Chapter Three
Ifelt the wind knock out of me with those words.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?” I turned my full attention to the newscaster, and I saw the hint of surprise.
She thought I already knew. Then it was like there was blood in the water and these reporters were the sharks.
I was surrounded, and everyone was shouting at me.
“How do you feel about your father being branded as a traitor years after his death?”
“How did you not know that your father was working with the rouges?”
“Were you a part of the circle of traitors?”
“Have you not seen today’s news?”
Then there was a commotion and one news caster pushed through.
A smaller wolf who had a glint in her eyes.
“Alpha Amy.” She was also the only one to use my rank, and instinctively, my attention shifted to her.
“The new reports that went out today have branded your father as a traitor, while my investigation has uncovered multiple documents labeling him as a scapegoat.” A hush fell over the surrounding crowd.
“What is your opinion of your late father’s legacy? ”
Everyone turned back to me and I felt a tear tremble at my lashes.
I leaned in to her and I smiled. “Thank you for taking the time to actually uncover the truth about him.” I took a deep breath as I felt a hand slide into mine.
“My father, Gavin Maclean, was about as far from a traitor as you can get. He supported this kingdom, and our king, until his last breath. He not only donated billions of dollars to ensure our kingdom thrived, but also so our children had a place to live and learn without worrying about how they could afford it. Many of you don’t know that right before he died, my father created a fund to donate to this very school every year, like clockwork.
He has supported your children every year so that they could learn free and clear since the lockdown went into effect.
He made sure we ate and slept in peace so our entire focus could be on our studies, so we could succeed.
My father was an amazing man. He was an amazing father.
But most of all, he was an amazing Alpha. ”
Toya leaned to the microphones, and everyone shifted.
“Alpha Gavin was one of the most generous wolves out there. He sent his warriors to support the small packs that had just relocated to his area when the rogues were targeting them. He saved my family and gave me more time with them. That isn’t the work of a traitor, that is the work of a wolf that would do anything for another.
” She turned to me. “Gavin Maclean was the most loyal wolf, and whoever started this smear campaign on a dead man who has no way of standing up for himself is obviously trying to redirect you all to the truth.” She turned back to the cameras.
“I invite you all to dig more into it, like she did.” She nodded at the last reporter, who was smiling.
“Now, we are graduating. This is not the day to bring up this bullshit.” She released her aura. “Move out of the way. Now.”
The reporters all separated, and we made our way inside. But I could hear the whispers of everyone there. They all painted my family, my father, as traitors. I felt my anger rising, minute by minute.
“I’m going to kill them.” I snapped my head to Hanna. Soft-spoken, sweet Hanna.
“What’s wrong?” I turned to her, and she had this wild glint in her eyes.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Amy are you being stupid?
They’re all whispering about your father like he really was a traitor.
” She was pissed, but I could see the unfinished thought in her mind.
‘We all know he is not a traitor. He’s working with the king directly. ’ But no one knew he was still alive.
I gave her a smile and pulled her to me.
Nix pushed forward, as she had started to do a few months ago, when one of them got too angry.
“Calm little wolf. Give me your anger.” Nix and Megan used their abilities and my magic to pull Hanna’s anger from her wolf.
It kept her from shifting, and calmed the situation.
“You cannot shift today and ruin your dress.”
Hanna met my eyes with tears in hers. “They can’t do this to you.” Her whisper was angry, but now held more sadness.
“It’s okay. We will figure this all out later. But today, we will graduate.” I smiled. “You have to get used to your new rank, and the aggression that comes with it. Or else you’ll be right back to where you were when you first shifted, and had no control.” She nodded and took a deep breath.
“I’m okay now.” She smiled, and then we turned back to the crowded room.
“Good, let’s go find our seats.” We wove through the crowd. Megan and Nix were both doing their best to comfort me as the whispers continued.
Brandon seemed to enjoy the whispers. Every time a new one happened, he puffed up a little and sent a knowing look my way. And I knew this was at least a part of why he was so sure I would agree to his proposal.
I was being backed into a corner.
I walked past all the reporters and made our way inside to our seats. We sat down with the rest of the students, saying hi, and settling in before one guy turned to me with a sad look.
“I don’t agree with what they are doing to you Amy.
” I looked, really looked, at Chad and raised an eyebrow.
“Look, I know we aren’t really friends, and we have just had class together, but I know everything you and your dad have done for all of us.
I may not like you personally, but your family doesn’t deserve this bullshit.
” He shook his head. “We all talked about it, and all of us agree. They’re painting a target on your back.
This is happening today for a reason, I just wanted to warn you, and to let you know, we all stand beside you.
” I stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he was serious.
We had never been close. Sometimes I thought he even hated me.
I think my face conveyed that when he smiled again.
“Like I said, I don’t like you, but you helped me, and my family.
We won’t stand by and watch it happen.” He met my stare, and I could see he was serious. But everyone?
“Everyone?” I was skeptical, but as I looked around, I made eye contact with everyone from our program.
But then others turned to me from other programs, and one by one they all bowed their heads.
Almost our entire graduating class turned and nodded.
I felt my eyes fill, and I had to turn away.
My eyes turned back to Chad, and he nodded.
He went to say something, but he was interrupted by Vince making his way onto the stage.
He stood in front of the microphone and looked over at the crowd.
His eyes landed on me for a second and I saw triumph on his face.
He thought he won, and he was standing there preening on the stage like a prized wolf.
He pushed his chest out a little more and smiled.
He was so sure he had won, but we would see who was smiling after everything was said and done.
“Ladies and Gentlemen. Please settle. We will begin the graduation ceremony shortly. I will say, after the speeches and before the grads walk, we have a guest speaker, and another set of announcements that aren’t on the printed programs so bare with us, please.
” He smiled before he stepped back, motioning for a teacher to come up to start the ceremony.
We sat while everyone delivered their speeches.
First the teachers, then the head student in each department.
Then came the valedictorian speech. The teacher from the Art department was standing at the podium.
“Please stand and join me in the pleasure of calling on our school’s valedictorian.
This student held the highest GPA, but she also helped this student body so much during these last few years.
From helping support group causes, to volunteering her time to help with teachers scheduling, she has demonstrated not only a dedication to this school, but to our kind.
She is a pillar of trustworthiness, steadfast dedication, and honesty.
” This speech was pointed, and I felt a little vindicated.
You could watch Vince’s face take on a hint of confusion as the teacher went on.
Obviously, he didn’t know who this speech was about.
But I did. “Please, allow me the pleasure of introducing this year’s valedictorian. Amy Maclean.”
The room erupted into applause, and Vince’s face fell. Apparently, the teachers had hid this tiny minor fact from him. His eyes connected to someone behind me, and I looked over my shoulder to see Brandon with furrowed brows. He leaned into my back. “You’re the valedictorian?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I was told last month when we got our finals result.” I smiled as I stood up and walked up to the podium.
The reporters were still in the back and they were filming everything.
“Welcome, class of 2021.” I looked out at the crowd.
“I won’t keep you long, as I am the last in a million speeches, way more eloquently prepared than my own.
” A few chuckles could be heard. “While I did have a full speech prepared, something happened today, and I think my time here would be better used addressing that.” I heard Vince get to his feet, but I ignored him.
“Everyone here, the students, the faculty, have been witness to the past few years, but the rest of our world hasn’t, so I can understand what happened today. But I refuse to let this stand.”
“Amy, this isn’t the place.” Vince came up next to me and I growled. He froze with his hand halfway to the microphone.
I turned my attention to Vince, who had come up next to me.
“I think this is the place.” My eyes flashed and Vince took a step back.
I redirected my attention back to the crowd and the reporters.
“My father, Gavin Maclean, was an outstanding man. He did a lot for this community, and I refuse to allow anyone to speak ill of him. He was as far from a traitor as one wolf could actually get.” I locked eyes with a few people in the crowd, and I saw their doubt, or confusion.
So I pushed on. “He donated billions of dollars to the council annually. Way above the allotted amount so that smaller packs could stay in the alliance, but reinvest their fees into their own packs. When I asked him why he did it—supported people we didn’t even know—his only answer was that people deserved the chance to thrive.
He wanted them to grow, to become stronger, to build up our community.
My father donated millions to this school annually, to support the students here, and gave them more opportunity by designating a certain amount to be used in low producing courses, allowing students to follow their passions, not just the courses that Alpha Vince decided were important.
” I cut another look at Vince and I watched him pale more.
He thought I was clueless, but I knew everything.
“He supported the last king, in every way he could. He would leave my mom and me alone to stay by his side. He left his family, his pack, his first priority to support his king. I know people are accusing him of being a traitor and they are referencing the last king’s death as proof.
My father was duty bound to protect the king, and you’re right, he was.
But what none of you know was that the council created the elite warriors to watch over the royal family.
So that the Alphas could run their packs without distraction. ”
“That’s enough.” A voice came from the wing, and a woman came out.
She was powerful. Probably the most powerful wolf I had met to date, other than my parents.
She clapped as she walked out, coming to stand next to me.
Thinking I was under her control, she leaned in to me and smirked.
“And here I was told you were strong. I’m not even using my full power to shut you up.
” She pulled away and I saw the smugness.
And I honestly couldn’t wait to wipe that smirk from her face.
I turned back to the mic. She turned away, thinking I was frozen under her pathetic command.
Her power was less than the king, way less.
And if he couldn’t hold me, who the fuck did she think she was?
“Anyway, the elite warriors were appointed and directed by the council. Funnily enough, the night of the attack, the council moved them away from the royal family. Resulting in the king’s death.
My father was at our pack, fending off our own attacks.
He was protecting my mother and I.” She whirled back with a screech.
“I command your silence.” Her voice held such a firm belief that I would buckle under her, that I had to stop myself from laughing outright.
I looked over at the woman, and again I was met with her smirk.
So I lost control, and a smile lifted the corners of my lips.
“So you see, my father wasn’t a traitor.
If anyone should be branded as a traitor…
” I turned back to the reporters. “It should be the council. They commanded the warriors away from the royal family. Or the warriors themselves. As they listened to the unlawful order and left the king to fight for his mate and pup alone.”
The silence that followed my declaration was thick.
Then I turned back to the woman, who was still trying to enforce her power over me.
Sweat beaded her brow, and she was pale.
“I don’t know who you are.” I leaned against the podium, my voice still ringing through the room.
“I honestly don’t even care. I have spent these last years continuing my father’s ideals.
I have donated more money to this school than the king himself to keep this place going.
I have sacrificed my time, my energy, and my schooling to help with training.
I have ensured that the students here were treated fairly and justly, regardless of rank, class, or standing.
You don’t get to come in here, try to overpower me, to shut me up, and push your own agenda.
Because,” I turned back to the reporters.
“Make no mistake, that is exactly what this was.” Murmurs started around the room.
I finally spotted my mother in the crowd, face full of rage. “You and whoever else branded my father as a traitor, thinking you could strong arm me into silence. But the fact of the matter is…” I paused, and my rage finally broke through my mask. “You are too fucking weak to command me.”