Chapter b383 /b

    I watch him closely as he makes no additional effort to put his padding on. Instead he stands frozen. like a statue, with his eyes closed and his hands grasping at the air beside him.

    ‘Are you sure you want to push him even farther with a sparring match? He already looks so broken.

    I hear Julie in my head as I walk with my equipment to the mat.

    ‘It’s the only time he talks is when he’s broken or mad. The spar isn’t what’s going to put him in the

    72 hour observation.“‘

    ‘He’s already there.‘ Julie finishes the thought in my head..

    “While I can not pretend to understand why sparring is so difficult for you 1 can promise you, this is in no way designed to hurt you.”

    I speak quietly as I move around him in a circle, closing his padding around him. I pick his foam helmet up from the floor, removing the face shield and unstrapping the chin. I stretch the bottom out and slip it slowly over his head.

    “I’m not going to hurt you Cole. I am going to swing at you just as I expect you to bswing /bbat /bme but I’m not going to hurt you.”

    I touch his left hand first, preparing to put his gloves on and for the first time, he takes arge step back. Looking up at me, his eyes are scanning fast.

    “Alpha please. I’m tired of fighting. I fight for everything I need back home and it’s never enough. Nothing has ever been good enough.”

    He whispers as I put the gloves on his hands.

    “Are you going to talk? Tell me what your father has been doing to you through the link?”

    He drops his head in shame, shaking it as he grows silent again.

    “Even though we have padding this time, since we couldn’t get youfortable with your padding below the waist this spar will be above the waist only. Hits are to be aimed at the chest, abs, or sidesb. /bContact is to made on the padding. Although stray hits will ur purposely aiming for the head or face is not allowed. During our normal spars when both parties are fully padded, almost anything goes but I’m making adjustments to ount for removing the face shield since it affects your ability to see and the pads you’re not wearing.”

    He nods while I speak shifting ufortably in bhis /bspot.

    bChapter /bb383 /b

    “bNow/b, when bI /bspar with my bsons/b, I shoutmands. Depending bon /bwhich side bof /bbthe /bbmat /bbyou’re /bbon /bbI /bbwill /bbeither /btell you bto /be forward or move back. I also use ‘holdb‘ /bbfor /bpause or bstop /bband /bbgo /bor bagain /bbfor /bstarting bback /bup. My expectation is for you toe after me but I will be keeping byou /bon byour /btoes, switching you between both offense and defense. I will keep this going buntil /bbyou /bblet /bbgo/bb. /bGive me your anger, tell me what he’s said to you.”

    He shakes his head as he steps away from me again. I can hear Madilyn whimpering in bthe /bbackground. I form a link with Ang asking her to check on herb, /bto make certain bthat /bshe’s not cramping from the stress Cole is in. Oddly, my own stomach is calm, making me wonder if bit /bbwas /bonly because he was on death’s door that my daughter and I reacted so violently to his presenceb. /b

    Once Ang confirms that she’s simply scared because he is, I prepare the same way I helped himb. /bMy vest is designed slightly differently making it easier for me to strap myself into it. I remove the face shield from my helmet before cing it on my head and finish off with putting my gloves onb. /bbI /bstep up to his pacing frame slowlyb, /bstopping him gently. bJust /blooking at him tells me what a challenge this is going to be.

    “Lucas, go grab the hand pads. I’m going to get him started the same asst time.b” /b

    I keep my hands on him as I hear Lucas enter the closet.

    “Cole, please. Just talk to me.”

    I beg him quietly enough that no one else can hear.

    “Talking makes it real. Talking makes the truth unavoidable.b” /b

    “Dad?” Lucas interrupts. Just the sound of his voice makes Cole whine harshly.

    “Stay.” I whisper before stepping away to get the pads.

    “Thank you, for keeping your distance.” I’m sincere as Lucas looks up into my eyes.

    “Uhm. Yeah. Sure.”

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