CHAPTER 95: THE PRICE OF LOYALTY...

Rhett

Vale took a deep breath before continuing.

"Snow rogues attacked three students in the campus area at the early hours of yesterday morning. Two died on the spot, and the third was lucky to survive as Kael Winters saved him. The student was rushed to the hospital and the doctors are doing their best ot keep him alive. So far, we’ve lost three students from these snow rogue attacks."

She paused again.

"Because of that, all school activities have been paused until we come up with a better solution."

"A better solution?" Luna Alice scoffed from across the table. "You’re still trying to come up with solutions when four students are already dead?"

"Three," Vale protested. "One of the students is in the hospital..."

"I was there before I came down to this meeting," Luna Alice interrupted her. "And the doctors are saying it’s a 50/50 survival. Why is the board just learning about these snow rogues? From what I’ve gathered, they’ve been a problem for quite some time."

Vale nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but we thought we could handle it internally. We requested Elite Warriors from the palace, which the Alpha King graciously provided, but they were pulled two weeks ago."

"They were pulled because we have better uses for Elite Warriors than protecting a school," Luna Helene interjected. "This is below their expertise, and I sent you an email stating we would provide regular warriors instead..."

"That was two weeks ago, Luna Helene," Vale responded tersely. "Our Sentinels are trained to handle small disputes, not Snow Rogues. Now we’re using students for patrol duty, and I don’t like this any more than any of you. These children are like my own—"

"They’re not your children," Luna Alice cut in coldly, glaring at Vale as if they had some unspoken grudge. "You’ve never been a mother, Vale. Don’t pretend you understand what it feels like to fear losing a child."

"That’s enough, ladies," Alpha Marlowe finally interjected.

He was a smallish man with shrewd eyes who preferred practical solutions to emotional arguments. "If we spend all day arguing about what should or shouldn’t have been done, we’ll accomplish nothing. Vale, do you have a solution to this problem?"

Vale took a deep breath and turned to address him directly. "Yes, Alpha. First, we need proper funding. Earlier this year, I expressed concerns about our budget being drastically reduced..."

"Don’t tell me you’re still complaining about that ridiculous budget request of over a billion dollars," Luna Helene fired back. "What exactly are you running here? That’s nearly what we use to run the entire country, and Ravenshore doesn’t generate any income."

"It wasn’t my idea to make the school tuition-free, Luna," Vale retorted, not trying to hide her frustration. "When I suggested charging tuition and boarding fees to help cover pressing needs, the board refused."

"We refused because it would defeat the purpose for which my grandfather founded Ravenshore," I said suddenly, causing the entire room to fall silent as everyone turned to me.

I leaned forward in my chair. "That’s why we agreed that every pack in our world would take turns servicing the school’s needs, whether or not their children attend here."

"Alpha Rhett, it seems you didn’t receive my memo from three months ago," Vale said, turning to me. "Packs are no longer fulfilling their duties. Night Moon Pack," she gestured toward Alpha Marlowe, "has yet to send their food allocation. Even Stormrock, whose responsibility it is to provide new school uniforms, only sent half the required funding. Many packs haven’t sent their allocations at all, and I cannot run this school on good intentions alone."

"I think you’re wasteful, Vale," Alpha Whitmore from Red Moon Pack suddenly interjected. "We keep telling you to work directly with manufacturers to reduce costs, but you ignore our suggestions. We have our own packs to run and fund."

"I didn’t create these rules," Vale exploded, causing everyone to stare at her. She took a deep breath, massaging her temples. "You all did. You claimed you wanted the best for your children, and that’s what I’m trying to provide. I haven’t been paid in nearly four months. Teacher salaries were delayed this month... Why can’t you all just admit the truth? You can no longer afford to support Ravenshore, and that’s fine."

"Fine?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Yes," Vale nodded, turning to me. "Alpha Rhett, Ravenspire is the only pack that has consistently paid its allocation, not to mention the huge debt your father has forgiven. Everyone else is focused on the quality of life of their own pack members. So what if we open the school to outside investment?"

The room went completely still.

"By outside investment, you mean—?" I asked finally

"Private investors," she replied.

"We cannot do that, Headmistress Vale," I shook my head. "Ravenshore is an educational institution, not an investment opportunity. Investors would expect returns we cannot provide."

"But profit isn’t always about money," Vale said quietly, walking around the table to approach me. "We could share resources with investors. You may not realise this, but aside from Ravenshore being the top school in our world, it’s ranked second-best internationally among all schools. Hundreds of people—humans, other supernatural creatures, vampires, fae—have approached me with offers, willing to pay anything for their children to attend Ravenshore. Some want access to our resources, others want business affiliations that could open doors for everyone."

She turned to the projector and switched it on, showing her email inbox on the screen. She began scrolling through dozens of messages.

"Look at all these emails with lucrative proposals. I get these offers every single day. This school is a goldmine of reputation and opportunity."

"Opportunity for who?" Luna Helene said slowly. "Vale, I think age is affecting your judgment. You want our children mingling with vampires? You’re mad."

"Your son already studies here, he hasn’t shown up for one single lesson since he was admitted..."

"And I regret it every day," Helene snapped before turning to address the rest of the table. "I know we signed a peace treaty with Vampires, but that doesn’t mean I want my child associating closely with creatures so different from us. We don’t even encourage extensive interactions with Lycans, who are more closely related to us, and yet you want my son or daughter socialising with fae, witches, and foxes? You’ve lost your mind, Vale, and I think it’s time we removed you from your position."

"I second that motion," Luna Alice said with relish. "It’s high time we let someone who has a grasp on our expectations and is willing to fulfil them."

I raised my hand, and everyone stopped talking immediately.

"That’s enough, everyone," I said quietly, staring at all their faces. "We’re not removing Headmistress Vale, and we will consider her proposal unless someone else has an alternative suggestion or is ready to offset some bills, which, once again, my father has agreed to take care of."

Everyone went silent, lowering their gazes.

I turned to Headmistress Vale, who had a triumphant look on her face.

"I agree with you that we should allow Ravenshore access to external funding, but we won’t just take anyone with money. Compile a list of offers and their long-term benefits, and send it to me. I would run it through with the audit team and, of course, my father before we make a decision."

"Of course, Alpha Rhett," Vale nodded, pleased. "I’ll get it across to you by Monday."

Then she walked back to her seat.

"Any other concern?" I asked, scanning their faces. "Regarding the security situation, it’s all under control. Hundred Ravenspire warriors were deployed to the school last night, and we’re rebuilding every dilapidated security fence that was breached. For now, school activities would not resume until we’re sure all our defences are intact."

"When are you going to stop using my son as your security pillar?" Alpha Winters asked quietly.

He was a tall man with intelligent eyes and one of the few Alphas I admired. He rarely spoke in meetings. Sometimes, I think Kael was more his father than his father.

"I’m sorry, Alpha Winters, but having Kael on the security team cannot be helped. Not only is he a good fighter, he’s the only one who can go head to head with snow rogues and defeat them, but with warriors getting deployed with another batch arriving tonight, we would no longer require his services."

"How about Ebonvale?" Luna Helene asked. "We know they rarely experience these attacks, but I’m beginning to worry. Are there safety measures being implemented to catch that?"

"Yes, Luna Helene," I nodded. "Before any of these attacks, Ebonvale already had warriors from our pack on their campus. You don’t need to worry. Any other concern?" I asked, scanning their faces again.

No one said anything.

"Great! Then the meeting is over. We’ll meet again when I have the updates on the external investing thing."

Without waiting for any response, I was already moving to the door; the escorts from my pack house were here.