By the time Alpha Kaidan returned to the pack house that evening, the conversation with John was still on his mind. He had asked his aide to find out everything he could about the man who had driven Naomi home after her healer trial, but he hadn’t explained why. John hadn’t questioned him either, though the look he gave Alpha Kaidan before leaving had made it obvious that he noticed the sudden interest.
Alpha Kaidan told himself it was reasonable. The man had appeared out of nowhere, driven his mate home late at night, and now Naomi had been seen speaking with him again. He had every right to know who was moving around his pack and why.
At least, that was what he kept telling himself. He had barely stepped into the main hall when he heard his mother’s voice coming from the sitting room.
"Alpha Kaidan."
He stopped and turned. Christine was sitting on one of the couches, with Serena beside her. Both women looked toward him, but it was the expression on his mother’s face that immediately made him cautious.
"What is it?" he asked.
Christine folded her arms. "We need to talk."
Alpha Kaidan sighed quietly. "About what?"
"About Naomi."
His jaw tightened. "There’s nothing to talk about. Christine gave him a knowing look. "Is that why you went to see her at the healer quarters today?"
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer immediately. Serena glanced at him. "You did?"
He looked at her. "Yes." "And why?" Christine asked.
"She was working." "That isn’t an answer."
"It is the only answer you’re getting." Christine frowned. "Alpha Kaidan, you have barely spoken to that girl for months. Now suddenly you’re visiting her at work, asking about her schedule, making sure the healer quarters have everything she needs, and asking John questions about a man she was seen with."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes narrowed. "Who told you I was asking John about him?" Christine looked at Serena.
Serena immediately lifted her hands. "I didn’t say anything."
Alpha Kaidan looked between them before turning back to his mother. "Nothing has changed." Christine studied him. "Are you sure?" "Yes."
"Then why are you suddenly paying so much attention to Naomi?" "Because she’s my mate." The words came out more sharply than he’d intended.
Serena’s expression changed for the briefest moment before she recovered. Christine noticed it too. "So now you remember that she’s your mate?" she asked.
Alpha Kaidan’s face hardened. "Don’t start."
"I’m not starting anything. I’m asking a question."
"And I’ve answered it."
Christine stood. "You’d better be careful, Kaidan. Naomi is changing." Alpha Kaidan frowned. "What does that mean?" "She isn’t the same girl who signed that contract with you." "She’s grown and becoming difficult."
"Or perhaps she’s simply stopped allowing people to speak for her." Alpha Kaidan replied.
Christine stared at him. Serena quickly stepped in. "Mother, maybe we should leave this for another time."
Christine nodded slowly, but before leaving the room, she looked directly at Alpha Kaidan. "I hope you know what you’re doing." He didn’t respond.
Later that evening, Naomi returned from the healer quarters carrying a small bag of supplies. She was tired, but the day had gone well, and for the first time in a long time, she had walked through the pack house without wondering whether Alpha Kaidan would be waiting for her.
She was halfway across the main hall when Christine stepped in front of her. Naomi stopped. "Good evening, Luna Christine."
Christine’s eyes narrowed. "Where were you?" "At the healer’s quarters." "I didn’t ask where you work. I asked where you’ve been."
Naomi frowned. "I’ve been working." Christine looked toward Serena, who was standing a few feet away "That’s not what I heard."
Naomi’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. "What did you hear?" "That you were seen with another man."
Naomi stared at her. "Another man?" "Don’t act surprised." "I’m not acting surprised. I genuinely don’t understand what you’re accusing me of."
Serena stepped forward. "Mother, I told you she’s now very rude and confident."
Naomi looked at Serena. "And you’re still very good at turning ordinary situations into something they aren’t."
Serena’s lips curved slightly. "I’m only telling the truth." "Then tell the truth."
Christine’s voice became sharper. "Were you with a man after your trial?"
Naomi looked at her calmly. "Yes."
Christine’s eyebrows rose. "So you admit it?"
"I admit that a man helped me when I needed a ride home." "And you met him again." "I thanked him."
Serena gave a small laugh. "You see?" Naomi turned toward her. "See what?" "You’re defending yourself very quickly." "Because I’m being accused."
Christine stepped closer. "Did you flirt with him?"
Naomi’s expression changed. "Flirting is actually a huge word to use for something I didn’t do."
Serena folded her arms. "Mother, I told you."
"Enough," Christine snapped. She looked at Naomi.
"You are Alpha Kaidan’s mate. You should know better than to behave this way."
Naomi’s voice remained controlled. "I know exactly what my position is."
"Then act like it."
"I am."
"You don’t look like it."
Naomi shook her head. "With respect, Luna Christine, you weren’t there. You don’t know what happened."
"I don’t need to know everything to recognise disrespect."
Naomi stared at her. "Respect goes both ways."
Christine’s face hardened. "What did you say?"
"I said respect goes both ways."
Serena smiled faintly. "There she is." Naomi looked at her. "What?" "The new Naomi."
Before Naomi could respond, Christine stepped forward and pushed her. It happened so quickly that Naomi barely had time to react.
Her foot slipped backwards, and her bag fell from her hand. She lost her balance, and for one terrifying second, she thought she was going to hit the floor.
Then an arm wrapped firmly around her waist.
Alpha Kaidan caught her, his other hand steadied her shoulder as he pulled her upright. "What are you doing?" His voice was cold.
Christine froze. Naomi looked up and found Alpha Kaidan staring at his mother with an expression she’d rarely seen on his face. "Alpha Kaidan—"
"What are you doing?" he repeated.
Christine lifted her chin. "She was being disrespectful." "That doesn’t give you the right to put your hands on her."
"She was insulting me." "I heard what she said." "And you’re defending her?"
Alpha Kaidan’s gaze hardened. "I’m telling you that you shouldn’t have pushed her."
Serena stepped closer. "Alpha Kaidan, Mother was only trying to—"
"Serena, stay out of this." She stopped.
The smile disappeared from her face. Christine looked from her son to Naomi. "You’re taking her side now?"
"This isn’t about sides." "It certainly looks like it."
Alpha Kaidan looked down at Naomi. "Are you hurt?"
Naomi immediately stepped away from him. "I’m fine."
"Are you sure?" "Yes."
"Did she hurt you?" "No."
He studied her for another moment before looking back at his mother. "Don’t do that again."
Christine’s eyes widened. "You’re giving me an order?"
"I’m asking you to respect a boundary." "She is manipulating you."
Naomi’s face tightened. "I haven’t asked him to do anything."
Christine turned toward her. "You don’t have to. You’ve already managed to change him."
Naomi shook her head. "I haven’t changed anyone. Alpha Kaidan’s voice came quietly. "She doesn’t need to."
Everyone looked at him. He wasn’t entirely sure why he’d said it, but the words were already out. Serena watched him carefully.
Naomi lowered her eyes and bent down to pick up her bag. Alpha Kaidan moved as if to help, but she was already standing.
"I’ll take it," she said. Alpha Kaidan stopped.
Naomi adjusted the strap on her shoulder. "Good night, Alpha Kaidan." She turned to leave. "Naomi."
She paused but didn’t turn around. "What?"
His expression softened slightly. "Your ankle."
She looked down. "It’s fine."
"You should be careful." "I am."
Then she walked away. Alpha Kaidan watched her disappear down the hallway; Serena moved beside him. "You’ve been making an effort with her lately."
He looked at her. "What?" "You went to see her today. You asked about her work. You defended her just now." "I defended her because my mother pushed her."
Serena gave him a small smile. "Of course." He didn’t like the way she said it. Christine shook her head and walked away, clearly unhappy.
Serena remained beside him for another moment before quietly saying, "You should be careful, Alpha Kaidan. Naomi might start thinking you actually care."
He looked toward the hallway where Naomi had disappeared. For some reason, the thought didn’t bother him, what bothered him was that he suddenly realised something else.
He had been watching Naomi for days, noticing when she walked away, noticing when she spoke to others, noticing when she didn’t look at him.
He had gone to her workplace. He had asked John about a man he’d never cared about before and now, when Naomi had walked away without looking back, he had wanted her to stop.
He wanted her to notice him, not as her Alpha, not because of their contract, not because she was obligated to, but he wanted Naomi to notice him.
Alpha Kaidan stood silently in the hallway, disturbed by the realisation.
For the first time since their bond began, he wasn’t wondering what Naomi wanted from him.
He was wondering what he could do to make her want to look at him again.