Suddenly my chest cramps up badly and I can’t help but fight everyone around me. I hear Dr. Pierce instructing Alpha Black as to what she needs.
“Demetri, I need that mask to stay on him and I need space to listen to what his lungs are doing when he’s like this.”
As hard as I’m fighting, Alpha manages to keep the mask on me without smashing it to my face like most others have. Dr. Pierce manages to stay gentle with me as well while I’m starting to panic from the lack of air moving through my lungs.
“You’ve gotten real tight on me and your oxygen level has dipped badly. I know this hurts bad but I need you to submit to us, let us do all the work. All I need from you is to breathe. I’m going to get a different mask and put more medication in the nebulizer. Demetri, if you can, go ahead and try to lay with him. This amount of stress is going to drop his body temperature and Dr. Carter already told me he tends to run on the low side. He’s going to need your body heat until we get everything done that we need.”
I listen as she starts rushing around trying to find what she wants for me while Alpha calls his beta over to help him.
“Pat, I’m going to need you to hold the mask near his face as I get close to him.”
I start my weak fight as I hear him come over to me. I’m having a hard time with the idea of someone who doesn’t know me and has already suggested that I leave helping to take care of me. Unfortunately my chest is the tightest it’s been since the asthma attack started and my weakness is showing badly.
He makes his way over to us, standing near the back of my head. It only takes a few seconds for the switch to be made and the alpha makes his way around to the front of me. My eyes are open as he stops, watching as he takes his shoes off. He sits on the side of the bed before laying on his side facing me. I’ve frozen up in fear and I can feel everything shaking now that he’s this close to me. He must see the fear in my eyes when he looks at me as he starts slowing down and talking with me.
“This is exactly as I explained before. I’m going to hold you. Help you stay still while Dr. Pierce puts the IV in. You’re still struggling badly with both anxiety and asthma and it’s important that we get both under control.”
I’m gasping hard and I’m struggling with not being able to open my mouth with the mask being held to my face. I start moving again with the intent of getting the mask off but Beta Patrick isn’t quite as forgiving as the alpha. He pushes the mask harder against my face as I fight which only increases my efforts to get away. To my benefit, Alpha notices my stress and quickly intervenes.
“Relax with me Cole. Pat, I need you to let go and see if Angela needs your help with anything.”
He immediately let go of the mask and walks away silently. I don’t hear anything from him until he gets to Dr. Pierce, even then I don’t understand what he’s saying over my hard wheezing.
I feel the alpha’s hand on the back of my head causing me to startle. I try to yelp and pull away from his touch but my sound comes out strangled at best.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I need you to come near me. Remember I told you that I wouldn’t put you in restraints to do the IV but I never said you wouldn’t be restrained.”
I nod my head in recognition of his statement.
“I need you to move close to me. Lay your head on my arm so I can use my body to help keep you from flailing around once she starts.”
I’m shaking badly but I follow his instructions and move my body towards his. I stop short of actually laying on his arm. Despite his clear instructions to do so there’s been many times that my father has given me contradictory instructions just so he could punish me for doing one over the other.
To my surprise, instead of insisting on me coming closer Alpha Demetri moves towards me instead. It takes everything I have to control my instincts to flee, not that I have the energy to do it with.
He gently moves his arm so that it’s under my neck versus my head, guiding my head onto the pillow. It’s as I’m trying to relax with him that I hear two sets of footsteps approaching from behind. I tense up severely when I feel their presence behind me.
“Relax Cole.”
Alpha Demetri speaks softly as he runs his hand gently through my hair. I’ve closed my eyes again as I try desperately to find something positive to focus on to get myself away from the constant triggers for my anxiety.
“Cole, I’ve got a different mask that I think will be a lot easier for you to wear. Just stay still as I put it on you.”
Dr. Pierce speaks softly before leaning over me and placing a soft foam lined mask against my face. I place my hand around her wrist as she holds the mask, allowing me to adjust to its presence before wrapping the strap around my head. She, too, starts playing with my hair. Seems like this pack uses touch a lot to calm others and, at least for me, I find it quite comforting.
“Are you okay, Angela?”
Alpha’s voice is deep with concern.
“I’m fine Demetri. As scared as he is right now he has been nothing but gentle. He seems to have a very kind and gentle soul, very easy to work with once you understand him.”
I can feel the beta’s presence behind me but he doesn’t speak or move. It seems that he’s simply waiting for his next set of instructions.
“Cole, I understand that getting an IV is very difficult for you. When I spoke to Dr. Carter, he said that he usually has to go for a deeper, more painful vein to get a good line on you. I don’t want to do this more than once as I don’t think your asthma can handle any more anxiety.”
I nod my head to show my understanding as she moves the strap of the mask to the back of my head.
“Demetri has done it before but I’m going to have him put you in a bear hug keeping you from moving your upper body. He’s also going to put one leg over yours to keep you from kicking. Patrick is going to hold your hand so you can’t pull away while I place the needle.”
I stiffen up with the instructions as I know it’s getting near. I’ve never been lucky enough to get a one time try and it’s done. The least I’ve ever had is three.
“I need you to relax with me. The more you’re able to relax the quicker and easier it will be.”
I nod my head as Alpha Demetri gently pulls me into his chest. I struggle to accept his closeness to me but he continues his gentleness as he restrains me. The arm under my neck curls around so it’s against my shoulders. The other arm, he places on top of mine, which is draped around his side so the doctor can get to it. With Dr. Pierce’s help, he places his leg over my waist and down my legs effectively locking them into place.
I’m frozen in fear. I’ve never allowed the highest ranked member of a pack get this close to me, let alone physically restrain me. My entire body is shaking now as I struggle to focus away from everything going on. I’m barely able to yelp as I feel two unfamiliar rough hands on mine. I try to pull away but I’m met with a harsh pull to straighten my arm back out. I can’t help but yelp at the unnecessary move, whimpering and fighting against alpha’s restraint of me when I can’t get away. I yelp again when Dr. Pierce and Alpha Demetri yell Patrick’s name at the same time before the alpha gets on him.
“For the level of hesitation he’s shown towards my involvement with him and the amount of anxiety, pain and simple inability to breathe he’s experiencing he’s been more cooperative then most the he-wolves that were born here. I will not tolerate unprovoked roughness simply because you don’t like the pack he’s from. Now act like my beta or I’ll call your son in to help me!”
“I’m sorry sir. It won’t happen again.”
“It better not. Towards anyone. I know you try to play it cautious with the prospects coming in but it’s also important that you don’t judge the individual based on the pack’s history. Sometimes you just happen across the one that’s different. That’s deserving of your time and patience.”