Free Web NovelChapter 48: Chapter 48 Protection
Elara
I was just wrapping up my work when my phone rang with an unexpected call from an elementary school.
"Hello, are you Orion’s guardian?" a woman’s voice asked. "Orion got into a fight with another student. Could you possibly come to the school right now?"
I froze for a moment, asked about the classroom and school location, then rushed over immediately.
On the way, I tried calling Dominic, but he didn’t answer.
My first instinct was to call Alpha Hunter next, but then I stopped.
If the school had called me instead of his grandfather, it probably meant Orion didn’t want his grandfather involved.
I’d check what happened first and only call for help if I really needed to. freēwebnovel.com
When I arrived at the school, my heart hurt at the sight of Orion.
The normally happy boy stood with drooped shoulders, his little face had a red swollen mark at the corner of his mouth.
Even though we weren’t blood family, I became furious and wanted to protect him.
"What happened to cause these injuries?" I asked, keeping my voice controlled but firm.
"Aunt Elara, you came!" Orion immediately hid behind me, making the teacher’s face get tight.
"Please calm down," the teacher said with a fake smile. "Orion’s classmate was hurt worse, or I wouldn’t have called parents in. Let’s handle this nicely."
She looked toward a boy sitting in the corner of the room. She was right. His face had more marks than Orion’s.
Well, at least our little guy didn’t lose. My wolf felt proud, though I kept that to myself.
I changed my approach. "So what started this fight?"
The teacher shook her head. "In a fight, the person who hits first is wrong. The other boy’s parent will be here soon. Maybe you should have Orion say sorry?"
I didn’t like this teacher trying to blame us without getting the whole story.
I ignored the teacher and knelt down. I gently held Orion’s hand. "Orion, fighting is never the right thing to do, no matter why. But can you tell me and your teacher why you hit him?"
Orion looked upset and didn’t want to talk at first. Finally, with red eyes, he pointed at the other boy. "Aunt Elara, Ryan said I don’t have a mom! I told him I do have one, she’s just gone, but he kept laughing at me. I couldn’t stop myself."
My blood got hot. "There’s your answer," I told the teacher coldly.
"But kids make fun of each other all the time," she said. "That doesn’t make violence okay."
I stood up slowly, my wolf energy making the room feel heavy. The teacher actually stepped back.
"Let me understand this," I said, my voice dangerously calm. "This kid bullied Orion about his dead mother, kept going after Orion told him to stop, and you think Orion should say sorry?"
The teacher’s face turned red. "Well, I... violence isn’t right..."
"Neither is bullying a six year old about losing his mom," I shot back. "Where I come from, we teach kids to stand up to bullies, not let them walk all over you."
Ryan stuck out his tongue and made faces. "Fatty has no mommy! Nobody to teach you how to act, you little freak!"
"That’s enough!" I snapped. "Do you hear how your student is talking to my kid?"
The teacher suddenly looked nervous. "Please calm down." Then she put on a stern face to look good. "Ryan, remember what I taught you about being nice to classmates?"
Ryan turned away. "But he really doesn’t have a mom!"
I was about to respond when expensive shoes clicked on the floor. My eyes went up from shiny leather shoes to the cold face of their owner.
I hadn’t expected Zack to be the one representing Ryan.
Zack spoke to the teacher directly. "I’m Ryan’s uncle."
The teacher’s face got bright immediately.Of course it did.
Zack had always been the type to show off his wealth and status. The guy practically wore his importance like a neon sign.
"Uncle!" Ryan’s whole attitude changed instantly at the sight of Zack. His anger melted away, replaced by shaking lips and teary eyes.
"Uncle, Orion’s so mean! He hit me and it hurts so bad!" freewebnøvel.coɱ
Zack’s dark eyes finally turned to my face. "And you are?"
"I’m Orion’s aunt," I replied coolly.
Zack’s eyes got narrow.
I met his studying look evenly. "Your nephew made fun of my boy first. Orion fought back only after being bullied. If we’re deciding who’s wrong, your nephew started this."
"Hmm," Zack’s laugh was cold. "Elara, you’ve always been good with words."
"But hitting another child is still wrong. If you don’t want your kid suspended, he should say sorry to my nephew."
"And if I refuse?"
Zack’s face turned hard. "Elara, let’s talk outside."
Not wanting things to get worse in front of the children and teacher, I followed him into the hallway.
Once outside, he smiled coldly. "I can let this go, but you need to spend a day with me."
"Don’t worry, I won’t try anything. I just miss your cooking."
"Zack," I said coldly, "what makes you think I’d agree to that? First, I’m married now. Second, you should be the one saying sorry!"
"Elara," he leaned closer, his voice getting quiet. "Don’t you understand? The people with power make the rules. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong. If I say you’re wrong, then you’re wrong."
