REBORN QUEEN

CHAPTER 4 – Jones Family Values

"Yes I know, Lila Jones." He said the surname with such, meaning, it could only have meant something bad. Most people in town knew of Lila's parentage and coupled with her recalcitrant nature as a teenager, it had not helped with a reputation in the valley. It was a wonder she was even allowed into the building, and look what happened.

The curator just kept whispering, decidedly devastated at all the centuries of history in that hall that have been crushed into oblivion. The school principal walked in, a petite blonde woman in her forties who always wore her hair in a tight bun. She was a gentle and kind woman and was the only one willing to offer Lila a job in the entire town. Another disappointment added to her collection.

"What happened?" She said, opening up her palms in query.

"The building," Lila answered. "I mean a part of the building, the one we were in, it collapsed."

"Why did you lead children into a hall under construction? Someone could have died! You all could have died."

Lila thought of the man lying on the slab of the floor, writhing in pain.

"Where are they?"

"They are In the children's section with the doctors and matron."

"You'll have to answer for this Lila. I can't help you this time. The Sheriff is on his way, and so are all the parents."

Principal Weems ran frantically toward the pediatric section.

One by one the parents arrived, their worry evident. In between their angry words and insults, Lila tried to glean what she could about Anna’s situation. From what the doctor said she could have been paralyzed, but due to an object that provided support, she would only suffer temporary pain in her legs with difficulty moving around. Lastly, the Sheriff came to the hospital, just as an angry mob of parents was about to descend on Lila, Principal Weems her only shield.

Tiana, whose husband led the Southern Caraxes Pack threatened to unleash a full-on pack war on the Northerners for what she called a "direct attempt at assassination." This was when the Sheriff stepped in, "Okay I think that's enough for now." The Northerners and Southerners have been at loggerheads for ages and careless talk in moments could lead to serious consequences.

When they were sure everyone was safe and the crowd began to disperse, Sheriff called Lila aside.

"Ms Jones you would have to come with me for a statement. I want to ask you questions though, how were you able to get them all out of there? Thank goodness no one has pressed charges else you'll be sleeping in a jail cell tonight."

A wiry man in suspenders walked up to them, eyes only on the sheriff. He was Mr. Manor, the county mechanic, and has had it out for Lila since she reported his son to school authorities for bullying.

"Sheriff Sir. I would like to press charges on this woman for endangerment."

The Sheriff looked her in the eyes and opened the door.

At the police station, Lila was pushed into a cold cell with sunlight streaming down from a small window that was just above the toilet, giving it an ethereal glow. She sat on the stringy bed, marveling at how much has changed since she left the house with nothing but rabbit stew in her stomach. She would definitely be sacked from her job after this incident and the news of what happened what going to spread like wildfire through the length and breadth of Caraxes. Many years ago it would have given her great pleasure to drag her family name through the mud, but age had instilled in her a desire to be loved and celebrated as opposed to infamy.

When she had moved back from the big city to the isolated town of Caraxes, her plan was to find a mate and have children, make a family of her own. Because she was a bastard, she did not have rights to inheritance of any sort. She got an apartment and continued her job as a systems designer online, but sitting at home or in coffee shops all day had elicited whispers from everyone. As a people so opposed to change and wary of anything foreign, they didn't think she was up to any good on that laptop of hers. It was King, her childhood friend with very brown hair and puppy dog eyes that had convinced her to take a job as a history teacher in the middle school if she wanted to gain respect.

She had, and it actually worked, for a while. She was no longer the Bastard of Caraxes but now a respected educator, until today.

The guard at the door hit her cell, "You have a visitor."

Lila looked up to see Evelyn, looking positively breathtaking in her black suit and stiletto heels. The older woman had her perfect black hair to the waist. Lila wondered how she always managed to look perfect always and how her father still decided to have an affair with another woman that resulted in a child. As always Jericho tailed behind her, his signature scowl securely in place.

Caraxes Valley was a town consisting of four packs, The Southern Pack who were mostly fishermen, planters, and artists, the Western Pack who were the businessmen and storekeepers, and Eastern Pack were the Doctors and Scientists, most of them did not live in Caraxes as the town was too small for their ambitions, they were considered the smartest pack in the valley, but also the most ambitious and calculative. Then there was the Northern Pack, they were builders and Carpenters and mechanics and fishermen, their alpha was Jesuit Jones, one of the richest men in Caraxes and Lila's father.

Evelyn looked at her with a mixture of annoyance and anger, like a little pest that was causing far more damage than it should.

"You," she said. "When will you ever learn?"

"Never Mother, a leopard can never change its spots," Jericho said.

They looked like twins really, and it would have been funny if they were not the only ones who could help Lila's situation.

"Why are you here," she said. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her relief.

"We heard you were in jail and wanted to see for ourselves," Jericho said.

"Come on out," said Evelyn. "We have paid your bail and spoken with the Sheriff, we can't have Jones in jail, bastard or not. Not especially with the Halloween Festival coming up."

Lila almost flinched, but knew they were watching, waiting for her reaction. The guard opened the gate, stepping around Evelyn as if she were a goddess. She inspired this reaction in many people.

He immediately left the cell block, Jericho following suit.

Lila was about to leave with them when Evelyn held her by the hand.

"Go back to where you came from, Lila. You are young, beautiful, and smart enough. Find a mate and live happily far away from here. Please. Don't create problems for my family."

With that, she left Lila standing there. Lila’s father was an honorable man, the most honorable man in all of Caraxes some said. He did not lie, steal, or even anger. Imagine the shock of all in Caraxes when he returned from a sojourn one day with a babe in hand. She was a pale child, with honey-brown hair like her father’s. She must have been a witch, people said of the same mother. Evelyn knew she was no witch, the woman had wolf blood running through her veins like everyone else. She would not leave the wolf pack in order to secure her son’s future and teach him the ways of leadership. One night when the child’s face burned a searing hatred through her heart, she had gathered her things to leave. Her husband’s loud ‘Stop!’ when he came into the room had glued Evelyn to the spot, and she had subsequently melted in his arms. On their bed later that night he would plead with her for using his alpha voice. It was of no use, she never tried to leave again. Now she had to deal with a child that refused to be quiet.

*You would have to return for community service, as you're not off the hook yet," the Sheriff said. "Be careful kid."

While she signed her name to leave the station, the museum curator came running in. He looked even taller in his excited state, the beads of sweat running down his face meant that he had run all the way to the station.

"It's intact," he said excitedly.

"What?"

"The cave, it can be restored! Of course, it will take a while and a whole lot of money, but it can be done! All the markings are still there."

"How"

"I don't know, but it's glorious."

"It is. How about the man"

"What man?"

"The one who fell into the rubble, I saw him while trying to save Anna. Just before I blacked out."

“Lila”, he said. ‘There was no one there.’