Chapter 188

“Look at me, Cole. You have nothing to be ashamed of and you're not in any trouble. It’s simply a recognition of where we’re at in that particular conversation. I don’t expect it to be easy. Thank you for sharing with me.”
It’s at the end that I get him back. He lifts his head and looks at me briefly before I start again.
“I’m not certain how far you’ve gotten with the program but if you’re comfortable with it, it would be a great help to me if you could scan footage of Lucas’s bedroom and time stamp when he has had girlfriends over so I can go back later and try to identify them.”
He looks into my eyes, searching them. While I will not pretend to know what he’s looking for, it no longer disturbs me like it once did. Once he’s satisfied with what he sees he turns back to the computer, typing and clicking quickly.
“How far back would you like me to go?”
I take the time to lay out exactly what I’m looking for in the video feed and he gets straight to work. About four hours later he’s still hyper focused on what I’ve asked minus the handful of times I forced him to stop.
Every hour I have physically put my hands under his to get his attention and stop his work, insisting that he use the bathroom and take a drink break to rest his eyes. He has said little during this time and I know we’re approaching dinner when Lilly comes to the office.
I left the office door open after I retrieved my laptop from my room. I underestimated the time it would take for Cole to go through the feed and after the first hour decided to get some of my own work done. I’ve had several pack members come to me. It was after I returned from my secondary office next door for the third time that he reassured me that unless they needed privacy it didn’t disturb him for them to be there. I ended up with three more visitors after that resulting in me getting nothing done.
I smile and lean into the sideways hug my luna embraces me in once she’s beside the chair in front of my desk.
“I rarely get to see you in this chair.” She teases playfully.
“He appeared comfortable in that chair so I just left it be.” I smile before giving her a kiss.
“Seems like I found myself a hacker.” I chuckle lightly, giving Cole a smile when he looks at me.
“Wrap up the feed you’re on if you’ve started a time stamp. It’s time to head out to the dinner table.”
He gives me a nod since he returned his gaze to the screen.
After several minutes and he’s not showing any signs of slowing, I stand from my seat and make my way around the desk. I sigh hard as he’s gotten right back into the feed completely forgetting about dinner.
I touch his arms lightly and slide quickly to his wrists, lifting them gently from the keyboard and mouse. I can tell by the video that he’s not currently seeking the other end of the time stamp.
“It’s time for dinner. We’re done for tonight. You will come back to this tomorrow after you’ve had lunch.”
He finally looks at my face briefly before looking at the floor, his nod is barely perceptible as I step away, giving him space to stand. I’m immediately concerned when his balance falters as soon as he takes his first steps.
“Are you okay?”
“Just a little stiff, alpha.” He responds softly as he holds onto the chair.
“Do you need any help?”
“No sir. I just need to stand for a minute.”
I wait patiently for him to start moving. Knowing the direction that we’re headed, he starts towards the door shortly after. He makes his way out to the table, stopping just outside the dining room.
“Cole!”
I smile when I hear my girls shout his name, climbing off their chairs they run for the young man. He drops to his knees, catching them as they excitedly run into him. My joy is short lived when I notice how uncomfortable he is with their desire to hug him.
He may have dropped to his knees to accept them but his arms are now held wide open, unable to bring himself to touch them. I leave Lilly with a sigh, knowing that he still has a very long and painfully difficult road ahead of him.
“Relax Cole, don’t fight me.”
I reassure him gently as I place my hand in his. I slowly bring his left arm around Madilyn, placing his hand on Madisyn’s back before doing the same with his right.
“I have no issues with you talking, hugging or caring for my girls Cole. You have shown me repeatedly that your only desire is to protect them. I have no restrictions on you when it comes to them.”
He starts breathing slow and stiff as they lay their heads on his shoulders.
“You’ve got to be kidding, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“And a good evening to you too.”
I speak sarcastically towards Lucas, as he slowly makes his way down the stairs. I reach down and gently run my fingers through Cole’s hair.
“Are you hungry? Would you like me to serve your plate?”
“Do I have to eat?” His voice is quiet with a hit of nervousness to it.
“I’m okay if you keep your later dinner time. The girls have been begging to see you. Madisyn’s fear of being dropped didn’t last long and is wanting me to try to duplicate it.”
I explain with a slight chuckle as Lucas continues to make himself difficult to ignore.
“Madisyn,” Cole speaks softly to her. “Are you back to tipping your chair?”
She pushes herself up off him and looks at him, shaking her head. To my surprise he casts his gaze downward as she talks to him.
“No sir, I just want to fly again. It was fun once the scary left.”
He nods his head but says nothing else as I walk towards the stairs. Lucas is still standing on the bottom step, only making him as tall as me but that doesn’t add the fifty pounds that we differ in weight.
“I’ve been on this stupid house arrest for damn near two months now. When am I going to be able to see my friends? I’m tired of only doing homework, working in the kitchen and playing video games in my room. I want to go out. I want to spar. I want to train. This is ridiculous. Why are you protecting him over me?”
I allow him to vent his frustration before giving him my own.
“When your attitude changes and you start talking to Julie. That young man is terrified.”
I explain calmly as I point Cole’s way. A brief glance shows me that the girls are having a hard time letting him go, giving me an idea to address later.
“As I told you last month when you tricked your friends into believing that it was okay to spar with him without the proper equipment knowing that he came here beaten and poisoned to the edge of his very life, I am protecting both of you.”
“Why do you even care about him? He’s nothing to us.”
“You may not be ready to see him for who he is but he is somebody and he deserves a chance at a happy life. One without the constant fear of doing something wrong. One without the constant pain of being beaten. Without the constant pain of not eating.
You were on house arrest for two weeks last month and you were spanked twice for defiance and assaulting both Cole and Melody. So far this month you have been on house arrest for four weeks for assaulting Cole. I told you when I met with you to discuss your punishment after reviewing the video and withdrew the option for you to accept another spanking, that you would continue on house arrest until you start talking to Julie and start adopting a more neutral attitude towards Cole. Something that even Patrick has managed to do and he has far more experience with seeing the signs of sexual abuse and sexual predation then you do. You will take a seat and you will be nice or don’t say a thing.”

The Son of Red Fang
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