CHAPTER 3: The Price Of Refusal

***JAMIE***

“Are you okay?” I heard Mother’s voice as my eyelids slowly fluttered open, trying to adjust to the brightness of the room.

“No?” I answered, lifting my hands to shield my eyes from the filtering light. “I’m having a splitting headache right now.”

Mother chuckled. “Wolves don’t have headaches.”

Well, she was right. I felt shitty, but who was I to know if it was really a headache.

Father's deep voice came just as I finished my statement. “You should be careful, girl.”

I jerked towards the voice to check if it was really my father who spoke. And when my eyes finally met him, I found him by the door, leaning against the wall and watching me softly with a worried expression on his face.

Was he done being angry at me?

My head dropped to the ground as soon as I realized how much trouble I had caused them. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly.

“No,” Father responded, darting towards me in small steps. Then he pulled a chair right beside my mother. “We are sorry.”

My brows furrowed as he said those words. “What’s going on?” I muttered under my breath.

“We are sorry we made you carry such a heavy burden from birth. But how could you just run out of the wedding hall like that, putting us and the Gordon family…”

He couldn’t finish his statement as Mother nudged him slightly.

She cleared her throat and continued, a small smile tugging at her lips. “What your father meant to say is that we’re sorry for how things have been for a while now. We never even gave you a chance to be you at any time, and for that, we truly apologize.”

Dad shifted slightly in his seat, but he didn’t argue what Mom said.

“And mind you,” I muttered, straightening. “I didn’t choose Silverstone because I hate it here. You’re my parents, and I love you guys. I just needed to make one decision concerning my life that I wouldn’t have to regret later.”

Mother moved closer and hugged me. “It’s fine, you’ve done well, and now, it’s time for us to look out for you,” she said as she stroked my back gently, and I just hugged her back.

“But for now, you need to appear before the pack’s elders,” Father declared, and I wasn’t so surprised. I knew there’d be repercussions for my actions, but what's more is that I was hoping that whoever was peeping from the window would not come out and shatter everything. 

“Well then, let’s get it over with,” I said as I got out of bed.

We walked out of the room and through the hallways to the elevator, which we took down, and in no time we were in front of the throne room.

“You ready?” Mother asked as she pressed my shoulders, and despite not even being nearly ready, I nodded.

All heads in the courtroom turned towards us as soon as we walked in.

Father dragged me right into the middle of the courtroom with swift, steady steps. Then—

“Here is Prince Jamie, whom you’ve all asked for,” Father announced, and murmurs spread across the elders until the most influential, Elder Gordon, cleared his throat and silence fell.

“There is a plan. An agreement,” Elder Gordon said, straightening from his seat. “The prince disregarded that, and that brought great shame to my granddaughter and myself. For this reason, the court believes that he needs to be punished.”

At that moment, I wanted to speak. To give everyone a piece of my heart, but my mother nudged me backwards. “Don’t.”

“He will be sent to Silverstone as a boarding student,” Elder Gordon continued.

Mother and Father’s eyes widened, but I only fixed my gaze on Elder Gordon. I could tell what he was scheming and why he really wanted Avery and me to get married.

“A boarder? Why?” Father asked.

Elder Gordon looked at him with open contempt. No one stopped him.

“The prince has not properly learned the way of an alpha. He is unruly. He will be taught there,” Elder Gordon continued. “He will only return to Frostvale every last weekend of the month until he completes his full calendar study at Silverstone.”

The others nodded.

Maybe this was for the best. With me gone, Avery could start over. Everything would settle eventually.

Father looked at Mother. She gave a small nod.

“We accept,” Father said. “The prince has already been accepted into Silverstone.”

The elders turned to me.

“He leaves tonight,” Father said, tapping my shoulders slightly.

Elder Gordon looked satisfied.

The whole court bowed, and with that, Father led me alongside Mother out of the courtroom.

***

We said nothing on the way back to my room. I wanted to leave, but not like this. Not this fast.

When we got there, the maids were already packing.

“Come. Let them work,” Father said.

We went to my mother’s room, and Father closed the door behind us.

“Jamie, are you sure you can do this? If your secret comes out, it ends everything,” Mother muttered, her voice breaking slightly.

“I know. I know the risk,” I said. “But I have to. This is not just punishment to me. I will prove that I’m worthy.”

Father nodded slowly.

“There is something else,” he said. “At Silverstone, rooms are shared. Three to a room.”

I stepped back.

“What?” My mind stalled. “How am I supposed to manage that?”

“You will be fine,” Father said. “I have someone that'll help you manage the situation. Your privacy will not be intruded and your roommates will not try to pry into your personal life.”

I said nothing, but I couldn't shake the feeling that whoever my dad said would help manage my situation will only be even closer to finding out my secret.

“Pull yourself together,” he added. “You can handle this.”

I nodded.

“It is time,” Mother said.

My eyes moved to the clock. Avery would have been easier, but I guess I’ve already made my choice. There’s no going back.

We walked out. Maids carried my luggage ahead. My chest felt tight with every step.

If I had not refused that marriage, none of this would be happening.

“Well, go on,” Mother said, nudging me forward.

I blinked and looked around, then my gaze went back to the black SUV waiting for me.

“Goodbye, Mother. Goodbye, Father,” I said quietly.

I got in and pulled the door closed.

Silverstone.

I leaned back against the seat as the car started moving. There was no turning back now.