<b>Chapter </b><b>113 </b>


    <b>“</b><b>So </b>what’s on your mind, boss? The only time we eat thiste without your twitis is if you have something big going on”


    I nod <b>my </b>head as I jot down a few more things. My notes look more like lists right now but they’re enough to remember my train of thought when <b>I </b><b>go </b>back


    to themter.


    “I’m getting involved with the prospects this time around.”


    <b>1 </b>see Damian and Lucas slow down their eating as Ie straight out with the main aspect of tonight’s meeting.


    “You’re always involved with the prospects, Demetri. You always have. More than any alpha that I know of that’s involved in this program.”


    “Yes, I do tend to be more involved than the average alpha as, considering the pure size of my pack, I’m extremely picky as to who I bring back let alone who I transfer in but that’s not what I’m talking about. This is beyond the meet and greet as they get off the bus. My insistence on being the main speaker for orientation and going through all the paperwork I have each of you do regarding the intense testing of their strength, endurance, technique, intelligence and character. This is well beyond any of that.”


    “Why are you getting involved now? It’s been years since you’ve felt the need to increase your presence during the first run.”


    So far my conversation seems to be just between myself and Patrick.


    “Half of you here have seen parts of the whole picture that I’m speaking of. I think those of you who have interacted with him and are seated here can answer that question without me. I’ve led this pack for fifteen years and joined the warrior program ten years ago. In the first six years that I was a part of the program I’ve helped two dozen wolves <b>escape </b>the brutal reality of their pack. It’s been four years since <b>I’ve </b>felt the need to get hands on with the prospects but that’s exactly where this <b>is </b>headed.”


    “You’re talking about Cole.” Damian speaks quietly for the first time since sitting at the table.


    “Yes son, this is about Cole. Problem is this goes beyond Cole as well.”


    Patrick stops eating, cing his fork down on the table. I can tell by his bodynguage that he doesn’t approve. That he’s going to challenge my desire to help Cole. I take a bite of steak and slowly chew the tender meat waiting to hear what he has to say. Even though we rarely agree on anything right away, Patrick has been the perfect beta for me during the ten years since he’s returned to his birth pack.


    We have been friends since we could walk and he challenges my thoughts making certain everything is considered before action is taken. Unfortunately, I’ve


    already started making moves with Cole that he doesn’t know about. I will help him get out.


    2


    “Have you ever met a pedophile or rapist that has admitted to doing either?”


    I can’t help but chuckle <b>as </b>I knew that was exactly what he’d bring up.


    “No, have you<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    My reply is clipped making certain he understands my feelings towards the subject.


    “You can’t simply ignore information as damaging as he’s raping his luna and that he’s marking and raping girls <b>as </b>young as seven. The condition that he’s in is a direct result of those actions.”


    “He’s never been caught in the act of either of those, He’s merely been used of those actions.<b>” </b>


    “If he’s never been caught then why is he receiving physical punishment for it?<b>” </b>


    “Have you ever known Charles Redmen to be a rational man? To follow the rules of punishment? Cole appears to be <b>a </b>veryplicated case of family scapegoat abuse. While he refused to go into the details of his rtionship with the little girl pups of his pack he did share his side of what’s going on between him and Luna Sasha. Short version, she’s not his brother’s fated mate. He tried to warn his brother three weeks before the mate’s union ceremony that she was a loose woman and his brother punished him for hisment. Several dayster his father punished him again in front of Sasha and <b>several </b>others<b>. </b>A month after his brother marked her he started getting beat for sexual assaults that have never been proven. And <b>keep </b>in mind Alpha Redmen makes <b>it </b>extremely difficult for a female to prove sexual assault and rape.”


    I <b>see </b>Patrick’s eyes soften from the hard anger he seems to <b>have </b>towards Cole to one of mild skepticism about the rumors.