~Rules are Rules~

[Valerie]

What will they decide? I know the answer rather too well, which is why I increase my speed, covering the 10-minute distance in 3 or so minutes. I catch my breath once I reach the packhouse. I bend over, bracing my hands on my knees, and take in huge gulps of breath. Damn, I should have continued my jogging routine. 

I manage to earn a couple of strange and curious looks from the members, but I only smile and bound up the stairs towards the study where I know my mom will be. As I approach the room, I hear my dad’s voice. 

“Who dared to put my daughter’s name on the list? How can you be so negligent?” I suppress a sigh. 

“Xav, it’s not like I want to be negligent. We are investigating. You know I wouldn’t even think of letting her go,” mom said earnestly and I felt my heart shatter a little. 

She wouldn’t even think about it, huh? 

“Has the list been sent to the concerned authorities?” My heart drums in my chest as I wait for the answer. 

“Well…yes, but-”

“Dammit!”

“Xavier, calm down,” my mother pacified. But the words were a blur for me. It has been sent to the authorities…so that means…?

“I have spoken to them and we are trying to get her name off the list,” Elias said calmly and once again I felt my heart clench painfully. 

“You know we can’t let her go, you know that, right?” A desperate tinge had coloured my father’s voice. I gritted my teeth. ‘Why? Because I will embarrass all of you?’ I wanted to ask. 

I balled my fists and decided to cut in. 

“I heard my name is on the list,” I said as I sauntered in. five pairs of eyes honed on me, each bearing a different reaction. Ah, so grandpa and nan were here too. I crossed my arms across my chest and asked, “What’s the problem if I go?” 

I looked at mom who closed her eyes, and I knew this was her reigning in her anger and trying to remain calm. “Valerie, not now.” 

“The answer is no.” I stared at dad’s resolute face. He usually never denied me except these times. This was always the case. He has never agreed for me to go on pack run, never took me to the conferences even though it had nothing to do with transforming into wolves, never let mom take me to her meeting with other mages. I had to fight tooth and nail for the opportunity to come here and learn. 

“Why? There’s still a month left. Even if I can’t reach Viola’s proficiency, I can at least participate. I promise-” 

“I said no and that’s final.” True, his words held room for no argument but this refusal pushed me to the brink and while usually, I backed down, I countered, “Why? Why can’t I go?”

Dad’s eyes turned black, and I knew his wolf was about to surface. 

“Valerie. Do not test my patience.” 

“Val, please listen to your father. We would never stop you if we didn’t want your safety,” mom said placatingly. But I hardly paid her any attention. 

I hated Viola then. Tears of anger and frustration burned the corner of my eyes. I lowered my gaze because that was the rule. No one talked back to the Alpha King. Today, it was clear, I was the least favourite and the mistake child. “Yeah, and I don’t think I will ever get any permission to go anywhere. Because I am not ‘ready’ yet.” 

I whirled around and stormed out of the room. Every time. Every single time, I have been stopped. Why? No one has ever bothered to explain. I ran back to the lakeside near the outskirts of the forest, not ready to bump into anyone who might see my tear-drenched face. 

I sat on one of the vacant benches heavily. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I furiously continued to wipe them away. I continued sitting there and let my heart calm down although the anger hadn’t mellowed even a bit. 

Why can’t I control my element? Why?

“Impatient.” The same voice echoed in my mind as if attempting dry humour and I let out a sigh. Well, it wasn’t wrong. 

“Who are you? My wolf?” I asked, slightly annoyed at its lack of presence and just appearing like a guest artist whenever it deemed fit. 

As expected, there was no answer. I closed my eyes to feel a second presence. Usually, a human can feel its wolf’s or their animal counterpart’s presence but I felt none. This made me angrier. The photo rippled as I slammed my fist down on the bench, flinching a little from the ensuing pain. 

Huh? 

I slowly raised my hand and waved it. A gasp left my lips unbidden when I saw the ripples move in the direction of my hand. I lifted the hand slightly and all of sudden the water too gushed up like a geyser. Only it had no steam. I let my hand fall beside me immediately and the water too settled with a loud splash. The only proof that  I did anything was the overly wet banks where puddles had formed. 

My heartbeat jack rabbited, knocking at my ribs almost. What the hell? 

I regulated my breathing as I sat there and brooded. It was quite late when I decided to finally get up. No one had come to get me which said a lot about what they thought about my reaction. Maybe for them, it was just a tantrum. 

When I entered the packhouse, I saw uncle Drake and Gray in the lounge. Maia was sitting with them. “Ah, my favourite niece finally decides to show up,” uncle Drake said jovially. Gray shot him a pointed look which was an obvious indication that they knew about my outburst. 

I smiled at them before saying. “I’ll see you around.” I didn’t wait for them to dismiss me and went upstairs. At the moment, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. My new room welcomed me as much as something inanimate can. Although I craved my room back at the castle, I felt safe here. I plopped down on the bed, suddenly exhausted. 

No one understood my desperation. No one understood how much it would mean to me if I could simply participate. I wouldn’t represent the Ravenwood's. No. Viola was good at that job. And yet…

A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie. I craned my neck to ask them to enter. Maia walked in. “Hey.” 

She came and sat beside me. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Then she said, “I’m sorry for informing you and then…”

“It’s not your fault. It’s just my luck that’s rotten to the core,” I replied with a bitter chuckle. 

“Don’t say that. Alpha Xavier was very upset after you ran away you know. I mean had my dads not stopped him he would have transformed I guess.” I remained silent, opting to not comment. But my heart hurt. Dad has never been so mad at any of us to the extent that he would transform into his wolf. Even Leikos was lenient with us. I tried my best to hold back the tears. 

“Ah…I guess I really crossed the line today,” I muttered. Maia wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a side hug. “It's okay. You are not wrong to fight for what you love and he is not wrong for wanting to protect you.” I nodded at length. I just hoped that dad would understand. That they all would. 

~~~***~~~

[Clyde]

“This girl was wrongly put on the list?” I asked Moran. He nodded. 

“And they want us to chuck her off the list?” I repeated what he had informed me once again. I could feel my annoyance tangle with Brenton’s restlessness. 

I scanned the list of names and then picked up a black pen and signed above the dotted line at the bottom of the page. 

“Sir, the name-”

“Inform the Lycan King that we do not bend rules just because he wants us to. If his youngest daughter is to participate then she will. If she doesn’t appear then she will be disqualified but as per rules, we will not remove any name from the list.”

“Alright, Sir,” Moran demurred. 

“Start sending the maps and directions to the participants. Make sure, only they are the ones to open the envelope,” I instructed, handing him the list. Moran nodded once again before I dismissed him. 

When he left, I called for Denver, who acted as my second pair of eyes. 

“Your Highness.” He bowed deeply. 

“Find who dared to tamper with the list of participants. A girl’s name was added to the list even though she is not remotely fit for the Challenge. Also, she happens to be the Lycan King’s youngest daughter.” 

Denver nodded. “I will be on it.” 

However, before leaving, he asked, “Should I send her back if she happens to arrive? Since we can’t…” 

“I don’t think they will let her come in the first place. However, if she does, we will see then.” 

When Denver left my eyes flicked to the list of names on the laptop screen.  Valerie Ravenwood, now who would want you to see dead?