After hearing the lecture on why Faye should not be wearing rings or ornaments given by someone who isn’t her girlfriend... Faye nodded and then gave a sharp look at her best friend sitting beside her. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits, her breathing catching tight in her throat while her pulse spiked into an aggressive, warning beat.
Malo made his face smaller. He wished he was a turtle so he could hide inside his shell from that glare that could laser him with punches.
"Cough, cough... Chief, you were saying something about blinding your eye to our business..." Malo said to the Chief, trying to bring the main plot back.
"Yes, I was talking before the Alpha girl interrupted... Princess, are you done reprimanding your breeder?" the Chief said. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes locking onto the teenagers while his lungs filled with a heavy, careless draft of air.
And now Faye gave him the look. Her posture went completely rigid, her jaw locking so tight her muscles ached, her pulse thumping a dangerous cadence at her temples.
"She is my girlfriend, not a breeder..." Princess corrected.
"Then who bred your pups?" The Chief asked flatly, raising an eyebrow while his body barely shifted, his breathing remaining slow and steady.
"Dad, can you just wrap this up so we can leave? It’s late." Beam said to the Chief... She did not leave a subway bite for this..
Chief Frost adjusted himself on his seat, to feel more comfortable..
"My advice, do not wear that ring inside Oakland. Next time you two are seen with it, you are going to spend 6 months in juvie for supporting the De Rolo." the Chief said, looking at Malo and Faye.
"Can you tell us why? I like to keep track of the rules here. Too young for jail.." Malo said, him going to jail was not a good thing for a family boy like him..
"Right now the Lycan throne is empty. The last ruler died along with his bloodline. If you have been paying attention in class, you will know about the tragedy of the Lycan King’s family. The royal family has three houses, but one is extinct, and the two remaining families are battling for the throne. De Rolo and Ashford. Oakland is in favor of the latter." Chief Frost explained smoothly, his voice dropping an octave as his chest expanded in a slow, steady rhythm while he laid out the facts.
With no more to say, the two friends removed their rings and put them in their pockets. They had so many things to do, and politics was not on the list. Their minds were already racing with a dozen other Beasts to seek, their heartbeats steadying into a fast, shared cadence as they focused on just getting out of the office.
"But let’s not talk about that... this is not a history class... I will turn a blind eye to every rule broken by both of you... only if you agree to get rid of the walkers in my town." Chief Frost declared, leaning his elbows on the desk as his chest rose in a heavy, commanding wave.
And there was total silence in the office.
They did not see that coming. Malo’s jaw hung slightly open, his pulse leaping into a wild, frantic rhythm against his collarbone.
"I don’t get you, sir?" Faye said, wanting to confirm what she had just heard.
"I know you get me, Faye Grande... my deputy informed me about the death of Martha Lane... and I’m sure you are aware of her spouse. She is in town, and I am definitely sure she is not the only walker in this town. Rumors say the walkers are assembling again to regain Oakland. We need to burn them before they become too populated and a threat." The Chief spoke coldly, his posture stiffening as his lungs pulled in a deep, grim draft of air.
"Excuse me, sir." Malo raised his hand like he was in a classroom, asking a question. "Can I speak?"
"Go ahead, boy. What is it?" The Chief waved his hand dismissively, his chest rising in a slow, tired wave.
"If there is a threat in Oakland, why are you involving us teenagers? We are just high schoolers, not even final-year students. We are not supposed to be doing what our leaders and protectors are supposed to do." Malo argued passionately, his voice rising in pitch as his lungs expanded with a large, angry draft of air, his body leaning forward with energy.
"And a sixteen-year-old is not supposed to be having millions in their bank account..." Chief Frost countered flatly, his eyes narrowing while his breathing stayed completely steady.
"In other towns, a nine-year-old is the richest. They own a car and can buy houses as they see fit. I don’t get why you give that privilege only to Alphas because that is a power imbalance. I mean, you legalize alcohol and drugs in favor of the Alphas so they can drain teenagers’ money. The same teenagers who shouldn’t be rich..." Malo said. His chest heaved up and down in rapid, furious waves, his skin flushing hot while his pulse raced like a runaway train.
"Oh Mr. Activist, never knew you were this brave. Wish you could put all that effort into your summer camping. If you want to know why Alphas in Oakland get so many privileges, maybe pray to the Moon Goddess to make you one in your next life." the Chief said. A mock smile touched his moustache lips, his chest rising in a dry, sarcastic chuckle that cut through the tense room.
"It’s not just only Alphas..." Faye added, supporting her friend.
"Privileges are given to every single member of the so-called council. Only their family members benefit. If Beam or any one from the council family kills someone, I’m sure the council will find a way to cover it up or give a light sentence, but a boy who barely killed someone for revenge because his uncle was murdered is still in jail. Even in school, only the council families get special treatment. My brother has been trying to buy a house for months, and his file is just kept somewhere unattended. You, the council, and the so-called Alpha of this town are failures to the people you are meant to serve and protect." She spat every word with raw heat, her lungs heaving with massive, passionate drafts of air while her eyes burned straight into Chief Frost’s face.
"Looks like the Moon Wolf is becoming what it’s meant to be..."