Chapter 137
I sit silently holding Melody, waiting for her sobs to slow. Angela links me, asking about her parents coming back into the room. I agree, it’s time for them to come back and understand the next steps. I rub her back gently as she watches Angela and her parents enter the room.
“Do I have to talk again?” She whispers shyly.
“Not right now.” I reassure her quietly. “When I took them out of my office I put them in a special room where they could see and hear us but they couldn’t interrupt you. With the way your mom was yelling at you, I thought you would be more comfortable talking to just me.”
I loosen my hold as she pushes herself up, acting as if she wants to leave me?
“Melody, do you want to leave me?”
She shakes her head without looking directly at me.
“I just thought that’s where I’m supposed to be when you decide my punishment. I heard from others that have been spanked. You take your shoes off at the door.”
She stops long enough to turn and point to where all the shoes are lined up.
“Then you kneel in front of your parents in hard submission while you explain their punishment.”
She explains it so matter of factly that it’s hard to believe how calm she’s trying to be.
“Why would I punish you?”
“For having sex before I shift.” Her voice is quiet with shame.
“Melody, look at me.” I request as I gently use my hand to lift her chin.
She’s so convinced that she’s done wrong that she fights my initial attempts at eye contact. I wait patiently, my fingers resting under her chin, my thumb gently rubbing her cheek.
“Melody.” I try again. She finally looks at me.
“What Lucas did isn’t sex, Melody. It’s rape.”
She shakes her head slowly as her tears fall hard.
“He didn’t force me alpha.” Her voice cracks as she tries to convince me. “If I had just stayed away. I knew that all he wanted was sex. Every girl he’s been with has said the same thing, over and over. Don’t get involved with him if you don’t want to have sex. I knew what it was going to lead to. I just didn’t know it would be over a few months. He didn’t force me to come over. If I had just followed the rules. No going out after nine. If I….”
“No Melody.” I finally interrupt. “He is a sixteen year old alpha with the added status of being my son. He manipulated you into coming over after you made it clear that your interests differed. This is not your fault. I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
I speak softly as she collapses back onto my chest, her body shaking as she sobs again. I place my hand upon her head silently consoling her, keeping it there well beyond the point of her sobs quieting.
“You have been very brave to tell me what happened last night between you and Lucas. You are in no way to blame for what happened and it’s very important that you understand that nothing that happens after this meeting is in any way a punishment. If you feel that it is, then I need you to ask questions. Me, Dr. Pierce, Dr. Richards, your parents. We can and will answer any questions that you have. Do you understand?”
I can feel her nod against my hand.
“Now, I would like to continue to hold you while I explain what happens next. Is that ok with you? You are allowed to tell me no. I want you to be comfortable so you can comprehend what’s going on.”
“I want to stay.” She whispers as she pulls herself further into my neck.
I pet her gently for a moment. Gathering my thoughts on such a complex situation.
“As I tried to explain when I removed the two of you from the room, I try not to tell parents how to raise their kids. The problem I’m having right now is that she was shamed, by her mother, before the facts were known. Yes, when I was on the phone with her and you walked in, Annabel, she said she had sex with Lucas. I believe she’s using that term because that’s what Lucas was after, sex.
Now considering the conversation I heard before you got home and what she just described, l believe Lucas used his status to manipulate her into the situation. I know we have had our differences, Roger and Annabel, but now is the time to let those go for the sake of your daughter. No more calling her a whore, Annabel. That tirade you were in when you got here. Telling her she deserves physical punishment. No more of that. I will classify it as verbal abuse and you know the penalties for such actions.”
I’m genuinely shocked when I see them silently nod.
“Tonight, Melody will be admitted to the hospital wing. I want her on IV medications that will disrupt the development of any fertilized eggs. It’s a strong medication for a pup Melody’s age especially considering her size but the danger of her getting pregnant is far greater.”
“What reason do you have to believe that Melody is ovulating right now? And based on her description, he never finished. I don’t want her on medication so strong that she has to be admitted to the hospital.”
I’m pleasantly surprised when Roger jumps in considering the silent submission Annabel is now showing me.
“It’s because of Cole, isn’t it?” I look down at Melody as she calmly answers her father’s question.
“That’s nonsense. Why would some unknown he-wolf prospect have anything to say about Melody and her menstrual cycle?”
“Cole is in a difficult situation of his own.” I start, cautiously trying to answer his question without infringing on Cole’s right to privacy.
“He had cuts on his arms and bruises on his wrists.” Melody speaks quietly again.
“Bruises? Prospects are supposed to come in top physical condition. Why does his wrists have bruises? Was he in some sort of fight or was he being restrained for punishment for being a pedophile?”
Roger’s attitude has changed drastically to anger. I growl hard, interrupting the tirade before he starts.
“No adult in this pack will refer to Cole as a pedophile!”
I growl through clenched teeth, sitting up straight in my chair letting my rank become unquestionable.
“I’m sorry alpha.” Roger dials it back appropriately without losing his edge of anger. “It’s just with the rumors about a pedophile arriving in the territory coming from the kitchen and then all the boys are damn near celebrating Lucas’s attack on the pedophile, I would think finding out that a grown alpha male is scenting my daughter to the point of knowing she’s ovulating is quite angering.”
I allow him to express his thoughts, as I’ve never been one to use my position to take a person’s right to feel away but I do demand respect no matter the circumstances.
“First, thank you for showing the proper respect as it will get you the answers you seek. To be fair, under more normal circumstances, I too would be suspicious but we are nowhere close to anything normal when it comes to Cole. Unfortunately, because of your limited interactions with the prospects while they are here I can only give you limited information on Cole.” Roger sighs hard, thinking before he speaks.
“I need to know what you’re willing to share. We need to understand why it’s acceptable for this stranger to be scenting the pups and why you’re willing to believe him?”
I nod my head thoughtfully while lightly petting Melody’s head.
“So let me start easy as you have information that I need. Who told you there was a prospect here that was a pedophile?”
“My best friend, Karen, was setting up the dining hall for the prospects when the first group came for lunch. One of them started talking about an alpha named Cole getting special treatment from every pack he’s gone to and how he deserves the treatment he’s getting back home because he’s a pervert. That he rapes the Luna and little girls of his pack.”
I’m surprised when Annabel explains how the rumors got out.
“Adam and Kevin claimed that Lucas attacked the alpha prospect because he had taken Madilyn to his room without your knowledge.” Roger adds in.
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