FIRST IT GOT BAD

SATURDAY, 13 FEBRUARY, ONCE WE GOT BACK

We were supposed to have the after-bake-sale debrief, now that we were all back at the pack house and gathered in the largest classroom. The tables and chairs had been moved and stacked to the side, awaiting our return.

It should've been a happy time where the teachers would thank and praise us for our efforts, award the prizes to the deserving winners while we clapped, and tell us that they hoped this opportunity to serve our community would pave the way to us growing up to be giving adult wolves. That would be how these things usually went.

BUT not this time. We all knew the moment we stepped into the classroom and Beta Lucas cleared his throat quite sternly at us in greeting.

Dad was here too. So was Flynn, who stood crossed-armed in the background.

We stood about wondering if we should greet our Alpha. Normally we would, but his back was facing us, and Flynn was talking to him.

"Quickly, sit in your groups now." Mrs Beta instructed us in a hushed tone. And we immediately obeyed.

Okay, we were in Trouble, with a capital T. Haha, get it? I spelled trouble with a capital 'T' so that it was quite literally trouble with a capital T... okay, nevermind, back to the story:

We were seated in our groups on the floor in unusual silence. Mrs Beta and Hank now conferred quietly with Beta Lucas, Flynn, and Dad.

Teacher Rose and Teacher S.O. stood away on the other side of the room, looking worriedly at the other adults and then at us.

This was not looking too good.

"You're in such deep s***." I accidentally heard Angela hiss at her brother over the mindlink. They were right in front of me, so it just happened.

"Me?" Tim mindlinked back, "Why me?"

"Who got in a fight with the nice Morning Light stall?" Angela reminded him.

"Oh no, no, no." Tim smirked and shook his head physically even though he was only speaking in mindlink, "What I did was bad, but not this bad."

"This bad" being the fact that Dad was here, and from the frown on his face, I highly doubt he was just here as a show of solidarity. I was starting to feel a little uneasy. I searched my memory of this morning to try to place what went wrong, and if I had any part of it. It wasn't me right? Why was dad here?

I stole a quick glance at Ben. He was wearing a faint frown, as if deep in thought. He looked more serious than I was used to. Was he worried? I was tempted to tap into his mindlinks, but he was having too many going on at once, and I decided I didn't want to deal with all that. Who knew what kind of web I might accidentally trip into?

Anyway, I could probably figure it out on my own. I just have to think this through.

It couldn't have been us revamping our stall and selling out everything right? Right. Dad wouldn't be here just for that.

And Tim was right, even the fight with the Morning Light stall wasn't that big a deal. At most Mrs Beta would've called up Tim's mum and arranged for some self-reflection to be done on Tim's part.

Which left the fight ring outside the hospital - but that hadn't lasted more than ten minutes. It was more of a scuffle, really. No one was hurt, and we parted amiably. Okay, so an open scuffle in Gate City, on a public street was bad. But it would be Beta Lucas or Gamma Harry level kind of bad, not Alpha Kingsley.

Gamma Harry entered then. He made a quick bow when he approached Dad, and then cast Jonah a reproachful look before joining in the quiet discussion. The worst part was the way the adults were discussing it right in front of us. I couldn't hear them from the back of the room. I should have sat in front.

Could Ben hear what was going on? He was closer to the front.

I decided to send him a mindlink:

ME: What's happening? Is it bad?

BEN: Yeah. (And that was it. No elaboration.)

ME: How bad?

BEN: Real bad, Sam. Harvey said the fight was on the news. Beta Gerald is dealing with the Morning Light guys. Your dad is not happy.

Oh, well yes, that would be an Alpha Kingsley level kind of thing.

Knowing the LyNCh, I'm sure they made some kind of stupid commentary along with the footage too. I tried to imagine how the whole thing would play out, I wondered how close the camera got to the fight. I worried about what I was seen doing - how much trouble was I in personally? I didn't fight - but I didn't stop the fight either. Was Dad going to make me accountable for that?

"Greet your Alpha, Beta, and Gamma." Hank turned to us in trainer mode. The moment he barked the order, we immediately got on our feet and bowed our greetings politely, "Good afternoon Alpha Kingsley, Beta Lucas, and Gamma Harry."

None of the men responded in anyway. I very seldom saw my Dad, or Beta Lucas like this, their faces hard and unreadable. Gamma Harry's forehead was crumpled in a worried knot. He looked troubled, but this was his usual expression when he had to bring warriors down to task.

"Right." Beta Lucas spoke first, "I'll get straight to the point. Your fight outside the hospital this afternoon has been reported on the news. All of you are on media blackout as of now. That means no one here is allowed to post or comment on this incident on any public platform, especially the internet. You're also responsible for not leaking any details of the incident to a third party who could post or comment on this incident to the public. Furthermore, the following wolves will receive disciplinary action..."

Huh? Okay, that was not what I was expecting.

"The fight in front of the hospital, that was bad." Gamma Harry burst out, "What would other people think of Night Leaf wolves?"

Now this was more like what I was expecting! Funny that it was coming from Gamma Harry.

"You were lucky the warriors on patrol didn't get there in time to apprehend you." Beta Lucas was momentarily distracted by Gamma Harry's interjection, but he remembered his own point quickly enough,"But that's not the point! This is serious... well, I'll play the video and all of you watch carefully, I'm only going to play it once."

Dad actually growled at that. He definitely did not like what was about to be played. Dad had not moved or made any loud sound, but we were all very aware of the fuming alpha standing there, so every one was feeling a little endangered. Even boo was on the alert.

"Gate City Hospital had a special guest at its fund raising event this year." The lady presenter said as introduction to the next footage.

"Indeed, Night Leaf's young alpha princess seems to be out and about the city lately. One of our reporters spotted her leaving the event earlier today." The man presenter said.

Eh? This angle of story was totally unexpected. The camera angle in the footage was surprising too, it was taken from the second floor window of the hospital annex that overlooked the pick up point.

"Wow, its no wonder she was mistaken for the moon goddess." The lady presenter had to add just before the crowd of youths parted to form a circle where the fight very clearly took place after Marlow caught Nix and shoved Ben.

Which was wonderful because it didn't obviously show Ben bumping Nix first.

But was bad because the man presenter said with a knowing smile, "Ah yes, young love. It's the day before Valentine's day and no doubt things were getting heated among the young males for the Alpha Princess' attention."

Besides the fact that I could be seen standing in the circle, I saw NO evidence whatsoever that the fight had anything to do with me!

This was all a misunderstanding! Don't believe everything you see on the news people - particularly the gossipy networks like LNC. Why was our Lycan News Channel so damn gossipy? Who was writing the script?

Anyway the fight cleared up quickly, and I could be seen leaving with Ben while Nix did that stupid parting salute towards the bus, and then Dean darted past the others to chase us up the bus, OMO.

I had nothing more to say. Dumbfounded. Speechless. WTH.

But the good presenters of LNC were far more eloquent, "That's puppy love for you."

"How many guys were fighting over her? Six? Seven?"

"And the last one chasing her all the way to the bus? So cute."

"Looks like Spring will be arriving earlier for the Green Packlands this year."

Harharhar. Please, just stop.

Beta Lucas stopped the video at this point. I don't think the segment was quite over, but I was too relieved to care.

Now would be a good time for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"Whoever was in that ring, please stay back after this." Beta Lucas concluded, "The rest of you have been given stern warning from the Beta's office: don't post anything stupid."

Okay. I can see where Ben learned to give detailed instructions from.

Beta Lucas nodded, once satisfied that he had executed his part. He folded his arms and took a step back to position himself next to Dad again.

Flynn stepped forward next, "As your trainer and mentor, I think it is my duty to remind you pups that while it's natural at your age to admire, or have crushes, but when you become grown wolves, you will all have a soulmate. And the mating bond is undeniable. The girl you like now, might be your brother's mate in the future. You too will meet your own mate. So while it's okay to enjoy the feelings of falling in love, don't take it too far."

"Yes, yes." Teacher S.O. could not refrain from quoting, "Don't kill a brother over a woman who isn't your mate. Treat all women like your sisters, until you meet your soulmate."

"Says the one adult male who is probably still a virgin." Tim snidely added, but only over mindlink, of course. And naturally, no one was stupid enough to respond, even over mindlink, not in front of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma in serious mode. We had better instincts than that.

Oh wait! Why was Flynn suddenly giving us a BGR talk? Think, Sam, think! Oh!

I raised up my hand and stood up to speak, "Just FYI, the guys were fighting over something else, not urm... girls."

Specifically not me.

There was a silence, and then Gamma Harry blurted out, "So they were not fighting over you?"

Eh!!! I felt my hair stand on end, "No way!"

The girls giggled and the guys suddenly burst into broke up into guffaws and laughter.

"You thought we were fighting over Sam?" Ben repeated in disbelief.

Now the adults looked at each other. Mrs Beta produced a hapless shrug. Flynn narrowed his eyes at us, "Alright then, what were the guys fighting over?"

"Nix picked on some of our guys. Ben was telling him to back off." I tried to explain.

"He gave my brother a wedgie." Angela raised her hand and piped in with all innocence.

"Hey, it wasn't just me!" Tim protested.

"It should have been just you!" Jay shot back.

"Anyway, Ben was telling Nix to back off, and then they started fighting." I decided to summarize.

"Oh." Said Flynn.

"But the news said..." Beta Lucas started.

"And you believe that crap?" Ben asked scathingly.

"Wait, you thought all of us were fighting over... over her?" Jonah burst out, and then he looked at his dad, then at me, and then shook his head rapidly, "But you know she's Sam right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I wanted to know.

"It means... ah... its just that, its.. you... aren't exactly a girl..." Jonah fumbled to explain, "You... you are more of a monster."

"Oh, and you're a human being?" I shot back.

"Uh no, I'm a wolf. When I said 'monster', I really meant 'Alpha'." Jonah tried to explain before noticing my Dad, (who was the Alpha), "Uh, I... That didn't come out the way it should."

I think I got what Jonah was trying to say, but seriously! Hahaha.

Anyway, I decided to end this misunderstanding once and for all, "I already have a Luna. Plus, as Jonah explained, the guys here never saw me as a girl anyway."

The guys quickly nodded.

"She only looks like a girl." Jonah tried to explain himself again, before he promptly gave up, "Uh, nevermind. I'll just stop talking now."

I felt sorry for him, "Yeah, I only look like this, but I'm the Alpha." I let Boo seep out a little, my Alpha dominance permeating the air just so. I was just feeling please at how my control was so precise when Boo took the opportunity to show herself. She smiled widely and bombed Alpha dominance.

The teens who were seated bowed their heads. All the adults, except for Dad took a step back and bowed.

"I'm the Alpha. These are my wolves. There is nothing more to it." I concluded before sitting back down and putting Boo away properly.

Dad was frowning his thinking frown now. It took awhile before the rest of the adults regained their composure.

"So, there's nothing going on among you pups?" Teacher S.O. asked, as if making sure. I failed to see how this question was had any revelance to the entire hoo-ha that just happened.

But the moment he asked, Shannon looked at Darlyn, Drew looked at Jessica, Jonah looked at Lizzy, and well, almost everyone's eyes darted somewhere and then back front again. You know, just to check.

"There is absolutely nothing going on among us." Ben answered in deadpan. He was probably lying, but he shifted the spotlight quickly before I could confirm it, "At least not this half of us."

Now we all looked towards the older teens. Kev turned red and stared at the floor.

"Alright, the older ones are entering their mating year, you pups leave them alone." Flynn scolded us, but he was wearing an amused smile when he did.

Then Flynn cleared his throat and tried again, "Alright, since that was just a misunderstanding, we'd let this be for now. But next time, please refrain from causing a scene during your Lycan Studies Group excursion."

"You shouldn't be fighting out in Gate City!" Gamma Harry piped up again, "It's so embarrassing! They will say we are barbarian wolves! Next time, bring the fight home!"

Which I had thought should have been the point to drive home - no fighting in Gate City! There were humans around, it was crowded, and somebody could've gotten hurt, property could have been damage, safety and efficiency could have been compromised, etc etc.

Although I didn't mind the barbarian wolves reputation. In my opinion, it was better to be barbarian wolves than pansy wolves - at least when the guys were fighting in the news footage, they looked cool doing it.

Hank and Flynn had opened the windows to let the Alpha dominance out.

"Well, now that this is cleared up," Beta Lucas decided to conclude the session, "All of you are still under media black out and have been sternly warned by the beta office. The rest of you in the ring, please stay back to receive strict disciplinary actions. Dismiss."

"Also, I want everyone to write a reflection of what happened today and what you can learn from it." Mrs Beta chipped in, "The prizes for the bake sale would be emailed to you, and the prizes delivered to the winners."

Everyone stood up to make their move to leave. Hahahah, I can't believe the adults bought the fake news dispensed by our dear LyNCh newscasters. I mean, these were the same two who announced that the Moon Goddess had stayed at the Langston.

And then Dad moved his hand for silence, and we all froze.

NEXT CHAPTER: THEN MY ALPHA DAD BLEW UP