Chapter <b>288 </b>
He sits forward in myp again, digging his hands into his <b>hair </b>and squeezing them tight. It looks as if he’s hurting himself yet no soundes from within him until I touch his hands. A mix between a yelp and a scream startles me but I persist in touching him. I rub his hands gently until I feel him rx, pulling them away from his head as he does. He’s rocking back and forth hard and I know I have to get him back before this spirals out of control. This is the limit. If he chooses to continue I won’t stop him but I’m not asking what the alpha did, I’ve heard enough to know that authorizing that kind of punishment for defiance on a non–member is illegal in the eyes of the council and I’m almost certain sanctions would be implemented if they knew he was trying to protect a child from the same treatment.
“Cole, I need you to focus on me. My voice, my touch, my smell. Anything about me that you can grab hold of and focus on. It’s very important that you ground yourself. I’m helping as much as I can but you have to focus on being here not there.”
I wrap both my arms around him this time. One crossing his chest from his shoulder to his hip, the other around his waist. He growls loudly at the contact, the restraint of his body but I remain neutral as I know it’s a protective reaction and not one meant for me. I use the hand that’s around his waist to pet <b>his </b>side lightly, trying to give him positive feedback to focus on while gently encouraging him to calm down, reassuring him that it’s not happening again.
It’s as his body finally slows its fight before copsing into me that I’m able to fullyprehend the gravity of what happened and why he’s reacting this way after the incident with Maddie at dinner..
This is what Xavier was trying to tell me about, how going to these packs weren’t a break for him. This is why these packs sent him back as they were almost as abusive as his own. They convinced him that they could help him before betraying him in the worst possible way. He trusted them enough to talk and now I know at least one of them implemented physical punishment that was uncalled for.
“I’m sorry alpha.”
I’m shocked by his whisper as I wasn’t expecting him to speak so soon after sharing such a traumatic memory let alone apologize.
“Sorry for what, Cole? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Yes I have alpha. You’re right. I have been lying to you.”
I remain silent with his admittance to wrongdoing but I know there has to be a reason for him to first lie then admit that he’s lying.
“I’m sorry Cole but you’re going to have to exin what you’ve been lying about. I’m not angry and I won’t punish you if that’s what you’re concerned about but I need a better exnation.”
He struggles to sit–up out of my grasp but in the process his leg hits me. The hit doesn’t phase me but Cole’s yelp tells me a different story for him. He copses back down on the bed, nearly in myp, whimpering hard holding his leg.
“I’m sorry alpha. I tried. I swear to the moon goddess I tried. I’m sorry that I’m weak. I don’t feel good. It hurts and it keeps getting worse. I have struggled to eat all day and I wanted to tell you at dinner but things just didn’t work out. I’m sorry I can’t handle the pain anymore.”
He’s curled in a ball nearly begging for forgiveness as he agonizes in pain. I have a really bad feeling about it getting this bad so quickly after getting him out of the hospital. His head is in myp as he whimpers hard.
“Please don’t punish me alpha. I’m sorry for lying. I’m weak and scared. I don’t know how to do this alone.”
“You’re not alone, Cole. I will help you but I need you to try to trust me.”
I can feel him shaking in myp as I run my hand through his hair.
“Please help me. I can’t do this again.”
“Do what again?<b>” </b>
“Go septic.”
I pause my movements for a moment. Although we mentioned it three days ago when we found the burn to my knowledge it hasn’t been mentioned again. So why is he suddenly so concerned again?
“Cole. <b>I </b>speak as reassuringly as I can to the young man.
“It’s important that you understand that nothing I do is a punishment. Considering this morning’s discovery and the amount of pain you’re in, I think it’s best that I admit you to the wing until your resultse back. We asked you this morning to be honest with us. I don’t understand why you feel the need to hide your symptoms but I’m giving you another chance toe clean. Are your symptoms getting worse?”
He stiffens up badly when I remind him of this morning, of the instructions he’s been defying. I know I’m feeling way too deeply for the young man but for once my bad reputation has sent me one of the highest needs wolves within a thousand miles.
“We will be doing everything we can to help you but you are at the point, with your level of injuries, that I will be preparing a report for the council. They need to know that you are being tortured by your home pack.”
He’s starting to push himself up but he’s struggling and whimpering badly in the process. I ce my hand on his shoulder stopping his struggle.
“Let me get up and help you. There’s no reason you should be suffering like this. Let’s get you sitting up again, get Damian’s shirt on you then head back to the wing. I want to help you Cole. In more ways than you’re ready to understand.”
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