Dhampir Queen

Commencement Ceremony

It was less than an hour later when Phoebe and the rest of the class were in the Celebration Hall for the Graduation from schooling, and all of them were surprised that she was the first in line. Unlike the tournament, this signified she had achieved the highest grades and earned the most credits of any other student, and the ribbons and cords adorning her gown showed just how many achievements she had earned. She was only missing 3 of them, as they were honors that went to the highest ranked student of skills that were helpful for the Pack but were cooking, tailoring, and crafting. She had focused on combat, tactics and all the other skills that would be needed by a Warrior.

Jackson was pissed when he discovered that he only got achievements for completing the advanced courses, but none for highest honor in any of them. The Alpha saw this, and was shocked because despite it being the school for his Pack, the Wolf Council controlled the grading and scoring of all the schools. There was nothing he could do or say as the top 5 students were lead up onto the stage for the Commencement Ceremony, and the Chief Evaluator stepped up to the microphone.

"Welcome graduates and their families, we gather here for another Commencement Ceremony, celebrating the coming of age of these Wolves before us. They have worked hard for their achievements, and today we honor them." he said before a round of applause erupted from the families and graduates.

Phoebe listened as the third and second ranked students gave their speeches thanking their friends, family and loved ones. It was making her gag thinking about how much she had done, despite the handicap that her family was to her own education. Hers was the last speech, and she didn't have to be alerted to it like the other two had been.

"Welcome to the first day of the rest of our lives, as one door closes behind what we have done, and another opens to the future that now beckons us forward. We have thanked our friends, families and loved ones for the help they have given us, so I will not be doing that again. No matter how much help they were to all of you, my experience has shown that our teachers who have shared their knowledge with us have been more help than they have. So let us thank them as we have everyone else, and show them how much we appreciate what they have done for us." she said as she licked eyes with her father and mother who were angry with what she had said. She hadn't come right out and said it, but she had strongly hinted that her family had done nothing to help her in her achievements.

"The last people we need to thank, are ourselves. The achievements we have worked so hard for, are ours alone. No matter how much help we had to get to where we are, we could not have managed our accomplishments without our own hard work and sacrifice. So one last round of applause, for the graduates of the Dark Moon Class of 2257." she said as the largest cheer of all came from the graduates before Phoebe turned from the microphone and took her seat once again before Alpha James stepped up to the microphone and began giving out his own awards to the top ranking Warriors from each class.

She watched as nearly a dozen people were honored with a position of some sort in the Pack hierarchy, his son also being named Future Alpha of the Pack and given the appropriate ring as well.

"The last naming, is that of Phoebe Jones. The winner of the Assessment Tpurnament today." he said as Phoebe looked at him and than her parents before she smiled and her mothers eyes went wide. "As the top ranked in each of the events this morning, it is my honor to extend an invitation to her to join the Pack Leadership program." he said as she smiled.

"Thank you Alpha James, but I refuse." she said making everyone gasp as his eyes went wide and his mouth fell open slightly.

"Ms. Jones, your Pack asks that you serve us this way. There is no calling above leading others, and you have shown through your hard work that you are the best candidate this year." Alpha James said into the microphone.

"All due respect Alpha, but this has not been, nor will it ever be my Pack. Again I refuse." Phoebe said without the barest hint of sarcasm. She was dead serious about not joining the leadership, and the gasp from the Pack members as she had said it into the microphone as well was heard by them all. "If you excuse me, I will be taking my leave from this Pack for now and all time. I, Phoebe Jones, unranked of the Dark Moon Pack hereby reject any further association with it, or its leader Alpha James. May you reap what you have sown 100 times over." she said before turning and running off the stage.

She didn't stop as nearly all of the Pack was stunned what she had just done so publicly, that none of them knew how to react before her father tried to follow after her. He however never realized exactly how fast she was, as even during the assessment she had held back a little. Within 2 minutes the border patrol was linking all of the warriors that something had just run past one of them, heading out of the territory as Alpha James was finally recovering from the shock of it.

Because she was under 18 and an unsworn member of the Pack, he had been the only one to feel her leave the Pack link, even though she couldn't utilize it because her joining ceremony had never happened when she turned 13.

"What should we do dear? How come the Pack didn't feel it when she rejected us?" Luna Jane asked as he looked at her mother and realized exactly what the issue was as her mother was the only other one to feel what she had done.

"There is nothing we can do, she was not officially a member of the Pack, and has every right to leave if that is her choice." he said. Monica Jones, you will bring your husband to my office immediately! This ceremony is finished!" he ordered before marching from the stage and going to the Pack house."

It took over an hour for Andrew Jones to return to the Pack House where Monica and Alpha James had summoned them, and knew that they were likely both in deep s**t as they walked into his office.

"Why was her joining ceremony never performed?!" he demanded as soon as the door shut behind them.

"Alpha, we held joining ceremonies for all of our children." Andrew Jones replied honestly.

James laughed as he picked up his glass of bourbon and drank some of it. "Than explain how you and the rest of the Pack excluding myself and your wife felt the bond between your daughter and the Pack break!" he yelled at Andrew as Monica fell into the chair behind her.

"It was an oversight Alpha, that should have never occurred." Monica said as she realized what her own actions have done to her daughter.

"That b***h is no daughter of mine, and it was no oversight Alpha. She had no place among us, and the only regret I have is how she seperated herself from us." Andrew said as James threw the glass of alcohol and hit him in the head with it. The shattering glass cut his face before the alcohol began burning the wound, which would significantly slow the healing process.

"You swore to me that her conception would not taint hiw she was raised in your home, and now you come here with this. Andrew Jones, for lying to the Alpha of the Pack, and mistreatment of a Pack member, you are hereby stripped of all titles and ranks, and made Omega. Never again will you hold a position of honor in this Pack, and you will spend the next 30 days in the cells. Monica Jones, for mistreatment of a Pack member, you shall be flogged 10 times in the town square at noon tomorrow. Get out of my sight." James ordered as his Beta entered and placed Andrew in cuffs while Monica sobbed again as she stood and followed them out.