Chapter 50
She reaches out to him slowly, touching his cheek as he pushes his back into my chest.
“That’s okay, Cole. The black out is likely a form of shock from the physical and emotional trauma that this would cause. Unfortunately, this does mean that Demetri will have to do a more extensive hands-on physical with you to verify that we have found all your injuries.”
I nod in agreement when she looks directly at me.
“It’s also important that if you remember any injuries at all about the fight you need to tell us about it.”
“I’ve had….. a headache….. since Saturday.”
“Thank you, Cole. It’s possible that you have a concussion that we will need to keep track of. Now back to the issue of your leg. Did this happen with the rest of the injuries we’ve found today?”
“Yes….. ma’am.”
“I feared as much. If this silver is of high enough concentration there is a possibility that we’re looking at a third degree chemical burn simply from the lack of medical care. The deeper it burns the higher the possibility of the infection getting into his blood and he will go septic if that happens.”
He stiffens up badly as I feel his breathing change. It only takes a few seconds for me to realize that he’s counting. That he’s using the slow count I coached him through when he first arrived.
“Cole. I need you to talk to me. You’re in a slow count right now which means you’re trying to keep your panic at bay. What’s wrong?”
After several deep breaths he starts trying to talk but I can still hear the underlying panic in his voice.
“I’ve gone….. septic before…. I can’t…. do it again…… I don’t know how….. to survive it again….. I’m scared…. I can’t do this…. alone again….”
“We’re not going to let it get that far and you’re not alone. I’m sorry Jamie but I’m going to have to cut your visit short. We need to go ahead and get this taken care of.”
I speak the last part of it as I look Angela in the eyes. She immediately gets up and starts getting everything ready for the surgery. I pull out my phone and dial Patrick’s number. We use cell phones a lot more than other packs because we have wolves from other packs more often than not and it’s not fair for them not to hear what’s going on. I put my phone on speaker so Jamison can hear the conversation.
“Hey boss, what’s going on?”
“Are you busy?”
“Not really, just babysitting the rest of the whiners going around the track. I’ve decided to use going to their rooms as motivation to get them moving a bit faster. Everyone is only on the second lap of their second run. They’re moving so slow I’m cutting this punishment off early. It took them nearly all morning just to complete the first ten miles. When they finish the fifth lap they can go back to their rooms. We’ve got two hours before White Fang and White Moon packs are here.”
“I accept your change in plans. I need you to come get Jamie from Cole’s room and escort him back to his room. He’s on house arrest like the other three.”
“Is he a strict arrest or a simple arrest?”
“I’m giving him some allowances that the others don’t have. Make sure he gets some water and the flavor packs if he wants them. Let him choose a game system and three games if he’s interested. Also, get him a remote and the code to the Roku as well.”
“What is he allowed?”
“Games, videos, music, books, whatever he’s interested in.”
“Yes sir, I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up and look at Jamie.
“I don’t normally have an expectation as to who’s right in a situation. You better be telling me the truth about that fight.”
“What is there to hide, sir?” He shrugs shoulders as he continues. “Dallas was talking shit about Cole. I tried to defend him. When I tried to leave, Richard wouldn’t let me.”
“I always like hearing consistency.”
A short knock on the door startles Cole causing him to yelp and fight lightly as Patrick opens the door. To my relief Jamie seems to understand Cole’s needs and wraps his arms around him quieting Cole’s fight easily with just a few words.
“What was that about, boss?”
Patrick walks up to us causally.
“He doesn’t want me to leave. He thinks Dallas is going to hurt me for defending him.”
“You really think he’s dumb enough to do such a thing.”
I can see Jamie nod to Patrick’s question before speaking.
“Dallas tends to be the pack bully, sir. I wouldn’t put anything past him. I’ll be fine Cole, I just have to lay low until it passes over or until he leaves. He usually is the first one sent packing. At least he was with the previous two packs I’ve gone to.”
He leans over and gives Cole another hug. It’s only as Jamie stands to leave that the burn on Cole’s leg catches Patrick’s attention. As he steps forward trying to get a better look, I can feel Cole’s back pressing into my chest again. Patrick’s harshness this morning seems to have made him afraid of my beta. I look straight at Pat as I speak reassuringly to Cole.
“Try to relax Cole, he’s not going to do anything.”
I watch as my beta leans on the bed trying to get at Cole’s level comfortably.
“Cole.” His voice is soft and neutral. “I’m sorry I didn’t take the time to do this directly this morning but I am sorry that I was rough with you. You didn’t deserve that treatment from me.”
Cole lifts his head slightly before quietly giving him a submissive sounding thank you.
“May I ask you a question, Cole?”
He pauses a moment but I can’t tell if Cole has answered him before he continues.
“I do want you to know that what little I have seen is not acceptable punishment by the council. You appear to be much worse than anything that’s allowable by council law for any wrong doing, short of murder, that allows for your alpha to implement physical punishment but these injuries of yours came from you being punished, correct?”
I feel Cole nod his head yes.
“Okay. What were you punished for?”
I feel Cole stiffen as he leans his head back on my shoulder. His breathing has tightened up again and I’m concerned that he is going into another asthma attack. I’m surprised when he actually speaks again.
“Luna…. Sasha.”
“Are you saying what Dallas said at lunch is true?” Patrick asks gently.
“No, Cole. No. You’ve got to be kidding me. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. This is the sixth time you’ve been physically punished over that bitch and they just finished the mate's bond six months ago.”
We are all shocked at Jamie’s outburst and level of anger at such simple words. He growls lowly as he walks away.
“You’re going to have to update me on what’s going on.”
Angela speaks as she sets everything up for Cole’s surgery.
“When Dallas was walking back from the bathroom after Demetri broke up the fight he claimed that Cole was a rapist and pedophile. That his beating on Saturday was because he raped their future luna.”
Patrick speaks calmly as Jamie paces.
“Cole, you’ve got to open up. You said yourself that alpha would be stupid to not recognize that you’re being abused. We both know that the majority of the pack reports negative things about you just to see you punished.”
Jamie pauses in his tirade with Cole. I can tell that they are both hurting emotionally from what’s going on with Cole and finding out this beating was again about this luna seems to have really struck a nerve.
“Cole please. You have got to find a way out.”
For the first time in a while I can feel his head shake as he sniffles from the tears I know must be falling. When I look at Jamison I can tell he’s in a link and I’m both surprised but relieved when he speaks his side of the conversation.
“What do you mean you can’t go yet?”
I’m even further shocked when Cole speaks.
“I can’t leave…… you…. your family….. Dr. Carter….. his family…… All the littles….. I can’t…. abandon you.”
The room stays silent as the pack mates argue, their auras growing in power as their frustration with each other peaks. I am impressed with what I feel from both of them.
“Cole please. All he wants to do is help you but he can’t if you don’t talk about it.”
“No one….. can help me.”
“Damn it Cole, think about yourself for once! He’s going to fucking kill you!”
We all look at Jamie who is now falling apart. I look down to Cole who has muted his aura and closed his eyes. Tears slowly falling down his face. What Jamie has said seems to be a truth Cole already knows, yet he’s still terrified to trust me enough to really open up. His voice is so quiet and submissive that he’s barely heard.
“I was…. the twin…. that should have never….. survived.”
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