(Cole’s POV)

I follow behind Alpha Demetri and his son a short way across the main hall on the first floor. They stop at the first door they come to, the numbers 101A are screwed into the center. I stop a few feet from them as I have a preference for keeping my distance from everyone. I only get close to those I’ve observed for a while and I have a motive for learning from them.

I can hear a short beep briefly before the sound of the door unlocking. Alpha pushes down on the handle and allows the door to swing open before looking back at me and encouraging me to enter.

I move cautiously as I have never been beaten this badly by my dad before going to another pack’s territory. I would think the risk of another alpha discovering my secret relationship with my father would have been too high for him to be so careless. Yet the beatings have only gotten worse with each pack he’s sent me off to. Combine denying me my medication with the hardship of hiding my injuries and he’s making it easier for them to discover the abuse I’m suffering much sooner. I’m certain that this alpha has already figured out that I’m being abused and I’ve barely been here an hour. It’s become clear to me that he’s using the warrior program as a new way to abuse me. I can’t think of how many times he’s told me that I’m too weak for any alpha to accept into a second run and it seems like every time I come back I have to deal with the council poking around. He will refrain from abusing me while they’re there but the moment they leave I’m chained up and beaten three to four times a week until he decides to send me on another run. So it’s not difficult for me to go pack when my dad tells me to, that I'm going to whatever pack he decides is next for me in the line up. I need to get away from him just as badly as he hates seeing my face in his territory.

I step inside the room several feet, completely neglecting to even search for the light. It’s as I place the pack I’m wearing on the bed that I’m startled by the light being flipped on. I turn quickly to see that Alpha and his son have stepped inside the room with me. The alpha gives me a smile but says nothing. It seems he’s started observing again. I turn and start moving slowly around the room taking in everything.

“Would it be okay if I put your wet clothes in the washer?”

Alpha Damian asks, causing me to freeze and look at him. He lets out a nervous chuckle as I study him with my head cocked to one side.

“It seems like you haven’t been met with much kindness.”

I let out a slight hum as I run my hand nervously over the left side of my head.

“Not from alphas.” I speak quietly. “Yes. I would appreciate that. You said you stock soap and other stuff like that?”

“Yes, I’ll show you where it’s at once you’ve explored a bit.”

I nod my head as Alpha Damian makes his way over to a large closet at the back corner of the room. I watch him open it up revealing a full size washer and dryer stacked inside.

“I’m going to run this through a quick rinse cycle before you do a full wash.”

I nod again with a quiet thanks. Exploring the large room has taken my mind off the events that had just happened and it seems like the alpha has picked up on my calmed demeanor.

“Cole, it’s very important that you tell me the truth. I promise you nothing you tell me will result in you being removed from my first run. The only things that I will remove you for is if you steal, fight, rape, take recreational drugs or drink until you're stupid. I don’t tolerate any of those things. So, are you usually on medication for your anxiety?”

I freeze in the doorway of the bathroom.

“Yes sir.”

I speak quietly, ashamed to admit that I have an issue.

“It’s not something to be ashamed of but it’s important that I know what you're on and the dosage.”

I shake my head slowly before I speak again.

“I’ve been on several different combinations of medications over the last several years. Dr. Carter tends to change the combination every time my dad forces me off of them, trying to figure out the combination with the least amount of side effects. The last set of three with either Xanax or Valium to help me at night on the really rough days I did really well on. Minimal side effects compared to other combinations and I wasn’t a zombie or felt like I was drugged. I was actually close to....”

My thoughts wander off track as I walk around the rest of the room.

“You felt close to normal?”

Alpha finishes for me. I nod my head in agreement as we continue to talk.

“How long have you been off of it?”

“Three, almost four months. My dad has been getting more persistent at blocking all my efforts to get to it while I’m home.”

“He doesn’t want you on medication?”

“No. He says taking medication is an admittance to weakness and he refuses to tolerate any shows of weakness from his son.”

“Do you know what you were taking?”

I sigh as I shake my head.

“Are you able to find phone numbers of doctors at different hospitals?”

This time it’s the alpha looking at me with a cocked head. I can’t help but return the curious look while waiting for his response.

“I should have enough connections to dig up a doctor. Do you have a name?”

“Carter. Dr. Alexander Carter at Red General. He’ll likely recommend a different combination as the biggest trouble I seem to have is eating while on them.”

“Thank you.”

He gives me a smile and a nod.

“Will you tell me why you’re on this medication?”

He asks slowly the one question I don’t want to answer. I shake my head slowly

“I’m sorry Alpha, I can’t. I don’t expect you to understand but I can’t. I just can’t.”

“I didn’t think you would. Trust is an easy thing to lose but hard to gain. Hopefully, in time, you’ll be able to see me for who I am and change your mind. My door is always open.”

I nod my head in silent thanks waiting for the next thing to come.

“It’s getting late so how about we get you out here to the table of food. Take all you want as you have a larger apartment sized fridge in here you can store food and drinks in. We have bags of ice in the dining hall by the main pack house. You can grab one at dinner tomorrow and bring it back. We also have disposable cups, plates and plastic utensils you can bring back too. Cleaning supplies are in the walk-in closet next to the stairs. Personal necessities are in the walk-in closet on the opposite side. Don’t hesitate to grab what you need. If there is something specific that you need let me or one of the trainers know and we’ll try to get it for you. Damian and Dominic will be here at seven to lead everyone over to the pack house for breakfast. They will do this everyday this week then you’ll be on your own. Expectation is that you are showered and ready to start training when you get there although when this place gets full I do have some prospects who choose to switch to evening showers over morning. I’ll come get you at breakfast so get your food, take your time eating, when you’re done you’re going to meet with me in my office. I’m going to have my lead doctor in the medical wing join us with the phone call to Dr. Carter. I’m putting you back on your meds while you're here. There’s no reason for you to suffer like this.”

I nod quietly again yet against my better judgment I ask the question I think I know the answer to.

“What happens to prospects that have a major mental health issue, like ptsd?”

“It depends a lot on how stable the individual is and why they have it. A lot of wolves have ptsd from battles where they witnessed pack mates killed or they were severely injured. It can have a lasting effect but with therapy and proper medication the council will allow them to return.”

“Oh.”

“Not the answer you thought?”

I shake my head as I follow them out the door to where the food is set out. No one is down here yet which is a relief for me.

“Are you good on your own now?”

I look at the alpha before nodding my head.

“Thank you Alpha.”

“For what?”

“For your kindness.”

He gives me a smile before placing his hand on my shoulder. For the first time that night I manage to keep myself from pulling away or jumping out of my skin.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Cole. We will talk more in the morning.”

I quickly finish my third trip out to the table as the rest of the pack has started coming downstairs to eat. I can already hear several of them complaining about the special treatment I seem to be getting over recognizing that they brought this on to themselves.

I was grateful that I had discovered a small table with a chair just inside the door to my room as this is where I ended up putting all the food and drinks that I picked up from the table. I had walked with Alpha and his son down the hall to the closet before heading to the table so I was able to get all the laundry supplies I needed before grabbing dinner.

I feel guilty as I look at the plates of food and a dozen or so drinks sitting on the table. I know I won’t eat all this food tonight. Between my father actively denying me access to food and him keeping me in a constant state of pain and panic I’ve gotten used to eating very little.

I sit at the table and turn on the television, picking lightly at the food in front of me, I surf through the channels. I have always found it interesting to encounter packs that have started to embrace human inventions like the television, internet, and cell phones. I guess with a lot of the larger packs now having major hospitals on their land with wolves that aren’t members working there the use of cell phones became a necessity since not all the wolves have a link with the pack. I set my sights on the human’s strong man contest. I’ve always found it interesting how human men had the desire to prove their strength by donning a harness like a dog and pulling a bus several yards with only the help of a rope to pull on.

I finally give up grazing on the food I brought into my room shortly after I started. My anxiety is still extremely high and I’m finding it difficult to eat. I’m not used to a pack’s alpha getting so invested and hands on with the prospects so early.

I take the cling wrap I found in the closet and carefully dismantle the sandwiches of the lettuce, tomato and onion so the bread doesn’t get soggy before wrapping each one and placing it in the fridge, doing the same for the condiments and drinks. I wipe the table down with the paper towels and multi purpose cleaner that were also in the closet before heading to the washer and placing my clothes in the dryer. I started taking care of my own needs when I was fifteen, so keeping my own space clean is second nature to me now.

I explore the room a little more and discover a walk-in closet with hangers already inside it. I grab a handful of those and place them on the table to use once my clothes are dry. The tv is on top of a long dresser situated against the wall across from the foot of the bed, that’s where I head next.

I open each drawer taking in the approximate size so as to best plan my use of space. I head into the bathroom next. The bathroom floor is a neutral beige colored stone like tile compared to the black carpeting in the rest of the room. There’s a combination tub and shower against the far wall, a large vanity with a larger single sink and a large cabinet with a mirror on the wall. I open the cabinet to find that it’s already stocked with a small amount of personal items. It’s only when I go to throw them away that I discover that every item is unopened. I’m impressed that they thought to stock it like this as I put the items back.

Beside the vanity appears to be a tall slender cabinet only about a foot wide with a long door on bottom and a shorter door on top. When I open the bottom door I find a single shelf stacked with towels while below the shelf, on the floor is a small vacuum, a bucket and a mop. The only thing missing is the soap. Opening the top cabinet reveals washcloths and hand towels. Once again, everything appears to be new. Not liking the idea of my towels being in with cleaning supplies, I rearrange the upper cabinet to accommodate all of the bathroom linens.

Pushing the shower curtain back I find unopened shampoo, conditioner and a bar of soap with an unrolled bath mat sitting in the corner. It seems like they have thought of everything in this pack. I don’t even feel like I have to unpack the stuff I brought with me. I do anyway as I don’t believe in being wasteful.

I unload my two backpacks of my personal items, finding a logical place for each item before folding my packs and putting them in the closet. I sigh heavily with the realization that my bag had been gone through and what little asthma medication I had left was removed before my bags made it to the bus.

As soon as the dryer is done I take my clothes to the table where I fold everything neatly and hang my shirts before putting everything away. I gently take my shirt off and toss it in the washer before climbing into the full size bed. It’s been an exhausting day of traveling and despite my constant pain from the beating I got Saturday night, it doesn’t take long for me to drift to sleep.

(Content Warning)

(8 year old Cole POV)

I yelp as I’m awakened by a sharp blow to the back of my neck. Before I can fully process what’s going on I receive a harsh slap across my face. I grab the side of my face, gently rubbing away the sting as my eyes well up in tears. I yelp again as my mom starts yelling at me.

“What are you doing sleeping before dinner? There’s too much you need to get done before you go to bed and you know it.”

I try to back away from her as she’s only inches from my face. Unfortunately this show of fear earns me another hard slap across my face before she grabs me by the back of my neck and drags me out of my chair.

‘Fuck! Not the submission hold. Anything but that.’

I think silently. But it is. She forces me to my feet as I try to fight against going to my father’s office, the place of nightmares for me. My fight gets worse, crying and begging my mom not to leave me with him but as always my pleas fall upon deaf ears. She opens his door to find him on the phone. I get shoved harshly down into a chair, I know better than to run away.

“What has he done now?”

Father asks with a sadistic smile on his face as he hangs up the phone.

“His teacher called asking questions as to why he was sleeping instead of eating lunch and I caught him just now sleeping instead of doing homework.”

I try to reason with them even though I know it’s useless.

“I’m allowed to sleep during lunch and my homework is done.”

“Silence!”

They yell in unison as I cringe farther back into the plush armchair. My eyes are quickly darting between the two of them as they discuss what the punishment will be for sleeping in school and before bedtime. The problem is, they’re in a link so as not to share the sadistic punishment I’m in store for.

I can tell by the darkening of my father’s eyes that he was going to take his frustration out on me which means this isn’t going to be a simple bare bottom belting. No, this was bound to be much worse and I can’t stop myself from shaking and whimpering in fear.

“Mommy please don’t leave me.”

I whisper as she walks by, tears again in my eyes. She doesn’t so much as glance my way giving me a nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“So, what had you up so late that you can’t stay awake in school?”

His voice is low, growling out every word as he walks toward the cabinet holding his favorite belt.

“Daddy, please.” I whisper, “you know I was with you until eleven last night. I always go to bed at eight, nine at the latest.”

“You liar! You know no such thing happened! You were sent to bed and simply didn’t go! Put your arms straight out in front of you! Stand up!”

I’m whimpering badly as I try to stand but I’m shaking so bad that I fall the first time I try.

“Stand up!”

He yells again, making me yelp in fear. I finally stand with my arms out in front of me and he doesn’t hesitate to bring the thick leather belt down hard across both my hands.

“How dare you lie.”

“Daddy, please. I wouldn’t.”

I yelp as another crack of the belt lands across my hands. Fear gets the best of me and I pull my hands away as he swings a third time hitting the floor.

“You insolent little pup! Put your hands up!”

I raise my arms again, shaking uncontrollably as he brings the buckle side of the belt down upon my wrists. I jump back away from him as I cry out in pain bringing my hands to my chest infuriating him more. He swings the belt again only this time he strikes me at the back of my knees causing me to collapse into his desk hitting the side of my head. I stay on all fours as my head spins from the hit and my vision is blurred from my tears.

“Get your ass up! Get your arms across the desk!”

He yells, grabbing the back of my shirt and lifting me to my feet. He shoves me against the edge of the desk making me gasp. He grabs both my arms and stretches them harshly across the desk. I just barely gain my footing when the belt comes down across my hands again. I scream as the heavy metal buckle hits my left wrist. He’s now hitting harder and faster than before, the metal buckle hitting the same spot on my wrist repeatedly.

When I finally get some sense back to me, I pull my arms back, cradling my left against my body. I can feel my wrist is already starting to swell from the brutal hits it's receiving and the smell of blood from the cuts the buckle creates as it hits my tender skin. My cries are hysterical as I beg him to stop but there is never any stopping him.

He grabs my neck before reaching for my hands and pulling them out again. He shoves me harshly against the desk again as he slams my head into the hardwood. It’s as my head is spinning from another hard blow that he starts again.

Repeatedly, the blows land across my wrists with the heavy buckle landing hard in the same place. A sudden pop in my wrist sends a wave of sharp pain through my arm resulting in my blood curdling scream echoing through the room. I collapsed to the floor, screaming in pain as I know he’s broken my wrist for the second time this school year.

“You’re weak! This is nothing compared to battle! Get up and take your clothes off!”

I try to stand on legs that barely support me. My hands are swollen from the relentless hits and my left is worse than my right. It’s a struggle to undo the button on my jeans with my right hand, considering I’m left handed, and I know I’m not moving fast enough when I feel the buckle come down hard against my neck.

I yelp in pain as I blindly fumble with the button on my jeans. It’s after the third hit to my neck that it finally comes free allowing me to take them off followed by my shirt and boxers. I’m shaking and crying uncontrollably, begging him to stop as I have no understanding as to why he’s being so brutal.

He grabs my now naked body by the neck causing me to scream from the cuts and bruises left by the belt buckle as he forces me towards his desk. I struggle, yelp and scream for someone to help me but all it does it cause dad to slam my head into the desk again. This time I’m choking on my own blood as it fills my mouth. He lays his body over mine, pinning me to the desk as he leans over the side to grab the leather straps he’s bolted to the underside of it. He stretches my swollen and battered arms out again, roughly tying them to the desk as I frantically scream in agony.

As soon as I’m tied to the desk the beating and tirade of mental abuse starts again. I scream with every hit as the buckle digs into my back, butt and thighs. I can feel the blood as it slides down my legs causing me to squirm and kick desperate to rid myself of the disgusting, crawling feeling. But dad gets too close and ends up kicked in the thigh. A maniacal laugh soon comes from his mouth as the beating with the belt stops.

“So we want to kick now? I’ll give you something to kick at.”

I’m panting hard trying to catch my breath as best I can when I feel him behind me. He grabs my thighs painfully hard as he lifts me off the floor spreading my legs unusually wide.

“You get what you give, son.”

Within seconds his knee makes a powerfully hard impact into my groin. I try to scream but I have no breath to scream with. Within seconds a second followed by a third and fourth hit to the same area occurs leaving me unable to breathe let alone function. It’s only as mom speaks that I even know someone has entered the room but he doesn’t stop immediately upon her entrance. My delicate body parts have been smashed repeatedly into my intestines close to a dozen times by the time I hear her.

“Charles, what the hell? This isn’t what we agreed to. He's already missed enough school for them to suspect something going on. You can’t keep getting carried away like this. He’ll be out at least a month after this.”

“He kicked me.”

“So. He’s chained to the fucking desk.”

I hear him sigh and I can only hope that it’s finally over. He grabs me again, lifting me up part way. This time when he knees me in the groin not only does he smash my body parts into my intestines but just below my ribs hits the edge of the table. It’s when he does it a second time that I violently start vomiting all over his desk shortly before passing out from the excruciating pain.