Disclaimer: I do not own or have rights to any of the series or characters of Wolf Lake.
Author's note: I realize there probably isn't much traffic through this room anymore but if you are reading this I would be grateful for any constructive criticism. Also,Life is Hectic so I will update when I can, but the goal is every one to two weeks.
Ruby Cate's POV
Making money as the Alpha's daughter was a very limited set of opportunities. Safety concerns, political concerns, and practicality left primarily babysitting, clerical work at the local construction and remodeling firm, or working for her Dad and the step-monster. The local builder's son, who was ten years older than her and her sister could not tell them apart and had blatantly been trying to curry favor with the Alpha. Working with/for Dad would be OK if not for the fact that Vivian couldn't keep her comments about the twins mom to herself. Dad would gladly give them money for stuff they needed and would gladly fork over cash if he knew where, when and with whom the girls would be out, but telling them everything lacked the appeal of independent decisions. So, babysitting was the way the twins decided to go. Their client list was chosen with care and consideration for the aforementioned safety, political, and practical concerns. No human families, no one angling for power, and no kids who needed muzzles or catch poles to behave were considered. Of the clients Ruby and Amanda had Sophia was a favorite.
The daughter of the sheriff, was a half-breed, but what distinguished her from her Wolven classmates in Ruby and Amanda's eyes was her attitude and intellectual ability. Despite not wanting his daughter to flip, the sheriff had raised Sophia with an eye to the fact that she would be growing up amongst them. Where her full blooded neighbors were brash and over-confident due to their 'blood rights' often stumbling into and out situations with little thought, Sophia was deliberate in her actions and choices. She was not aggressive in her presence, but rather steady and calm. Ruby would never forget arriving to pick up Sophia and Lucas from the first week of school to find Mrs. Kettleburr berating the two and trying to dominate them with size, age, and a hint of other. Luke had gotten into a scuffle with Anthony because he had tried to push Sophia into the road. Anthony had gotten a broken nose from Luke as well as a reminder that the Alpha had initiated a paws off policy. Mrs. Kettleburr had been furious that someone laid hands on her son over an ungulate and did not care if it was the Alpha's son. As Luke started getting angry and stepping toward the woman, Sophia calmly stepped between them and politely pointed out that her growling at them was not going to do her or her son, Anthony, any good. Anthony knew better than to start pack arguments at school and any embarrassment arising from being put in his place would be well serving reminders that the Alpha was the one who decided Sophia was to be treated like clan. She then pointed out that no matter what opinions he heard at home, he did not supersede the Alpha. Unless there had been a challenge issued and won that was as yet unknown to the pack? After all calling the Alpha's actions moronic, weak, and faint-hearted seemed a bit premature if one wasn't replacing him. When Mrs. Kettleburr then wanted the school to deal with matter of violence on the school grounds, Sophia rattled off her father's work number. Sweetly explaining that the violence was first perpetrated on her, so therefore, her father would of course need to be girl had called out the Kettleburr's for their actions in front of all of the Alpha's children, 3 teachers and the principal (all pack), and 12 other pups and managed to do it in a way that made retaliating political and social suicide.
Ruby and Amanda had then and there begun asking about Luke and Sophia's school day on the way back to the Cate's house with the intent to monitor for trouble. This idea was endorsed by the adults of the household who knew that children were more likely to hear parents espousing undesirable ideas and less likely to worry about them getting out. Several times when walking Sophia home on the days Luke had pack-based activities, Ruby and her sister had noted that while actual attempts and violence toward Sophia had ceased that day derision and contempt still occurred. When mentioned at family dinner, Luke stated that they didn't do it around him, and V (Ruby refused to call her Mom) stated that Luke needed to be careful not to appear to take Sophia's side over that of the pack. Dad had stated that while Sophia needed to be able to defend herself when they were not around, Luke was right in his responsibility toward weaker pack members. It was an Alpha's job to protect them. Luke then preceded to regale the dinner table with a story about Sophia facing off against a girl named Cleo in defense of Sarah. Both girls were Wolven by bloodline, but Cleo was the niece of Malachi, and that family was prone toward bullying and violence. Malachi wanted to be the next Alpha and kept his nose to wind to sense shifts in it. Apparently Sophia had manage to confuse Cleo so badly about the insults she was trying to use that the girl complained to the teacher about Sophia making her feel bad.
All of these things added up to the twins having the impression that Sophia was very intelligent and had the requisite mental and social skills to survive growing up among the pack. So when Ruby walked over to the Elementary school on a beautiful day in October and saw Luke red and shaking with anger and Sophia looking exasperated and annoyed her first thought was that someone overstepped again. She had not prepared for bout of gender warfare.
"You have to do it my way Sophia! I am the Alpha's son, and the girls always do it how the boys say. Girls aren't allowed to be in charge, it isn't the way of the pack!" ground out Luke.
"It is a school project on weather, not a pack tribunal. And besides, girls can lead just as well as boys!" threw back Sophia.
"Hey guys! What is going on?" gauged Ruby. She tried to puzzle out the cause while looking between the two.
"Luke wants me to dress up funny and point to things and let him do all the talking on out project due next week. He says that it has to be like that because girls are not supposed to be in charge." Sophia sneered. " Just you wait Luke. I don't even need to argue this one. You will change your mind."
"Sophia, if you don't do what the guys say you could get hurt. The guys are in charge, you need to learn this stuff. Ruby, you need to explain to her that she needs to know this stuff!" Luke insisted.
"Luke," Ruby hesitantly started. "Luke it doesn't always work like that. I don't always do what the guys want and neither do some of the other women."
"Yeah, but Ruby, Dad loves you! Sophia if there isn't a wolf who will step in when you make a guy mad you can get hurt. The guys are better fighters, they don't hold back when they get angry. Randy's dad got mad at Randy's mom yesterday and she is home healing today. You aren't gonna heal that well and it is better that you get used to it now." Ruby watched Luke start to march off down the road.
"If he keeps getting all worked up over everything, he is going to get an ulcer," murmured Sophia. "I know he is trying to protect everyone but he really needs to make sure people can live day to day without him. He is trying to do the job like your dad. He was worried all day because Randy thinks his mom should have gone to the doctor. Rand's dad was mean and grabbed one of the girls by the arm and left a bruise. He left when the teacher started coming over but told the girls they would get hurt if they complained. Randy says his mom didn't do anything wrong, that his dad just freaked because his mom just got a promotion where she works and his dad got pissed."
Ruby and Sophia trailed after him. Ruby quietly contemplated the argument between the two young ones and as they were nearing the end of the walk looked pensively at the sweet and caring girl next to her.
"Sophia, far be it from me to preach blind obedience, that would be hypocritical and completely useless as neither of us is capable of it. But there is some truth to what Luke says. There are males in the pack who cannot abide women having brains, opinions, or backbones. You do need to be careful," Ruby cautioned. "Luke cares about you and that means that, sometimes, he will do stupid stuff. Nothing makes guys act dumber than girls and vice versa."
As they went into the house they came upon Luke beseeching the Alpha and Vivian to help him make Sophia understand. He was trying to get his Dad to order her to obey.
Willard Cates's POV
"LUKE!" Sophia yelled, "There is NO reason I should have to obey you in this. You want me to dress funny like that Air head on channel 5, while you sound smart and in charge! You only want that because Randy's dad threatened the girls today and because he told the boys that real men don't ever listen to girls. Well, Randy's Dad is a bully with saw dust for brains. You know that girls can be in charge of stuff and have good ideas. You know you sometimes have to listen to girls."
"No, I don't have to listen," Luke said. "And that air head is Mr. Sumner's and Mr. Colchek's favorite part of the news! That is two out of the three judges! It was a great idea!" Luke insisted.
"Whoa! Easy there guys, lets start at the beginning." Willard slowly began to piece together the day as the two kids went back and forth like a tennis match relaying the earlier events. He kept his voice calm and even as he asked questions here and there and clarified details. He glanced at Vivian and noted the flare of her nostrils, shine in her eyes and set of her jaw. Upon gathering all the necessary information he leaned forward in his chair and looked at the kids, thanked them for the information and carefully considered his words.
"Well, kids, here is the thing. In the pack the men are leaders overall because the position is one won by might usually. That is not to say that females are inferior or have less to contribute than the males. It is just that when it comes to enforcing a decision, it is done with tooth and claw or fists. Now Luke, you have a few good points, Sophia is vulnerable to the kind of males who are insecure enough to blame the females around them for their lesser stature and abilities and playing to the judges preferences can be a good plan. But, being a real man means understanding the views of others and taking them into account when it comes time to make a decision. Personally, I don't think having Sophia in that outfit from the news will have the same effect as the girl on the news, and if it does there will be a very serious discussion between the Sheriff, those teachers, and myself." He paused to narrow his eyes at his teenage daughter who had started to snigger.
"Sophia, perhaps voicing your objections in a way that is less confrontational manner would be safer. While ensuring that the human kids were not involved is a good thing, you need to be sure not to single yourself out as a target. Give them time to adjust, then let the others help. Would your father snap at a suspect like that? As for the issue of listening to women, careful son, you live surrounded by women a smart man listens to everything they say and does his best to accommodate while maintaining his authority. Otherwise, he eats nothing but vegetables for dinner and sleeps on a couch. Now I have some business to take care of, I'll be back for dinner."
"Luke," Vivian spoke with a voice like velvet covered steel, "go to your room and wash up."
"Yes mom," Luke replied as he shuffled out.
Willard closed himself in his office and then called Randy's uncles, Sherman, and Eli the enforcer on duty (who also happened to be the uncle of the young lady with the bruised arm). After requesting they meet him at the brewery he left wondering whether he would be able to come up with a solution that didn't involve Randy no longer having a father.
Luke Cate's POV
Luke had washed of the grime of the day and taken a few minutes to calm down. He grabbed a ball off his shelf and collapsed backwards onto his bed. He didn't get it. All the other females had immediately gone subservient when Randy's dad had confronted them. But sophia had flagged down a teacher and called out to some of the human children that she would see them inside. The action had kept the humans from getting close enough to hear the rant but had drawn attention directly to Sophia. She did stuff like this a lot. She saw a problem and managed the people around her until things were ok again. Usually she was more subtle about it but this had happened so hoped she would be more careful. There was a knock, and Luke looked to the door to see Sophia standing there.
"Luke, your mom had to go pick Amanda up and your dad is gone. Ruby says you need to bring your homework downstairs and we are going to have a snack."
"OK, Sophia," Luke rolled off the bad and grabbing his back. As he got to the door he snatched her hand and tugged her to a stop. "Sophia you know I don't think you are dumb. I just think you don't consider everything. I think you need to not make yourself a target. And also, you should have considered my idea, but all you did was say NO. You wouldn't listen to why. A good wolf has to know why someone does something."
Sophia looked at him and smiled, "You mean you didn't do it so you could be seen as in charge and so that your dad would be proud?"
"Yeah, kind of…with the being in charge, but mostly because if we take top grade it will make my parents proud. The better I am at stuff the more likely people are to accept me as the heir once I come of age," sighed Luke. "Mom says having a well prepared and positioned heir prevents violence and some of the jockeying while the Alpha is strong. Also it can keep the transition of power from having a high casualty count."
"I want the pack healthy, I want them strong Luke. But Don't you think it is a little early to be worrying about this stuff?"
"Dad says that planning and practice make success more likely. Mom says if you study people before they know you are doing it then you are more likely to see them and not what they want you to see."
"My Dad says that you need to understand behavior to understand people. When I told him that Hill people were different from people he said you also need to understand wolves to understand Hill people. I picked up some books at the library today, I can give them to you when I am done."
"Thanks, Sophia," Luke smiled. He thought it was less important to understand everything as it was to understand how to make others obey. That was done by being strong and being respected. He shifted around her and tossed a "Race you!" over his shoulder. Then thundered down the stairs with his head start.
