bChapter /bb422 /b

    “Cole!” I yell at him with my aura strong but not harsh. He winces at his name but does little belse/bb. /b

    “Damian is getting the mule turned around but it’s only a four seater….”

    “I understand sir.” His voice is soft, almost sad, which isn’t where I was going with it.

    “You would understand if you didn’t interrupt me.” My voice bis /bcross and his nervousness now shows bthe /bharshness of growing up with Alpha Redmen.

    “The back is a rough ride on a normal day. I need you to shift into your wolf so you can ride in the

    back. Your fur will warm you and should give some protection from the rain. Your wolf should also

    be smaller so he should fit better.”

    “Oh.” He whispers quietly. “I need to step into the woods to do that.” I nod ynout speaking.

    I know I’ve already got the young man on edge even though I know he hasn’t been extensively abused. It seems like only two types of wolves emerge from Alpha Redmen’s hell; the nice ones who

    are afraid to cross him and the predators that simply don’t give a damn.

    I gently take his ce under Cole’s arm allowing Jamie to step away. I slowly grow my aura waiting for any sign that Cole is starting toe around. Cole starts to whimper as Jamie emerges from the

    throughout from his face to his tail.

    woods, a beautiful light gray wolf, peppered with white dits co,”

    The only solid white on his body is on his nose. The size of his wolf proves easily that he is indeed a

    beta by birth, not the delta Alpha Redmen assigned him to be. He’s carrying his dripping wet clothing in his mouth watching down the path as Damian slows to a stop.

    “Jump in the back and try to getfortable. Bark if you don’t think you will fit.”

    He gives me a slight nod before trotting over to the bed of the mule. I find quickly that Jamie was quite right in his assessment of what his friend needed for continuing.

    I release my aura fully while maintaining a neutral mind set. Thest thing Cole needs to handle is the panic or anger that I’m fighting to suppress, I grab the waistband of his pants in one hand and order him to walk. He whines briefly before taking his first steps since I’ve arrived and we slowly

    walk to the front seat.

    I sessfully get him seated and the belt around his waist before zipping the rain cover shut. I walk back a bfew /bfeet to the back seat and quickly notice the fear that has enveloped both of them. bI /bbstep /b

    back to Jamie, he ducks as I reach over to him.

    “bStay /bstillb, /bJamie. I don’t like what I’m seeing from either bof /bbyou/bb./bb” /b

    I lower my voice bas /bba /bsoft whimper escapes. bI /bpet bhis /bbhead /bbgently /bbas /bbI /bbtalk/b, bCole /bbobviously /bbisn’t /bbthe /b

    bChapter /b422

    only one in need of help.

    “Lay down, son. I want to be sure you fit. Your wolf isrger than I expected. If you choose bto /be back you will be granted your birth rank but first you and your mate need to talk with me. I will call for you once things settle down.”

    He lowers himself slowly. It seems my desire to meet with both of them has done nothing to calm his growing fears but once he’s curled into a ball I’m satisfied with his fit.

    “I’m not certain how fast Damian isfortable with but if you feel like you’re going to fall out then

    bark and we will slow.”

    He gives my hand a single lick, a submissive response but one I’m confident means he understands. I

    I sit forward in quickly jump in the back seat behind Cole and Damian quickly gets the mule the seat so I can help Cole.

    I slide my arm diagonally across his chest as we bump along. Something about the way his body sways with the bumps concerns me. It only takes a moment for him to by /bthe left side of his head against my arm and I know that it’s swollen badly. Worse than that is the fact that it’s in that moment that he lies against me that I have no doubts he loses consciousness.

    It’s a sigh of relief when Damian finally pulls up to the front of the pack house.

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