Hate Me
| Avalon |
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She waited for a response, and she got a decent earful. Which was expected from him as usual. Her ears flattened the more he spoke, and truthfully, she wasn't entirely sure how to react. But react she did. “It is my assumption, just as it was yours. You spoke with Katja and what he did was in the past in an entirely different pack. He has done nothing to betray us. That is what you don't understand.” She'd spoken to Bass about this already, and while it was true that Vereux had a history, who didn't? That was why she didn't give him the rank of secondary. But before she could comment on that, he said she'd lost. Well no shit. “Obviously. A blind wolf could see that!” She growled. Then he told her he'd spoken with Mercy before finding Katja, that he couldn't talk to her, his own mother. Her hackles lifted once again. “You claim this yet not once did you even try to talk to me about how you felt! Instead, you ran off to whine to someone else!” How was she supposed to understand anything when they didn't tell anything until moments like this? It was frustrating beyond belief. And the more he talked, the more the mother and Alpha began to clash inside once more.
“Why do you think I didn't give him the position of secondary? Why do you think I haven't forced you to like him? All I've asked is for you to try, and you still refuse.” Her voice grew deathly calm again. And this time, she would not lose it. “If one's past defines them. Then I'll leave your past to define you. This meeting here will be in the past tomorrow, and it will follow you.” That, she would make sure. But not now, she would wait. Then the boy went on to his brothers, blatantly insulting them and claiming they'd be horrible at it. She narrowed her eyes, teeth baring. So, it seemed he wasn't as family oriented as she had once thought. “At least they were loyal to their family. While you decided to stay in Imperium until it fell! I believe your brothers would do a much better job, and do more with the title. You make little effort to get to know the other members. Being the heir isn't all business and professionalism, Lykos. It wasn't a title given to you to force you to grow up.”
But for whatever reason, he seemed to think that. “Perhaps your brothers aren't jealous, but angry because I gave you -- the one who stayed behind -- the title of heir instead of one of them, who have been loyal since the beginning of Ivalice. But instead, I chose to give an arrogant boy the rank. And you obviously weren't ready for it.”
Everything that he was saying hurt her to no end. And whether or not her words even fazed him was beyond her. He had put up that guard again, the one that she despised to no end. It was the same shit his father did before he up and left. And now, here stood her son...following that same path. Then he brought up that he wished Imperium hadn't fallen. “Nor I.” Truly, she respected Valentine. And even now still sought him out for advice once in awhile. He'd ask her then, how he'd broken her trust. But before she could find an answer, he spewed question after question, even going as far as saying he would follow such a wolf. And then...insults. At least, to her it sounded very much like insults. She froze up then. Everything beginning to lock itself down. So...he thought she simply went for the first wolf she saw? Thought she didn't use her brain? Her entire demeanor switched from hurt to an icy anger. Her emotions completely unreadable now. Her gaze was cold. Stony.
“So, that's what you think.” She stood there, unmoving as she stared down at him. “You think I am some stupid whore? Because that is what I heard. I did not simply go after the first male I saw. Your father and I had known each other for quite a long time before you were born, and just like you, I apparently didn't know either of you well enough. It's clear who you take after.” She spoke in such a calm manner, it frightened her. Never before had she managed to tame her emotions like this before, but here it was. “And Vereux, I'd known him for a time before you were born as well. So you're assumptions of me are wrong. But it doesn't matter now, it's obvious where you stand.” Her mind began to tick, the gears turning as he spoke again, and even when he responded to her question about respect, she didn't care anymore. He'd completely broken her heart. It was Newol all over again. She hadn't been able to forgive him, even now. But what about Lykos? He wasn't what she thought he was. He made her feel like she failed time, and time, and time again. Maybe he was the cursed child. The one that would tear her heart up. “If all of this is truly how you feel, then so be it.”
And then, the alphess in her kicked in. She could not trust him anymore. He had shown his true colors. He didn't trust her one bit to talk to her, except for when it came to Vereux. But not once did he ever come to her to talk about what was on his mind. No. He confided in a bitch that was completely disrespectful. And while Avalon was not the kind of Alpha that Valentine had been, perhaps that would change today. That was how she felt. But she would not voice it. If it was truly what he'd thought, fine. The only thing good that had come from Newol were her sons. And even now, even as her gaze locked on this one, despite how hurt and broken she was feeling...she couldn't say that she regretted the day he was born. Because she knew that no matter what, as a mother, she'd always love him. And that was where the conflict began.
“I've always tried to give you the best life that I could. But since that wasn't enough for you, since this family means nothing to you...then I guess I have no choice but to act as an alpha.” Not once did her voice slip. Not once did her demeanor change. She kept the unreadable expression. It was foreign to her, something that was not a part of her at all. She felt like a stranger to herself. This...this wasn't her. But circumstances had brought her to a point she never even thought she would be capable of reaching. She had always been so reasonable, understanding, forgiving, and many other things. But this...this had broken her beyond repair. “Perhaps I'll never be the kind of alpha you want to follow. Which in turn, leads me to believe you are not the loyal type. As such, I strip you of the rank of Heir.” Step one. If she couldn't trust him, then neither could the clan. She couldn't have someone she felt was disloyal in a position like that. Who knew what kinds of things someone like that would try to do…”While I am not Valentine, nor do I wish to be...I will not simply let someone act as they do. Even if it's my own child. Therefore, you are demoted to Insubordinate. Hate me you may, but it is my duty as an alpha to punish those who show clear disloyalty and disrespect.” Step two...gain a bit of control, at least. He had plenty of freedom before, and for whatever reason, he had felt like she had confined him. Now though, his freedom was slightly restricted. He'd have more duties, and would not be allowed to leave pack lands without an escort. And while she may not be the kind of leader he would willingly follow. Now, he had no choice. Perhaps, this would show him that she was more than he thought she was.
She cared not what he had to say after this. And she was very much ready to end this conversation and find Vereux. Her wound had stopped bleeding, but the exhaustion had begun to take its toll. And still, she refused to show it. He could argue all he wanted. But he'd proven where he stood. She wouldn't hold him there forever. But perhaps enough for a little life lesson. It would be a temporary sentence, his behavior would potentially determine how long, and while she debated telling him that, she wouldn't right now. Who knew if he'd try to take advantage of that and put on an act. So right now, she was stone cold. She was the one in charge. But later, little did she know this event would break her down. |
