Chapter 208
“Unfortunately, the alpha used her last three days there to corner her and assault her repeatedly. We didn’t know it at the time but she was in really bad shape when she arrived. She kept to herself, talked minimally with Angela when she needed to. Angela expressed concern but I had failed to clean up my schedule so that I could get her in my office and go over my laws, my rules and my expectations regarding her position in the pack.
Almost two weeks later, my son acts like a fool and crashes the car. Although Angela had mentioned the possibility she had found an empath we didn’t know it until that night. It scared Jessa beyond anything I can describe to expose her power to us but it was a necessary move because of Damian’s fear of the hospital and another nurse’s failed attempt at getting an IV going. She had to resort to putting the IV in his neck.”
A shiver runs down my back causing my entire body to viably shake briefly.
“It wasn’t easy but she got it right which allowed him to get the medication he needed so that I could leave his bed. While I was talking with Angela, Jessa went against our wishes and set his wrist. None of us even knew that it was broken.”
“Is that how you knew she was an empath?”
I pull away from the alpha with a soft whine as I realize I interrupted his story. I stifle my yelp as he pats my leg, letting my breath out slowly as I realize that he’s not going to hit me for it.
“Cole?”
His voice is gentle but concerned. I open my eyes, looking into his as I apologize quietly. He nods silently with a smile before continuing.
“Yes. That’s what told us she was an empath. The fact that she could feel that his wrist was subtly misaligned, her willingness to disobey a direct order by luna not to mess with it when she had voiced concern about it and her immediate fear of rejection all told me that she was an empath. It became very easy to see that she had been abused every time her secret became known and I understood immediately why the alpha of Purple Mountain was so quick to agree to the transfer over making her a rogue first.
I ended up forcing her to expose an injury that wasn’t healing properly. One that was purposely done to her. It took a lot but, I managed to restrain her similar to how I did with you to get the IV in her. Once she was sedated Angela fixed her injury and she was placed on desk duty while she healed.
I’m sorry for the long story but considering I revealed to her that it’s your family that’s abusing you instead of allowing you to do it I thought this was a fair exchange.”
I shake my head before looking up, even with the alpha’s face without looking into his eyes.
“It doesn’t bother me that you shared. I barely remember you doing it.” I’m quiet but honest with him.
“To answer your question, Angela and I started to suspect that her wolf was weakened a month after she came to us. We missed our opportunity to get the blood needed to run all the standard panels on her. We often run more on transfers than we do on prospects but the wound was extensive enough that we feared severe anemia. She has experienced mistreatment in the hospital as a patient so it takes a lot of planning to do anything medically to her. What little blood work we’ve managed to do has not turned up a reason for her wolf’s weakness.”
“What about silver?” I can’t help but suggest considering it was only tested for in me when I started to withdraw.
“We have tested her multiple times for silver. She shows that she has been exposed but nothing in her blood. We can’t treat her with binders to flush the silver out until it’s in her blood.”
We sit in silence as I digest the fact that my mate has been poisoned as well.
“Would you like to watch her work?”
I shake my head almost frantically as the sound of the baby’s cry echoes in my head. I place my hands over my ears as I struggle with what I heard less than ten minutes ago.
“Cole?” Alpha questions again.
“I’m sorry. The cries alpha. I can’t handle it when a pup cries.”
I only manage to stifle half my yelp as alpha pulls me into him. Gently, he encourages me to drop my hands from my ears and lean into him as he calms the panic such a normal thing created.
“As much as you don’t want to, I strongly believe that sitting in on Jessa’s next appointment will help you understand why the baby was crying.”
I stay in his embrace several minutes before I finally nod my agreement against his neck.
I follow alpha silently back to the medical wing. The door to Jessa’s pediatric room is now open and she’s cleaning up and preparing for the next patient to come in. Alpha knocks politely on the door and waits for her to answer.
“Alpha, I wasn’t expecting you.” Her voice is shocked but friendly when she sees the alpha in the doorway.
“Morning Jessa. I was wondering, if your next patient doesn’t mind, if Cole and I can sit in on your next check-up?”
I watch alpha step back out of the doorway as a young brunette carrying an infant turns down the hallway.
“Good morning, April. How’s William doing?” Alpha greets the young mother as she approaches the door.
“Morning alpha. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I am sorry for any intrusion but I was wondering if I could sit in on William’s check-up today?”
“Yes sir, I’d actually like the input of a parent. I’m sorry Jessa I didn’t see you there. No offense, you’re a great doctor and highly recommended….”
“It’s okay April.” Jessa interrupts her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Being trained as a pediatrician gives me an understanding of how William should grow and the milestones he should reach. While I may have theoretical knowledge of how children work, being a parent and putting it to practice is very different.”
I’m surprised at how calmly Jessa handled what would offend most others.
“I can try to give some pointers on what I’ve done with mine but considering you’re a gamma, you may not need the same things that I’ve relied on.”
She nods her head to alpha’s comment before turning towards me.
“Who might you be?” She asks easily as I duck my head.
“My name is Cole, ma’am.”
“You’re very respectful for an alpha who’s not part of the pack. Are you shadowing Alpha Demetri today?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Do you have any children?”
“No ma’am. I’m…”
Before I could finish my thought alpha jumps into the conversation.
“He is a natural with children. He did wonderfully caring for Madilyn and even protected Madisyn from my own wrath when he was extremely ill. My experience with him at the care center showed me that, outside of diaper changes, he’s the perfect babysitter.”
“What’s wrong with diaper changes?” She sounds confused.
“It’s a difficult thing to explain. I’m certain that when he has his own pup he will quickly get beyond the aversion but right now is not the time.”
“You’re both welcome to come in. I’m a little nervous about this visit.”
“What are you nervous about, April?” Jessa naturally takes back over the conversation.
“Well, William is six months old now and I know he’ll be starting his vaccinations today. I’ve heard a lot of stories about bad reactions and infants even dying from too many shots at one time. Bill is adamantly against him getting any shots at all. The human schedule has so many shots at one time.”
I follow everyone silently into the room. The room itself spiking my anxiety despite the bright colors and friendly animal motifs scattered around the room. April’s near panic about her son receiving shots has me on edge as well.
“Cole.” Alpha’s call is unexpected and I startle badly from it.
“If it’s okay April, I’d like Cole to take care of William for a few minutes. You’re taking this visit very hard and I’d like to help both of you through it.”
I see her nod through her tears as William starts to whimper. It’s easy to see that he’s responding to his mother’s stress towards the situation. She allows alpha to take him without hesitation before walking over to the exam table and placing the large bag on her shoulder on the paper.
I walk slowly over to the alpha. I have a bad feeling about him giving me William. April freezes at the table, taking longer than I know it should for her to get back to her pup. I’m having a very hard time processing what this mother is so terrified of. It’s convincing me of the same thing, these shots are no good for William.
I look at alpha briefly as William is nestled into my arms. He leaves seconds later as he pulls the terrified mother out of the room leaving me holding William in the same room as my mate. I know I look terrified as she smiles gently.
“You look as bad as she did. Are you okay?”
“Does he have to have these shots?”
I know I’m sounding pathetic in front of my mate but I also can’t help my desire to protect this tiny pup who’s snuggled nicely in my arms.
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