Chapter 269

I felt the wind knocked out of me with those words. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” I turned my full attention to the newscaster, and I saw the hint of surprise. She thought I already knew. Then it was like there was blood in the water and these anchors were sharks. I was surrounded, and everyone was shouting at me.

“How do you feel about your father being branded as a traitor years after his death?”

“How did you not know that your father was working with the rogues?”

“Were you a part of the circle of traitors?”

“Have you not seen today’s news?”

Then there was a commotion and one newscaster pushed through – a smaller wolf who had a glint in her eyes. “Alpha Amy.” She was also the only one to use my rank, and instinctively, my attention shifted to her. “While the new reports that went out today have branded your father as a traitor, my investigation has uncovered multiple documents labeling him as a scapegoat.”

A hush fell over the surrounding crowd. “What is your opinion of your late father’s legacy?”

Everyone turned back to me, and I felt a tear tremble at my lashes. I leaned in to her and smiled. “Thank you for taking the time to actually uncover the truth about him.” I took a deep breath as I felt a hand slide into mine. “My father, Gavin Maclean, was about as far from a traitor as you can get. He supported this kingdom, and our king, until his last breath. He not only donated billions of dollars to ensure our kingdom thrived, but also so our children had a place to live and learn without worrying about how they could afford it. Many of you don’t know that right before he died, my father created a fund to donate to this very school every year, like clockwork. He has supported your children every year so that they could learn free and clear since the lockdown went into effect. He made sure we ate and slept in peace so our entire focus could be on our studies, so we could succeed. My father was an amazing man. He was an amazing father, but most of all, he was an amazing alpha.”

Toya leaned to the microphones, and everyone shifted. “Alpha Gavin was one of the most generous wolves out there. He sent his warriors to support the small packs that had just relocated to his area when the rogues were targeting them. He saved my family and gave me more time with them. That isn’t the work of a traitor, that is the work of a wolf that would do anything for another.” She turned to me. “Gavin Maclean was the most loyal wolf, and whoever started this smear campaign on a dead man who has no way of standing up for himself is obviously trying to redirect you all from the truth.” She turned back to the cameras. “I invite you all to dig more into it, like she did.” She nodded at the last reporter, who was smiling. “Now we are graduating. This is not the day to bring up this bullshit.” She released her aura. “Move out of the way. Now.”

The reporters all separated, and we made our way inside. But I could hear the whispers of everyone there. They all painted my family, my father, as traitors. I felt my anger rising, minute by minute.

“I’m going to kill them.” I snapped my head to Hanna, soft-spoken, sweet Hanna.

“What’s wrong?” I turned to her, and she had this wild glint in her eyes.

“What’s wrong? Are you being stupid? They are all whispering about your father like he really was a traitor.” She was pissed, but I could see the unfinished thought in her mind: 'We all know he is not a traitor. He’s working with the king directly.' But no one knew he was still alive.

I gave her a smile and pulled her to me. Nix pushed forward, as she had started to do a few months ago, when one of them got too angry. “Calm little wolf. Give me your anger.” Nix and Megan used their abilities and my magic to pull Hanna’s anger from her wolf. It keeps her from shifting, and calmed the situation. “You cannot shift today and ruin your dress.”

Hanna met my eyes with tears in hers. “They can’t do this to you.” Her whisper was angry, but now held more sadness.

“It’s okay. We will figure this all out later. But today, we will graduate.” I smiled. “You have to get used to your new rank, and the aggression that comes with it, or else you’re going to be back to when you first shifted and had no control.” She nodded and took a deep breath.

“I’m okay now.” She smiled, and then we turned back to the crowded room.

“Good, let’s go find our seats.” We wove through the crowd. Megan and Nix were both doing their best to comfort me as the whispers continued.

Brandon seemed to enjoy the whispers. Every time a new one happened, he puffed up a little and sent a knowing look my way. And I knew this was at least a part of why he was so sure I would agree to his proposal.

I was being backed into a corner.