Chapter 181
Tuesday, April 3rd
(Cole’s POV)
It’s been nearly a month since my second encounter with the alpha’s son, Lucas. He was right though, I have done everything I can to avoid not just Lucas but the rest of the family as well. I have refused to come down and join them for dinner and I have fallen back into my old habits of making myself as scarce as possible. Not even Jessa has seen much of me. I can’t bring myself to approach her. I could feel her heart break through the bond from what I said. I guess we’re stuck as neither of us has the heart to reject the other.
I make my way down to the kitchen. I’ve familiarized myself with the pack’s schedule and I have created my own. Breakfast at the dining hall ends just before eight, which means leftovers are in the kitchen by nine. Lunch is available around one but I wait to get dinner until eight so that alpha and his family have plenty of time to eat and clean up before I come down.
It’s slightly before one as I head down the stairs towards the kitchen. I’ve only done a little exploring outside of the pack house. Nothing extensive like I did four weeks ago. Just enough so I can get back to my room to do laundry. Occasionally I have stopped at the park between my room and the pack house while waiting for my laundry to finish but that’s only when the other prospects are out training.
Jamie is the only one left out of the Red Fang pack. I guess the other’s must have gotten into fights or something to get sent home already.
I wander into the kitchen, opening up the cabinet to pull a plate out, setting it quietly on the counter. I open the fridge and take a moment to gaze over the leftovers inside. I quickly spot the cheese burgers, a common but easy lunch item I’ve quickly come to love here, and pull the tray from the fridge.
I wash and dry my hands before peeling back the cling wrap and removing the burgers from their buns. I pop them in the microwave for a minute before putting away the burgers and finding the condiments that go with it. I grab the tray of lettuce and tomato, putting them on the counter before Mayo joins the party. I dress up the buns before putting everything away and pulling the steaming plate of meat from the microwave. I assemble my two cheese burgers before making one last stop to the fridge, grabbing a cold bottle of sweet tea from the door. I make my way to the table and sit on the left side of alpha’s chair.
The pack house is always quiet this time during the week. As much as my wolf longs for the interactions of others it seems no matter where I go I just simply can’t be around others without one of us getting hurt. My wolf has tried repeatedly to remind me of how kind alpha has been to us. Trying to convince me to seek him out, that he has the power no other alpha has to get me away from my father. I’m even starting to doubt my constant companion now that he’s talking that nonsense.
A small noise brings me out of my thoughts. I chew quietly and slowly as I peer beside me. The scent alone told me that alpha had joined me at the table. He sits silently, typing something on his phone before putting it down on the table.
“It’s nice to finally catch up with you. You’ve been really scarce these past several weeks. If it wasn’t for your scent in the med room I would have thought you had run off.”
He speaks gently with a smile that tells me he’s genuinely happy to see me. There’s something about that smile that relaxes me and I can’t help but give one back.
“It’s nice to see a smile from you. I guess keeping my distance for a few weeks worked to my benefit.”
I look back to my plate as I take another bite.
“It’s nice to see you eat. You’ve been doing very well with your weekly check ins with Angela. She said you’ve been progressing nicely. You’ve managed to gain about ten pounds and you’re tolerating the low dose of Effexor she’s started you on.”
I nod my head as I swallow my food.
“Taking a lower dose twice a day seems to be helping minimize the side effects. I was surprised when she started me on lyrica again. It’s been a while since Dr. Carter has tried me on that. She said there is an increased risk for bad reactions between the two but so far I seem okay.”
“That’s good to hear. I’ve been thinking for a while about this. I know you don’t want to be singled out as special but considering you’ve been here about ten weeks and most of the other prospects haven’t even met you, I honestly believe you would be more comfortable if you moved permanently into the pack house.”
I shake my head, disappointed in how this conversation has turned.
“I thought the goal was to get me back into my apartment with the rest of the prospects?”
“It has been for a while but with only Jamie left from your pack I feel that I have a more comfortable alternative. I plan on moving you to a guest room here on the first floor. I’ve been watching you make the trip to your room to do laundry and you are very interested in what the other prospects are doing so I also want to start introducing testing to you but I’d feel a lot better if you were in the house so I can intervene in any nightmares it may trigger.”
I pause and simply stare at alpha. For the first time it truly seems like this alpha actually cares.
“What do you think, Cole? You’re already comfortable with eating the leftovers from the dining and banquet halls, you know your way around the kitchen and you can easily get to Angela. The only knowledge you’re missing is where to do your laundry.” I nod my head.
Although I would have preferred to not be in the same house as Lucas, being on a different floor is a decent compromise considering the other things I will gain.
“May I see it before I move?”
“Of course. As soon as you’re done eating we can stop by there. It’s on the way to my office, which brings me to my next question.”
I felt there might be a catch but I stay silent.
“A month ago, when I brought you to my office, you were quite familiar with the Big Brother security program. When I asked about it, your simple response of your father using the same program, made it feel like you were holding back the true extent of the knowledge you have of the program.” I open my mouth to say something but he interrupts.
“Now, before you talk I want you to understand that I have a very specific question for you about your knowledge.”
He pauses as I nod my head. His interruption is actually calming the spike in anxiety calling me out created.
“Right now my program is set up so I can easily access three days worth of information from specific cameras. I’ve been told that the cameras are always on and always recording but retrieving information from the cameras that are not automatically set up for the three day recording cycle isn’t easy to do. Neither is the retrieval of information beyond the three day mark. I’ve called the security company several times and I’ve had several appointments with them but they have canceled yet again. So, how far back can you retrieve information?”
I study him closely as he is right, he does have a very specific question, one that doesn’t necessarily mean I have to give any information of how I know what I know.
“Five years is the max you can go.”
I speak quietly before biting into the second burger. I know he’s heard me when he looks at me with his head cocked to one side.
“You can retrieve video footage from five years ago?” He sounds impressed.
“As long as the cameras were installed at or before that timeframe. Obviously if they are fairly new, say only three years old, then I would only be able to get three years but I have managed to go back five on my father’s.”
“That’s really good news for me if you’re able to do it again.”
He’s sporting a toothy smile now and sounds so hopeful that I may be able to help him.
“Your computer is quite a bit newer than my laptop but I’m a quick study.”
He nods his head.
“What am I looking for?”
“I need to verify that Lucas didn’t forcibly rape any of the other girls he’s slept with.”
“How far back do you want to go?”
“My understanding is that he started having sex at fourteen so about two and half maybe three years.”
“Has the camera been in his room that long?”
“Yes sir. I just haven’t been actively tracking it. I wanted to trust that he would follow the rules. I’m not certain if my being heavy handed with Damian is the reason he turned out so sensitive to the rules but I never thought I would be dealing with something like this from either of them.”
“I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to duplicate what I was able to do and find at home but I’m willing to try and help you. This isn’t revenge alpha. I have no interest in causing Lucas more trouble by uncovering his dirty secrets.”
“I would never see it as revenge. I asked for your help. It doesn’t matter that he happens to have some vendetta against you.”
I nod my head as I stand from the table, taking my dish to the kitchen and placing it in the dishwasher.
“Are you ready to explore your new room?” I end up with a shy smile as I look towards the floor. “I’d like that.”
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