Naomi?"
She heard Alpha Kaidan’s voice behind her.
Naomi’s hand stilled around the watering can. She had spent three days avoiding him, and she wasn’t ready to ruin the small amount of peace she had managed to find.
Slowly, she turned around.
Alpha Kaidan stood at the entrance of the garden. His eyes moved over her before settling on her face. She noticed he was carrying a small bag.
"You’re here," he said.
"You can see that."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I’ve been looking for you."
"Why?"
"I didn’t see you around the house. I checked your room. Grace told me you were in the garden."
Naomi said nothing. She turned back to the flowers and continued pouring water.
"I came to find you because I wanted to give you something."
She didn’t respond.
Alpha Kaidan stepped closer. "It’s your trial gift. I should have given it to you on the day. I know that."
Naomi lowered her gaze to the flowers. She could feel his eyes on her.
"I wasn’t sure if you’d want it," he continued. "But I brought it anyway."
He held out the small bag.
Naomi didn’t take it immediately. She stared at it for a long moment. Then, slowly, she set down the watering can and accepted it.
Inside was a small box. Naomi opened it carefully.
A silver pendant rested inside. The delicate healer’s symbol caught the afternoon light.
Naomi’s breath caught.
For a moment, she forgot everything else. The trial. The pool. Serena’s lies. The four years of being invisible. All of it seemed to fade when she looked at that pendant.
Alpha Kaidan watched her carefully.
"You wanted to become a healer," he said quietly.
Naomi nodded.
"You worked hard for it."
She closed the box gently and held it in her hands.
"Thank you for the gift, Alpha."
She didn’t put on the pendant.
Alpha Kaidan noticed. His brows pulled together.
"You don’t like it?"
"I do."
"Then why aren’t you wearing it?"
Naomi looked at him.
"Because liking a gift doesn’t mean I have to wear it immediately."
His expression changed slightly. Before he could respond, Naomi stepped past him.
"I have somewhere to be."
"Naomi."
She stopped but didn’t turn around.
"What?"
Alpha Kaidan seemed to struggle for words.
"Nothing," he finally said.
Naomi continued walking. She didn’t look back.
The moment Naomi stepped into the main building, she saw Serena. Serena was standing near the sitting room, looking perfectly comfortable in a house that had never belonged to her.
Her eyes immediately dropped to the box in Naomi’s hand. A slow smile appeared on her face. "So," Serena said.
Naomi stopped.
Serena walked toward her. "The gift was for you."
Naomi said nothing. Serena’s smile widened.
"I was wondering what Alpha Kaidan was carrying around." Naomi tightened her grip on the box.
"Excuse me." She tried to walk past.
Serena stepped into her path. "Don’t get too excited."Naomi looked at her. "About what?" "The gift." Serena gave a small laugh. "You really think because he bought you a little pendant, you suddenly mean something to him?" Naomi’s expression remained calm. Serena leaned closer. "I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you don’t." Naomi stared at her. "Are you finished?"
Serena’s smile disappeared. "He is my man." Naomi’s eyes hardened. "Then act like it." Serena’s face twisted. "What did you say?" "You heard me." Naomi stepped closer.
"You keep telling everyone that Alpha Kaidan belongs to you. So stop wasting your time trying to convince me." Serena’s hands curled into fists. "You think you’re important because you’ve been wearing his title for four years?" "I don’t think I’m important."
Naomi looked down at the box in her hand. "I know what I am."
Serena scoffed. "You’re nothing to him." Naomi’s eyes flickered. The words hurt, but she refused to show it. "Maybe." She looked back at Serena. "But that’s not your decision to make."
Serena opened her mouth to respond. Naomi’s anger finally surfaced. "And don’t ever forget what you did to me at the pool." Serena’s expression changed.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"You pushed me."
"I did not."
Naomi stared at her. "You pushed me into that pool and then stood there while everyone believed your lies."
Serena’s lips curved into a small, mocking smile. "And who is ever going to believe you? Alpha Kaidan?."No one will believe you, so why are you still blaming me?"
A voice came from behind them. "Blaming you for what?" Naomi froze; Serena’s entire expression changed. The anger disappeared; the coldness vanished, and within seconds, the woman standing in front of Naomi became someone completely different. Naomi slowly turned.
Alpha Kaidan walked toward them; Serena hurried toward him.
"Alpha Kaidan." Her voice was soft, sweet, and worried. She glanced back at Naomi. "I was just trying to talk to her."
Naomi stared at her.
Serena reached Alpha Kaidan and lowered her voice.
"Did you see what she just did?"
Alpha Kaidan frowned. "What happened?" Serena shook her head. "I don’t even know why she keeps doing this". "Doing what?" "Blaming me."
Her eyes became watery.
"I’ve tried to be kind to her. I really have."
Naomi almost laughed. Almost.
Serena looked at Alpha Kaidan with wounded eyes. "I was only asking if she was okay." Then she glanced toward Naomi. "She suddenly started accusing me again."
Alpha Kaidan looked at Naomi. Naomi said nothing.
Serena took a shaky breath. "I don’t understand why she hates me so much."
Naomi’s fingers tightened around the box. She had seen this performance before, and now she understood why Serena kept winning. Because every time Serena was cruel, she made sure Alpha Kaidan arrived just in time to see her become the victim.
Serena touched Alpha Kaidan’s arm. "I was only trying to be nice to her." Naomi looked at Alpha Kaidan. For one brief moment, she waited.
Maybe this time, he would ask her what happened.
Maybe this time, he would remember the pool. Instead, Alpha Kaidan looked between them.
"It’s fine."
Serena lowered her gaze. "But—"
"It’s fine, Serena."
His voice softened. "Don’t worry about it." Naomi felt something inside her sink, not because she had expected him to believe her, but because a small part of her had still hoped he would.
She shook her head. Once, then again. Without saying another word, Naomi walked past them.
"Naomi," Alpha Kaidan called. She stopped, but she didn’t turn around. "What?"
His voice was quieter now. "Where are you going?"
Naomi looked ahead. "Somewhere I don’t have to explain myself."
Then she continued walking. Behind her, Serena’s eyes followed, and the moment Naomi disappeared around the corner, the sweetness vanished from Serena’s face.
She turned back to Alpha Kaidan. "I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore." Alpha Kaidan sighed. "Just ignore her." Serena leaned against him. "I’ll try."
Somewhere down the hallway, Naomi heard them, and she kept walking.
The silver pendant remained inside its box. She hadn’t worn it, and she wasn’t sure she ever would.