"Then what are you thinking about now?"
Alpha Kaidan looked at Serena. She was still standing beside him, waiting for an answer. Her expression was calm, almost concerned, but he couldn’t give her the reassurance she seemed to expect. "I don’t know."
Serena’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "You don’t know?"
"No." She studied him for a moment before giving a small sigh. "You’ve always known what you wanted, Alpha Kaidan." "Not always."
"About Naomi, you did."
His jaw tightened, Serena seemed to notice and softened her voice. "I’m not trying to upset you. I think you’re letting her distance herself from you because you feel guilty."
"I accused her of something she didn’t do." "And you apologised?" "Not yet."
Serena looked surprised. "Are you supposed to apologise?"
Alpha Kaidan glanced toward the healer quarters. "I don’t know."
Serena folded her arms. "You keep saying that "Because I don’t have an answer."
She was quiet for a few seconds. "Maybe Naomi has already decided what she wants," "Maybe she wants to be free of you," Serena said
Alpha Kaidan looked back at her. "Don’t speak for her." The words came out sharper than he intended.
Serena blinked. "What!" I’m sorry," Alpha Kaidan said "But Naomi can speak for herself."
Serena nodded slowly. "Of course." Neither of them said anything after that.
Alpha Kaidan left the healer quarters a few minutes later, but Serena’s words followed him all the way back to the main building. Maybe Naomi had already decided what she wanted, he didn’t like how much that possibility bothered him.
By evening, the pack house was quieter than usual.
Naomi returned after finishing the last of her work and spent a few minutes reviewing the notes she had taken during the day. There were still things she needed to organise before she could call it a night.
A knock came at the door. She looked up. Grace stood outside. "Madam, dinner is ready." "I’m not hungry."
Grace hesitated. "Alpha asked that you join them."
Naomi stared at her for a moment.
"Who is them?"
"Alpha, Miss Serena, and Madam Christine."
Naomi closed the file in front of her. She had no interest in sitting at a table with Serena and Christine, but refusing would only create another issue.
"I’ll come."
Grace smiled faintly. "Thank you, Madam."
Naomi followed her to the dining room. The moment she entered, she noticed that everyone was already seated.
Christine sat at one end of the table, Serena beside her. Alpha Kaidan was across from the empty seat that had clearly been left for Naomi.
Naomi took it without saying anything, and Grace served her food.
"Thank you," Naomi said.
Serena watched her quietly. Christine was the first to speak. "You’ve been spending a lot of time in the healer quarters lately."
Naomi continued serving herself. "I’ve had a lot to learn." "You’re already a qualified healer."
"There’s still more to learn." Christine gave a small hum.
"A healer can’t spend every waking hour at work."
Naomi looked at her. "I know."
"You’re Alpha’s mate. Some responsibilities come with that position."
Alpha Kaidan looked up from his plate. "Mother."
Christine glanced at him. "What?"
"Leave it."
"I’m simply reminding her of her responsibilities."
Naomi put her spoon down. "I haven’t forgotten my responsibilities."
Christine raised an eyebrow. Naomi continued calmly, "I’ve been handling this household for four years. I don’t think anyone needs to worry about whether I know what I’m supposed to do."
The table went quiet. Serena lowered her eyes to her plate, but Naomi caught the faintest movement at the corner of her mouth.
Christine looked ready to respond. Alpha Kaidan spoke first. "Naomi can decide how she manages her work."
Christine turned to him. "You’re defending her now?"
"I’m stating a fact."
Naomi looked at Alpha Kaidan, He didn’t look at her.
Instead, he continued eating as though nothing unusual had happened.
She picked up her spoon again. The conversation moved on. For several minutes, they ate in silence until Christine turned toward Serena. "We should start thinking about your return."
Serena looked at her. "My return?"
"You’ve been away for a long time. The pack needs to know you’re here, and some people will have questions."
Kaidan’s expression changed slightly. "There’s no need to rush anything." Christine frowned. "Alpha Kaidan, she has been gone for four years. Everyone already knows she’s back."
"That doesn’t mean we need to make an announcement tonight."
Serena placed her glass down. "I agree with Alpha Kaidan."
Christine looked between them. "Then what do you intend to do?"
Kaidan leaned back in his chair. "Serena is staying in Blackclaw. That’s enough for now."
Naomi kept her eyes on her food, she didn’t know why the statement caught her attention. Serena was staying for some reason, hearing it said so plainly made the room feel smaller.
Christine nodded slowly. "The council won’t see it that way."
"They can ask me directly."
"They will."
As if summoned by her words, the door opened.
John stepped inside.
He stopped near Alpha Kaidan. "Sir." Alpha Kaidan looked up.
"The council sent a message. They want to meet with you tomorrow morning."
"What about?"
John glanced briefly at Serena before answering "Miss Serena’s return."
Serena’s fingers tightened around her glass, apprehensive. Christine immediately looked at Alpha Kaidan. "I told you."
Alpha Kaidan ignored the comment. "Who requested the meeting?"
"Three council members. They said they want clarification on her status in Blackclaw."
Alpha Kaidan was silent for a moment. Then he nodded. "Tell them I’ll be there."
John bowed his head. "Yes, sir."
He turned to leave.
"John."
He stopped.
"Tell them Serena will attend as well." Serena looked at Alpha Kaidan. "You want me there?"
"If the council has questions about your return, you should be present to answer them."
She smiled nervously. "Of course."
John left. Naomi continued eating, but she had lost her appetite. The meeting tomorrow would be about Serena and that wasn’t her business.
She reminded herself of that as she placed her spoon down. "I’m done."
Alpha Kaidan looked at her. "You barely ate."
"I’m not very hungry."
"You should eat."
Naomi met his eyes. "I said I’m not hungry." He said nothing, Naomi stood.
"Good night." She turned to leave.
"Naomi."
She stopped but didn’t turn around. Alpha Kaidan hesitated, there were several things he could have said. He could have asked her to stay; he could have apologised, he could have asked why she was avoiding him instead, all he managed was, "Good night."
Naomi nodded once and walked out. Serena watched the doorway after Naomi disappeared. Then she looked at Alpha Kaidan. "You really don’t want her to leave, do you?"
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes moved to her. "I didn’t say that"
"You didn’t have to."
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer. Serena picked up her glass again, but the smile she had been wearing was gone because tomorrow, the council would ask questions.