The moment the door closed behind Alpha Kaidan and Serena, the council chamber fell into a restless silence. Several council members exchanged looks.
"That was not an answer," one of them said.
Another leaned back in his chair. "She couldn’t answer because she doesn’t remember."
"She remembers being taken. She remembers being held. She remembers escaping. Yet somehow she doesn’t remember where she was or who took her?"
"You’re suggesting she’s lying?" Another councilman asked "I’m suggesting that her story has gaps."
The older councilman at the head of the table raised his hand. "Enough."
The murmuring stopped. "We are not going to accuse anyone without evidence." "But we cannot ignore the inconsistencies either," another councilman said.
The older man nodded slowly. "No one is asking us to." He looked toward the door through which Alpha Kaidan had left. "Alpha Kaidan has chosen to protect her. That does not mean the council has to stop asking questions."
A few members nodded. "We should look into her story quietly," one suggested. "Agreed."
"And if we find something?" The older councilman looked around the table. "Then we bring it to Alpha Kaidan." No one argued with that.
The council meeting continued without Alpha Kaidan and Serena. Outside the chamber, Serena walked beside Alpha Kaidan without saying a word, Alpha Kaidan noticed the change in her. The confidence she had carried into the council chamber was gone.
"Serena." She kept walking. "Are you all right?" "I’m fine."
Alpha Kaidan stopped. Serena took another step before realising Alpha Kaidan wasn’t beside her anymore then she turned around.
"What?" "You’re not fine."
Serena gave a tired smile. "They questioned me about something I barely remember. What did you expect?"
Alpha Kaidan studied her face. "They asked reasonable questions."
Her expression hardened. "You think they’re right to doubt me?" "That isn’t what I said." "But you didn’t defend me either."
Alpha Kaidan’s jaw tightened. "I stopped them from pushing you further." "You stopped them because you wanted the meeting over."
Alpha Kaidan stared at her. Serena looked away. "Forget it."
She turned to continue walking. "Serena."
She stood. Alpha Kaidan walked toward her. "I hope you’re telling the truth."
Serena’s eyes widened slightly. "Do you doubt me too?" "I don’t know what to believe when the details keep changing."
Her face fell, and she let out a feigned sob. "I never wanted this." "I came back because I thought you would understand but I think I made a mistake returning." "I lost three years of my life, Alpha Kaidan. I came back expecting the man I loved would still be there."
Alpha Kaidan’s voice was soft and remorseful. ’I’m sorry. I’m sorry for doubting you,’ he said. Serena placed her head against his chest, and Alpha Kaidan immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
His hand moved gently against her back, tapping softly as he hugged her tighter.
As his arms tightened around her, Serena’s lips curved into a subtle smile against his chest. She quietly wiped away the last of her tears.
Come on, let’s go,’ Alpha Kaidan said, pulling back slightly to look at her. Serena nodded, composing herself. "Can you kindly tell Grace I won’t be joining for dinner tonight?’ Serena asked. Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Of course". "Go and get some rest." Serena left his side, moving gracefully toward her quarters with a satisfied look.
By the time Alpha Kaidan returned to the pack house, the sun had begun to disappear behind the trees surrounding the property. He entered through the main doors and immediately noticed Grace arranging plates and cutlery on the dining table. "Grace."
She turned. "Alpha." Grace immediately bowed her head respectfully.
Alpha Kaidan glanced around. "Where is Naomi?"
"Madam is in her room."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes moved toward the staircase.
"Why isn’t she down here?" Grace placed another plate on the table.
"She said she isn’t interested in dinner tonight." Alpha Kaidan frowned slightly.
He looked toward the staircase again. "Did Naomi eat anything after she returned?" "I don’t know, Alpha."
Alpha Kaidan said nothing. Grace finished setting the table. "Should I wait for you before serving?" "No."
Grace nodded. "Yes, Alpha."
Alpha Kaidan walked upstairs and stopped outside Naomi’s room. For a moment, he stood there then he raised his hand and knocked.
There was a brief pause. "Yes? Who’s there?"
"It’s me." Another pause. "Coming."
Alpha Kaidan waited. A few seconds later, the door opened. Naomi stood there in a simple house dress, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked tired, her eyes moved over Alpha Kaidan’s face.
"Alpha." "Can I come in?" Naomi stepped aside, and Alpha Kaidan entered. She closed the door behind him. For a while, neither of them spoke then Alpha Kaidan looked at her and broke the silence.
"You’re not eating dinner tonight?" "No. I’m fine."
"You haven’t eaten." "I ate at the healer’s quarters."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. Naomi looked at him. "Do you need anything?" "No."
She waited, Alpha Kaidan remained where he was.
"I just came." Naomi’s brows drew together slightly.
"Came why?"
Alpha Kaidan took a breath. "I came to apologise."
Naomi stared at him. "Apologise?" "Yes."
She looked genuinely surprised."You came to apologise?"
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "For what exactly?"
"For accusing you about the man who drove you that night."
Naomi’s expression didn’t change. She looked at him, unmoved.
"And for what you saw earlier today in the office with Serena," Alpha Kaidan added. "It wasn’t what you think."
Naomi looked at him for a moment, her eyes steady but empty of the usual fire he expected. "Okay."
Alpha Kaidan blinked, clearly taken aback.
"Okay?"
Naomi nodded, her shoulders relaxed."Yes."
"That’s it?" He blinked. She looked at him with the faintest tilt of her head. "What do you want me to say?"
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer. His jaw worked silently as he searched for words. Naomi let out a chuckle and sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at him with an almost detached curiosity. "What exactly were you expecting my response to be?"
Alpha Kaidan remained silent, his brows furrowed.
"Do you want me to jump over the roof?" Her voice was calm. Despite himself, Alpha Kaidan’s expression shifted. Naomi continued, "Should I be happy? Should I clap? Should I dance because Alpha finally came to apologise?"
She shook her head slowly, her gaze never leaving his. "I’m not trying to be rude." She took a slow breath and let it out. "I’ve heard your apology. It’s fine."
Alpha Kaidan looked at her, his eyes searching her face for something, anything that would tell him what she was really feeling. "And I wasn’t thinking anything." His brows drew together sharply. His hand clenched. "You really weren’t thinking anything?"
"No."
There was something about the way she said it that made him pause. Not anger. Not jealousy. Nothing. Naomi looked almost indifferent. Then she said quietly, "You know what’s funny?" Alpha Kaidan waited, his chest tightening.
"I don’t think you’ve ever apologised to me before."
He said nothing; Naomi smiled faintly "Have you?"
Alpha Kaidan’s mind went blank. His hand dropped to his side. He searched through the past four years, and his face revealed the moment he realised the truth.
Arguments. Misunderstandings. Cold conversations. Moments when Naomi had clearly been hurt. He had walked away from most of them. But an actual apology? He couldn’t remember one.
Naomi noticed his silence and the guilt spreading across his features. "Exactly."
Alpha Kaidan looked away, Naomi’s voice remained calm. "I don’t care about whatever you do anymore."
He looked back at her.
"I already told you what I wanted."
"A divorce."
"Yes." Naomi folded her hands in her lap.
"I told you I wanted a divorce, but you weren’t ready to let me go." Alpha Kaidan’s jaw tightened. His fists clenched at his sides.
"You said it wasn’t my decision to make and I accepted that." Naomi looked directly at him, "You said it was your decision, not mine. Fine. I’m okay with whatever decision you make."
"That isn’t what I—"
"It doesn’t matter anymore." she cut him off.
Alpha Kaidan stared at her. Her voice was so quiet, but there was no bitterness in it.
"You can decide what happens to the marriage. You can decide how long you want the contract to continue. You can decide whatever you want."
She looked toward the door "But I don’t want to keep worrying about it." Alpha Kaidan stared at her, Naomi stood."Good night, Alpha."
She walked toward the bed, not bothering to look back. "I need to rest. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow."
Alpha Kaidan remained where he was, frozen. He had come into the room expecting an apology to settle something between them. Instead, Naomi had accepted it and moved on, as if he no longer mattered. There was nothing else for him to say.
"Good night, Naomi."
Alpha Kaidan walked to the door and stepped outside, his shoulders heavy with the weight of what had just happened.
The door closed behind him, a moment later, Naomi locked it.
She leaned against the door for a few seconds, her eyes closing, her breathing steadying with the effort of maintaining her composure. But it was only for a moment. She pushed off and walked back to her bed. She lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, and closed her eyes.
Tomorrow, she had patients to see. She had work to do.