Chapter 225
“Cole!” I yell at him with my aura strong but not harsh. He winces at his name but does little else.
“Damian is getting the mule turned around but it’s only a four seater….”
“I understand sir.” His voice is soft, almost sad, which isn’t where I was going with it.
“You would understand if you didn't interrupt me.” My voice is cross and his nervousness now shows the harshness of growing up with Alpha Redmen.
“The back is a rough ride on a normal day. I need you to shift into your wolf so you can ride in the back. Your fur will warm you and should give some protection from the rain. Your wolf should also be smaller so he should fit better.”
“Oh.” He whispers quietly. “I need to step into the woods to do that.” I nod without speaking.
I know I’ve already got the young man on edge even though I know he hasn’t been extensively abused. It seems like only two types of wolves emerge from Alpha Redmen’s hell; the nice ones who are afraid to cross him and the predators that simply don’t give a damn.
I gently take his place under Cole’s arm allowing Jamie to step away. I slowly grow my aura waiting for any sign that Cole is starting to come around. Cole starts to whimper as Jamie emerges from the woods, a beautiful light gray wolf, peppered with white hairs throughout from his face to his tail. The only solid white on his body is on his nose. The size of his wolf proves easily that he is indeed a beta by birth, not the delta Alpha Redmen assigned him to be. He’s carrying his dripping wet clothing in his mouth watching down the path as Damian slows to a stop.
“Jump in the back and try to get comfortable. Bark if you don’t think you will fit.”
He gives me a slight nod before trotting over to the bed of the mule. I find quickly that Jamie was quite right in his assessment of what his friend needed for continuing.
I release my aura fully while maintaining a neutral mind set. The last thing Cole needs to handle is the panic or anger that I’m fighting to suppress. I grab the waistband of his pants in one hand and order him to walk. He whines briefly before taking his first steps since I’ve arrived and we slowly walk to the front seat.
I successfully get him seated and the belt around his waist before zipping the rain cover shut. I walk back a few feet to the back seat and quickly notice the fear that has enveloped both of them. I step back to Jamie, he ducks as I reach over to him.
“Stay still, Jamie. I don’t like what I’m seeing from either of you.”
I lower my voice as a soft whimper escapes. I pet his head gently as I talk, Cole obviously isn’t the only one in need of help.
“Lay down, son. I want to be sure you fit. Your wolf is larger than I expected. If you choose to come back you will be granted your birth rank but first you and your mate need to talk with me. I will call for you once things settle down.”
He lowers himself slowly. It seems my desire to meet with both of them has done nothing to calm his growing fears but once he’s curled into a ball I’m satisfied with his fit.
“I’m not certain how fast Damian is comfortable with but if you feel like you’re going to fall out then bark and we will slow.”
He gives my hand a single lick, a submissive response but one I’m confident means he understands. I quickly jump in the back seat behind Cole and Damian quickly gets the mule rolling. I sit forward in the seat so I can help Cole.
I slide my arm diagonally across his chest as we bump along. Something about the way his body sways with the bumps concerns me. It only takes a moment for him to lay the left side of his head against my arm and I know that it’s swollen badly. Worse than that is the fact that it’s in that moment that he lies against me that I have no doubts he loses consciousness.
It’s a sigh of relief when Damian finally pulls up to the front of the pack house.
“Pull into the garage and show Jamie to the emergency shifter’s shower we have after I unload everyone else. Just get him warmed up under the dryer for a few minutes before he shifts, then have him borrow Luke’s or Parker’s clothes until I get him better accommodations.”
I speak as I jump out of the mule and make my way around to him. I unzip the rain cover and work on getting Madisyn uncurled from around him.
“Maddie. I need you to wait on the porch out of the rain.”
“Okay.”
Her voice is weak but it doesn’t take long for her to get her balance and start walking towards the porch. She yelps before breaking into a run as the thunder booms overhead, stopping only when she reaches the safety of the porch.
I zip his door back before getting to Madilyn and Micayla. I pick Madilyn up off her lap, holding her in one arm as I reach my other hand out to help Micayla. She takes it nervously.
I hold her hand until I’m certain she has her footing and hand Madilyn back to her. She walks silently up onto the porch, waiting beside Madisyn for me to get to Cole.
“Cole!” I yell his name loudly while trying not to sound cross with him.
“Cole, I need you up. We need to get inside.”
I gently smack the sides of his face. After a solid minute of work I finally see his eyes start to flutter open. I’m surprised to find that he’s in a partial shift but it seems only his eyes are affected by it.
“We need to get you inside, get your clothes off and start warming you up.” I speak forcefully hoping that his wolf will follow the commands.
He struggles to find his coordination and seems to forget how injured he is as he pushes himself up from the seat with his right arm. I gather him into my arms as he yelps and screams from the pain, holding him still until his cries quiet.
“I’m going to move behind you so I can support you getting up the steps. We don’t have far to go. Angela left a bed in the common room for you.”
I make my move swiftly before he can think to fight. I wrap my right arm around him first, gently taking his broken arm into my hand holding it still as we start to walk. He moves slowly towards the porch as Damian slowly pulls away, taking Jamie with him to the garage.
I rub the top of his right hand gently. I’m greatly concerned about the amount of swelling he has and if it’s cut circulation off to his hand. A sharp whine and a hard step back into me answers my question. Despite my touch being light like a feather, he’s fighting hard to get his arm out of my grip telling me exactly where his pain level is.
“I’m sorry Cole. I wasn’t trying to cause this much pain. I will stop rubbing your hand but you need to move forward. Don’t fight me.”
I know he can feel my aura as he freezes before continuing onto the porch. I tighten my hold on him as he trips up the three steps but together we manage to get to the top.
“Madisyn, I need you to open the door and hold the screen as we go inside. Shut the door when we’re all in.” I tell her gently as I pause with Cole.
Without a word she opens both doors allowing the inner door to swing in while standing against the screen to keep it open. Micayla walks in first with Madilyn, Cole and I follow slowly behind with Madisyn bringing up the rear, closing the doors without being reminded.
Everyone is shivering and it’s only as the heat of the house hits me that I realize how nasty this storm truly is. Ordinarily we don’t have to worry about hypothermia at the end of May but this storm seems to have brought some air down from Canada with it.
“Follow the trail of towels towards the bed. I’m going to get some initial temperature readings on all of you before you head back to the medical wing.”
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