“What did he mean by keeping us here?” He called out.
Rowan made his way to the podium, growling until Vince moved out of the way. “Obviously, this isn’t how we planned this announcement to come out. But since the attacks have amped up, your families have agreed that instead of running two semesters and giving you the summer off with breaks over yule and eostre, that we would change it.”
“To?” the same man asked.
“Full year round class until your degrees are done.” The silence that followed was heavy.
“What does that even mean?” Someone called out.
“What’s going on?” A few students stood to their feet.
“Should we just go home?” Toya stood and started to the aisle.
“Calm down everyone.” Rowan stepped closer to the podium. “Let me explain it all.” Rowan turned to glare at the council members. “The attacks on all of our packs have become devastating. Some packs have been wiped out, and no, I will not tell you which packs they were. I will be going to those affected personally today.” A new hush fell over the crowd. Devastation hung in the air, but it was stunted. Everyone was terrified that they were about to learn that their families had disappeared.
I watched as almost everyone texted someone. “I’m not getting an answer.” Someone panicked and stood to run.
“Stay where you are. I told your families not to answer until I gave the all clear. I want to talk to those affected first. So please don’t panic. Also, smaller packs have been taken in by some of the larger packs. Not permanently, but as a precaution. This way, they can work together to protect all the wolves together. And the other benefits is that newer smaller packs get to see how bigger packs are run. The Alphas can learn from each other.” Everyone quieted down and settled. “Now, back to the matter at hand. We have discussed it with every Alpha and while some disagreed, the majority of them agreed with my sentiment. We don’t want to pull you from your studies. Nor stop new students from coming, but we have to focus on the war. And other than shipping the new students in every year, keeping you here makes the most sense. Not only will you continue to learn your selected fields, but you will also be safe. This school is in the middle of all the biggest packs and is the safest place for you all to be.”
“But what about our homes?”
Rowan nodded. “It’s going to be hard. Being away from your parents for two to four years, but it is necessary. This way yougo back fully certified in your field, but also, you will be ready to help your pack.”
“What do you mean?”
“You all are young. And only a handful of you have lived through an attack. Only one of you actively participated and survived being mortally wounded in the attack. None of you, but maybe her, are ready to fight in this war.”
“Who was it?”
“Someone was almost killed?”
“How do we get ready?” The questions just kept coming and I could tell Rowan was still close to the edge, so I stood.
“Everyone, I understand everything we just heard is terrifying.” I reached down to my wolves and pulled out something I had never tried. Gammas have a secondary gift to support their Lunas. They can amplify their calming effect to calm entire packs. So I connected to Nix to use her ability to calm wolves, and Megan to amplify the effect. “But, our king is still explaining everything and shouting out questions before he is finished can be, well, frustrating. With everything that has happened today, even I am on edge. Can we wait until he has explained everything he needs to and then ask questions he hasn’t answered? This way, we streamline this whole meeting so that he can get to the most important part.”
“Oh, yeah?” Nina stood. “And what exactly is the important part? Talking to you?” She snorted, and I saw some others get annoyed, but I just leveled a look at her.
“No.” I shot out and had to take a breath to calm my anger. The crowd grew silent. “The important part, which you just mocked, is the King telling those of us that have lost everything, our new horrifying truth.” Nina paled, as if she forgot. “You can mock me all you want, Nina, but mocking the dead, that’s low. Even for someone as disgusting as you.”
I watched the blow land as I sunk into my seat. The crowd of students burst into murmurs and Nina slunk away, moving to a different seat.
“Everyone. Please settle. Thank you Alpha Amy. As you said. I have a lot to do today. Including handling the situation that happened today. So no Nina, I won’t have time to talk to Amy unless she lost her family.” His glare cut, but it was the councilmen’s glare at Nina that was surprising. She did something to go against them.
Interesting.
That would be something that I’d have to look into later. And something I would talk to Rowan about. But now I refocused on my king and waited for all the answers, because I was also wondering what exactly he had planned.
“Now to get back to your questions. Yes, there was an attack that injured someone here. She nearly died, but thankfully her wolf was strong enough to heal the damage. Even though the doctors thought she wouldn’t make it. Next, if the wolf wants it to be made public, I will say her name, but I will wait for her permission.” He glanced my way, but Nina stood.
“You can tell my story.” Her voice was soft, but I could tell she was proud.
“Nina.” Rowan started, but then a council member stepped up and smiled.
“Nina’s attack was harrowing.” He started. “She was a little girl when a rogue attacked her and her father.” The crowd gasped, but I watched Rowan grind his teeth. “We were all worried she wouldn’t wake up, but thankfully, her juvenile wolf was strong enough to heal the damage to her head.” There were a few claps, and I had to lift my fingers to my lips.
This was Nina’s big attack. Rowan turned to me and I gave a tiny nod. I would have kept quiet, but this was getting ridiculous.
“Councilmen Evan, that is a sweet story, but not the attack I was referring to.” Rowan turned to face the wolf and growled until he stepped back. “A fact I think you knew. I’ll just add that to everything else I need to speak with you about.” The threat was there. “The attack I was actually talking about, Nina, if you would sit back down, was a large-scale attack on Silvermoon. Alpha Amy was there for the summer and her father’s pack was attacked. According to the report, it was also her very first shift.” He gestured for me to stand. “Amy, if you could, please talk about the attack.”
