Chapter 90: Thursday, January 30Th Pt 8

I take a deep breath as I slip the other arm into a sleeve. Leaning in close to him I start releasing my alpha aura. It’s peaceful, safe; yet undeniably powerful. He steps back as far as my hold will allow and looks away from dad. His breaths have shortened and increased in frequency as he stares at me with wide, frightened eyes.

“You?” He whispers fearfully.

I nod as I tie the gown at his neck and the middle of his back.

“No.”

He whines breathlessly trying to back away even more. I can hear the door behind me open and close quietly.

“Micah,” I put a gentle but commanding tone into my voice going against everything that dad has taught me. I place my hand on the back of his head, keeping him from stepping away from me and trying to get off the bed.

“You will stop.” My first real command towards this frightened little boy. He instantly freezes.

“Please.” He begs with a high pitched whine that few are capable of hearing.

“Put your hands on my shoulders.” I command him again as I know the band on his arm needs to come off.

“Please, sir. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were alpha.” He’s shaking as he places his hands on me.

“Jessa, remove the band.”

I keep my voice calm and steady despite my growing fear that I’ve lost this little boy’s trust. She pulls the band loose, freeing his arm from the tourniquet. I grab the blanket he was wrapped in earlier and wrap it quickly around him, scooping him up off the bed with a startled and painful scream. I bring him into my chest quickly, rubbing his head until his nose is nestled into my neck.

“Slow breaths, Micah. In through your nose and out from your mouth.”

I start swaying side to side slowly. I know I’m treating him like a much smaller child than he is but I don’t know what else to do now that he’s actively crying.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” I whisper close to his ear.

I hold him close as several minutes tick by before he seems calm enough to understand.

“I hate the situation that you are in but that’s not something you could control. I know they hurt but having an IV in your arm will help you in ways that shots and drinking water won’t. It’s okay to be afraid. I’m very much afraid of them too.”

“You get scared?” Something about my statement reaches him.

“Yes, even alphas get scared and I am absolutely terrified of shots and IV’s. Can I tell you a secret?”

I’m trying to draw him in even more now that I have his attention. He nods slowly.

“Jessa is the only one I trust with them. Even now, as an adult, if Jessa isn’t available and I urgently need an IV or shot my dad has to hold me.”

I pause a moment and just listen to him. He’s trying to hide the fact that holding him is hurting him.

“I'm going to have to put you down, Micah. Holding you is causing you a lot of pain.”

“No.”

He screams as he clings to my shirt. He’s instantly hysterical with the thought of me putting him down.

“I have an idea.” Jessa states quickly. “Come lay down on the bed. Hold him like your father does you.”

I take two steps back to the bed before allowing Jessa’s touch to guide me. I sit on the bed briefly before Jessa guides me sideways. She moves with me ensuring that Micah’s limbs don’t get trapped beneath me.

“That’s better.” I whisper as he’s made his way back to my neck. It’s obvious that he isn’t going to last much longer as he instantly quiets when his head hits the clean pillow.

“I have to get this done.” She states from behind me.

“Help me give him what he needs.” I whisper as my own nervousness starts to invade me.

“This hand,” she explains as she moves my left hand to the back of his neck. “Soft, rhythmic strokes on the back of his neck. Be prepared to change to a soft submission as he’s likely to have a bad reaction and I need him to be still.”

She instructs as she places his right arm on my side.

“Remind me of what a soft submission is on a child.” I ask as my own struggles cause my mind to go blank.

“Due to the abuse and he’s a child a soft submission is a flat hand placed half on the base on his neck and half on his back.”

She explains patiently as I feel her own hand in the exact spot she describes. I nod slowly.

“Deep, even breaths.”

She instructs as I hear the band get tired around his wrist.

“I’m sorry Micah.”

Her classic reaction every time she has to stick someone.

“Big pinch, 3, 2…”

He yelps hard several times before whimpering but somehow doesn’t move.

“Good boy, Micah.” I whisper knowing how close his ear is to me.

I continue my gentle petting on his neck waiting for his cries to slow.

“I’m going to draw blood first.”

She explains as a tube clanks when placed in the bin.

“Jessa,” I whisper nervously.

“Try to relax, Day, the hard part is done. Everything is okay.”

“No, it’s not.” The sickening feeling in my stomach is not something I can ignore.

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s too quiet.” I whisper after a long pause.

“He’s exhausted. He’s had a long battle and he’s finally feeling safe enough to relax.”

She dismisses my feelings but I persist.

“I know something is wrong. I don’t know how but it is.”

She stops for a moment. I know she’s an empath and I know the first thing she does is tap into the patient but I’m feeling sick and I’ve learned to listen to it.

“What are you feeling Damian?”

Dad’s voice cuts through the silence that surrounds us.

“Micah, buddy. I need you to wake up.”

I’m desperately shaking and trying to stimulate him. I’m in a panic, leaving me deaf to my father’s help.

“Damian!”

He all but screams at me finally getting me to freeze. I look up from Micah to see both him and Jessa standing in front of me. She has already started placing the stickers needed to track Micah’s heartbeat on his chest.

“It’s okay, son.”

He slows his speed and lowers his volume. I slowly shake my head; nothing is okay. It takes a moment for the monitor to pick up the remote device as Jessa connects the wires to the stickers but slowly we start hearing the unusually slow beat of Micah’s heart.