Chapter 28. Surprising Familial connections.

Principal Shepard felt warmth spread through his chest at the term grandpa. He never thought he would hear a grandchild of his use it after he lost Drogo and Luna. It was the most precious gift he could have received right then and there. "When we are alone, please, if you feel comfortable, use that term. But when others are nearby, I must regretfully recommend you call me Principal Shepard," Principal Shepard said softly. He did not want to ask this of him, but he did not want to draw undue attention to either of their positions. 

"May I ask why sir?" Gavin asked softly as his brows furrowed. Why would he have to avoid calling principal Shepard granpda around others? 

Principal Shepard smiled softly, "Because the ones that attacked the clan way back when are probably still alive. I'm not sure that I killed all those responsible when I went on my rampage. In order to keep us both safe here at the academy, it would be best not to explain a sudden relationship." 

Gavin frowned, "But won't the fact I shifted into a werewolf in full view of the students at the dormitory get out already?" Gavin asked. 

Principal Shepard nodded, "Yes, unfortunately, as a result of your various fights with young Bradley, you gave in and fully shifted in front of plenty of witnesses. There is no denying that. However, we could potentially explain that it is a rare form of a weredog shift," Principal Shepard said out loud in thoughts as he considered how to remedy the situation. 

"What about the magical tests, and tournaments and such going forward, sir?" Gavin asked. Would he have to limit his abilities to avoid detection? Would he have to constantly be at a disadvantage and fight with a massive handicap against other more experienced students? 

"I would normally say to avoid going all out and to hold back your full shift. That you should only shift when your life may be in utter peril. But you are my grandson, and I wish to be a selfish grandfather. So long as you can maintain control over your wolf form, then feel free to shift when you feel it's needed. Just know that every time you do, you run the risk of drawing the wrong attention to you from people we don't want to find out yet," Principal Shepard advised, and a look of pride lit up his old man's eyes. 

Gavin considered the man's words long and deeply before he finally made up his own mind about something. "Sir, do you believe in the gods?" Gavin asked him suddenly. He was going to tell him about the path the god Koray set him on. 

Principal Shepard was taken aback by the sudden question. Sure it was strange to ask this out of the blue in regard to their current conversation. He thought about it for a moment and shrugged nonchalantly. "I believe, as great as humanity has become in power and strength, that there has to be beings out in the cosmos that have far greater power than we could ever hope to understand." Principal Shepard finally answered. 

Gavin nodded as he accepted that answer. "Then I have another part of my story to tell you," he said quietly. He backtracked his story and informed him of meeting the being that claimed to be Koray. He explained how the divine being pulled his consciousness out from his body that first night he shifted at the ambush at the studio. He explained the room he appeared in and the being with golden hair and a light golden hue to his skin that sat upon a white throne-like chair. "He said his name was Koray, and that he was one of the old gods of the world," Gavin said softly as he rubbed his arms in discomfort. 

This was the first time he had spoken aloud to anyone about that dream. Not even Erza or his parents knew about his meeting with Koray. "He informed me about the alpha clan shifters. He told me some of their history; how they were created, the actions that caused them to be hunted down, and the events that led up to the present day." Gavin said softly as he locked eyes with his grandfather. 

"Koray then gave me two major tasks as he sat upon his throne," Gavin said in a soft whisper as he reached for the glass to take another drink.

"He asked me to find the surviving members of the alpha clans, to bring them together. Protect and shelter them. Then right the wrongs of the past and bring justice to light for the clans," Gavin informed his grandfather as he sat the glass back down on the coffee table. 

Principal Shepard was utterly shocked into silence. The gods were real. They mingled and talked with humans. They used humans as pawns and messengers to do their bidding, and this one god wanted to use his grandson for some holy quest to bring together the alpha clans and right the wrongs of the past? That was a cruel mission to give anyone, let alone an eighteen-year-old child. Principal Shepard let out the breath he held. It wouldn't do any good to lash out in anger at this point in time. "So, the gods are truly real," Principal Shepard said in a hushed, shocked whisper.

Gavin nodded. "Yes, sir. They apparently do and there is one more thing," Gavin said as he took a deep breath, worried about revealing this little piece of information. 

Principal Shepard inclined his head for him to continue. "Koray also bonded an artificial intelligence system to my consciousness called Veronica," Gavin said as he explained the purpose of Veronica. How she was able to monitor his health, physical status, level, and help control his skills. 

Principal Shepard's jaw actually dropped open in surprise. "That sounds like the ultimate cheat code," he said before he could stop himself. 

Gavin finally let out a loud laugh. It felt like hours since he last laughed, but seeing his grandfather react that way to his explanation of Veronica, he couldn't help but laugh. "I'll admit, she has been pretty helpful in understanding my shifting abilities and learning everything," Gavin said as he wiped the tears from his eyes from laughing so hard. 

"Well, we need to discuss the original reason for my summoning you here," Principal Shepard said with a sigh as he stopped laughing finally. "You need to learn control over your wolf form, regardless of what the trigger or instigation is," Principal Shepard said softly as he looked at his grandson on the couch. 

Gavin let out a frustrated short breath as he looked at Principal Shepard. "I was fine at trying to ignore him. Until he insulted Erza. Then it was like the chains on my wolf were broken instantly and all I could think of was planting my foot up his rear and ripping his throat out," Gavin admitted, a tinge of fear crept into his voice as he recalled the feelings that filled his mind during that last fight. 

"So he insulted your mate and the wolf inside you lashed out?" Principal Shepard asked softly as he got a grasp of the current situation. 

"Yeah. As soon as he talked trash about Erza, I lost all ability to keep the wolf at bay. Just like what happened in the ambush in the studio when I killed those two men. My wolf wanted Bradley's blood in the worst sort of way." Gavin admitted quietly, he regretted the fact that he had almost killed Bradley. 

"You need to ride herd on your emotions. It won't be easy and will take time. But you can not afford to shift and attack in a rage. That kind of action is why the alpha clans were purged from history all those centuries ago." Principal Shepard admonished Gavin softly. 

Gavin hung his head down as he understood the principal's words. "Yes sir, I promise I will work on control," Gavin said reluctantly. 

Principal Shepard nodded. "Good. Now I will handle dealing with Bradley and his family when they inquire about this situation and any punishments they try to demand. But for the tests tomorrow, as your grandfather, I want you to go all out and show me everything you are capable of doing," Principal Shepard said with a grin that stretched across his face. "I want to see exactly everything you have learned on your own. Show me the strength of my grandchild." 

Gavin laughed as he noticed the glee in his grandfather's tone as he gave his instructions. "Yes sir," Gavin replied with a smile on his face. "I won't let you down. I think you will be pleasantly surprised," Gavin said as he considered exactly what he would be revealing to the entire school tomorrow. 

"Good, now go on back to your dorm. I will reach out to you in the days to come as I figure out what is best to help you and how to do so," Principal Shepard ordered as he stood up slowly from the couch. Gavin stood up in response as the principal led him towards the door. 

Principal Shepard opened the door and Professor Okeeba was still standing on the other side with his hands clasped behind his back. "Gavin is free to go back to the dorms," was all the principal said to Professor Okeeba as he stepped aside to allow Gavin to walk past. 

Professor Okeeba nodded as he led Gavin down the hallway towards the black and gold elevators. After a few minutes, they left the main administrative building and Professor Okeeba turned to Gavin. "I do not know what you discussed with Principal Shepard, but you should know that we will be watching you. Any more outbursts and the next conversation will not be as peaceful," Professor Okeeba warned Gavin in his deeply gravely voice. 

Gavin swallowed the retort that was on the tip of his tongue and just simply nodded. "Yes sir, I understand." Gavin responded with proper respect, even though it irritated him. 

Professor Okeeba simply nodded and turned to walk back into the building as Gavin turned and headed down the path back to his dorm building. Gavin still couldn't believe everything that had happened that day. Multiple fights with a brainless bully. He was hauled to the principal's office after he almost killed said brainless oaf. Then of all things, he found out the powerful principal was his actual grandfather. His head reeled from all the new bits of information he had learned from his grandfather in that room. 

The first thing he did was call up Erza. She picked up on the second ring. "Hey babe," her soft sweet voice instantly melted his worries and fears as he heard it. She always lifted his spirits just by hearing her voice, or smelling her scent. "How's the first big day going?" She asked him softly as Gavin could hear chatter in the background. 

"Oh just fine, you know. Met my roommate. Then we listened to a bunch of welcome speeches in the main arena. Almost lost control and nearly killed a bully that kept attacking me. Oh! And met my apparent grandfather," Gavin said everything in such a nonchalant way that it would have been comical if it wasn't so serious. 

Erza coughed loudly in the restaurant as she heard the motor mouth of information from Gavin. "Wait. Hold the freak up. You almost killed someone, again?" she all but yelled in the phone as she set her food down on the tray in front of her. She was only a couple of hours away and stopped for an early dinner at a decent-looking dinner when Gavin had called. She coughed up the bite she had been chewing and waited for a response from her idiot boyfriend. 

Gavin laughed sheepishly on the other end as he replied. "You know that idiot that bothered us when we first got here?" he asked her. 

Erza sighed and responded, "Yeah, go on."

"Well, turns out we ended up fighting on two separate occasions after you left. Each time he approached me and attacked first." Gavin said defensively before she had a chance to interrupt and berate him. "Well, the last time he began insulting you and making some veiled threats against you, and well...." Gavin said softly as he trailed off unable to finish the story. 

Erza shook her head at her aggressive male and mate. "I warned you. You can not go around ripping heads off people just because they insult me." She chastised him over the phone as she grabbed her drink and took a long sip from the straw. 

"I know. Trust me I know. I was beating him down easily without shifting at all. His goons had my roommate pinned between them and I had to put him down. I was tired of the constant attacks from him and it was only the first day. But before I could neutralize all of them without killing them, he said some things about you, and my wolf decided he wanted to come play, so to speak." Gavin informed her quickly before she interrupted him, yelling again. 

"Is he at least still alive?" Erza asked quietly with a half-defeated sigh escaping her lips. She sat her cup down on the table and waited for his response. 

"Yeah, Bradley is still alive. He crapped himself, judging by the smell as I pinned him against the wall and nearly ripped his throat out. But he left the area alive and on his own feet," Gavin said with a nervous laugh. He hoped that some humor might deflate her anger at him. 

"At least you didn't get another body count, that is what matters most, I guess," Erza said. "Now what was this about meeting your grandfather?" She asked him, curious about that last part of his verbal vomit. 

So as Gavin walked down the path, he retold his tale to Erza. How the professor came and escorted him to the principal's office. He relayed almost the entirety of their conversation to Erza, holding back the parts about the gods and Veronica. "So, Principal Shepard is apparently my grandfather from my biological parents." Gavin concluded his tale as he awaited for Erza's response.