Chapter 11: Diversity Academy

‎"Margaret, I will not be returning to Fortress Cave for a long while. My wagon is parked over there, I just wanted you to know." Caroline informed Margaret, pointing to the wagon facing the castle gates.

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‎"Please come inside briefly...

‎I will miss you very much Caroline, and I will not relent in sending you word. Please don't shut me out, because I know how you can get whenever you feel stressed. If I don't hear from you Caroline, I will be showing up at the academy."

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‎Caroline squinted a little bit when she heard this, but Margaret didn't budge. She stared even more convincingly into Caroline's eyes and reaffirmed: "I mean it. Every word of it. I will show up at the academy if you ignore me."

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‎"That will not be necessary, Margaret. I will keep in touch."

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‎"Better."

‎Margaret responded hugging her tightly. "I can't breath Margaret, your hugs are always suffocating" They both laughed it off as Margaret responded " I have something for you"

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‎She went into her inner room and grabbed a cage of pigeons. "Here you go, Caroline" Margaret handed her the cage.

‎Don't worry the birds are already spelled to penetrate the barrier. I am simply ensuring that you have every means available to keep in touch with me as you have promised." They both hugged again as Caroline rose, thanked her, and they bade each other farewell.

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‎Two nights Prior to this meeting it was snowing, and all the streets within the castle walls looked almost deserted. Margaret was performing her midnight meditation when suddenly there was a banging knock on her door.

‎"Who's there?"

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‎It was way past midnight but because Margaret was a werewitch, her doors were almost always open to any werewolf who needed her services regardless of what time of the day it was.

‎She provided soothing herbs for werewolves who were experiencing any form of anxiety, heart glues for werewolves whose hearts were broken by their mates, fertility concoctions, love portions, memory boosters and erasers, leaves for the treatment and straightening of bone fractures especially in cases where the hunters from fortress cave were ambushed on any hunting journey or in the case of newbie wolves after their first shift.

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‎Margaret was also the soul custodian of all the entire wolfsbane within Fortress Cave, to avoid any malicious use she grew them in her basement away from the knowledge of everyone who was not authorized to know.

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‎Amongst all of these, Margaret was also Caroline's closest friend from childhood.

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‎"I want the heart glue, Margaret. I think I might black out."

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‎Margaret had given Caroline a portion a few years ago to suppress the bond severing episodes that kept occuring from Alpha's Denparlio constant incessant "Rituals and snacking". But this time the portion didn't do much for Caroline because Eliana was no ordinary werewolf, but a descendant of the silver cloud bloodline.

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‎"I'm so sorry it had to get to this Caroline"

‎Margaret whispered gently leading her into the house and shutting the door"

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‎"Here is some soup" She handed Caroline a hot bowl of soup.

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‎" I told you Caroline. I told you that Alpha Denparlio was not worth making all those sacrifices for. Not worth rejecting your parents parents, not worth building the walls you built to push everyone out including me, and existing in isolation because we dared to tell you to choose yourself first."

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‎"But he is my fated mate, Maggie. The moon goddess personally chose him for me and destined us to be together come rain or hailstones... What was I supposed to do?"

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‎"Caroline there are wolves who don't end up with their fated mates even if the moon goddess destined it.

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‎We both know how this all began...

‎Alpha Denparlio was a professor at the academy while we were both still students in the academy. You graduated from being his student to his personal assistant and between you and I, you heard and witnessed the things he did behind Brenda's back. We talked about these things you and I.

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Then you both started seeing each other shortly before Brenda found out he was seeing her mother, the mother superior of the academy, and she publicly rejected him, using her authority as head mistress to withdrew his employment banishing them both from ever stepping foot in the academy.

‎Then Brenda retired shortly before you applied to teach at the academy and passed away almost immediately from a broken heart.

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‎Caroline, Alpha Denparlio may be feared among the seven regions, and may have built one of the largest castles and pack houses in history but we also both know this region and its lands were obtained unjustly.

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‎Denparlio has always been a snake. Most people who are loyal to him are only loyal because they are indebted to him, and he makes sure to compel them into that debt as soon as they make it through those castle gates. You know this more than anyone else, but you have still chosen to stay even though it costs you an arm, a leg and your head?"

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‎Caroline swallowed hard, and kept quiet for a few seconds. Then she responded:

‎"Margaret, I already know the story of my life that's not why I'm here.

‎I may have kept something from you."

‎She took another spoon of soup, then proceeded.

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‎"I am also highly indebted to the Alpha. I cannot completely leave the pack even if I wanted to, and truthfully even if I reject him, I am under ought to continue performing my duties as Luna.

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‎If I were willing to let all of these go today, I would have no where else to go, and no covering of protection.

‎My father would never take me back, Margaret. "

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‎"On second thought, there is actually something I can do..."

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