Rising 364_The Son of Red Fang

Something in the way I speak reaches her despite her own panic attack. She manages to turn herself so her side is pressed up against my chest. I have one arm across her back and around her side as the otherys across her chest.

 To my surprise she has wrapped both her arms around mine, shaking silently as I give her a moment to breathe. She startles hard with a stifled yelp as I move my hand from her side.

 “It’s okay Jessa. He’s not going to hurt you.” I speak to her gently as I rub her back.

 “I can’t be around. He’s angry. Too many things have happened with angry alphas.” She gets her fear

 out in a rush.

 “I understand. Has he had any of his medication?” She nods silently.

 “I was able to get him to take Ativan, Zofran, Effexor and two Advil.” 

 “Damian is still at the table. How about you go sit and chat with him for a few minutes. Unwind before going home.” 

 She nods again as I slowly turn both of us towards the hall. I continue to rub her back between her shoulders, patiently waiting for her to calm enough to let me go. Slowly her grip rxes before she steps away from me. Looking up at my face, she’s quiet and submissive.

 “Thank you, alpha.”

 “You’re wee. I just wish it would have gone a bit better. I can tell that his demeanor has

 changed. He knows that you’re scared of him.” 

 “It hurts him.” She agrees with me slowly.

 Looking back into the room I can see the tears in her eyes as she desires her mate yet the ghosts of

 her past haunt her present and it’s easy to see how shaken she is by his anger.

 “Please help him.”

 She whispers as she backs away, unable to tear herself from the sight of her broken mate. Julie steps between us, taking Jessa by the shoulders, she turns her away from Cole. With kind, encouraging

 words she guides Jessa away from his room.

 I enter Cole’s room with a sigh, so many things could be bothering him right now. The memory of his father breaking his jaw, my desire to start testing his warrior skills, giving me a detailed exnation as to why he can’t leave his pack; they are all possible triggers for his current state of mind. It could be all of them at the same time.

 Chapter 364 

 “It would help both of us if you could talk to me.” 

 I start off slowly. Sitting on the side of his bed closest to where he’s pacing. He looks up from the floor, briefly looking at my face as he walks by before averting his gaze back to the ground.

 His gaze is submissive and stuck, mostly, to the ground. His body is rigid, as if he’s prepared for a fight. His pacing is fast. He wants to run but has nowhere to go, so he continues pacing like a caged animal waiting for his opportunity to escape the confines of his cage.

 “Cole?”

 The soft undertones of Julie’s voice alerts me to her presence and attracts his attention enough that. his pacing slows.

 “I’m sorry we haven’t met yet but I have been helping Demetri behind the scenes, so to speak. My name is Julie Richards, I’m an alpha and my main job here is to help distressed wolves like you navigate safely through that stress. Can you tell me what’s bothering you?”

 He stopspletely and looks up at her, sighing hard as he runs his hands roughly through his hair.

 “I’m sorry Alpha Julie, I don’t understand why I’m in a panic attack.”

 He nearly whispers as he returns to pacing the room. I look at her as she remains silent, watching

 him.

 “Are you willing to follow my instructions exactly? There’s something I’d like you to try.”

 “Okay. I’ll try.” He whispers as his pacing slows.

 She walks into the room until she reaches the end of his bed.

 “What I would like you to do is talk.”

 He stopspletely to turn and look at her, confusion written on his face.

 “Very good, Cole. I see I’ve got your attention now. What I want is for you to start speaking everything thates into your head. At first it is going to be chaotic because your thoughts are racing right now but out of the chaos will be answers to either what you’re in need of or the reason behind the chaos.”

NovelLamp

Rising 364