Chapter 3

Elowen's POV

The car slowed as we approached the family estate.

I looked through the window, and memories came rushing back so quickly that I had to take a deep breath.

The old trees still stood along the road. The garden still looked the same. Even the stone path leading toward the main house was exactly as I remembered it.

I had left as a young woman desperate to prove that she could build a life without her family.

I was returning as someone who had finally learned that she never needed to prove anything.

Rowan placed his hand over mine.

"Stop worrying."

"I'm not worrying."

"You have been biting your nails for the last ten minutes."

I looked down.

He was right.

I quickly pulled my hand away.

"I just don't know what Father will say."

"You will find out soon enough."

The main doors opened before we reached them.

My father, Alistair Veyra, stood at the entrance.

He had aged slightly, but his presence was still powerful enough to fill the entire doorway. He held a newspaper in one hand, pretending that he had simply happened to be standing there.

His eyes met mine.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Then his expression softened.

"So," he said, his deep voice carrying through the entrance, "my little runaway has finally decided to come home."

I ran to him.

He caught me before I could stop myself, pulling me into his arms. His scent surrounded me, warm vanilla mixed with the faint smell of aged whiskey.

I buried my face against his chest.

"I missed you."

His arms tightened around me.

"I missed you too, pup."

He pulled back slightly and looked at my face.

"You didn't even give me a chance to deliver my speech."

I laughed through my tears.

"What speech?"

"I prepared twelve points about responsibility. There were examples from our family history, several warnings, and one very impressive section about making better decisions."

I smiled.

"Then say it."

He stared at me.

"You want to hear it?"

I nodded.

He shook his head.

"Maybe another day."

Rowan laughed from behind us.

Father's smile disappeared when his eyes fell to my arms.

His gaze settled on the faint marks left by the repeated blood donations.

He did not ask what had happened.

He already knew.

His expression became hard.

"Sunlight Ridge will never hurt you again."

"Father..."

"No." His voice was quiet, but there was enough power in it to make the air feel heavy. "That Alpha should be grateful you walked away without me going there myself."

I looked at him.

"I'm done with Calden."

He studied my face for several seconds before nodding.

"Good."

Then he pulled me back into his arms.

"Welcome home, princess."

Outside, the pack began to howl.

One wolf started, then another answered, until the sound spread across the estate. It was not frightening. It was warm and familiar, like the whole pack had been waiting for my return.

Father rested his hand on my head.

"You were never born to spend your life standing behind another Alpha."

I smiled weakly.

"I know."

"Your worth was never decided by Calden."

Those words settled somewhere deep inside me.

For three years, I had allowed one man's indifference to determine how I saw myself.

No more.

Rowan suddenly dropped onto the sofa.

"Since Elowen is home, I made dinner reservations."

Father raised an eyebrow.

"Do you not have business to handle?"

"I delegated it."

"You delegated the Tokyo acquisition?"

"Yes."

Father sighed.

Rowan grinned.

"I have priorities."

I laughed.

It felt strange.

I could not remember the last time laughter had come so easily.

Father looked at me.

"Are you ready to return to your position?"

I knew what he meant.

Before my marriage, I had been preparing to take responsibility for part of the family's international holdings. I had studied business, pack politics, and trade. Then I had thrown everything aside because I thought becoming Calden's wife mattered more.

Now I understood that I had abandoned too much of myself.

I straightened my back.

"Yes. I'm ready."

Father smiled.

"That's my daughter."

Rowan stood.

"Then you should rest first. You have had a long day."

I nodded.

As I walked upstairs, I passed the room I had grown up in.

Nothing had been changed.

My old belongings were still there. My childhood books remained on the shelf, and the stuffed panda I had loved as a child was still sitting on my bed.

I picked it up and held it against my chest.

A small smile appeared on my face.

For the first time since my marriage, I felt like myself again.

---

Alistair's POV

After Elowen went upstairs, I returned to my study.

Rowan followed me.

The moment the door closed, my expression changed.

"Tell me everything."

Rowan placed his tablet on my desk.

"I already started investigating Thessaly."

I sat down.

"Show me."

He brought up the information he had collected.

"Her original name was Thessaly Voss. She became involved with Calden long before she married Daelen."

I stared at the screen.

"And Daelen's death?"

"That is where things become interesting."

He opened another file.

"Daelen died three years ago during a border incident. The official report called it an attack, but several details do not match."

My fingers tightened around the armrest.

"You think his death was arranged?"

"I'm not saying that yet," Rowan replied. "I'm saying we need to investigate it."

I leaned back.

"And while this was happening, Elowen was being used for her blood."

Rowan's expression darkened.

"Exactly."

Silence filled the study.

Three years.

My daughter had been suffering while I had believed she was living the life she wanted.

I should have gone after her sooner.

I should have protected her.

"Dig deeper," I ordered. "I want everything connected to Thessaly. Her past, her finances, her relationships, and every detail surrounding Daelen's death."

Rowan nodded.

"Already working on it."

I looked toward the window.

Elowen was finally home.

Whatever happened next, no one was going to take advantage of her again.

"We are holding a banquet."

Rowan looked at me.

"For her?"

"For her."

He understood immediately.

"I'll handle the guest list."

I shook my head.

"No. I want every important Alpha there."

Rowan's eyes narrowed with understanding.

"You want the Ashbourne family invited."

"Personally."

He smiled.

"I understand."

This was not simply a welcome home celebration.

It would be the first public appearance of my daughter after three years away.

Everyone who had forgotten her name would remember it.

And everyone who had treated her as though she were insignificant would finally see who Elowen Veyra truly was.

I looked toward the staircase.

"My daughter is home."

My voice softened.

"And this time, she will never have to beg anyone to recognize her worth."