04. Punishment

"Rivers, Whiteforest, Moon, Hook, Bloodhood! Principal's office! Right now!"

An angry alpha growled, starling the few students who had managed to keep their cool. The literature teacher was standing at the entrance to the cafeteria, glaring at the group of students involved in the ongoing incident.

With his wingspan exceeding two meters, the alpha looked ready to explode with rage at his students. Another figure, a little bit shorter appeared. An old man put his hand on his colleague's shoulder and the teens recognized the face of the history professor, Blair Woodstock. The old alpha shook his head to calm his colleague and snapped back to the group whose members immediately shuddered. He narrowed his eyes, his hands behind his back. His aura alone was enough to intimidate all the high school students present. The old werewolf stared at them with an icy glow.

"We are so screwed," Mandy muttered, lowering her head.

"All because of an asshat omega with an ego too big for his good," Eden replied in a whisper.

"Fuck off, Bloodhood!" Lucas barked, angrily.

"Gentlemen and Miss… Moon?" Called Blair Woodstock startling his students. "I think Professor Glade asked you to go somewhere, hm?"

The students shuddered once more at the cold, threatening tone and immediately set off.

Cherry, who hadn't been called, watched her mate and her friend walk away in concern. When Dante passed the old professor, the alpha cleared his throat.

"I hope this slight incident will not affect the assignments I have given you due to your behavior in class. Remember that my class is mandatory to enter the beta program you are aiming for, Mr. Rivers. "

Dante swallowed hard when he heard these words.

"I am fully aware of that, Mr. Woodstock."

His shoulders slumped and the beta lowered his head to the ground, fists clenched. Eden, who had heard the exchange, scrutinized him out of the corner of his eye. He bit his lip before whispering.

"I'm sorry, Dante."

His eyes were gleaming as if he was about to cry and a crease appeared between his eyebrows. Hearing his voice, Dante lifted his head and smiled before raising a hand to ruffle his hair.

"It's not your fault. I chose to respond to their provocation." His smile widened and he shrugged. "Something like that won't stop me to pass my class. Don't worry."

The group of high school students stopped in front of the door where the two teachers had escorted them. Eden raised his head and observed Cedar Glade. The muscles man had just knocked to signal their presence. He noticed the vein on the alpha's temple betraying how angry he was at them and he sighed again. Cedar opened the door, and let the students in before stepping inside. Atticus Blackbones, a dominant from Green Lake pack, had been the principal of Blue Moon High School for almost eight years now.

The man who ruled nearly five hundred high school werewolves with the inherent excesses of their nature had mastered the art of the stick and the carrot. One glance at the man sitting behind his desk, hands folded under his chin, was enough to let the five teens understand that they were about to feel the stick.

"Professor Glade linked me what happened. What the hell were you thinking when you decided to leash out your pheromones in a cafeteria full of so many omegas? "

They jumped when they heard the voice of the Dominant growl. Lucas curled up slightly and hid behind his fiancé who didn't move an inch. Evan kept his head stubbornly lowered to the ground.

"Talk, now!"

They exchanged hesitant glances. Despite his obvious fear, Lucas glared at Eden who rolled his eyes in response. Suddenly, Dante took a step forward.

"I was the one who spread my pheromones in the cafeteria. I didn't think about my classmates, especially the omegas. Even though I wanted to defend my packmate, I should have used more judgment. " the beta said, sounding genuinely sorry.

The principal seemed to appreciate what he had just said, but his face remained closed. He sighed, then looked at his students one after the other in a long silence.

"Rivers, I'm sorry, but you know the rules. Parents trust me when they send their Sub kids to a high school that also accepts Dominants. It means that no matter what happens, it's my head that will be claimed. I can't outlook a dominant lashing out his pheromones in a room where omegas are supposed to feel safe. You are excluded. Three days!"

Dante winced at the announcement of the sanction and exchanged a look with Eden, who was staring at him with a sorry look. The beta shook his head gently and smiled.

"I will contact Alpha Silver to keep him updated. I will ask him not to take any further disciplinary action as you were protecting your packmate. As for you, Hook, Whiteforest, Miss Moon ... ", continued the principal.

The satisfied smile that had spread on Lucas's face faded when he heard his name.

"Whiteforest and Moon, a week of exclusion. Plus, I'll be happy to let your alpha know that you tried to take out a defenseless sub. "

"What," hissed Mandy. "Defenseless? But he.. "

"Put you back in your place?" snorted Atticus. "Yes, that was a very pleasant sight. I'm grateful to Professor Glade for allowing me to witness this thanks to the link."

He leaned on the back of his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, tugging at the seams of his crisp white shirt. "If that had been another omega in place of Mister Bloodhood, you would simply have taken advantage of your difference in strength to manhandle him. Are you protesting because he fought back? "

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the young beta to prompt her to respond. Mandy swallowed and bowed her head in submission.

"No sir."

"What wait, he's not going to be punished?"

Atticus turned his head to Lucas who looked upset at the man behind his desk.

"Mr. Hook, do you have something to say?" Said Principal Blackbones, in a tone that made the male omega tremble.

Lucas hung on his fiance's jacket and hesitated before speaking.

"It's just that it's not exactly like Bloodhood is a normal omega. He assaulted a dominant, it is a total disrespect for the hierarchy. I think… He had to be punished. "

Atticus raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Cedar Glade who shrugged in response.

"Mister Bloodhood only reacted to Miss Moon's threatening gesture so I ask you to keep your thoughts to yourself. Please know, Mr. Hook, that I intend to ensure a safe environment for all of my students. If that means not punishing an Omega for defending itself against a Dominant who wants to abuse their status and strength, I stand up to my decision and am ready to discuss it one-on-one with Alpha Draken. Is it OK for you ?"

The Omega's eyes instantly filled with fear upon hearing his father's name. He stepped back behind Evan and shook his head firmly.

"N-No, that won't be necessary!"

"Well. So I'll end with you, Mr. Hook. You are placed in detention. Two hours after class, every day until the end of the week. I'll ask Professor Woodstock to find something to take care of you during this time. "

The male omega was not happy but remained silent. The teenagers were dismissed with a wave of the hand. Cedar Glade escorted them again for a few steps before leaving in the direction of the staff room, not before reminding them to follow the rules.

Eden and Dante were about to walk away when Lucas stopped them.

"If you think you've won Bloodhood, you're dreaming!"

Eden, who felt guilty about the suspension of his beta friend, frowned.

"What the heck, Hook? Why don't you give up already? You got detention, your friends are suspended and so does Dante. Get off my back, you're annoying as hell!"

"But you…"

"Shut it!", yelled Eden.

Several heads turned in the hallway and Eden didn't wait for Lucas's reaction. He walked away, stomping his steps towards the lockers, Dante followed him suit obediently.

They arrived near Eden's lockers when a familiar scent caught their attention. Dante stopped and opened his arms. Cherry ran to snuggle again his chest. The female omega buried her nose in his neck to have a better smell of his scent. Dante hugged her tenderly as Eden harshly opened his locker.

The young man took out his textbooks for the next classes under the eye of Cherry who was looking at his mate, an eyebrow rose in a silent question. Dante hesitated a second and finally spoke to her.

"I am excluded for three days."

"What?" she said in a shrill voice. "But you didn't do anything!"

"I spread out my pheromones in the cafeteria. When we were leaving, I felt that several omegas had started emitting distress pheromones. "

"But .." He shushed her with a kiss.

"It's good. It's only for three days. It could have been worse, " he reassured, stroking her hair.

"Alpha Silver will be pissed."

"Yes". Dante answered with a deep sigh.

"Sorry".

The couple turned their heads towards Eden who had just closed his locker. He was standing, about to burst into tears. The female omega broke away from her mate and went to hug the young man who started to sniff, clearly upset.

"Eden, no! It's not your fault! Why would you apologize? Everything happened because of this stupid insecure prissy ass. " Cherry said, glaring at the floor. She tightened her embrace and Dante walked over to them and then wrapped them both in a comforting embrace.

When the school bus pulled up at the Bloodhood Pack stop, Eden and Cherry were the first to get off. They immediately began to run to reach the cave. The two omegas were about to pass through the main entrance when a voice stopped them.

"If you're looking for Dante, he's been demoted to middle rank. Right now, he is on duty at the southern border. "

"I thought the principal had asked so that there be no additional sanction?"

The dominant Eden had seen hanging out with Dante before, shrugged in response.

"All I know is Alpha Silver was pissed at him. But it was Beta Archer who asked for him to be demoted. "

"But that's not fair!"

The Dominant shrugged again and resumed his walk. Cherry and Eden exchanged a look. They were about to come out when a deep voice made them freeze in place.

"If you are looking for my son, please know that he is on duty, don't disturb him or it'll make his situation worse." The man said gravely. "I might decide to have him go on a tour of duty tonight if I catch him slacking off."

"But beta Archer, that's not fair. He didn't do anything wrong! " Cherry pleaded in a small voice.

"Does scaring omegas while they are eating their lunch seem right for you?" The Dominant asked without blinking.

"But he did it to defend Eden. That sly ass dominant wanted to take it out on him. "

Archer Rivers sighed as he looked at his son's fiancée and took a step forward before motioning for the two omegas to join him. The trio made their way to the exit and the Bloohood beta began to explain it to them.

"Cherry, Alpha Silver told me well what happened. I understand that you are upset, but my son is a dominant. That means he has to protect Subs. At least, those are the values ​​we have here at Bloodhood. You are certainly used to Dante's pheromones because you have known each other since childhood and also because he's your fiancé, but another omega can quickly feel oppressed. You know how powerful his pheromones are, " he explained in a softer tone.

"I know, but being demoted it's too unfair. He worked so hard to live up to his future beta role ".

Cherry had red eyes and was struggling not to burst into tears. Her hands gripped her hoodie and squeezed the fabric so tight her knuckles had turned white. Eden gently caressed her back to soothe her. A lump had formed in his throat.

"I'm well aware. The punishment is temporary. He will be high rank again in six weeks. If he doesn't do anything stupid in the meantime."

"Is that true?" She asked, hopeful again.

"Sure. So, can I count on you to let him do his chores quietly?"

The female omega nodded with enthusiasm and the two friends took their leave. They were already walking away when Cherry turned around quickly.

"Can I see Dante for a bit tonight, if he's not on call?"

Beta Archer smiled softly.

"I'll tell him to join you when he's done. Only 30 minutes, not one more! "

She squealed, delighted, and walked away under the amused eye of the Dominant.

After leaving Cherry, Eden returned to his cave. He shed his clothes off and shifted before walking into his werewolf form. He didn't want to go into his nest when he hadn't cleaned up the smells of his school day yet so he did what he did whenever he felt bad and was alone. The male omega came out and shifted to his wolf form and started to run on all fours. He sped through the halls, deftly avoiding his packmates. Eden rushed to an exit in the eastern part of the cave that led to a cliff. He shifted his werewolf form once again without taking time to stop, and with his claws scrambled up the steep wall.

The sun was fading behind the horizon line as it reached the summit. Breathless, Eden fell on the ground tongue hanging out, and let out a silent whimper.