Chapter 41

I'm at the Alpha's mansion bright and early the next day – a bit earlier than usual, in fact, because I want to review my notes before our physical. I wave to Roger on my way in the door, who gives me a cheerful but guarded wave back.

He's still nervous, obviously, and I can't blame him. I haven't yet figured out what to do about Charles and Charis, but I'll need to think of something soon. Kent is looking into it, he says, which I appreciate. But we can't linger too long.

I'm wondering if I'll need to step in and do something myself, if Kent can't come up with a plan in time. I hope not – I rely on Kent and the gang to keep me safe, at least for now. I don't want to piss him off, or betray him, or make him think I'm not on his side.

I am on his side. I just have to be on Charis's side, too, because it seems like I'm the only one looking out for her. Charles's father has clearly lied to her about everything that's gone down, and Charles himself is now plotting her murder.

My own family is completely useless. Charis used to be good friends with Darlene, but I can't imagine that friendship is one she can lean on anymore. Darlene is a snake in the grass, and Charis will know that by now.

I'm the only one who both knows the truth and is on Charis's side about it. It's down to me to help her, if I can. I can't just ignore her for my own selfish gains, or how am I any better than Charles himself?

I shake my head thoughtfully as I take the staff elevator up to the third floor. I adjust my skirt in the long mirror in the elevator – I'm wearing a very pretty skirt today: knee-length, red silk that flares when I walk. Paired with a silk white shirt and a strand of pearls, it's both cool and comfortable.

I tuck a curl behind my ear as the elevator dings and step out into the hallway, making a fast beeline for the staff kitchen. Ah, precious coffee, I think when I see the steaming pot on the countertop. God bless Claire.

I pour myself a cup in my designated mug – the yellow one the color of egg yolks – and continue along to my office. The door has theoretically been locked since I left, but I take no chances anymore.

After a quick but attentive sweep of my office, I declare it bug-free, and I switch on my monitor before settling down to review my notes from the Alpha's last appointment.

His health is steadily improving, now that we've got his food and medication being watched like a hawk at all times. Thank god for small mercies, I muse. That's one fire put out – well, temporarily put out. Being held at bay, is more like it.

Things can't go on like this forever. I just don't know how it's all going to end.

Leaning back in my desk chair, I take a long drink of coffee and swivel to stare out my window. The grounds are absolutely stunning this time of year – all greens and pinks and yellows and blues.

I need to have a real sit-down chat with the gardener of this place someday, to see if they can give me any tips on keeping plants alive. I have a pretty brown thumb – not exactly black, but definitely not green.

I think of the windowsill in the villa's kitchen over the sink, how lovely it would look with an indoor herb garden there. Or the hanging pots that I could put all around the downstairs, and in the bedrooms.

The driveway would look so nice, lined with some flowers. Lilac bushes, perhaps. Lilacs are my favorite flower. I wonder if I could…

I freeze suddenly, realizing what I'm doing. I'm making plans. Not revenge plans, but lovely, domestic plans. I don't own the villa, but I've come to think of it as home. I'm getting comfortable there; I can see myself belonging there.

I love my job at the mansion. I love the gang, and the other new friends I've made. I'm…I'm happy. I'm rebuilding, breaking free from the ashes like a phoenix and growing again.

I have zero intention of forgetting Charles and his evil, or trying to put a stop to it and set things right again, but it's no longer fueled by pure rage, I realize with surprise. It's mostly fueled by – well, by love, by affection. By a desire to protect those I've come to care about, who can still be hurt by Charles: Marcus, Emmett, Charis. Claire and Roger.

The summer sunlight streams through the window, warming my face. My hands cup my mug of coffee easily. I'm not on edge and desperate and hard anymore. I'm strong and fierce and protective.

I'm healing.

The time gets away from me; I'm so lost in thought that I'm slightly late for my appointment with the Alpha. Hurrying down the hallway to his office, I smooth out my skirt and knock on his door.

At his answering call, I slip inside, apologizing for my tardiness as I open the door. Then I freeze in surprise – Jeanette, Emmett's wife and the Luna, is standing across from his desk. Her hands are balled into fists that rest on the desktop, and she turns her head to glare at me at the intrusion.

She's impeccably dressed, as always: a Chanel jumpsuit and black heels. Her yellow-white hair is swept into an elegant French twist, not a strand out of place. Her makeup is understated but flawless, and her cherry-red lips twist in anger at seeing me.

It looks like I've caught them in the middle of an argument, so I stammer out an apology and turn to leave.

"No, stay, please," the Alpha says. I've never heard him like this – he sounds cold and angry, but not at me. "Evelyn, you need to be here for this."

He turns back to the Luna. "Jeanette, Dr. Prism can explain to you exactly why I can't go on a Wild Hunt this year. Since you refuse to listen to me, perhaps you will listen to her."

Jeanette snorts in derision, eyeing me over as if I'm a bug on her carpet. She flicks her gaze away from me dismissively and turns back to the Alpha.

"Emmett, the last thing I want to do is listen to more excuses from this little girl – this charlatan from god knows where – who has convinced you that you're too weak and infirm to carry out your most basic duties."

I bristle at that, and my professional training kicks in over my nerves. My patient is being bullied, and as his doctor, it's my job to protect him.

I step in smoothly, coming to stand at the end of the desk, between Emmett and the Luna.

"Emmett, can you explain what's going on?" I ask calmly. "I'm sure we can sort this all out."

The Luna's lip curls, and she nearly hisses at me. "Emmett? You insubordinate, presumptuous little child. Do you know to whom you are speaking? You will speak to my husband with his title only. Have some respect!"

"Enough!" Emmett barks, slamming his flat hand on the desk hard enough that even the Luna's eyes widen in shock.

"Jeanette, I have expressly requested that Dr. Prism call me by my given name," he says in a tone that suggests his patience for this argument is wearing thin. "I don't like to feel so cold and distant from my personal physician. She is only following my direct orders, exactly as she should do.

"Now, Evelyn," he turns to address me. "My wife is insistent that I join the Wild Hunt for the summer solstice. The solstice – Midsummer – is a very big holiday amongst werewolves. During the Wild Hunt, we all take our werewolf forms and run the countryside, chasing prey.

"Animal prey," he adds with a little quirk of his lips, seeing how I hesitate. "Usually a stag. Whoever catches the stag first is crowned the Prince of Midsummer for the evening. It's a great honor to be crowned, followed by quite a lot of feasting, drinking, and general debauchery.

"It's generally expected that all members of the Alpha's family will be in attendance, However, this year, I will need to take a step back. I will of course attend the earlier portion of the party, but my stag-chasing and mead-guzzling days are behind me, I think."

He finishes and looks expectantly at me. The Luna stands next to me, glaring at me with a gaze like ice. Her teeth are gritted so tightly that I can hear them grinding in her head.

"This is absolute rot, Emmett," she snaps before I can speak. "You must be there. It's a display of strength and leadership, and our family cannot afford to have you back out of it just because some Little Miss Nobody has swanned in here and told you that you're an old man. If I –"

"That's Doctor Nobody, thank you, madam," I interrupt her coolly. The Luna snaps her head around to stare at me in disbelief and anger – I doubt anyone has ever interrupted her before.

"The Alpha is absolutely correct," I continue. "His blood pressure and heart cannot possibly withstand the type of activity you're talking about.

"Your husband is neither weak nor infirm, and he's certainly not ready to retire from all his responsibilities just yet. But he won't be here long enough to continue in his role if you keep pushing him like this.

"There's a reason he had to retire and take a step back," I add more gently. "Ma'am, you've been fighting me so hard on this. I need you to work with me, so that we can both protect the husband I'm sure you love very much.

"Life isn't perfect, and it doesn't always go the way we planned. We have to work with what we are given, and what we are given are serious problems with your husband's heart that need to be taken seriously by all who care about him. If you and I can work together–"

"How dare you speak to me this way?" the Luna interrupts, standing up to her full height and raising her voice. "Who do you think you are? In the old days, I would have your head on the chopping block for–"

"What in the hell is going on in here?" a furious voice demands from the doorway. I realize with a start that I never shut the door behind me. "The entire household can hear you screaming down the hall."

All three of us turn to look to the doorway. Marcus is standing there, and he looks livid.