MOMENT OF TRUTH

Screams of excitement came from the room upstairs, of one of the most prominent and majestic two storey cabin, the Vander cabin.

              

Gabrielle and Luna expressed excitement as they both received congratulatory emails that they had been accepted into the University of South Carolina, in the United States of America to both major in Anthropology. 

             

"We got in, we got in," they screamed in excitement, making the men and women servants within the mansion and without, and her relative at home, wonder what in the world happened.

               

"Quiet down girls. Did you win the lottery?" said Gabrielle's cousin John, sipping on his whisky, seated in the living room of the first floor, as he watched TV. "If you girls have discovered gold mine, you better not hide it," he further said. 

               

"You wish, keep dreaming," they retorted almost unanimously, laughing it out. Both were filled with such gladness, dreaded how their parents would react. It was something that had never happened there, leaving Fairway to start a life away from the pack, especially when you're child of the alpha of the four major packs of Fairway. 

             

Such had a responsibility to the pack like none other. But they had both dreamt of a day when they'd leave their birth city, and get to explore the world beyond the horizons of Fairway. 

              

So, their excitement and joy was quieted not by the voice of John, but the thought of what they'd have to overcome to see the manifestation of their dreams. 

                

All their life, they only knew life in Fairway. Fairway had grown to be a thriving city after the early settlers arrived, hundreds of years ago, in the early fourteenth century. 

               

They had adapted to the existing technological advancements of the day, making sure they blended in to environment, as civilization expanded to that region. 

               

As subsequent generations took over leadership, they knew they couldn't keep the world and everyone away, hence, adaptability was the only option. And sure enough, they did blend in. 

              

Humans even began living amongst them. Unknown to most, especially visitors, of the true nature of it's original inhabitants.

                   

Another group of settlers that made their way there in the early days were those who harnessed the power of the elements, witches and warlocks. They were one of the main reasons why the werewolf community stayed hidden for hundreds of years, after they had arrived.

                

They were a core part of the city. They were offered a place of authority amongst the four Council, making it the Council of Five. These five were made up of the alphas of the four packs, and the leader of the witches, and these  in charge of the decision making process of the city of Fairway.

                  

Gabrielle and Luna's parents were members of the Council of Five, and one of the offspring of the alphas succeeded their parents if they be deceased. Making it mandatory for offsprings or children of alphas to barely leave home, Fairway. 

                 

They needed to stay and learn the ways of the packs, understanding the demands of leading the pack. And for this reason, it made Gabrielle's choice of leaving Fairway even more harder. But Luna was the third of three, having two elder brothers, so her case wasn't as crucial.

                   

"How do we go about this Luna?" Gabrielle asked. "Am afraid that this is but a failed attempt already. It had failed before it even began. What was I even thinking"? said Gabrielle as she sunk into a sudden gloominess, losing faith in her hopes and dreams. 

                  

"Don't say that Gabby. You can't give up now. You won't know if you don't try, now would you?" Said Luna, as Gabrielle nodded in agreement.

                 

Luna grabbed Gabby's hand's in her's, assuring her that it'll be alright. And they hugged each other, then loosening their grip, looking into each other's face, they giggled. 

                 

The evening of that day, Richard Vander, Gabrielle's father, returned from work. He was the CEO of Vander Groups and Co, a very thriving conglomerate that that was established right from the early days of the early settlers, which comprised of the other alphas as board of directors. 

                 

But the Vanders were the biggest shareholders of the conglomerate. Hell, it was named Vander Groups and Co. 

                  

Richard Vander was a huge man in stature. He had a very intimidating demeanor, with a deep voice. The genes of his ancestors had passed on him, being the only pure blooded offspring, born of two original pure bloods, Jasper and Elaine Vander. 

                  

But he was an excellent leader, very thoughtful of his subjects, and the the whole werewolf community at large. But There had been a disparity over the years between the packs, but he never minded that it existed, because he knew that the disparity was pointless. All that mattered to him was the preservation of his kind. 

                  

Gabrielle and Luna heard the sound of his SUV pulling up right in front of the garage of the mansion. They looked at each other, and a chill ran down their spine simultaneously, knowing that they'd have to break the news to him.

                  

To them, it was a good news, but to him, it wasn't going to be considered a good news, so she was terrified of the moment when she'd have to face her father, in defiance to the status quo of all children born to the alphas of the packs, her's being  the most terrifying of them all.  

                

The door of the front entrance opened, with the usual statement Mr Vander makes whenever he comes home, "I'm home Gabby." To others, he was a terrifying monarch, but to his daughter, he was the best dad in the world. She was his little angel.

                

Though she was twenty years of age, and was old enough to make certain decisions, in his eyes she was still the little, fragile baby girl that was born to him by his late wife, Elizabeth. 

             

She had passed away at child birth, and ever since, he'd nurtured, cared and raised her, to be the beautiful young lady that she was, a spitting image of her mom, with long dark hair and green eyes. Gabrielle was the only weakness he had, the only one who could soften his tough and strong willed heart. 

                   

With gladness, Gabrielle raced down to welcome her dad, despite the dread she had for the conversation she'd need to have with him, she was sincerely happy to see her dad return home from a busy day at work, and other responsibilities in relation to the pack. 

             

"Hey dad," she said smiling as she walked down the stairs. "Hey baby girl," he replied, smiling back at her. "How was your day?" She asked. "Oh well, just the usual. Always trying to see how the company grows and advances, enforcing discipline in the pack, same old same old," Spoke her father with a sigh of relief.

             

"So how was your day?" He asked Gabrielle. She replied seemingly unexcited, "well, just the usual as well. Studying and all," she replied, trying to hide the true excitement of of the email she had got. 

                    

"Good evening Mr Vander," Luna greeted as she playfully slid down the stairs. Good evening Luna, Gabrielle's dad greeted. "What have you been up to?" He asked. Before she could put together her words, he cut in adding, "don't tell you're trying to start another fight with a boy twice your size?"

                 

She chuckled, "not this time sir, not this time. I've been a good girl." "Good, I wouldn't want to be called to resolve such a dispute again, lest, it'll be settled the old fashioned way," Gabrielle's dad replied, as they all smiled at each other. 

                  

The chief house steward, came welcoming Mr Vander, letting him know that dinner was ready, and if they'd like to proceed to the dining room. But Mr Vander said to him, "give me a moment. I need to freshen up." "But of course sir," the steward replied. 

  

As he went upstairs, Luna questioned Gabrielle, "so?" So what, replied Gabrielle. "So for moon's sake when will you tell him," Luna responded. "I'm counting on you to be make your dad accept, because if he does, I see no reason why mine won't let me travel as well," Luna added. 

"Okay, okay. I'll tell him after dinner tonight," said Gabrielle hesitantly caving in to Luna's insistence that she speaks to her dad as soon as possible. 

                  

Luna hugged Gabrielle saying, "I've got to be on my now." "Come on, stay for dinner, and moreover, I'll need the moral support", protested Gabrielle. "I wish I could Gabby. But this is something I wouldn't want to be present at, if it goes south," replied Luna.

               

She laughed sarcastically as she walked out the door of the mansion. Gabrielle stood looking discouraged at that statement shouted "I hate you!" Luna laughed out loud replying, "I hate you more," as she got into her car, and drove off. 

                

Gabrielle took a deep sigh to calm her nerves down, assuring herself, "it's gonna be alright."

                 

At dinner, Gabrielle and her dad and cousin were seated at the dining table to eat. All sorts of varieties of foods were available, and orderly set on the table as befitting royalty, and they began feasting. 

                  

But Gabrielle could barely eat. Her troubled soul lost appetite for food. And her father noticed she was troubled and asked, "what's the matter honey"? She looked at him but quickly took her gaze off him as their gaze met, as though shy, saying "nothing dad. I'm okay."

                

He placed his fork and knife beside his plate, wiped his mouth, and sipped his glass of wine, paying full attention to Gabrielle. Then he asked again, "Gabrielle, what's the matter?"

                     

At this point, she knew she couldn't evade what she had dreaded all evening, and decided to take the bull by the horn. She sighed deeply as she let the words spill out of her mouth without. 

 Dad, she began, "I was accepted in the University of South Carolina in America to study Anthropology, and I'll like to go there and study." Her cousin stopped eating immediately he heard what she said, knowing fully well that things weren't gonna go down well after what Gabrielle said. 

                    

A dead silence filled the air. Mr Vander was mute as he looked straight into her face. He took another sip of wine and stood up the dining table, taking his glass of wine in his left hand, he proceeded to the living room.

                  

Before she could finish the sentence "But dad, I just wan-" Not another word," he interrupted, speaking with a deep voice. Taking his leave from the dining room to the living room. Gabrielle stood there in utter dismay, seeing how her fears were gradually encroaching her. 

                 

But she wouldn't just give up. She knew she needed to stand for what her heart desires, but at the same time she knew approaching her dad would be detrimental to whatever hopes she had of convincing her father to grant her the permission to travel outside her hometown, not with a group of wolves wherewith her safety could be ensured, but with just a friend and herself. 

               

So, she chose to live to fight another day.