Chapter 172
(Demetri’s POV)
I hang the phone up with a sigh, burying my face in my hands. This callback didn’t end the way I needed it to. The council is taking the case and looking into it, that’s perhaps the only good news I’ve received from it. Otherwise it feels like a huge mistake, one that’s ultimately going to let Cole down.
Unlike protection from abuse orders this doesn’t lock him into my pack, preventing him from leaving or his father from coming and getting him. He remains just as vulnerable as if I did nothing at all. If I could just get him to talk to me, to tell me about the abuse he’s suffering. I know that it’s severe enough that getting into the depth of it would result in him needing a psychiatric hold in the hospital. Perhaps that’s why he refuses to talk. He did say that every time he talks he ends up in the hospital.
I stand from my desk as I hear the thunder of running feet coming down the hall. I make my way to the door, slipping my feet into my shoes before swinging it open harshly.
“What on earth is going on here?” I command in my alpha tone.
I’m caught off guard when I see Jamie coming down the hall, dropping to his knees in hard submission before sliding to a stop in front of me.
“Jamie?” My tone relaxes as I reach my hand down to him.
“I’m sorry alpha. I didn’t know where else to go to get him the help he needs.”
His head is down, his shoulders slumped forward. He’s in a completely submissive position without ever being instructed to do so. Is everyone at Red Fang scarred like this?
“Stand up, Jamie. There’s no reason for this. Who needs help?”
He struggles to comply with the idea of not submitting to me and it really does a number on his ability to communicate properly.
“Alpha…. Cole…. I’m not certain…..”
“Easy there Jamie. Please, stand up. Take a moment to tell me what’s going on.”
He finally looks up to see my outstretched hand. I take a step back, giving him a little space to think before he places his hand in mine. I ease him up to his feet and place my hand under his chin. I’m relieved when he doesn’t pull away like Cole does.
“Why the submission, Jamie?” I can’t help but briefly change the subject as the last thing I expected from him was a hard submission.
“I’m sorry sir. Anytime I’ve gone to Alpha Redmen’s office, on my own or called there, it was an expectation until he walked away from me or told me to take a seat.”
“Are different wolves treated differently?”
“I believe so. I’m not certain why though.”
“Now that you’re a bit more relaxed, what’s got you so upset? What’s going on with Cole?”
“He linked with me. He spoke super fast, which he only does when he’s about to go into a black out and he knows it. I’ve learned to listen and not talk when he does that. He said that he went exploring and found what looks like a training facility west of the pack house. Lucas spotted him and forced him into sparring. He needs help, alpha. He doesn’t come back from a black out easily.”
“Follow.” Is the only thing I manage to speak as I head north down the hall to an alternate exit from the house.
I reach into my pocket and pull out my set of keys. I point towards the mule immediately in front of the door and without a word, Jamie jumps into the passenger seat as I start it up. I take off across the land, bumping and sliding on the seat but make it to the training annex in less than five minutes. I can hear the cheers going on inside as I slam the door open, everyone freezes and remains silent as I enter the facility.
“Everyone using the free weights, hit the exit, shower at home, now!” My first command echoes around the building.
“Those of you training on the machines use the exits in the locker rooms to head home. Do it now.” A deep echo sends everyone in the northern third of the building into the locker rooms.
“Everyone around the sparring ring will remain in the building until I have your names. Although it appears that the majority of you are my son’s friends I do see a few prospects here. I will need statements as to what happened before you leave. Spread out and let me see what’s going on.”
Unfortunately for Cole my presence doesn’t seem to matter at all to Lucas. He’s yet to stop his attack on Cole and the young man is certainly showing the bitterly ill effects of having survived silver poisoning just weeks ago.
“Enough!” I bellow finally getting Lucas’s attention, stopping him as he draws back his arm for another hit.
“Stay where you are.” I growl as I feel my back up coming through the door.
“Patrick, escort Lucas to his room. Lock the door when you leave. Use the mule.” I growl the commands as I toss him the keys.
“You will cooperate or pay a hefty penalty. Pat will let me know of any issues he has with you.”
I stare him in the eyes, keeping the contact until Patrick has placed his hand on the back of his neck, leading him out the door.
“Pack members, you are to line up with Dominic. Prospects, line up with Damian. Damian, you are to get names and ranks of the prospects. Dominic you are getting the name, age and rank of the pack members here. They are allowed to leave once they have given a statement of events that happened. Jamie.”
I finally call him out as I stare at a version of Cole I’ve never seen.
“Tell me what you can about this black out.”
“He hates fighting so anytime he ends up in one he blacks out.”
“You mean he goes psychotic?”
“No. Not exactly. He’s not exactly here and he doesn’t remember what he does but he’s not dangerous. He only reacts when he’s being attacked.”
“That’s the definition of psychosis, it’s a break with reality.”
“Oh.” Jamie speaks quietly.
Fortunately since removing Lucas from the ring Cole looks to have calmed down but he’s still in bad shape, mentally and physically.
“Cole.” I try calling out to the young man.
He’s breathing hard in pants, his nose and mouth are actively bleeding which is completely against all sparring rules. Anytime bleeding occurs the match stops as serious injuries occurring during practice leaves us ill prepared for an actual attack on the pack and needs to be avoided.
I never utilize sparring in training or testing without the appropriate protective equipment. Head guards with face shields, mouth guards, hand mitts, shin guards and groin cups for the men are always provided during such matches. Those of us who have been unlucky enough to suffer any type of rib fracture, during training or battle, also wear a custom fitted chest protector. To have an unplanned match without such equipment is equivalent to assault and I will treat it that way if what Cole said is true. My gut tells me that it is.
Cole.” I call louder and with more authority.
He flinches with obvious fear but remains frozen in place. His eyes are darting from place to place but the crowd surrounding him hasn’t cleared any.
“Do you know how to get him back?” I ask Jamie.
“Dad taught me a few techniques as he tends to get triggered into this state quite often during training, especially if he is required to hit more than pads. He does better on defense but sparring in general is very difficult for him.”
“How hasn’t the council been alerted to his condition before now?” I accidentally speak out loud.
“You’ve called the council?” Jamie’s voice quivers slightly with the thought.
“Yes. When we admitted him to the ICU the council was alerted to his poor condition and I filed a protection from torture order on his behalf this morning.”
“He’s not going to be happy about that. The council has made everything worse every time they come.”
“I know.” I speak quietly as it’s the only thing I can really say.
“What can be done to help him right now? Staying in this state is dangerous for him even if he’s not a danger to anyone else.”
“I should call my dad. He’s been working with him the longest. Even though I don’t believe he’ll hurt me, submitting him when he’s of equal strength and stamina as me could cause an issue. It would be better if dad instructs you on how to bring him back through submission.”
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