Violet and Ariel stood in front of the glass table at the principal's office. They had their heads low. Through the reflection in the glass, Ariel could see their principal, Mr. Ken Wilson.
Ken was a man in his early fifties wearing a black shirt tucked in neatly in a pair of off-white trousers and an off-white blazer completed his look. His face was blazing with anger.
He banged his fists on the table causing both the girls to jump out of fear. Ken, who was standing beside the table, came to the front to have a closer look at the girls.
"This is Red Moon Academy and not some rowdy academy! How can you create a scene over here?!"
He took a pause before intensifying his tone, "What if some enemy comes to know what's going inside this academy?! He will feel we have a good, well-maintained image from outside, but from within we are weak as the pack members are fighting among themselves!"
Violet was trembling crazily whereas Ariel was calm and composed. It felt like she had been used to bullying, scolding, and all sorts of bad things.
Ken waved his hands as he went ahead, "If this were a fight among some other pack members, it would still have been okay, how can the two competitors for Luna's position fight like this?!"
Ariel was eased to hear those sharp words and thought, "Finally, someone recognizes me capable of becoming Luna!"
While Ariel was at ease, Violet was furious. She threw a nauseating look at Ariel from below and thought, "It's me and only me who deserves to become Luna of the Red Moon Pack!"
Ken blew out a long breath filled with frustration, "So, may I know the reason why you two she-wolves were fighting like rogues?!"
Ariel gaped at Violet from the corner of her eye. She had made up her mind that instead of staying quiet like she had been staying for so many years, she would speak for herself.
Before Violet would play her innocent card with that puppy face, Ariel said, "Sir, it's because of Violet. Violet and her bimbos called me a thief in front of everyone. She allegedly accused me of stealing the necklace!"
Despite being a principal who was supposed to be just and fair, Ken defied, "Don't forget Ariel! She is younger than you! Mistakes happen! I am sure she just blurted out of anger!"
Ariel tried to stand her ground, but Ken broke in, "She just called you a thief! What's the big issue with that?! It's wrong, I agree, but you could have approached Mrs. Powell or the student council members rather than brutally beating her, Ariel!"
Ariel opened her mouth and sighed. She thought, "How did you even expect that the management will be with you, Ariel when your parents are against you?!" She decided to keep her head low and not waste any further energy.
Ken grabbed a file from his desk and walked up to Mrs. Powell.
"Ma'am! I have got some work to do! What these two have done cannot be forgiven! We got to inform the former Alpha and Luna!" Mrs. Powell nodded and assured him.
"Yes, sir! I will handle that!" With that, all of them left the principal's office.
The two she-wolves were taken to the staff room which was empty signifying that the teachers were conducting lectures.
Mrs. Powell stood beside the telephone and dialed a phone number.
She gave the receiver to Violet and said curtly, "Whatever ruckus you two created had already been conveyed to your parents. Talk to your mom and dad!"
Mrs. Powell took her seat. Propping her elbows on the wooden table, she was staring at Violet who was using the phone.
It didn't even take a ring for the phone to be received and Violet closed her eyes for a second as she could hear her mom screaming. "How could you do this?!"
Violet couldn't believe that she was being scolded and was about to break into tears until she heard the words ahead.
"Ariel! Why did you beat your sister?! Shame on you!"
A cunning smile appeared on Violet's lips and she said softly, "Mom, it's me, Violet, and not Ariel!"
In a fleeting second, her mom's voice went low and she said, "Angel! I am so sorry, I thought it was Ariel! How are you, honey?! Are you okay?! Should I call the ambulance?!"
Violet shook her head and said sweetly, "No need, mom! I think I will be fine in the sick room!"
Her mom said, "If you feel you need something or someone, just ask Mrs. Powell and she will let me know, and now give the phone to Ariel!"
Violet smirked, "You are so sweet, mom! Wait, I will give the phone to Ariel!"
Violet made a nauseating expression as she handed over the receiver to her sister and took a step back. Ariel grabbed it firmly and sighed. That sigh was her way to prepare herself to endure the venomous words from her mother.
She placed the receiver on her ear and said in a tired tone, "Yes mom!"
Her low tone was met with a bark aimed at her. "Don't call me, mom! For you, it's just Your Highness!"
Ariel chuckled in dismay and said, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Her mom screamed at her, "How dare you beat your sister?!"
Ariel muffled a sad laugh before saying, "Your Highness! I don't see any point in discussing that because no matter what the truth is I will be a culprit according to you!"
She took a one-second pause before continuing, "So, why not talk about things that can be discussed?! I am your daughter, your Highness, yet I am being treated like omegas!"
Hearing her last words made Ariel teary and her pleasant voice started breaking, "Why your Highness?! Why am I asked to do kitchen chores instead of going to the library?! I don't hold any grudges against my kitchen duty. I have been happily doing since 11, but along with that why am I not being prepared to become Luna?!"
She gulped down, "Why are you depriving me of my right to become Luna?!"
Ariel's emotional questions were met with a cold and curt reply, "Because you broke one rule!"
Ariel was shocked and she said immediately, "Nope! Not possible! I didn't break any rule or regulation!" She wiped off the tears running down her cheeks.
She could hear her mom's stern voice, "Didn't you call your real parents when you were 11?! I did ask you to stay away from your parents, to stay away from your past yet you dared to go against my words!!"
Ariel was thunderstruck. Her eyes went wide and she said shockingly, "Is that even considered breaking a rule?! It's not even a mistake! I don't see anything wrong in calling my parents who gave birth to me!"
She licked her lips trying to get a hold of her tears but failed miserably. "Your Highness! I was hungry for love and I am still hungry for love. You didn't love me back then and that was why I called my real mother in search of love!"
For a change, Ariel could not hear her mother's bitter words, but a dark chuckle.
"Really! You are saying we don't love you?! You were neglected by your parents! We took pity on you and admitted you to our prestigious pack! We provided you with all the facilities just like we did to Violet!"
Ariel smiled in dismay, "I wish you would have done that! But you didn't! All your life you loved Violet and I was just a burden on your shoulders!"
Ariel screamed her heart out, "You gave all the facilities except for love to me, your Highness!"
Her scream was met with a louder scream, "How can you expect us to love you when your very own parents don't love you? You should be grateful that we gave you shelter!"
Ariel was completely shattered on hearing her heartless mother!
She sobbed when she heard the next set of heart-wrenching words from her mother, "If this is how ungrateful you are! If this is how you continue to behave, I will have to kick you out of Luna's race!!"
Ariel sobbed, "Mom! Mom!" Her voice didn't get through as the former Luna disconnected the call.
Ariel kept the mouthpiece and with a heavy heart walked outside. She glanced at Violet who was smirking darkly at her.
Both of them were taken back to the principal's office by Mrs. Powell. The principal was seated unlike standing furiously when they entered the first time.
After positioning both of them in front of the desk, Mrs. Powell stood next to the principal. Ken cleared his throat and said looking at both the she-wolves occasionally.
He tapped the desk before telling, "So, I did think about this fight and I have come up with the decision!"