Two months later
POV - Alpha Carlisle
I tapped my pen on my desk.
The door opened, and Dr. Porter entered.
"Alpha, you asked to see me?" he said.
"I did, please sit down." I responded.
He sat in one of the chairs across from my desk.
"I'm guessing it's not hard to figure out why I asked you to meet with me?"
He nodded. "Kyas. I had a feeling that's what this was for."
I sighed. "How is he, doctor? Really? For the pack, he shows nothing, as far as they're concerned, he's the same as always, but… he's not. I can tell he's not."
Dr. Porter cleared his throat. "Kyas is adapting. He's struggling with it, because it's a big emotional ask. His pack and his bonds are his lifeline and anchor while he's dealing with his mate bond.
He tells me that she hasn't severed it, it's not black, as he says, but red and burns, like a physical pain. He says he's lucky though, because he knows how to handle pain. This is a different type though, so… he's struggling to adapt. It's not healing like physical pain though, so it's a constant strain on him emotionally. It takes a piece of him, which makes him feel like he's not giving everything he can to the pack.
It's made harder I think, both by the fact that Chaos is also struggling for the same reasons, and Ember is right there, in everything they do since she moved into the packhouse." he said
I tap my pen on my desk.
"Have you made any progress on his internal issues? His sense of self?" I ask.
"He's making small progress. I think his goal is to build forward, without addressing the past. He tells me that unpacking things from the past is scary for him, because of how he may feel toward Elias if he let himself fully realize what he lost during those five years. He feels like his relationship with Elias now is not something he's ready to risk on "ghosts".
He's says he's ready to learn to be a person 'from now on', as he put it, and in that respect, he IS making progress. If you count "faking it til you make it" as progress. He says he's utilizing the exercises in building self esteem and recognizing self worth, attempting to factor his own needs into requests and demands on his time and efforts. However, I'm not seeing results. There's just an ocean that he's attempting to bury beneath the grass."
I nodded.
"And the pack slave issue I mentioned. Have you given thought on how to handle that?" I asked.
"Alpha, that's a tough one to be sure. His own experience led him to sympathize and empathize with Ember in that respect, but it also let him be blind to the fact that he could have done something years ago.
However, with Ember no longer suffering that treatment, telling Kyas may just cause him to feel guilt about a situation that is currently corrected. No offense, Alpha, but your family doesn't historically handle guilt and regret well."
I nodded. "Fair point."
"I wonder," he continued, "in this case, if skimming the surface wouldn't be the best option here. Perhaps address the issue with Kyas in a "moving forward" manner as well. Tell him that going forward, treatment like that will not be tolerated and that he is to report it immediately. He already understands that it's wrong, his trouble is that he accepted the wrongness of it, because of his past. Make it clear that action is required if found, regardless of whether he understands. His job is to protect and free the slaves, not enable the masters, and that may suffice."
"I think I agree with you here," I told him. "Kyas has enough to deal with, without adding this unnecessary regret on him. How would you suggest we handle this Ember issue?"
"As to that, Alpha… you won't like what I suggest." he said hesitantly.
"Out with it, Doctor. I don't shy away from hearing hard things. I'm looking for guidance on directing my son without causing further harm." I told him.
"As I said to the Counsel, my advice hasn't changed. Separation, Alpha. Kyas and Ember need to be separated. Ember's too young to be sent off, she hasn't even started high school yet, but Kyas is seventeen. Just as you plan to send Elias to Alpha training at the academy in the fall, I think it would be wise to send Kyas as well." he said.
"Kyas doesn't need Alpha training, Dr. Porter. He's not able to handle that job being bound the way he is." I reminded him.
"Apologies, Alpha, you mis-understand. There's a pack in Montana working with a witches coven to handle shifters, werewolves, and lycans with… unique challenges like Kyas. They can help him complete his schooling through high school level, and even give him the formal Gamma training to round out his instincts. He can come home and be an even better asset to this pack than he already is.
Meanwhile, with Kyas in training abroad, Ember will have the room to heal from her own traumas here, finish high school, and perhaps go off to college before Kyas returns. Eventually, they'll both be back under your roof, but with time, education, experience and maturity that may help them co-exist better than either of them are capable of now." He finished.
I sigh, tapping my pen on my desk. That will put both of my sons gone for a few years, but I'll know where they are. Had the traumas of the years not happened, they'd both be doing similar anyway, off to Alpha training and/or college anyway.
"And the mate bond between them?" I ask.
"Currently, only Kyas is aware of that, Ember won't know it until she's seventeen herself. As for Kyas, the distance will help. With the two of them no longer in constant contact, her rekindled feelings will subside and won't be a daily occurrence, especially as time and therapy helps her deal with her father's death. When she cools off, it will reduce the pain in Kyas, letting him focus where he is without the pressure of the bond. It's also possible that when Ember gets her own wolf, that wolf could soften Ember toward Kyas, or they can reject each other and both move on.
I nodded. "Ok, then last and most importantly, how will sending Kyas to Montana affect his and Chaos' bonds here? He'll lose the pack link and contact with his pack. He's not going to be ok with that."
"As with every residential school, there are many opportunities to return home throughout the year, breaks, holidays, long weekends. For Kyas, those will be mandatory that he returns to maintain his bonds, but the separation from the pack could also be a continuation of his self reflection opportunities. There's also phone communication and perhaps other accommodations that the Montana pack can make. He'll also definitely continue forming bonds where he is, so he won't be left adrift." Dr. Porter responded.
A knock sounds at the door.
"Come in, Kyas." I answer.
POV - Kyas
"Uh…Hi..Alpha?" I said, unsure if this was an "Alpha mode" situation or not.
"Hi, Kyas, have a seat." He indicated the seat next to Dr. Porter.
"Hi, Dr. Porter." I said with genuine affection. He really is a nice guy, it's not his fault he has to deal with me instead of an easy patient.
"Hello, Kyas." He said back.
Alpha tapped his pen on the desk.
"Kyas… Dr. Porter and I had a meeting with the Council of Elders this week about what to do going forward with you, and your situation with Ember."
I tensed. Even her name caused a hot needle to run through the bond. I tried not to react though.
"Okay." I said cautiously.
"As you know, we're sending Elias to Alpha training in the fall." He said.
I nodded. I did know that. I was going to miss Elias, but I was also hoping, for the pack, that he would come back better able to apply himself to his pack.
"We have decided that it would be best to do the same with you." Alpha said.
What? Leave the pack? Hard NO! "What?" I asked. "Alpha, that's not necessary, I can't be Alpha here or anywhere."
"Hear me out, Kyas." he said. "It's not exactly the same. There's a pack in Montana that has experience with teaching and training shifters with, as Dr. Porter puts it, unique challenges like yours. They can help you finish your education, and then I'm going to have you formally train for Gamma rank. You will also be able to see what college courses they may have and pursue what interests you."
"But, I would have to leave home. Leave the pack. I don't like it." I said. I'm sure he knew I would say that.
"No, you wouldn't have to leave the pack, not formally. You'll be home on every break to maintain your bonds here, but the distance will allow you to focus on your studies. And, you can build bonds there too. Add to your collection." He said with a half smile.
I smiled. That's dirty play, he knows how much I love my colors.
"Kyas. Distance will help with your mate bond too." He said.
"It will?" I asked, guarded. "How?"
"She won't see you, so she won't keep having those feelings that are hurting you. You'll be farther away, so if she still has them, they won't be so strong for you." He said.
I gave up. I put my head in my hands and let the restraint go. It was hard enough pretending it didn't hurt All the time. These two already knew. I can relax that, just a few minutes, and only deal with one thing.
I decided not to fight it. "Okay." I said. "I'll go."
"Yeah? No fuss?" He asked.
The shift moved forward.
"The pack knows, Alpha. They see how our smiles don't reach our eyes anymore, for me and Chaos. They know I'm fighting it, and they know I'm doing it for them. They want to help, but they don't know how, so they pretend they don't see it. They are hurting, because I'm hurting and it's not good for any of us. I'll go. For me and for them." I said.
"I don't like sending you off, son, but I think that's the best thing to do at this point. It's the best way we can help you. It's just for a while. Like going to college." he said.
I laugh and look up at him. "You're going to send Chaos to college… this might be fun."