Chapter 73
Saturday, January 20th
(2 days before leaving Red Fang territory; Cole’s POV)
(Content Warning)
I enter the pack house, kicking off my shoes and putting them in the locking box I created several years ago when my shoes kept disappearing. I slip on my house slippers before entering the main living area. The twins, Taylor and Tyler, are loudly arguing over how to play GTA on the PlayStation.
All prospects attending the next set of runs always move into the pack house a week before they are scheduled to leave so they can be taught the rules of the program. Normally that would mean seventy-five warriors from three packs, ours plus White Fang and White Moon, all take up residence in the pack house until the three buses going to three different packs show up around five Monday morning. This is the first time Crescent Moon has participated in the warrior program since dad completed the betrothal contract with Alpha Robert.
To the best of my knowledge we now have 120 wolves attending this week long orientation before getting told which pack they’re going to for training. It’s also the first time the warriors are being split between five packs instead of three.
Despite having gone on three runs already I’ve never been invited to the orientation training. I guess he’s hoping that I mess up badly enough that I get kicked out by keeping me in the dark on the council’s expectations. He can’t even be bothered to let me know I’m even going until the day before the buses get here.
Taylor is the first one to notice me watching them.
“What the fuck are you looking at?”
I shake my head silently. Despite being the alpha’s son I’ve gotten used to the absence of respect I’m shown within the pack. I turn towards the kitchen when Taylor speaks again.
“Your dad’s been looking for you all week. Sounded livid when I heard him talking to your mom.”
There’s a chuckle in his voice as a shiver runs down my spine.
“Thanks Taylor. You just made my day.”
I speak sarcastically as I run my hand nervously through my hair. My father has been requesting these meetings nearly everyday for the last three months and I’m always being punished for something I have no knowledge of even happening.
“He didn’t have to tell you at all.”
Tyler retorts as he turns the game system off. I sigh as I shake my head. No one knows what my life is like here. I walk slowly into the dining room before taking a soft left into the kitchen trying to stay away from my brother and his mate. I have always been the most conservative of my siblings. I have never approved of revealing clothing or making out in public areas, the exact opposite of what’s going on at the dining room table.
My brother and future alpha, Andre, with his mate, Sasha, in his lap. Actively making out without a care for who’s around. No matter how I try, it’s obvious that his hand is between her legs beneath her dress. I shiver in disgust as she moans. I can’t help thinking about all the young children that frequently run around the pack house further adding to my disdain of her. Everyone knows that I don’t like her and disapproved of them going through the mate’s union ceremony, the werewolf equivalent to a wedding. So I keep my distance but that doesn’t keep her from finding ways to abuse me.
She’s not his fated mate. Rather a political move between neighboring packs, a betrothal between alphas. I stayed out of the arrangement until I caught her cheating and I’m the one who has repeatedly paid a heavy price for trying to warn Andre of her infidelity.
I cringe as her moans turn into a high pitched squeal. Seconds later a loud slap followed by a yelp and a whimper.
“How many times have I told you not to make that sound when I bite my mark?”
Andre chastises her as I take a drink of water.
“Cole!” I freeze at the sound of my brother’s deep, chastising voice. “What the hell is wrong with you? How many times do I need to tell dad that you’re coming into our room, when I’m out of town, to force yourself on my luna?”
I choke and sputter on the water I’m drinking, grateful that I haven’t wandered away from the sink as I spit everything in my mouth into it. I’m gripping the sink ledge hard as I gasp for breath. My heart is pounding in my throat and my stomach is churning making me want to vomit at the thought of what’s coming to me again.
“What?” Is all I manage to gasp out, terrified that she has blamed me again.
“Sasha told me it was you again, sneaking into our room while she was sleeping last week. Even after I had dad change the lock last month. She said you pinned her down in her sleep, kissing on her neck and feeling between her legs. I felt everything you did through the bond or did you forget that exists between us?”
I’m shaking my head in disbelief. This is bad. Really, really bad. I can feel the tremors overtaking my body as I try in vain to defend myself.
“I don’t know what happened to your luna while you were out of town but I can assure you it wasn’t me.”
He grabs the back of my neck hard causing me to yelp and cringe in pain. I start trying to get away from him, using the kitchen counter to give me leverage to push back against him but at six foot two inches he’s as tall as dad and has a good four inches on me and at least fifty pounds of muscle when I’m in top condition, something I haven’t seen in a long time.
My efforts are futile as he manages to slam the right side of my head into the edge of the counter. I’m only on my knees briefly before he yanks me up and starts pushing me towards dad’s office which is the same hallway the training center connects to.
I start struggling against his hold again as we stop in front of dad’s office door. I drop suddenly to my knees as the office door opens, causing Andre to lose his grip on me. I gain my footing quickly getting away from both of them. My size may be a disadvantage for brute strength but I make up for it in speed and agility. Unfortunately this is not my day for either.
The slamming of my head into the edge of the countertop catches me quickly causing me to collapse just ten feet from the end of the hallway. As I get to all fours to force myself to keep going the wind is knocked out of me as Andre’s foot connects forcefully with my soft abdomen. I take several more kicks before Andre is forced to stop.
“Enough! You have already been warned about teaching him a lesson on your own where everyone can see. Last thing I need this close to retirement is for you to get tangled up in an abuse investigation with the council.”
“I have the right to defend my luna.”
“Andre!”
I know the conversation has ended based on dad’s tone and aura but I also know I’m not done with.
“I…. didn’t…… do anything…… to luna…..” I wheeze knowing better than to use her name.
“That’s not what I heard.” Dad growls as his large calloused hand wraps roughly around my neck. “Stand and walk.”
I stagger to my feet as he pushes me down the hall towards the training center.
“It seems you’re not learning to leave Luna Sasha alone. That lock has been changed three times and you still manage to get in their room to put your hands on her.”
“I told both of you what she’s been up to six months ago. How else do you explain the assaults continuing to happen after you change the locks?”
“You’re telling me she’s lying!”
“Yes! She started cheating on him before the ceremony; he just couldn’t feel it.”
I yelp as he squeezes my neck even harder, pushing me even faster down the hall.
“Do you really think I’m going to believe a pervert over the alpha’s daughter? Keep moving.”
He growls as I try to stop, to push back against going through the door leading into the training center.
I’m getting desperate as I know that Andre gave me a bad concussion already and taking on my father’s punishment in addition to Andre’s is going to screw me out of the next run. I don’t even know where or if I’m going but none of the packs seem much better than where I’m at. My only reprieve seems to be getting away from the sexual predator rumors and that only lasts a day or two as I’m always in the group Dallas is in.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
