Chapter 151
“Hey Jessa , I heard you’ve been a bit under the weather. How are you doing this evening?”
“Better, thanks. How may I help you?”
“You’re always so straight to the point. Are you busy right now?”
“No. Just finished cleaning up after having dinner with Alpha Pierce. Do you need me to stop by?”
“I would appreciate it if you could come out to the common room. I’ve got a young man, Alpha Cole, who’s a prospect in my medical room upstairs. He was in the wing all day Tuesday, he was stable enough to set him up in the room next to mine Wednesday afternoon but I’ve had to bounce him around between the comfort room in the wing and the medical room upstairs. We had a significant discovery this morning in his blood work and I need your help to determine if it’s safe to continue trying to keep him here or if we’ve hit the point of transferring him to general.”
“That doesn’t sound too good. I’ll be out there in ten to fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“No problem alpha.”
I hang up the phone before standing from the table. I run my hand through Lilly’s hair gaining her attention.
“Are you finished?”
She nods with a sigh as I gather both our plates and silverware. I return to the table for my cup, pausing for a short drink finishing the contents inside it. I can’t help but think of the way he reacted to Madisyn tipping her chair over. How was he able to catch her before she hit the ground? I stare at his plate, half full and untouched. Another element of Cole that Jamie shared.
I walk around the table and pick his plate up. I grab a roll of cling wrap and wrap it around his plate before placing it in the fridge. With the way he wrapped his arm around his stomach it seems he’s feeling too unwell to eat. Although I’m certain the incident that just happened has stirred his anxiety high as well but I’m hoping that he will consider eating it later.
I return to the table wrapping my arms around Lilly as I lean over her back. I kiss her gently behind her ear until she relaxes in my arms, leaning her head against me. I sigh as I stand attracting Damian’s attention.
“Are you okay, dad?”
I rub the back of my neck before I speak.
“I need to go get Cole and bring him back down. Is your room open? I’d like to stop in there and grab a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt for him.”
“The door is closed but not locked.”
“Thank you, Day.”
I rub his hair briefly as I pass headed to the stairs.
“Daddy, why does Cole need Day’s clothes? Doesn’t he have some?”
“He does, Lynnie but I haven’t gotten over to his apartment to get more. What he has on is from yesterday and I have a feeling that he’s no longer going to be wearing them when I go into his room.”
“Why would he take them off?”
“Because he expects me to punish him.”
“Are you?”
Madilyn hurries from her chair nearly falling over as she runs into my legs.
“I know he didn’t listen but he didn’t hurt Maddie. Please, daddy. He’s hurt and scared, don’t hurt him more.”
I quickly gather her in my arms, lifting her up off the ground. With one arm under her bottom I use the other to gently hold her cheek against mine as I hush her near frantic cries.
“Shhhhh. It’s okay Lynnie. I have no plans to punish him in any way. That’s why I asked Day about borrowing some clothes. I’m going to talk with him, get some clothes on him and get him to come downstairs so Jessa can take a look at him.”
I feel her lean back and follow her movements.
“But Jessa takes care of little wolves.”
She sniffles lightly as I walk to the kitchen for a tissue.
“Yes, the pups are the ones she sees most often but sometimes there are grown wolves that need her help as well.”
“Why does he need Jessa?”
“He seems to be afraid to admit that he’s in a lot of pain.”
“Why would he lie, daddy?”
“Because Maddie,”
I pause as I sit Madilyn back in her chair.
“He’s afraid of being in the hospital and if his pain and his infection have gotten worse then that’s where he needs to be until we get both under control.”
I kiss the top of Madilyn’s head as I step away from the table.
“I’ll be back down in a few minutes. Hopefully before Jessa gets here but I’m not certain what I’m going to find so…..”
I trail off as I head to the stairs, uncertain as to what kind of basket case I’m going to find Cole in.
I knock on the door softly before easing it slowly open. As I anticipated, he’s sitting completely nude on the edge of his bed.
I approach him slowly from behind, watching the tremors in his hand get worse as I get closer.
“I’m sorry to ask this when you’re in this state of mind but has any alpha outside your pack implemented physical punishment on you?”
“Y-ye-yes.” He stammers through before clearing his throat and trying again. “Yes, sir.”
“Do you remember why?”
He swallows hard. It seems he’s having a hard time admitting to what he’s done wrong.
“Defiance.”
He sighs hard as he winces, whimpering softly as he stands. He turns to face me. Red, brown, black and blue marks litter his light peach skin. He moves slowly as he struggles to lay upon the bed.
“No, Cole. I need you to stand.”
I know he misunderstands when I see the shear terror in his eyes. He shakes his head as he struggles to control his breathing.
“I can’t sir.” He states breathlessly. “Please, I can’t handle it standing up.”
His fear and desperation is easily heard in his voice. His hand shakes as he grasps the post at the end of the bed. His eyes are closed, unable to see me approach with clothing draped over my arm.
“Cole.”
I speak gently as I don’t want his fear to get any deeper than it already is.
“I’m not going to punish you. I am very concerned about you. You have told me all day that you’re doing fine but it’s obvious that you’re in a great deal of pain.”
He shakes his head slowly as he struggles to speak.
“I’m fine, alpha. I just need time.”
“Don’t lie to me Cole.”
His eyes shoot open making contact with my own.
“I can’t help you if you lie to me. I know you don’t want to be in the wing but with silver in your blood, that's the best place for you to be right now. Let me help you get some clothes on. I’ve got my nurse practitioner, who’s also a natural healer, coming to take a look. We need to come up with a plan for helping you. Stay where you are. I’m going to come to you.”
I make my way slowly to the desk in the room. I grab the chair and push it towards Cole. I can tell he wants to run. I’m not certain what’s stopping him from doing so. I touch his hand gently. His unexpected yelp is unnerving as I quickly wrap my arms around him, causing even more agonizing yelps as I keep him from falling. I steady both of us against the bed as his yelps quiet into persistent whimpers.
“I’m sorry.”
I speak quietly as he lays his head on my shoulder. I can feel his hands balled into fists around my shirt. His breathing is tight but controlled, easily conveying the intensity of pain that he just felt.
“I’m sorry Cole. I know it creates a lot of anxiety for you but I’m putting you back in the medical wing until we figure out how bad the silver situation is and if we need to get Crimson General involved. I’m going to help you get some clothes on once your pain dies down enough for you to move again.”
He doesn’t protest my plan. It seems he realizes the shape he’s in. He slowly releases my shirt and starts moving his hand back towards the bed. I stay still until he lets go and steps away on his own. I look at him briefly before sitting in the chair I pulled over.
It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with a wolf so broken. His head and eyes are still trained towards the ground, rarely has he looked into my eyes on his own. What few times he has, his eyes were filled with the fear of being caught in doing something wrong. Just like a moment ago when I called him out on his lie. He looked at me, into my eyes searching for the anger, the malice that comes with the punishment he’s used to receiving. The harsh punishment I know he expects from me as well. I will not pretend to understand why he’s desperate to hide his pain. All I know right now is that he’s failing miserably to do so.
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