Chapter 20 #2
“Luckily, without the wolf’s bane in his blood, he’ll actually heal.
Getting fed will help, too. I’ve already made arrangements to move him.
There will be four nurses rotating on duty.
I’ll be checking him three or four times a day.
More if need be. Your security is better.
I also firmly believe he needs a homey environment to heal faster. Are you okay with that?”
“More than okay, I need him home, too.”
What the doctor didn’t say is that having two overwrought Alphas pacing in the hospital wouldn’t work.
It was kind to leave that out and it was true.
Since Drake and Jaxom, when he got home, couldn’t mark Hayden yet, their tempers were going to be legendarily bad.
Squirreling Hayden away would cut those tempers at least in half and probably save lives.
The transfer was done quickly and efficiently. Drake really did feel better having Hayden fast asleep in his bedroom. The poor guy hadn’t stirred at all on the way over.
Asher said Tarra had been beside herself when she found out what happened.
It wasn’t her fault Hayden had left. She’d been sure he was fast asleep for the night, too.
Drake had sent her home. They couldn’t babysit 24/7 and the private pack house suites were always safe.
Drake also knew she’d been serious about the ‘little brother’ title she’d given Hayden.
Nothing she ever said sounded serious but she had a soft heart and a big desire for family.
When Tarra adopted a person, that person was actually adopted by her.
Drake had become her unofficially official big brother even though he was a year younger.
Hayden was tucked up in bed. Tarra had propped the teddy bear in the cook of his arm. Even in his sleep, his hand kept squeezing it like it was something, the only thing, he had in life to hold onto.
Doctor Lina had made it clear the guy’s wolf healing would take a few days to kick in completely, but it was already better.
Even though he hadn’t shifted, he still got some of the benefits of being born a wolf.
It was better because they’d been able to flush so much wolf’s bane from his blood.
It was so damn infuriating they couldn’t get all of it.
Drake settled in a chair right beside Hayden. He couldn’t bear to be any distance from his newest mate.
Dad? Drake mind-linked Chip.
I’m so sorry, son, Chip said. I assume you want to know why Marcus beat the shit out of Hayden?
I do.
You’re not going to like it. Don’t you just want to relax tonight? Chip asked. It was a legit question.
I will relax, as soon as I know why. Are we dealing with more than just one abuser?
You could say it’s just one direct physical abuser.
The rest is pure, deliberate neglect. Chip sighed.
Marcus was upset he was Kali’s second chance mate.
He really hated the fact she was pregnant with her first mate’s pup when they met.
Her first mate wasn't an Alpha or a Beta so he, and his child, were inferior. Kali did try to shield Hayden until she had Sebastian. After that, her other children became her life because it was easier than standing up for her firstborn. Hayden became the vessel to absorb Marcus’ anger. Marcus claims his wolf is to blame.
That’s it? He didn’t get to be first?
That’s pretty much it. Plus, Dean didn’t care because he got free labor out of Hayden when he turned 13.
Marcus took him out of school and started hiring him out.
He got a fair bit of money from the whole scheme.
That school is being taken over by the Crown’s Education Authority.
They have a lot to answer for. Too many adults at that school knew Hayden was abused and didn’t report it.
There were avenues they could have taken that wouldn’t have exposed them to retribution from their Alpha or Beta.
They didn’t fight Hayden being pulled out of school. Their neglect is equally to blame.
So, there may be some angry wolves that don’t like being exposed for their neglect of a kid that couldn’t protect himself? Drake groaned at the complete lack of accountability.
Potentially, but I doubt it. I think we have all the major actors nailed down. With your permission, I’ll be talking to Hayden about his experiences and how he views certain pack members. He deserves a say in how far we go in prosecuting the neglect.
You have it a long as Hayden agrees. Might be good for him to talk it out. Drake could feel memory swamping him. How far wolf society had fallen.
You’d know better than so many others how good talking through abuse can be. I’m proud of you, son. You’ve come so far.
Thank you, dad, for everything.
Drake cut the mind-link and relaxed beside his injured mate.
It sounded like they didn’t have to worry about retribution for arresting Hayden’s pack members at the moment.
Crazy things happened all the time and some crazy person could end up feeling vindictive on someone else’s behalf.
Drake had made a huge mistake leaving Hayden alone.
The result was a good one as far as Hayden’s abusers went.
Marcus forced a pack to step in and protect the weak.
He brought it on himself before Hayden was ever born.