<b>Chapter </b><b>166 </b>
“For wanting to touch your daughter. For yelling at <b>you</b>.”
I reply trying to keep it simple so I didn’t have to exin too much about my past. How I’ve been abused at the three previous packs I’ve visited, their cruelty just wasn’t quite <b>as </b>severe.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Cole. I hesitated to take her because you said we weren’t to intervene. Have you changed your mind about trying to help her?”
“No sir. I won’t abandon a little one.”
My voice is back to the meek and submissive one I’ve been throughly trained to use. It’s a rarity for me to raise my voice or use my aura to <b>express </b>my alpha dominance.
“Then I guess I’m a little confused on what intervening is in this situation.”
I feel Dr. Pierce slowly release my wrist. Her grip was strong yet gentle and I had nearly forgotten she was even holding it.
“The rumors are in your pack.”
I sigh as I turn to look at him again.
“I told you that we knew, Luna Lilly and I.”
“No alpha, it’s in your pack. Beyond you and luna. Madilynid with me yesterday and it was my fear towards her that upset her. Tonight, it’s me she’s
afraid of.”
“So what happens now?”
“We keep trying until one of you gives in. She will either settle down and let me use heat and pressure to rx the muscles that are cramping or you and luna will give up on the process and find another way to relieve her pain. There is no force involved in this. It is imperative that you do notmand her <b>to </b>ept this.”
“I will follow your lead, no more hesitation. You tell me what you need from me. But, no more assumptions on if you’re in trouble with me. I know you’re being mistreated, I will not pretend that you aren’t. While there are a lot of things that I will change in how I work with you, one thing will not change. I have never hidden my displeasure from anyone. I may approach you more cautiously when ites to discipline but you will never have to guess if you’ve done something wrong. You will know when I disapprove of a behavior and if penalties will be given. No more attempts at self punishment.”
“Yes sir.”
“Now, what’s next?”
“Now that she’s calm, try toy her down again.”
Luna hase back to her seat and Madilyn has quieted in alpha’s <b>arms </b>but I know this time is going to be harder than the first. I take several deep breaths as I try to calm my own nerves.
“Are you ready to try again?”
Alpha asks quietly. Madilyn’s grip tightens around her father’s <b>neck </b>as he steps towards the bed again. I give <b>him </b><b>a </b>silent <b>as </b>he lowers her to the bed. She starts screaming as soon as she touches me.
“No!” She shrieks. “Don’t leave me with him! Daddy! Don’t leave me with the perv! He doesn’t protect them. His touch hurts little girls! He marks them! Loves them in bad ways! No, no!”
Without me saying anything, alpha picks her up again. I can feel my hands shaking, squeezing my <b>eyes </b>shut trying in vain to will the pain <b><i>of </i></b>such horrid falsehoods out of my mind. I go through this with <b>every </b>new pup thates my way. Why is this so much harder to stomach? But <b>I </b>already know the answer as the warm wetness of my tears start down my face. She’s four. The youngest I’ve ever tried to work with and yet someone has convinced her that I’m dangerous.
“Madilyn, I need you to calm down. We need to talk sweetheart. Those <b>are </b>some very hurtful and dangerous things to say about Alpha <i>Cale </i>
I cringe <b>as </b>I hear alpha use my title. I’m not an alpha. I was convinced of that a long time ago.
“Please don’t chastise her.”
I whisper hoping that no one hears the waiver in my voice thates from crying.
“I’m not upset with her or you for that matter but it is important to know who gave her these ideas. They most certainly are not her own<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>I </b>start taking deeper, slower breaths, trying to remember alpha’s slow count for calming myself down. <b>I </b><b>start </b>reaching towards my head, desperately wanting to run my hand through my hair but a gentle hand stops me, followed by a gentle, feminine voice.
“Follow my count.”
I concentrate on luna’s voice <b>as </b>she starts the slow count, flinching hard when <b>she </b>starts running her fingers through my hair on the top of my head. I turn my attention to alpha as my anxiety evens out, listening to alpha and Madilyn. <b>Her </b>panic from being with <b>me </b>has finally settled down enough that I expect alpha to start questioning her.
<b>Chapter </b><b>Comments </b>