[Stephanie's POV]
"Is that true, Steph?"
"It's true! Carl and Freya betrayed me!"
My voice sounded as normal as ever. It wasn't that I didn't hate them or wanted to forgive them. It's just that after I realized I had just developed chemistry with Arthur, I couldn't help but look at him, and all I could smell even in the air was fir.
"Triton!" My father's tone was low, a sign of his anger.
"Steph, you mean Carl cheat on you for Freya? Are you kidding?" Mr. Dodgson raised his black eyebrow and glanced at Freya, who had kept her head down and was kneeling beside the fainted Carl.
But I bet he was never surprised to learn that his baby boy was cheating on me. And after hearing Mr. Dodgson's response, Arthur's expression still didn't change much.
"I'm not kidding, Mr. Dodgson. Carl admitted it, too." I said.
"She is just an omega, born to please the pack members. My son uses her to delight himself, so what's wrong with that?" Mr. Dodgson yanked Freya up off the ground.
He pushed Freya toward Patrick, "Seriously, Patrick, if you're interested in her, I can lend her to you."
What did he say? Was he insane? My eyes widened as I watched Freya smile sweetly and wrap her arms around Patrick's neck. Her body was almost pressed against Patrick's chest.
Patrick frowned and pulled Freya away from his chest, "I'm not Carl. Don't touch me! We're not friends anymore!"
Freya shrugged and went back to kneeling beside Carl, who was still keeping his eyes closed. Her beautiful face had no expression like an emotionless doll.
Who was she? Was she the Freya who smiled like an angel every day? I suddenly realized I may never know about her and Carl as well as the Demon Forest Pack, where I had been there countless times in my past life.
"Although it sounds insane, I don't think there's anything wrong with your words."
I turned my head to Arthur, and not only me, but Patrick, our father, Mr. Dodgson, Freya all turned their astonished eyes to Arthur. Did those words really come out of his mouth just now?
He locked eyes with me. It could be my illusion. I felt a smile in his eyes, even though he didn't lift the corners of his mouth.
"Indeed! It is the omega's duty to please the pack. Your son has poor self-control and uses the omega to satisfy his desires. That also sounds reasonable. But the premise is, your sensible son isn't in a relationship." He walked to Mr. Dodgson, "What do you think, Triton?"
"In a relationship? Wait a minute, wait a minute, I'm confused." Triton reached out and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Steph, are you already 18 years old?"
"I just turned 17 today." I couldn't understand why he was asking that.
"What do you mean, Triton?" My father's fist had clenched, and Arthur's face had become serious.
"See? I have a pretty good memory. Steph hasn't turned 18 yet. That means no one knows if they are mates or not. So, I think we can't call this kind of children's game 'Relationship.' Otherwise, it's too serious and stressful for children."
At the moment Mr. Dodgson finished saying these words, I felt my attachment that had sprung up since 15 years old, and the affection I had given Carl from 16 to 17 years old, they were meaningless.
Carl was still pretending to be unconscious with a smile on his lips, which made me want to stomp on his face.
Now I'd learned about the Demon Forest Pack. They were just gonna get more and more annoying.
"How can you say something like that to trample on my daughter's feelings for your son? "
"Fucking your children's game!"
My father was more agitated and angry than I was, and so was Patrick.
They moved together towards Mr. Dodgson.
But before I said No, Arthur stopped both of their actions by seizing their arms.
"Eric, the Friendship Agreement between your two packs, is still in effect. If you attack first, that means you break the agreement. You and your pack members will be punished." Arthur reminded him calmly, his hand squeezing my father's arm as if it took a lot of strength to stop my father from rushing out.
The agreement between the packs was the equivalent of the laws of human society.
Breaking the agreement would result in trial and punishment from the kingdom's dominant pack, the Silver Moon Pack. I couldn't let my father, brother, and all the pack members be punished because of me.
"Dad, Patrick. Don't!" I ran up to them and shook my head at my two most cherished families. "Please let me end this on my own."
I didn't cry and get angry. I just showed my worry for them, which surprised them.
Arthur tapped my father on the shoulder, "Trust Steph!"
It was a very simple sentence. But it was enough for me to give Arthur a grateful smile back.
"Mr. Dodgson, I understand what you just said. But," I looked Mr. Dodgson straight in the eye and continued, " Carl confessed his love to me a year ago in front of all students and the teachers. Isn't that right, Mr. Cranston?"
I turned my head to Mr. Cranston. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his fat hand and carefully rolled his gray-blue eyes.
He looked at Arthur and then at his Alpha, Mr. Dodgson. It seemed he was struggling with whether to nod or not.
If he nodded, he would undoubtedly be admitting that Carl and I were in a relationship and denying Mr.Dodgson's words. If he shook his head, he wasn't sure Arthur, our Alpha King, would let him off the hook.
"Just tell the truth. Mr. Principal." Arthur says, arms folded across his chest.
"Uh~emm..."
"Okay, so let me ask it again in your pack-specific terms. Mr.Cranston, a year ago, Carl announced the start of the game between him and me in front of you and all the students. Is that correct?" I didn't mean to embarrass Mr. Cranston. I just needed him and the others to be witnesses.
"Yes! Indeed." Mr. Cranston immediately nodded his head, relieved.
"Very cool. now ...." I removed the poor-quality emerald necklace from my neck. I walked over to Freya and Carl, who was now lying with sweat staining his forehead.
"I, Stephanie Amber Woodville, hereby officially declare this ridiculous game over. From now on, I'm done with Carl Dodgson and Freya Wilton." I looked at the necklace bobbing in the air, and the silver butterflies seemed to be fluttering. I let go of my hand, and the butterfly fell straight down onto Carl's chest.
Carl still had his eyes tightly closed, probably because he didn't want to lose his face in front of those school teachers.
"And-" I resisted the urge to stomp on his face, took another deep breath, and continued to announce, "As the future alpha of the White Star Lake Pack, I hereby exercise my rights in advance. From now on, Mr. Carl Dodgson and Miss Freya Wilton are forever forbidden to enter the territory of the White Star Lake Pack."
Mr. Dodgson's eyes widened. This time I was sure that my decision had really shocked him.
"Steph, we need to have a talk."
The asshole finally responded. Probably because Arthur had choked him so hard, Carl's voice sounded like a broken radio.
"Plus ...." I stopped giving Carl any more attention and looked up into Mr. Dodgson's eyes, smiling, and said, "One step into White Star Lake Pack's territory by either of them is considered an active breach of the Friendship Agreement by the Demon Forest Pack."
"Eric, she's still a child. She can't exercise her alpha rights in advance." Mr. Dodgson became agitated.
This surprised me. After all, I had only banned Carl and Freya from my pack's territory, not the other members in his pack.
"Triton, this is just a new game for the kids. Exercising alpha's rights is too serious for them." My father gave his friend a smile. He just imitated what Mr.Dodgson said to me.
I love you, my smart dad.
"But your young daughter is not eligible to exercise alpha rights in advance. She does not have the approval from the dominant ...." Mr.Dodgson realized something and suddenly paused.
"Yes, she has." Arthur walked over to my side, "I'd approved."