I can hear the panic forming in alpha’s voice.


    “You’re telling me he has blood poisoning on top of finding silver in his blood?”


    Alpha’s voice is incredulous trying to figure out how to deal with this new finding.


    “You’re aware of silver being in his blood?”


    Now it’s my turn to be incredulous.


    “At this point, I don’t feel that I’m invalidating your reading but that’s the reason I called you. We need to know before his blood testse back if he’s withdrawing from triple S or crashing from silver poisoning.”


    “When was the blood taken?”


    “This morning.”


    I nod my head as I continue my walk over to him.


    “Well, that’s not the reason why I need a second read but now that I know the exact nature of what you’re looking for I can take the time to differentiate as my first read only revealed a high purity silver burn on his left thigh and, more confusingly, all over his body.”


    I turn back to Cole and I can tell the news is weighing hard on his already fragile psychological health. I know using the mate’s bond is a tease as he’s already expecting me to abandon him. What he doesn’t know is that the fear he’s already shown of simply touching me makes it impossible to believe that he’s a predator, let alone a sexual one. What those rumors are and how they started is a bridge I’m willing to crosster, abandonment isn’t something he can handle right now.


    His head is back down in his hands. He’s breathing hard, reminding me of my own struggles with controlling my panic. I ce my hands on top of his, rubbing the backs gently with my thumbs. He’s struggling badly with the new sensationing from the bond. What I’m not expecting is his fight against it. He startles me badly when he pulls away roughly, sitting back in the chair quickly.


    “I can’t do another read. You don’t understand what it felt like. Everything already hurts badly. I can’t handle any more pain in my neck and head.”


    “Are you serious dad? He’s an alpha?”


    Alpha’s growl is deep and unforgiving as Cole and I both bow our heads in submission. If I hadn’t been directly in front of Cole I’m certain he would’ve been kneeling on the floor in front of the alpha.


    “Lucas! Out of all my pack members I can’t believe I just heard that from my own son. That is absolutely uneptable and you know it,”


    I look over towards Luna and her kids as Lucas lets loose his own growl.


    “Come here.”


    1 can see Cole wince at alpha’s harshness, demanding Lucas toe to him. Lucas looks angry as he pushes himself up off the couch and walks to his now standing father. Alpha’s eyes are livid but so are Lucas’s as he’s brave enough to stare into alpha’s eyes. Very quickly alpha grabs the back of Lucas’s neck in a hard submission before growling out his words to his son.


    “The stairs are clear so you will report to your room and remain there for the rest of the night. When things settle down with Cole, which may take a few days, I will call for you. You will be giving me your bare


    ass for this.”


    To my surprise Lucas never breaks eye contact with alpha. He simply waits for his father to release him before walking to the stairs.


    “Alpha please. Don’t hurt your son over me.”


    Cole’s plea stuns all of us. Despite the disrespect he’s receiving from Lucas he’d rather the alpha show mercy than take his pound of flesh, something I have never seen from any Red Fang pack members.


    “The physical punishment he will receive is nothing like what you havee to understand. I know I didn’t show the level of control that I normally have tonight but I assure you, I actually have very strict


    rules when ites to physical punishment.”


    Alpha’s words are much softer as he talks to Cole but his alpha aura is still zing causing Cole to cringe and even whimper as alpha runs his hand gently through his hair. I cock my head trying to understand what I’m seeing from my mate. His behavior towards the alpha seems closer to an abused omega than of


    the alpha’s son.


    “Cole, I need to do another read.”


    He pulls away from alpha as alpha tries to touch him again. This time he respects Cole’s actions and withdraws his hand back. He makes eye contact with me, his fear is beyond description.


    “Now that I know, I can change. Just allow me to touch you. It won’t hurt you this time.”


    I try to reassure him as I reach towards him. I can feel how badly he wants to fight my touch but with ites how incredibly weak and sick he is. I’m going a lot slower this time as I know the pain I caused the first time isn’t easily forgiven or forgotten. My own experiences with abusive alpha’s has taught me that.


    His eyes are closed as I gently start petting his temple. He’s remaining very still but he’s super tense which will make the reading harder on both of us.


    “I know the harshness of the first/read has made this difficult but I need you to rx. Concentrate on the positives you feel from my touch. It’s okay to ept it even if you’re not ready to have a rtionship. I think we need to get you out of Red Fang and rtively healthy before we try the emotional challenge thates with having a rtionship. Especially when both of us have been abused.”