woah. I know I ran late but it seems like I missed something. What’s going on?”
I can’t help but groan as Dominic finally enters the room.