bThe /bbSon /bbof /bbRed /bbFang /b

    bChapter /b393

    b“/bbYes/b. He needs them Coleb./b”

    b“/bbHis /bmom is so worried about him getting them.”

    “I know. Most first time moms arei./ii” /i

    We move easily together and without me having much thought, William is on the table striped down to his diaper.

    “Check her bag for a clean diaper and some wet wipes.” Jessa instructs as she picks him up and takes him to the scale.

    By the time I find the requested materials she’s bringing back apletely nude baby. I close my eyes and turn awayb. /bI’mpletely useless when they are naked,

    “Cole.” I look at Jessa at the sound of my name.

    I look at the table in time to see her make two marks on the paper, one at his head and the other at his heel. She works methodically, checking everything about him before she starts pulling things from the cab. Two syringes along with bandages and wipes are added to the bin. Even though I would often receive only one shot it tended to be more painful than the broken bones it was meant to help heal.

    Instinctively I grab William off the table. I understood the alpha giving Madilyn an IV after she got sick but he’s healthy. There’s no swelling, bruises or anything else that would make the shots

    necessary. My mind is spinning as I step away from Jessa.

    “Just like his mama, you’re nervous. All new parents are. Before bI /bgot here they followed the human’s schedule for vinations, two years ago I changed that. Unless we have a pandemic of a specific disease or the parents travel a lot to other packs, we dy starting the vines until the pups are six months old. I have found over the years that giving a two month old pup eight vines at the same time produces significant side effects that causes a lot of parents to shy away from allowing

    the pups to receive them. As advanced as Crimson Dawn is in many areas of medicine they were at

    the bottom when it came to caring for their youngest membersb./bb” /b

    I’m trapped in a trance as I listen to her voice. She has gently adjusted William’s position in my

    arms so he’s nowying sidewaysi. /iHis head isying on my left elbow and his legs are straddling my

    right. She wipes his leg down with two different wipes and before I can think to step away again she quickly gives him both shots in his thigh. The silence is broken with an ear piercing cry as his brain registers the pain of the shots shortly after she finishes giving them.

    I’m struggling with the shback trying to take over my mind. I barely hear the opening bof /ba package before Williams’s wailing settles quickly into a whimper. When I open my eyesb, /bbJessa /bhas

    bChapter /bb393 /b

    bwrapped /bone barm /bunder mine, keeping me still and the other is helping William with a pacities that

    he bdidn’t /bhave before.

    b“/bbThe /bolder kids get fruit popsicles while infants get sugar water frozen to a pacifier

    I find myself struggling hard just to breathe as the shes continue. Jessa moves so that sh helping to support William without taking him from me as alpha and April reenter the room. Ap has settled down significantly and is talking normally with the alpha.

    “I’m sorry Jessa. I’m ready for him to get them now.i” /i

    Iy my head on Jessa’s as she starts ying with my hair. I’m trying hard to get out of the shback but it’s proving much harder this time.

    “He’s already finished with the shots. Once bI /bget my mate a little calmer I’ll have you dress William while I exin to both of you the changes I’ve made over thest two yearsb./b”

    “Your mate?” I hear April question.

    As much as I have begged for her to reject me hearing her im me helps in ways I didn’t expect.

    “Cole, what are you struggling with right now?i” /i

    I barely hear alpha’s question as bI /bcontinue to fight my mind’s desire to disconnect from realityb. /b

    “His cry.” Is all can manage to breath out.

    I’m putting all my concentration into William and Jessa. I have no desire to drop and hurt this young pup entrusted to me.

    “Try to rx Cole. I’m helping you with William.” Jessa encourages me softly.

    “Pleaseb, /btake him from me. My anxiety will make him cry. bI /bcan’t handle him cryingb./bb” /b

    “Can you tell me what about this situation has triggered you so badly?” Alpha tries again to get some information from me.

    “I don’t want to talk about it. Please just take him.”

    bChapter /bbComments /b