1 tighten my hold on Cole


    as he whimpers from my exnation, pushing against me lightly.


    “I don’t understand.” Damian whispers<i>. </i>


    I look around at everyone that hase tonight. Patrick, Lilly, Julie and Ang are the only ones that seem to understand what beingbeled a feral could do to Cole.


    “Beingbeled a feral by the council is very difficult. Both proving that the wolf is feral and proving that they are not once they’rebeled. While I’m not certain how knowledgeable Alpha Redmen is on the process of making Cole a feral, if he were to seed, any pack that Cole runs into would have the council’s permission to kill him on sight.”


    I can feel Cole’s grip tighten on my shirt as I finish the exnation. Learning about the different statuses a werewolf can fall under is taught in school but the most devastating aspects of it are usually left out.


    “Why would they kill him?” Lucas asks, shocked at the extreme consequences such abel would


    create,


    “When a wolf isbeled a feral, it means that they are wild. No one can control them and they don’t follow societal norms. Omegas and gammas that go feral are generally allowed to simply exist as rogues and the council tracks their whereabouts. No pack is allowed to do anything to them unless they start causing trouble. If a delta, beta or alpha female getsbeled a feral they are simr to omega and gammas but local packs are warned if they are living near them, Delta, beta and alpha males are considered highly dangerous. Once a pack leader goes through the long and difficult process tobel one of those males a feral anything goes. The council advocates for a merciful death


    but it seldom happens.”


    Once again everyone is silent. I sigh deeply as I know that exining the seventy–two hour psychiatric observation to Cole is going to be just as devastating but I decide to start elsewhere first.


    “Cole, I know it’s devastating but I need to know exactly what your father has said to you this week.<b>” </b>


    He shakes his head hard as he whimpers.


    “I don’t want to talk about it.”


    “I know you don’t want to talk but it’s important that I know. You told me three weeks ago that the


    second run wouldn’t work.”


    He pushes himself up off me. As much as I want to continueforting him I allow him to leave me.


    “He’s been ranting about how alpha’s can kick prospects out of their run for freeloading for days. I


    <i>1/2 </i>


    didn’t think it was true until your conversation with beta this evening. <b>He’s </b>been non<b>–</b><b>stop </b><b>talking </b>about how I’m too weak toplete a real run and he’s given me enough time away <b>to </b>figure <b>out </b>that everyone is the same.”


    <i>“</i>Cole, I believe you are leaving a lot of what he’s said out. That exins why you got upset over leaving even though I never said anything to you about it. My concern is your mention of the <b>council </b>and your father pulling you out of the prospect program. I already knew that the second run <b>couldn’t </b>


    be used, Why is getting pulled out so devastating?”


    He makes eye contact briefly, shame is obvious now that I’ve called him out.


    “The council is the one removing me from the program.” He whispers sadly.


    “The only reason the council pulls a wolf from the program is if the wolf is dangerous or has a disqualifying health issue.”


    He nods as he turns away from me.


    <i>“</i>Cole, what happened?” My voice is desperate.


    “He said the council came and stayed a weekst month. Interviewed him extensively on the silver poisoning and injuries that I had when I got here. To save his own tail he turned over the false evidence he’s been collecting iming that I am a feral wolf and the treatment I’m receiving is a necessity. He told me that the council is allowing me to stay where I’m at but as soon as Ie home I can not leave the territory until their investigation is over and a ruling made. He said that I’m a feral wolf and the sooner I ept my fate the better off I’ll be.”


    The news is so much worse than I imagined. To falsely use your own child of being a feral to excuse maliciously poisoning them is a low I’ve never encountered before. I’m beginning to think that Charles Redmen is the feral that needs to be put down. No wonder he flipped out.


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