Chapter 206
I tighten my hold on Cole as he whimpers from my explanation, pushing against me lightly.
“I don’t understand.” Damian whispers.
I look around at everyone that has come tonight. Patrick, Lilly, Julie and Angela are the only ones that seem to understand what being labeled a feral could do to Cole.
“Being labeled a feral by the council is very difficult. Both proving that the wolf is feral and proving that they are not once they’re labeled. While I’m not certain how knowledgeable Alpha Redmen is on the process of making Cole a feral, if he were to succeed, any pack that Cole runs into would have the council’s permission to kill him on sight.”
I can feel Cole’s grip tighten on my shirt as I finish the explanation. Learning about the different statuses a werewolf can fall under is taught in school but the most devastating aspects of it are usually left out.
“Why would they kill him?” Lucas asks, shocked at the extreme consequences such a label would create.
“When a wolf is labeled a feral, it means that they are wild. No one can control them and they don’t follow societal norms. Omegas and gammas that go feral are generally allowed to simply exist as rogues and the council tracks their whereabouts. No pack is allowed to do anything to them unless they start causing trouble. If a delta, beta or alpha female gets labeled a feral they are similar to omega and gammas but local packs are warned if they are living near them. Delta, beta and alpha males are considered highly dangerous. Once a pack leader goes through the long and difficult process to label one of those males a feral anything goes. The council advocates for a merciful death but it seldom happens.”
Once again everyone is silent. I sigh deeply as I know that explaining the seventy-two hour psychiatric observation to Cole is going to be just as devastating but I decide to start elsewhere first.
“Cole, I know it’s devastating but I need to know exactly what your father has said to you this week.”
He shakes his head hard as he whimpers.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I know you don’t want to talk but it’s important that I know. You told me three weeks ago that the second run wouldn’t work.”
He pushes himself up off me. As much as I want to continue comforting him I allow him to leave me.
“He’s been ranting about how alpha’s can kick prospects out of their run for freeloading for days. I didn’t think it was true until your conversation with beta this evening. He’s been non-stop talking about how I’m too weak to complete a real run and he’s given me enough time away to figure out that everyone is the same.”
“Cole, I believe you are leaving a lot of what he’s said out. That explains why you got upset over leaving even though I never said anything to you about it. My concern is your mention of the council and your father pulling you out of the prospect program. I already knew that the second run couldn’t be used. Why is getting pulled out so devastating?”
He makes eye contact briefly, shame is obvious now that I’ve called him out.
“The council is the one removing me from the program.” He whispers sadly.
“The only reason the council pulls a wolf from the program is if the wolf is dangerous or has a disqualifying health issue.”
He nods as he turns away from me.
“Cole, what happened?” My voice is desperate.
“He said the council came and stayed a week last month. Interviewed him extensively on the silver poisoning and injuries that I had when I got here. To save his own tail he turned over the false evidence he’s been collecting claiming that I am a feral wolf and the treatment I’m receiving is a necessity. He told me that the council is allowing me to stay where I’m at but as soon as I come home I can not leave the territory until their investigation is over and a ruling made. He said that I’m a feral wolf and the sooner I accept my fate the better off I’ll be.”
The news is so much worse than I imagined. To falsely accuse your own child of being a feral to excuse maliciously poisoning them is a low I’ve never encountered before. I’m beginning to think that Charles Redmen is the feral that needs to be put down. No wonder he flipped out.
“Cole.” My voice is soft but cautious as I feel I know the answer to my next question. “Have you ever been placed on a seventy-two hour hold or observation?”
He nods slowly, never looking up from the floor.
“Back home they’re worse than when I’m in the hospital injured but I need to be on one.”
“Why do you feel you need one?”
“Remember when you asked in the hospital why I felt the need to hit myself?”
He speaks slowly as if he’s testing my reaction to his honesty.
“You told me that it lessens the punishment that you receive.”
He nods again. “I have multiple reasons that I hurt myself as well as different ways of doing it.”
“Most individuals that engage in that behavior usually do. It was easy to see how at that moment you felt deserving of punishment. My concern is what you’re feeling now to have the desire and what behavior you’re holding back from.”
He resumes his pacing while I speak, creating several hand stims in the process.
“I want to feel. I want to bite.”
His voice is now monotonous as he sinks deeper into what I know is going to be a bad depressive state for him.
“So, you’re feeling numb. I can’t imagine how it feels to be told by your own father such a hurtful, life changing thing.”
“It was only a matter of time.” He whispers towards the floor. “I try, alpha. I try so hard to be good. I swear I’m a good wolf. I would never hurt anyone the way he describes. Please don’t hurt me alpha, I swear I’m a good wolf.”
His tears are streaming rapidly down his face as he stops in front of me. His arms held straight out in front of him as if I’m going to cuff him and lead him away to imprisonment. His body visibly shakes in fear. His eyes are closed again as I touch his hands. He holds his breath instead of yelping, standing absolutely still despite his obvious desire to run. There’s something about his resolve to being committed for the next three days that worries me. He is beyond terrified yet he doesn’t run or fight the fact that he’s going on a psychiatric observation.
“I know you’re a good wolf Cole. We’re not going to hurt you in any way. I promise there’s nothing painful about the seventy-two hour observation we’re going to put you on.”
He whines sharply as I touch his hands.
“Relax your arms Cole. You’re making it look like you’re going to prison.”
“They restrain me before I ever get to the hospital.” He whispers as I pull him into me again.
“This is not a harsh seventy-two, Cole.” Angela finally speaks as I hold him again.
“We don’t care for the practice of tying a wolf up and just leaving them alone to deal with their issues in solitude.” Julie adds. “We know that admitting your desire to bite takes a lot of trust and we appreciate that as it will help us look for signs that you want to engage in the behavior and we can stop you before you do.” Julie finishes softly.
“We have all agreed upon a modified seventy-two hour psychiatric observation in order to prevent you from engaging in harmful behavior.” Angela starts explaining what happens next.
“The first day is the roughest as we will be sedating you on the heavy side. You are going to sleep most of tomorrow. Tonight we need you to take one and a half milligrams of Ativan. In the morning you will take one mil, six to eight hours later will be another before one and a half that evening. We will lower the dose Sunday and again on Monday. You will be under constant supervision by someone strong enough to stop any self injurious behavior until Tuesday night. Starting tonight you will be in the medical room next to Demetri and you will move back to your own room Tuesday night. As long as we have everything under control and your desires have dissipated you will stop the sedative and go back to your normal schedule Wednesday morning. How do you feel with what I’ve described?” Angela finishes gently.
“Scared. Always scared.” He whispers his answer.
“What’s scaring you about our plan?”
I pet his head trying to calm his ragged breathing.
“It doesn’t sound scary but it always ends up that way.” He whispers again.
“I promise you, as long as we don’t have to force the sedative, nothing scary is going to happen. No shots. No restraints. You’re going to hang out with me, in my office.”
“You should be enjoying your weekend with your family, not babysitting me.”
“Well Cole, you found a good weekend to fall apart because I work every other weekend.”
“And you already planned on working.” He finishes my sentence without looking up.
“I promise everything is going to be okay. Let us support you through this. You will find that even when you break down we do everything we can to pick you back up.” I hug him close as I speak.
“I know you’re not ready but let’s head back to the med wing and get ready to sleep for the night.”
Without any fight left in him he slowly turns and starts making his way back to the door we came through. As strong as I’m being for Cole I’m in complete shock as well. I can’t believe his own father has started the process of labeling him a feral. The only positive that comes from that is it gives me a timeline. I have until next March, at the latest, to get him back into my care, back in my territory. I must convince Cole to run away almost as soon as he gets home.
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