I WILL NEVER BE YOUR LUNA

YVONNE POV

Lillian's face twisted as she finally understood the meaning of my words. I let a small smirk settle on my lips before it disappeared.

"I'll kill you," she screamed, throwing herself towards me. "You will never take Jacinda's place. Do you hear me? Never!"

I stepped backwards and allowed my frightened expression to return before the others could reach us. The men restraining her tightened their hold, but Lillian continued kicking and cursing until the pack leader ordered them to take her away.

"Get her beyond the eastern boundary," he said. "If she returns, she will be treated as a hostile rogue."

As they dragged her into the darkness, I lowered my head and pretended to wipe tears from my face. The women watching me whispered about how merciful I had been to request a final conversation with the woman who betrayed me.

I watched the guards force Lillian into the back of an old transport truck. She screamed my name until the doors closed, promising that Jacinda would destroy me before I spent a single night beneath Everstead's roof. Her threats only confirmed that Jacinda knew about the switch.

Whatever waited at Everstead would be more dangerous than the life I was leaving behind, but I had survived twenty-one years among rogues. I would survive my stolen family too.

Nyx released a quiet growl of satisfaction inside me. 'One enemy gone.'

'One,' I agreed. 'But not the most dangerous one.'

Jacinda still lived inside the Everstead pack as Alpha Aldric's beloved daughter. She had grown up surrounded by warriors, servants and every privilege that should have belonged to me. Lillian's plan had failed, but Jacinda had enjoyed my identity for twenty-one years. She would not surrender it simply because I appeared at the gates.

By the time the eastern sky began to brighten, the wolfsbane had weakened enough for me to walk without the ground shifting beneath my feet. One of the pack women cleaned my wounds and gave me a grey dress, while the pack leader explained everything that had happened to Matron Flora.

The Everstead representative listened with a tight expression. Her gaze kept returning to me, but it wasn't with concern, but with the dislike of someone inspecting an unexpected threat.

I understood why when one of the warriors addressed her as Jacinda's personal attendant.

Matron Flora had not come to welcome Alpha Aldric's missing daughter. She had come on behalf of the woman occupying my place.

When it was time to leave, she looked me over from my damp hair to my borrowed shoes and clicked her tongue.

"Before we enter Everstead territory, you will learn how to address your superiors," she said. "You will lower your gaze when Alpha Aldric speaks, curtsy to Luna Weston, and obey Jacinda until the family decides what to do with you. Blood alone does not give a rogue manners."

She gestured impatiently towards the ground. "Show me that you can at least bow."

"Stand properly," she ordered. "Everstead is one of the oldest packs in the country. You cannot enter its territory looking like a half-starved rogue."

The courtyard became quiet. Several women who had remained to see me leave exchanged uncomfortable glances, but Matron Flora continued.

"Your shoulders are bent, your dress is unsuitable, and you smell of wolfsbane and blood. Alpha Aldric will be humiliated if anyone sees you beside Jacinda. She carries herself like a true Alpha's daughter. You should observe her carefully before embarrassing the family."

Nyx stirred angrily. 'Let me bite her.'

'Not yet.'

I turned towards Matron Flora. "Were you speaking to me?"

Her lips tightened. "Who else would I be speaking to?"

"Come closer. The wolfsbane is still affecting my hearing."

She stepped forward without hesitation, pleased that I had finally shown some obedience. "I said you must learn your position before entering-"

I slapped her.

The sound cracked across the courtyard, knocking her face sideways and loosening several pins from her carefully arranged hair.

No one moved.

Matron Flora pressed one hand to her cheek and stared at me. "You struck me."

"I did. Perhaps it will help you remember which of us needs to learn her position."

Her face darkened. "I speak with Alpha Aldric's authority."

"Did Alpha Aldric order you to insult his biological daughter in front of a settlement?"

She hesitated. "No, but..."

"Then do not use his name to excuse your disrespect." I stepped closer, allowing my Alpha bloodline to take over. The nearby wolves lowered their eyes before they could stop themselves. "You are Jacinda's attendant. Standing beside an Alpha's daughter does not make you one. I am returning to Everstead as its blood heir, not as your subordinate."

Matron Flora's mouth opened, but I did not give her time to answer.

"Tell the warriors to prepare the vehicles," I said. "We leave when I am ready."

I walked away while she remained in the courtyard; her cheeks were red and her loosened hair hanging across one eye.

The pack leader caught up with me near the main cabin. "You have made an enemy before crossing Everstead's border."

"She arrived as my enemy," I replied. "I only made sure she knew I had noticed."

His concern remained, but before he could continue, one of Everstead's younger maids hurried towards Matron Flora and began whispering to her. The maid pointed towards the cabin where Duncan and Holloway had died, then towards me.

Matron Flora's expression changed as she listened. The humiliation faded from her eyes and was replaced by calculation.

I understand that look.

Several minutes later, the same maid approached me. "Matron Flora would like to speak with you privately before we leave. She is waiting beside the lake."

The pack leader frowned. "She can speak to you here."

"It is about Luna Weston and your return," the maid explained quickly. "Matron Flora said it is a sensitive family matter."

An isolated lake, a woman loyal to Jacinda. No witnesses.

Nyx pushed against my mind. 'It is a trap.'

'I know.'

I smiled at the maid. "Tell her I am coming."

The lake stood beyond the last row of cabins, surrounded by beautiful soft trees and grey morning mist. Matron Flora waited near the bank with her arms folded, the swelling on her cheek already darkening.

"You wanted to discuss my family," I said.

"I wanted to see whether you were foolish enough to come alone."

I stopped several feet from her. "Now you have your answer."

"Do not pretend you are fearless. I know what happened last night." She moved closer, lowering her voice. "You killed Duncan and Holloway, then arranged their bodies to frame Lillian."

I raised an eyebrow. "That is a serious accusation. Can you prove it?"

"I do not need proof. I have served Jacinda since she was a child, and I know what your return will do to her. You may share Alpha Aldric's blood, but she is the daughter Everstead knows. She is educated, respected and prepared to lead. You are a rogue with blood on your hands."

"You consider her your daughter," I said. "You raised her more closely than Luna Weston ever did, so I understand why you are desperate to protect her. But your affection does not change whose blood runs through her veins."

Matron Flora narrowed her eyes. "Jacinda has spent her life earning that pack's love. You think you can arrive with a glowing moonstone and take everything from her?"

"Then Jacinda should have no difficulty defeating me in the succession challenge," I said. "If she deserves Everstead pack, she can prove it before the Council instead of sending you to murder me here."

The certainty disappeared from Matron Flora's face.

We both knew Jacinda had failed the blood ritual. Against a White Wolf, she might not even be allowed to challenge.

"You will not enter Everstead Pack," she said.

She stretched out her arm and closed it around my injured arm. She twisted hard, expecting the pain to weaken me, then drove her shoulder into my chest.

The movement was meant to look like an angry struggle. Once I disappeared beneath the water, she could claim I had lost my balance or thrown myself into the lake after killing my foster parents.

I let my heel slide over the muddy edge; satisfaction flashed across her face. Then I locked both arms around her. Her eyes widened a moment before we fell together.

The cold water struck us hard. Matron Flora kicked towards the surface, but I tightened my grip around her waist and dragged her deeper. Her nails raked my shoulder as she tried to climb over me.

I drove one knee into her stomach and pushed her beneath me. Air escaped her mouth in a trail of bubbles. She reached for my throat, but I caught her wrist and forced her farther down.

The remaining wolfsbane burned through my muscles, yet Nyx's White Wolf strength pushed against it. My lungs ached, but I held Matron Flora beneath the dark water until her struggles weakened.

'Enough,' Nyx warned. 'Someone is coming.'

I released Matron Flora and caught the back of her coat before she sank. Her body had gone limp. I checked beneath her jaw and found no pulse.

Dragging her ashore would complete the performance perfectly.

I found my way toward the surface and dragged in a breath. "Help! Someone help us!"

I hooked one arm beneath Matron Flora's shoulders and began pulling her towards the bank. To anyone watching, I would look like the devoted girl struggling to rescue the very servant who had insulted her.

Halfway to shore, a powerful scent rolled across the water.

Cedar, frost and something I couldn't describe.

Nyx jumped upright inside me with enough force to steal my breath, pacing around me violently. 'Mate.'

Before I could respond, a man entered the lake from the opposite bank. He moved through the water with inhuman speed, his eyes glowing molten gold as he reached me.

One arm closed around my waist.

The instant his skin touched mine, heat exploded through my body. The wolfsbane, the cold, and the pain disappeared beneath a bond that snapped into place.

I struggled instinctively. "Let go of me. Get her first."

"My guard has her," he said, his deep voice carrying the force of a command. "Stop fighting me."

Another man pulled Matron Flora away while the stranger lifted me against his chest and carried me towards the bank. Water streamed from his dark hair, sharpening the hard lines of his face. Power rolled from him in waves, stronger than the aura of any Alpha I had ever encountered.

The wolves by the lake lowered their heads.

"Your Majesty," one of the Everstead warriors breathed.

My body went still.

Calder Shaw.

The Lycan King whose ancient bloodline ruled every pack in North America.

I had never seen him before, but I only get to see a picture of him once, but every rogue knew his name. Calder had ended the Western Pack War in three nights and forced more than two hundred Alphas to swear obedience to his crown. The Werewolf Council answered to him, and no succession involving a rare bloodline could be confirmed without his approval. The Council must have informed him that a White Wolf had appeared.

His golden eyes remained fixed on mine as he carried me from the water. The hunger in them told me his Lycan had reached the same conclusion as Nyx.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Yvonne Holloway." I answered immediately.

His arm tightened around me. "Yvonne."

The way he said it sounded less like a question and more like a claim.

His gaze dropped to the crescent mark visible above my wet dress. A pulse of heat passed between us, and his expression changed with unmistakable recognition.

"Mate," he said.

The single word sent every wolf along the bank to one knee, their heads bowed before the ruler of North America.

I remained in his arms, staring directly into his golden eyes.

His gaze moved to the unmarked skin above my collarbone, and his hold tightened possessively around me.

"My Luna."

I had spent twenty-one years surrounded by wolves who thought they could decide my life. I would not allow another one to do it, even if he wore a crown.

"Fate may have made me your mate," I said immediately. "But I will be Everstead's Alpha. I will never be your Luna."