YOU HAVE KEPT MY PLACE LONG ENOUGH

YVONNE POV

By the time the Council investigator finished examining the lake, the morning mist had disappeared.

I sat inside the settlement's meeting hall while Calder's healer wrapped clean bandages around my wrists. The silver burns remained painful, but the wolfsbane had finally begun leaving my blood. Nyx could move more freely inside me, although every attempt to draw on her strength still left my muscles shaking.

Calder stood near the window, speaking quietly with two royal guards. He had given me space since the confrontation with Everstead's attendants, but the mate bond made it impossible to forget his presence. I felt every time his attention returned to me.

The Council investigator placed a tablet on the table.

"The settlement leader and three other wolves confirmed that Flora summoned you to the lake alone," he said. "The maid who delivered her message gave the same account. The healer also found Flora's scent on the bruises around your arm, supporting your claim that she grabbed you before you both fell into the water."

I read the report carefully. The investigator had described Duncan's attack as an attempted forced mating, Flora's actions as attempted murder and my response as self-defence.

I pointed towards the section about Flora. "Add that she summoned me there while acting as Everstead's official representative."

The investigator looked at me. "That will make the accusation directly connected to Alpha Aldric's household."

"It is connected to his household. Flora used Everstead's name to make me follow her."

After a moment, he changed the report and passed the tablet back to me.

I signed it.

Once my name appeared beneath the complaint, the investigator sealed the document with the Council mark.

"Everstead cannot remove this complaint without your consent," he explained. "The Crown's preservation order also prevents anyone from moving Flora's body or questioning the witnesses privately."

"Good."

The investigator gathered his belongings and left to speak with the settlement leader. Calder waited until the door closed before approaching me.

"You could leave with me," he said. "My territory is less than an hour from here. You would be protected while the Council deals with Everstead."

"And what would happen to my claim?"

"Nothing. Your blood gives you the right to challenge for Everstead."

"That is not how the pack would see it. They would say I returned beneath the Lycan King's protection because I was too weak to face my own family."

Calder's expression hardened. "Anyone who calls you weak is a fool."

"Fools still vote in succession councils."

A brief silence passed between us.

Calder could have ordered me into his vehicle. Every wolf in the settlement would have obeyed him, and the mate bond would have made resisting him painful. Instead, he folded his arms and considered my answer.

"What do you intend to do?" he asked.

"I will wait for Aldric."

"You called him Alpha Aldric before."

"He has not earned the right to be anything else."

Something approving moved through Calder's golden eyes.

'He likes it when you challenge people,' Nyx murmured.

'He will like it less when I challenge him.'

Nyx sounded amused. 'I do not think he will.'

The rumble of approaching engines interrupted us.

The settlement leader entered the hall. "Everstead vehicles are coming from the northern road."

I rose, but weakness moved through my legs. Calder reached for me before stopping himself.

"May I?" he asked.

His restraint unsettled me more than his possessiveness had.

I placed my hand on his offered arm and allowed him to steady me. Heat travelled from his body into mine, quieting the worst of the pain.

"This changes nothing," I warned.

"I know.". Calder lowered his voice. "You could have chosen the table."

I withdrew my hand and walked outside before he saw how his words affected me.

Four black vehicles stopped in the centre of the settlement. The silver Everstead crest covered each door, but only the lead vehicle opened.

A tall man stepped out.

Alpha Aldric Chase wore a dark coat over formal clothes. Silver threaded the hair near his temples, and years of command had settled into every line of his face. His power shook were we stood before he took his second step.

The settlement wolves lowered their heads.

My knees threatened to follow them, but Nyx jumped forward. Heat rushed beneath my skin. I remained standing.

Aldric's silver eyes found mine.

For one foolish moment, I searched his face for something familiar. I found my own dark hair, the shape of my jaw and the same slight narrowing around the eyes.

Seeing the resemblance did not make him feel like my father.

It only proved how much had been stolen.

Aldric approached until several feet remained between us. His gaze moved over my bandaged wrists, bruised throat and borrowed clothes. His expression remained tight, but his wolf became restless beneath his skin.

"Yvonne Holloway," he said.

"Alpha Aldric." The title stopped him.

"I came to take you home."

"You came because I filed a complaint against your household."

His eyes sharpened. "Both can be true."

A Council investigator moved to stand beside the settlement leader. Calder remained behind me, close enough to intervene but far enough to leave the conversation in my hands.

Aldric noticed him. "Your Majesty." He inclined his head. "I did not expect to find the Lycan King here."

"Flora came here as Everstead's representative and tried to kill the daughter who could become its next Alpha," Calder said. "Someone may be using murder to control the succession. Under the Pack Accord, the Crown must investigate."

Aldric's jaw tightened. "Everstead can conduct its own investigation."

"Everstead is part of the investigation," Calder replied coldly. "You cannot investigate your own people and then decide you are innocent. The Crown will handle this, and your pack will cooperate."

The two males held each other's gaze. Aldric was one of the most powerful Alphas in the country, but Calder's authority made his power feel small.

I refused to let their contest replace mine.

"I have already given Matron Graves my conditions," I said.

Aldric looked at me again. "You asked a member of your family to collect you. I am here."

"I also requested a Council representative, a public entry through Everstead's main gate and written recognition of my right to enter the succession challenge."

"Your blood has not been confirmed before Everstead's elders."

"The Werewolf Council confirmed it. The moonstone recognised me, and Nyx carries the White Wolf bloodline. Your elders do not have the power to change either fact."

Alpha Aldric pressed down in dominance.

"Everstead has laws," Aldric said. "You will follow them if you intend to live inside my territory."

Nyx pushed against the remaining wolfsbane. My vision sharpened, and white light flashed briefly through my eyes.

"So will you," I answered. "Pack law says a blood heir cannot be denied entry or removed from the succession before a formal challenge. You may dislike where I was raised, but you cannot erase me because my existence makes your household uncomfortable."

The pressure increased.

Pain travelled through my injured body, but I refused to lower my gaze. Around us, several wolves stepped backwards.

Calder moved.

I lifted my hand, stopping him before he could interfere.

His Lycan clearly disliked my refusal, but Calder remained where he was.

Aldric saw the exchange, and something changed in the way he examined me.

"The Council investigator will travel with us," Aldric said. "Flora's case will remain open, and you will enter through the main gate. Your name will be presented to the elders before tomorrow's blood ceremony."

"As Alpha Aldric's biological daughter and a succession candidate."

"Yes."

I looked towards the Council investigator. "Record his agreement."

The investigator entered the terms into his tablet. Aldric watched without objecting, although his mouth tightened in displeasure.

When the record was complete, Calder approached me.

"I will have my convoy follow you to Everstead," he said.

Aldric frowned. "That will not be necessary."

Calder did not look at him. "Yvonne?"

The question was meant for me alone.

I understood what he was offering. He would come if I wanted his protection, but he would not use his crown or our bond to make the choice for me.

"You may come as the Crown's witness," I said. "Nothing more."

"For now," he replied.

"For as long as I decide."

A dangerous smile touched his mouth. "Then I will have to give you reasons to decide differently."

Warmth travelled through the bond before I could stop it. I turned away and walked towards Aldric's vehicle.

The settlement leader met me beside the door.

"You still have a place here," he said. "Whatever happens inside Everstead."

I looked at the wolves gathered behind him. They had shared food with me when Lillian withheld mine, treated my injuries when Holloway's punishments went too far and protected my secret whenever Nyx's white fur appeared.

"I will not forget any of you."

"We know," he replied. "That is why we will not forget you."

I entered the vehicle before the pressure in my chest became something I could not hide.

Aldric sat across from me, while the Council investigator took the seat near the driver. Calder's convoy followed behind us when we left the settlement.

For several miles, Aldric said nothing.

His attention repeatedly moved towards my wrists.

"The Council report says Duncan Thorn attempted to mark you," he finally said.

"He did." I said coldly.

"And Holloway died during the same incident."

"He did." I repeated.

Aldric studied me. "Three people tried to prevent you from reaching Everstead. Two are dead, and one has been expelled."

"I survived. They did not." I replied.

"That is not an explanation."

"The complete statement is in the Council report."

His eyes remained on me, but I offered nothing else.

Most wolves would have lowered their heads beneath his scrutiny. Holloway had taught me long ago that showing fear only encouraged cruel men to test how much more they could take.

"You do not appear frightened of me," Aldric said.

"Should I be?" I asked.

"Most wolves are."

"Most wolves were not raised by Holloway the Butcher."

Aldric looked out of the window. The anger in his scent was not directed towards me this time.

"Weston prepared a room for you in the family wing," he said after a while. "You will have clothing and anything else you require."

"Is my name on the door?"

Silence answered before he did.

"The household planned to wait until the blood ceremony." He added.

"The Council confirmed my blood three days ago."

"It has been difficult for the family."

"For Jacinda," I corrected.

Aldric's expression hardened again. "Jacinda is not responsible for what happened at the hospital."

"Neither am I. Yet everyone expects me to carry the consequences quietly so she does not become uncomfortable."

"No one is asking you to disappear."

"Your household prepared a room but could not place my name on it. That sounds like you prepared somewhere to hide me while deciding how much of my life Jacinda is allowed to keep."

Aldric did not answer.

The silence lasted until the Everstead border appeared ahead.

The walls stretched between the trees, guarded by watchtowers and silver gates high enough to stop a charging wolf. Warriors stood along both sides of the road. Beyond them, hundreds of pack members had gathered to witness the return of their missing heir.

The main gates opened.

A woman waited at the top of the steps leading into the Pack House. Luna Weston.

Callum stood on her right with open hostility written across his face. Jacinda stood on her left, wearing a white coat fastened with the silver heir's pin that should have belonged to me.

Aldric's vehicle stopped.

Before I opened the door, his voice came from behind me.

"Whatever happens next, control your wolf."

I looked back at him. "You should give that warning to the daughter you raised."

I stepped out.

The crowd became silent.

Luna Weston's face changed when she saw me, but Jacinda moved first. She descended the steps with a gentle smile, performing the role of a loving sister before the entire pack.

As she approached, her scent reached me.

Beneath the expensive perfume lay the faint trace of bitter herbs and wild roses.

Lillian's scent.

Nyx bared her teeth inside me. 'Her daughter.'

Jacinda stopped in front of me and opened her arms.

"Welcome home, sister."

My gaze moved to the heir's pin at her collar before returning to her eyes.

I smiled.

"Thank you," I said. "You have kept my place long enough.”