Chapter 161
Cole finally looks my way on his own.
“You're admitting me? Sending me to General? I’m that bad?”
His voice is quiet and quivers with fear.
“I’m sorry Cole.”
I whisper as I nod. He looks down to the ground as his body sways in place. He shakes his head whispering to himself.
“This can’t be happening. I can’t be this bad off. I can’t do this again. Please, Moon Goddess not again.”
“Cole?”
Alpha speaks as he slowly reaches for Cole’s arm. He startles badly and nearly falls over as alpha grabs his elbow. He yelps loudly startling everyone as alpha gathers him into a gentle hug. Madisyn and Madilyn can both be heard crying softly as he tries to calm Cole’s fears.
“Damian, bring the chair over. It would be best if I can get him to sit in it while he’s up instead of trying to move him again.”
Damian carefully navigates the wheelchair over to his father as alpha gently persuades Cole towards the chair before getting him to sit down in it.
“Jessa, we need to get started with your declaration.”
Cole looks at me again, immense fear and pain in his eyes. Alpha is kneeling by the chair holding Cole’s hand as Cole struggles to calm himself.
“I’m sorry Cole. This is not something I wanted to do. Alpha has brought me many prospects over the three years that I’ve been here. Many have had underlying conditions that they either didn’t know about or tried to keep hidden but none of them needed to be hospitalized.”
My wolf is the most alert she’s been in years and my fear of interacting with an alpha is as strong as my desire to touch my mate. I’m beyond conflicted with what’s going on and how to deal with it properly. I’m slowly making my way over to Cole as I know the possibility of him not surviving this is very real.
When I step in front of him his head is down leaning against one hand. The alpha is holding his other hand and now that I’m closer I can see that Cole is gently squeezing the alpha’s hand repeatedly.
I reach out timidly, taking his chin gently in my hand. He pulls himself out of my grasp quickly but ends up looking up, into my eyes. He tries to break eye contact with me but I follow his gaze while calmly reaching out to him again.
“Please allow it.”
I whisper as my hand approaches his face. I can tell that it’s a struggle but he honors my wish and allows me to touch the side of his face. He’s shaking badly as he covers my hand with his, closing his eyes as he leans into me.
“I’m not doing this to hurt you Cole. Quite the opposite really. I know the life. Mine’s not as constant or long term but I have known the life you live. The fear and anxiety that comes with it. You’ve never had a break from it, have you?”
He shakes his head as I move my hand gently through his hair.
“I’m sorry I’m not the man you deserve to have but I can’t do this alone. I don’t know how I did it the first time but I can’t survive this alone. Not again.”
“Then we need to agree to earn each other’s trust. To work with each other towards a common goal, but you have to let us help you. It’s the only way you will survive this.”
I know my conversation has alerted alpha to the dire nature of the situation. I turn slowly trying to linger as long as I can with my mate as I know I won’t be able to visit him until he comes back to the wing.
Alpha stands, placing his hand on my shoulder getting me to make eye contact with him. He reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out his phone. Flipping silently through the menu before selecting the app he needs.
“All you need to do is hit record and start your statement. I will take care of everything else regarding the council.”
He hands his phone to me before turning and talking to Cole.
“I understand you think that the other packs knew what they were doing. I assure you they didn’t. If they had made a proper report to the council about the nature of your life at Red Fang they would have been told not to return you to your home pack. If you had returned against their wishes, which you have the right to do, and the council showed up then the council would have asked for you to meet with them. They would have removed you from the territory and taken you to the closest council or committee headquarters where you would have stayed, under their care, for a week or longer.
For a wolf in your situation it is quite terrifying but that’s part of what tells them that it’s not a false allegation. I have never favored that technique personally but it has worked out favorably for many wolves in similar situations.”
“What are you going to do that’s different?” Cole’s voice wavers with nervousness.
“I contact the head liaison for abused and tortured wolves, Xavier Bluemon.” Alpha sighs hard before continuing. “I’m sorry Cole but I’ve already been in contact with Xavier looking for a way to legally prevent you from returning to Red Fang.”
“You’ve already reported it when you said you would give me a pass?”
The look of hurt in Cole’s eyes is painful to see as he drops his head down in defeat.
“Cole, it's very important that you remain open with me. Don’t shut me out without understanding everything.”
“Why alpha? You ask for my trust and then report it anyway? Why? How?”
Cole is shaking his head hard trying to figure out alpha’s betrayal.
“Cole, look at me.”
Alpha kneels back down in front of him as he reaches out and gently lifts Cole’s chin, forcing him to make eye contact with him.
“Contrary to what you believe, I haven’t betrayed what I told you. Xavier has no idea who you are. I talked to him Tuesday night. An official report has not been made. I was seeking advice on how I could get you out of Red Fang without you making an official statement. I know how devastating those can be for those who have suffered immensely.
The statement Jessa makes will simply add to the mounting evidence I will use when I file a protection from torture request with the council. I mentioned that I was going to alert the council of your condition upstairs. I just don’t think you fully comprehended what it meant until now.”
Cole finally nods his head showing alpha that he understands what’s going on.
“Jessa, you know the protocol on how to start the statement.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Start when you’ve collected your thoughts on what you want to say.”
I look at Cole again before walking several feet away so the phone doesn’t pick up any sounds the others in the room may make. He looks even worse now that he feels completely defeated. I’m unaware of how much time he’s been with alpha and that’s the way it should be for a blind read.
“What’s your last name?” I ask but Cole doesn’t answer.
“Redmen.” Alpha responds.
I freeze in place as I had worked for Alpha Redmen for about six months. I made the mistake of getting involved with his son, Kristoph, about a month after arriving. I didn’t understand that this pack followed some really old laws that allowed certain males to rape the females. I had heard Cole’s name from time to time. It was always degrading what was said about him. I had never met him and after Kristoph had his way with me, I most certainly didn’t wish too.
The broken, dejected wolf in front of me is nothing like the evil and vile creature that Kristoph often talked about.
I shake the thoughts from my mind as I’ve got to concentrate on my statement in order to properly help this wolf out of a deadly situation. I take several deep breaths before I press the record button on the phone.
“This is Jessa Stoneman, pediatric nurse practitioner and natural healer for the Crimson Dawn pack. I am making an official statement for Alpha Demetri Black for the creation of an official report to the council in regards to the extremely poor condition that Alpha Cole Redmen, warrior prospect, is in less than one week after arriving at the Crimson Dawn territory.
I engaged Cole in a blind read using the usual brain stem connection. The connection proved unusually painful leading me to believe that Cole has retained the sensory processing disorder that all pups are born with but normally grow out of by adulthood.
The results of my read are very disturbing and this statement is a direct result of that read. Alpha Cole Redmen’s dire condition is a direct result of chronic malnutrition and physical abuse.”
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