<b>Chapter </b><b>368 </b>
“It’s really important that you listen.” He gives me a nod. “This is not going to be a true <b>spar</b>. <b>I </b><b>will </b>tease you. Touch you with the pads until I get you hitting but as I told you a few minutes ago<b>, </b><b>you’re </b>the only one throwing the hits. The padding that I’m wearing is a precaution as we have <b>never </b>sparred so I don’t know anything about your strength, uracy or technique. The youngest <b>I </b><b>start </b>training is eleven and that’s only when specific things are met with the pup. I usually <b>don’t </b><b>wear </b>padding when working with them. Now, would you like to try using gloves?”
He shakes his head as I verify everything I want to use is in ce.
“Okay Cole. We are going to start slowly. I’m going to reach my padded hand out to you, I want you to meet it with your fist. This is just touching, not hitting yet.”
I start with my right and he slowly touches it with his left. I repeat with my left and he follows with his right. We continue this warm up for a minute or two before <b>I </b>start moving on.
“Now, I want you to follow me. We are going in a circle. I side step to the right, you counter me to
the left.”
I start my movements slowly, continuing the soft hits as we go. He does well when I don’t warn him about changing directions, following me when I do.
“Excellent Cole. Now I want you to start hitting when I say hit.”
I continue with the warm up exercise as I speak hoping the distraction and clear instructions will
make it easier for him to follow.
“All hits are to stay above the belt, no feet are to be involved tonight. You can use any technique you’refortable with and your targets are the pads on my hands. As I said before, the chest and head protection is because I’m not familiar with your uracy or strength and I don’t want you to be afraid of hurting me. You are to take all the anger and frustration you’re feeling out on me, <b>on </b>these pads. You can’t hurt me and there are no penalties, If yound a bad hit and you will stop immediately so we can take care of it.”
He nods silently confirming my instructions.
“One more thing Cole.”
“Yes sir?”
“I need you to talk while you’re doing this with me.”
“Sir?” There’s a nervous wayer to his voice.
your wrist,
“I’m adding the exercise Julie started in your bedroom to this. Whateveres <b>into </b><b>your </b>head <b>you </b>are to speak it. Scream it if it helps, but we need to know what you’re thinking. <b>It </b><b>will </b>give <b>us </b>guidance on the best way to help you through this attack since you don’t know what <b>triggered </b><b>it</b>.”
He nods in confirmation of my instructions but he’s moving stiffly as I switch directions <b>again</b><b>, </b>continuing the warm up exercise that I started with him.
“Are you ready?” I ask gently as I watch the young man’s face change. His calm demeanor <b>quickly </b>fading away back into the panic that never left.
“Please alpha, I can’t do this. Please don’t force this. I can’t…. I can’t….”
He’s struggling to find his words as I pursue this style of venting. It’s hard for me to imagine what <b>it </b>is he must have endured for him to have the terror he’s experiencing now.
“That’s never stopped him‘ rings in my ears as I slowly increase my speed, trying to amp him up without triggering a ck out episode. He just confirmed one of many fears that make it so much harder to help him. He confirmed again that he has been punished, I imagine violently, for doing as he was told. Knowing how he came here, I don’t need him to tell me what his penalty was for listening as I’m certain it was just as bad as when he didn’t.
“I’m not your father Cole. I will never punish you forpliance. You need to hit these pads and hit them hard. Let me feel you. Let me hear you. Start now, Cole. Hit me.<b>” </b>
My tone is even but firm as I give him themand. His first hit is weak and hesitant. He’s resisting the exercise even though it will ultimately help him.
<i>“</i>Again Cole, hit me.”
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