It’s a struggle for me to stop my fight as my panic has taken over. I close my eyes in an effort to concentrate on my breathing. My chest is tight and my breath is coming out short and fast. I fight to get out of his hold as I hear another approach.

“Everything okay dad?”

The voice is much deeper than Alpha Damian’s making me wonder who it is that has approached us.

“I’m going to need a few minutes alone with him. Lucas, I need you to have the rest of the group follow you inside to the third floor. Have Dom bring up the rear. I want silence. Not a word or sound as they pass by or they will all see the consequences of one person’s disrespect.”

“Yes sir.”

My fight eases a little as the alpha’s son steps away and heads back towards the group.

“Cole, I know you just met me so there is no trust but I need you to follow my directions exactly. I’m going to coach you through a breathing technique that will help you to relax. As you relax you will feel me easing up on your arms.”

I nod my head, agreeing to his offer as I’m completely lost and out of control.

“First I want you to take a quick but deep breath in then just as quickly push it out. Just throw it away. I want three of these. Then I’ll move to three much slower ones. Ready.”

I nod to show I understand his instructions.

“All right, in quick, now throw it away.”

I follow his lead and take a quick sharp breath before letting it out almost as quickly. It’s as I’m breathing in on my third one that he speaks again.

“I want you to follow my voice as I’m going to tell you what to do. Well done. Now in…2….3….4… and out 2…3…4… again in 2…3…4… and out 2…3…4… again,”

It’s as I’m going through the third one that I feel Alpha’s grip change on me. Even though it’s still there, it’s much gentler, even soothing as I feel his thumbs gently rubbing the backs of both hands. He lets me take a few more breaths on my own before speaking.

“I can already tell that you’re very submissive so I do understand this is a struggle for you but I need you to look at me. Make eye contact with me before I let your arms go.”

I slowly open my eyes while I’m still looking down. It’s not the first time I’ve been directly told to make eye contact with an alpha. My father does it all the time. The struggle is, my father commands me to do it then turns around and punishes me for the fear he sees in my eyes.

I squeeze my eyes shut again as the memories of my last encounter with my dad creep in and repeat the exercise the alpha just went through with me.

“Cole,”

Alpha Black speaks the quietest that I have ever heard an alpha speak to me.

“I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on. Will you talk with me?”

I shake my head as I fight the flashback away, slowly opening my eyes again. I raise my head making eye contact as he requested but I can’t keep it.

“I’m sorry alpha.”

I whisper as I close my eyes and turn away, waiting for punishment to follow. Every alpha that has ever been this hands on with me has always brought me pain. I know he can feel my tremors as I hear him sigh.

‘Unfortunately that only happens if the child is able to find a way out of the situation. If this is indeed Alpha Redmen’s son then getting away from Red Fang without going rogue or killing whoever is abusing him, would be extremely difficult. It’s not like here where once you turn twenty-one you can request a transfer or a female that can leave for her mate’s pack.’

‘So he’s using the warrior program as a way out?’

‘Possibly.’

I end the link with my son as we enter the apartment complex. Cole has stopped about five feet inside the door allowing us enough room to enter. He seems confused and highly agitated.

“Cole.”

Even with my voice calm and level just hearing it makes the young man startle badly.

“I failed to ask you if you were against being separated from your pack mates. It’s entirely up to you.”

“I’ve only got one real friend so I’m not that much part of the group.”

“I didn’t think so. Come this way.”

I gesture to my right as we start making our way to the row of doors located on the eastern side of the complex.