The pack decided on releasing it on one of their social media accounts and just spreading it as much as they can.

Lou volunteered.

Her friends protested, but she had family she knew would support her. And she began this. She should end it.

Even though she doesn’t understand social media, she does have one. Only one, just to see cute animals and follow animal shelters.

Now it will be used to expose a potential government operation.

For some reason her school is trying to make soulmate powers seem dangerous. Label them as soon to be criminals. So they are trying to take their powers away and thus take away soulmates.

She can’t let that happen.

Her power, her connection to animals, is her gift. She loves talking and understanding them. It is much easier to get along with them than humans. If she loses that, she doesn’t know who she is. It’s a part of her.

So Liam edited the photos as to fit the most damning pieces of evidence in a single post. And then he created a website and linked it in the caption.

All she has to do it press post.

She should hesitate. Or at least take some time to appreciate the peace. But she doesn’t.

Because her current life isn’t peace. Not with the fear of losing something so ingrained in her that it’s her mind and soul.

So she presses the button.

She sees it load and then eventually post.

Before there was only two singular posts on her account. One of her with her human friends. And another with her animal friends at home.

Now it has critical information.

In an instant, her human friends shared her post and she sees the views go up. It’s actually alarming how much eyes see it within the first two minutes.

It’s the first time she is glued to her phone.

She hears phones beep and chime next to her. Murmurs are starting up.

Because they decided to do this during a school day.

It was Ria’s suggestion. She thought that it couldn’t be swept under the rug if everyone saw it. During class was perfect since all teachers wouldn’t know what was happening until enough people saw and shared it.

In the classroom next to Lou’s history class, clattering and thuds can be heard. Chaos is a necessary evil.

The group predicted this would happen, and while they didn’t want it, there was no way around it.

“Lucille Haines, come to the principal’s office. Now,” the speaker announces.

The room doesn’t fall silent, but it does quiet a bit. It’s mostly the predatory eyes on her that make her uneasy.

But she can’t show it. So she gets up, and with her head held high, not looking at anyone, she leaves. She made the right decision. There isn’t a need to feel bad or regretful.

With her long stroll to Principal Colan’s office, she passes several classrooms that sound like jungles. Clamors and yells. No powers yet, but that’s because the students can’t get them off when they enter the school. Primal instincts take over humans when they get angry.

When she gets to the office, her parents and her brother are there.

It makes sense that her parents are there but her brother’s presence surprises her.

Principal Colan is frantic. Like a scared animal spooked by a much larger threat. Maybe that’s how he feels.

But there’s something else to his eyes. Something shielded, hidden from most. A more intense emotion. Rage.

Sitting down in the seat in front of Principal Colan’s desk, she feels like a sitting duck.

“Lucille, is this your Instagram?” Principal Colan produces a phone that has her social media pulled up. There’s no use in denying it, and she doesn’t want to. “Yep. And yes, I did post it.”

His frown deepens. It would almost be a perfect smile if it were turned upside down.

Her parents try not to look surprised. She didn’t tell them because they would’ve tried to stop her. What she wasn’t prepared for was her brother also being there.

“Loubug, what’s going on,” Fen asks.

“Your sister,” Principal Colan begins, his gaze shifting to her parents, “and daughter posted this on her social media which has caused widespread panic.”

“You mean anger. You’re the one panicking,” Lou points out unhelpfully. It’s her goal to be unhelpful to him.

Her family is tense. Rigid with uncertainty and uncomfortableness.

She does feel bad for putting them in this position. They are another predicted but unintended side effect.

“With all due respect, is this true?” Her mom questions.

Principal Colan flusters. He is like a clumsy baby puppy that doesn’t now how to use their limbs yet. Inexperienced and young. That’s how he is acting. “It doesn’t matter if it is true. What matters is that Lucille has spread gossip around which puts the administration in danger.”

She wants to scoff but she holds it in.

They aren’t the ones putting the school in danger. They did that to themselves.

Humans are self sabotaging. It’s an aspect that she will never understand.

“It’s not gossip,” she says plainly.

“Do you want to face suspension or an expulsion?” Her principal counters, his glare was not as intimidating as he probably hoped. More like a puppy trying to be scary than a bear.

Fen moves to stand behind Lou’s chair. Lou stops herself from turning around to look at him. “Principal Colan, you wouldn’t give such high consequences for gossip. Unless it’s the truth. Which then you could punish Lou for acquiring these documents. But that would again prove that what she posted was true. So is there something you would like to say?” Fen reasons.

“Look, punishing Lou isn’t going to solve your issues.” Her dad comments with a wide vague hand gesture.

And he’s right. It’s something that Jones told her. When the chaos begins, it can’t be stopped. Punishing her could actually backfire and get people even more angry.

This puts the school administration in the limelight and challenges them to address it. Now it’s up to the school.

“You can’t trespass and steal documents! The school could actually press serious charges,” Principal Colan insists, his fist hitting his desk, making the items hop for a second.

Lou leans forward, resting her elbows on her thighs. She’s not a scared cat. Not to him. “You can’t prove how I got them. You’re the one who agreed to using experimental muzzles to take away soulmate powers and potentially soulmates entirely. You hid this from us.”

His entire face tenses up. She knows she’s got him there. He isn’t going to win against her.

As the silence overtakes the room, Lou bites her tongue in anticipation. She can taste the metallic taste of her blood.

“We will address this at a later date,” Principal Colan concedes.

She’ll take it as a victory.

“Good, you’ll have bigger, more pressing issues to deal with,” Fen comments, his eyes shifting to the door. Lou may not have animal ears, but it doesn’t take enchanced eardrums with all the yelling and stomping.

Principal Colan thrusts his arm towards the exit. Rude. He could at least walk them to the door.

As she and her family walk down the halls, the howls and chaos rise. Doors are thrown open and humans are beginning to fill the space. Frantic. Angry. Primal.

Lou doesn’t want this.

But if a revolution is needed for the truth, then she’ll be a revolutionary.

Every pack needs a leader.

———

(I’ve been writing a lot in Bell and Lou’s perspectives but I’ll get back to the others! I promise! It’s just that their POVs lend more to the storylines. But I have ideas for Liam, Amelia, Ria, Roman, and Jeremiah! It just has to make sense with the story.)