Chapter 162
I pause at the end of my statement as I hear several gasps and murmurs floating around the room. I’m finding it difficult to believe that no one else realized it. Perhaps I’m just the only one willing to admit it or maybe they don’t realize how long it’s been going on. No matter the reason I must continue.
“With consideration to his current condition I believe there are three reasons that Cole may be malnourished; direct denial of access to food, the physical abuse causing anxiety high enough that he’s afraid to eat despite access to it, and most disturbingly, injuries from the physical abuse being so severe that he can’t get to the food without assistance.
The true nature of why he’s malnourished is unknown as what if any information has been given to Alpha Black and his medical team has not been shared with me per the blind read guidelines. Video evidence is available if necessary showing my first interactions with Cole occurred today, Friday January 26th at approximately 8pm. I was informed before my read that Alpha Cole was brought into the medical wing sometime Tuesday and has spent time both in the med wing and the med room next to alpha since that time. I am unaware of any tests that may or may not have been performed since Cole’s arrival on the property Monday January 22nd at approximately 8 pm.
As a direct result of his inability to access food on a regular basis, Cole has become deficient in several vitamins and minerals critical for normal bodily functions. These deficits include but are not limited to; iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin k, vitamin d and several vitamin b’s.
These deficits have resulted in several vital areas of functioning to become dysfunctional. Blood tests will be needed to confirm that Cole is severely anemic. His red cell count along with low levels of magnesium, potassium and b vitamins has led to extreme fatigue and a subtle heart arrhythmia. A rare vitamin k deficiency has resulted in an extremely low platelet count making it increasingly difficult for him to heal effectively while the diminished levels of vitamins and minerals mixed with the extreme stress of persistent abuse has decimated his immune system. It is virtually nonexistent. The inability to heal combined with a nonexistent immune system has made any injury potentially deadly without immediate medical attention. Considering the fact that his current injuries are severely infected allows me to believe that his injuries occurred from malicious intent and with no intention to provide medical care.”
I pause a moment as I attempt to remember what I felt when reading Cole. I could feel silver all over his body as well as in his blood, a deadly combination, yet I’m confused. There’s no way silver can be all over his body.
“Alpha, I’m confused. I’m sorry Cole. I know the first one was really rough on you and I promise this won’t be but I have to read again.”
I start making my way over to Cole, Alpha is still kneeling right next to the chair he’s in. He has let go of alpha’s hand and has buried his hands into his hair but this time his hands have remained flat instead of clinched like I saw the first time.
He’s trembling hard and I can feel the fear, the all consuming dread within him without even touching him. I hand the phone that’s still recording to alpha as I step in front of a deeply shaken Cole.
“You know what’s going on inside you, don’t you?”
He lets go of his head as he sits up slightly. He looks into my eyes before shaking his head.
“No ma’am, but the picture you’ve painted so far. Severely infected wounds with no immune system to fight it off with. I’ve gone septic haven’t I?”
“Yes, the infection has made its way into your blood but my concern in addition to the septicemia is the silver. That’s why I need to do another read. The way the silver feels is confusing, it doesn’t make any sense to me. I can feel the burn on your leg, your left thigh specifically. It’s not visible because the shorts you’re wearing come down to your knees but it’s a large source of the pain you’re in as well as the main source of infection. I felt a lot of silver there which tells me that it’s a burn coming from silver, for it to be deeply infected already tells me that it’s high purity but neither of those explains why there’s a lot of silver in your blood.”
“Wait a minute, Jessa.”
I can hear the panic forming in alpha’s voice.
“You’re telling me he has blood poisoning on top of finding silver in his blood?”
Alpha’s voice is incredulous trying to figure out how to deal with this new finding.
“You’re aware of silver being in his blood?”
Now it’s my turn to be incredulous.
“At this point, I don’t feel that I’m invalidating your reading but that’s the reason I called you. We need to know before his blood tests come back if he’s withdrawing from triple S or crashing from silver poisoning.”
“When was the blood taken?”
“This morning.”
I nod my head as I continue my walk over to him.
“Well, that’s not the reason why I need a second read but now that I know the exact nature of what you’re looking for I can take the time to differentiate as my first read only revealed a high purity silver burn on his left thigh and, more confusingly, all over his body.”
I turn back to Cole and I can tell the news is weighing hard on his already fragile psychological health. I know using the mate’s bond is a tease as he’s already expecting me to abandon him. What he doesn’t know is that the fear he’s already shown of simply touching me makes it impossible to believe that he’s a predator, let alone a sexual one. What those rumors are and how they started is a bridge I’m willing to cross later, abandonment isn’t something he can handle right now.
His head is back down in his hands. He’s breathing hard, reminding me of my own struggles with controlling my panic. I place my hands on top of his, rubbing the backs gently with my thumbs. He’s struggling badly with the new sensation coming from the bond. What I’m not expecting is his fight against it. He startles me badly when he pulls away roughly, sitting back in the chair quickly.
“I can’t do another read. You don’t understand what it felt like. Everything already hurts badly. I can’t handle any more pain in my neck and head.”
“Are you serious dad? He’s an alpha?”
Alpha’s growl is deep and unforgiving as Cole and I both bow our heads in submission. If I hadn’t been directly in front of Cole I’m certain he would’ve been kneeling on the floor in front of the alpha.
“Lucas! Out of all my pack members I can’t believe I just heard that from my own son. That is absolutely unacceptable and you know it.”
I look over towards Luna and her kids as Lucas lets loose his own growl.
“Come here.”
I can see Cole wince at alpha’s harshness, demanding Lucas to come to him. Lucas looks angry as he pushes himself up off the couch and walks to his now standing father. Alpha’s eyes are livid but so are Lucas’s as he’s brave enough to stare into alpha’s eyes. Very quickly alpha grabs the back of Lucas’s neck in a hard submission before growling out his words to his son.
“The stairs are clear so you will report to your room and remain there for the rest of the night. When things settle down with Cole, which may take a few days, I will call for you. You will be giving me your bare ass for this.”
To my surprise Lucas never breaks eye contact with alpha. He simply waits for his father to release him before walking to the stairs.
“Alpha please. Don’t hurt your son over me.”
Cole’s plea stuns all of us. Despite the disrespect he’s receiving from Lucas he’d rather the alpha show mercy than take his pound of flesh, something I have never seen from any Red Fang pack members.
“The physical punishment he will receive is nothing like what you have come to understand. I know I didn’t show the level of control that I normally have tonight but I assure you, I actually have very strict rules when it comes to physical punishment.”
Alpha’s words are much softer as he talks to Cole but his alpha aura is still blazing causing Cole to cringe and even whimper as alpha runs his hand gently through his hair. I cock my head trying to understand what I’m seeing from my mate. His behavior towards the alpha seems closer to an abused omega than of the alpha’s son.
“Cole, I need to do another read.”
He pulls away from alpha as alpha tries to touch him again. This time he respects Cole’s actions and withdraws his hand back. He makes eye contact with me, his fear is beyond description.
“Now that I know, I can change. Just allow me to touch you. It won’t hurt you this time.”
I try to reassure him as I reach towards him. I can feel how badly he wants to fight my touch but with it comes how incredibly weak and sick he is. I’m going a lot slower this time as I know the pain I caused the first time isn’t easily forgiven or forgotten. My own experiences with abusive alpha’s has taught me that.
His eyes are closed as I gently start petting his temple. He’s remaining very still but he’s super tense which will make the reading harder on both of us.
“I know the harshness of the first read has made this difficult but I need you to relax. Concentrate on the positives you feel from my touch. It’s okay to accept it even if you’re not ready to have a relationship. I think we need to get you out of Red Fang and relatively healthy before we try the emotional challenge that comes with having a relationship. Especially when both of us have been abused.”
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