Know Your Place

Know Your Place
Nicole walked through the estate with her head held high.

Servants stared as she passed. Some looked confused, while others were clearly annoyed by her sudden confidence, but none dared meet her eyes for long.

Nicole ignored them.

When she reached the main courtyard, several maids stood near the entrance. Among them were Rhea, Alicia’s maid, and Hannah, her stepmother’s head servant.

Hannah stood at the front with her arms crossed, wearing the same arrogant expression Nicole remembered.

The moment they saw her, the maids froze.

Rhea’s face immediately went pale.

Hannah, however, didn’t move. She continued staring at Nicole as if she were still the weak girl everyone could order around.

Nicole walked toward the entrance without acknowledging any of them.

Just as she was about to step inside, Hannah blocked her path.

“Where do you think you’re going, Nicole? You can’t enter without per...”

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed across the courtyard.

Hannah’s head snapped to the side. She stumbled, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.

Gasps came from the surrounding maids.

Rhea covered her mouth, staring at Nicole in disbelief.

They clearly hadn’t expected the meek Nicole they remembered to strike someone without hesitation.

Hannah pressed a hand against her burning cheek.

“Y-you... How dare you!”

Nicole looked down at her.

“Do you want another one?”

Hannah froze.

“Because I’m more than happy to give it.”

The anger disappeared from Hannah’s face almost immediately.

She lowered her gaze.

Around them, the servants stared at Nicole as if she had suddenly become someone they no longer recognized.

Nicole didn’t care.

“Learn your place,” she said. “You’re a servant. Working for my stepmother doesn’t give you the right to disrespect me.”

Hannah trembled but remained silent.

“And don’t call me by my name again as if we’re equals. Show me the respect my position deserves. If you keep testing me, the next punishment won’t be a slap.”

That was enough.

Hannah’s face lost its color.

Rhea nervously twisted the fabric of her dress between her fingers.

Nicole gave them one final look.

She had tolerated their disrespect for far too long. If she allowed it to continue, they would keep believing she was the same helpless girl they could bully whenever they wanted.

That Nicole was gone.

Nicole walked past Hannah and entered the building.

This was the part of the estate where her father and stepmother lived. Important guests were entertained here, and family matters were often discussed behind closed doors.

Today, they were discussing Alicia’s wolf.

And most likely, Nicole herself.

A small smile appeared on her face.

If they were going to discuss her fate, then she intended to be part of the conversation.

She reached the meeting room and pushed open the heavy doors.

Every head turned.

Around twenty people sat at the long table, including her father, her stepmother, Alicia, and several elders from her father’s bloodline.

Alicia’s face immediately lost its color.

Her fingers tightened around her dress.

Nicole’s father looked furious.

“Nicole Harver, what do you think you’re doing? How dare you barge in here?”

Nicole calmly stepped inside.

“Since this conversation involves me, Father, I decided to join.”

Murmurs spread around the table.

She ignored them and continued walking.

“Besides, I think I deserve to be part of this meeting more than most people here.”

The room went silent.

Her stepmother leaned forward.

“Have you lost your mind, Nicole? Can’t you see the elders sitting here? You barged into their meeting without even greeting them.”

She glared at Nicole.

“These elders have been here since before you were born. Show some manners and learn your place.”

Nicole almost smiled.

She knew exactly where her place was.

And it was no longer beneath any of them.

One of the older men sighed and waved dismissively.

“Don’t bother arguing with her. She’s spoiled and behaves like a child. After all these years, I thought she might finally learn how to behave properly, but clearly I was wrong.”

His eyes moved toward Alicia, and his expression immediately softened.

“She will forever be a fool, unlike her sister.”

Alicia lowered her gaze modestly.

The elder smiled at her.

“This child, however, was raised well. She has grace and knows how to behave. It’s truly unfortunate that the white wolf was given to someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

His eyes returned to Nicole.

Nicole simply stared back, amused.

Her stepmother smiled.

“Exactly. Alicia has always been the more worthy one. I still don’t understand why the Moon Goddess would make such a mistake and give that stupid child the white wolf.”

The elder nodded.

“It doesn’t matter. Alicia has the black wolf. It is strong and powerful. I’m certain she’ll make us proud.”

Alicia lowered her head as if embarrassed by the praise.

“Thank you, Elder. I really appreciate it.”

Nicole almost laughed.

Alicia was still accepting praise for a wolf she couldn’t even prove she had.

Then one of the female elders turned toward Nicole.

“You’re still standing there?”

Her expression twisted with disgust.

“Get out. You’re not welcome in this meeting. We’re discussing what should be done with you, so return to your room. We’ll call you when we’ve decided your fate.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow.

The woman continued.

“Having the white wolf and Alpha Zandro as your mate doesn’t mean you suddenly deserve respect. Don’t offend us further, or we’ll make your situation harder than it already is.”

Nicole stared at them.

For a few seconds, she said nothing.

Then she laughed.

At first, it was only a small laugh, but the absurdity of their words quickly became too much.

She laughed until she had to hold her stomach.

Everyone stared at her.

When Nicole finally stopped, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“Oh, Goddess. You people are unbelievable.”

Several faces darkened.

“I honestly don’t know whether I should be angry or amused. Maybe all of you should have your heads checked to make sure they’re still working properly.”

One of the elders slammed his palm against the table.

“What did you just say?”

Nicole’s smile disappeared.

“Tell me something first. Why should I leave?”

The elder frowned.

Nicole stepped closer to the table.

“Between everyone sitting in this room, who actually has the greatest right to be here?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about blood.”

That silenced several of them.

Nicole looked around the table.

“You sit here acting important because you’re related to my father, but none of you are directly connected to the Moonborn bloodline.”

The elders’ expressions changed.

Nicole didn’t stop.

“You call yourselves powerful because of your age, your positions, and the respect people have given you for years. But none of that changes what I am.”

Her gaze briefly moved toward Alicia.

Alicia looked increasingly uncomfortable.

Good.

Nicole turned back to the elders.

“You praise Alicia for having a black wolf even though she couldn’t transform when the Alpha ordered her to.”

Alicia’s head snapped up.

“Nicole!”

Nicole ignored her.

“You insult me while praising someone who has yet to prove the very thing you’re celebrating.”

Her stepmother slammed her hand against the table.

“Enough!”

“No.”

Nicole’s voice remained calm.

“I’ve been quiet long enough.”

The room fell silent again.

Nicole straightened her back.

“I am Moonborn.”

No one interrupted her this time.

“I carry the white wolf, the Moon Goddess’s own gift, and everyone here witnessed that truth.”

She slowly looked from one elder to another.

“So before any of you tell me to know my place, perhaps you should remember yours.”

Several elders immediately stiffened.

Nicole stepped closer to the table, refusing to lower her gaze.

“You wanted to decide my fate without me.”

A faint smile returned to her lips.

“Go ahead.”

She looked directly at her father.

“Continue your meeting.”

Then her gaze swept across the elders before finally settling on Alicia.

“But this time, you’ll do it with the Moonborn sitting in the room.”