Serena barely slept that night. She remained awake long after the pack house had gone quiet, staring at the ceiling while Alpha Kaidan’s words repeated in her head.
I’ll let the council investigate.
He had said it calmly, as though the decision meant nothing but it meant everything.
For four years, Serena had relied on one thing more than anything else: Alpha Kaidan believing her.
He had spent years carrying the guilt of losing her. When she finally returned, she had known exactly what to give him: the right tears, the right memories, the right pieces of their past.
She had never expected the council to start looking into the details. That was the problem with questions. One question led to another and eventually, someone found something.
Serena sat up in bed. She needed to know what the council could find before they found it.
She got out of bed and walked toward the window.
The pack house was quiet. Most of the lights downstairs had been turned off. Beyond the glass, the grounds were dark except for the lamps lining the main walkway.
Serena folded her arms. There had to be records.
Four years was a long time, but pack records were not easily destroyed. Patrol reports, border logs, healer records, transportation records—there were traces of everything that happened within Blackclaw territory, and if the council were already checking patrol reports, they wouldn’t stop there.
Serena needed to know what was still there. More importantly, she needed to know what could hurt her.
The next morning, Serena went downstairs earlier than usual.
Christine was already in the dining room. "Serena," Christine said when she saw her. "You’re up early."
Serena forced a small smile. "I couldn’t sleep."
Christine looked concerned. "Are you all right?"
"I’m fine."
"You don’t have to pretend with me."
Serena lowered her eyes. "It’s the council."
Christine’s expression hardened immediately.
"Those people are asking too many questions, I know." "They should be grateful you survived and came home."
Serena sat across from her. "I don’t think they’re trying to hurt me."
Christine scoffed. "They don’t need to try. The way they looked at you was enough."
Serena remained quiet for a moment before speaking. "There is something I wanted to ask you."
"Anything."
"Do you know where the old pack records are kept?"
Christine frowned. "Records?"
"Yes. From four years ago."
"Why?"
Serena hesitated. "I’ve been trying to remember things."
Christine’s expression softened. "I thought you said you couldn’t remember much."
"I can’t."
Serena looked down at her hands. "But sometimes I remember small things. A place. A conversation. A date. Then I can’t tell if it’s something that actually happened or something my mind created because I’ve been trying so hard to remember."
Christine reached across the table and touched her hand. "You’ve been through too much."
"That’s why I want to look through some of the old records. Maybe seeing something will help."
Christine nodded slowly. "I don’t know where everything is kept now. Some records are in the council archive."
"Would they let me see them?"
"Probably not without permission."
Serena’s expression fell. Christine noticed.
"I can ask someone."
"You don’t have to."
"I said I would."
Serena smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Christine stood and walked toward the sideboard.
"There may also be some old records in the administrative room. Alpha Kaidan keeps some of the older documents there before they’re transferred to the council archive."
Serena looked up. "Administrative room?"
"Yes."
"Can I look there?"
Christine nodded. "I don’t see why not. You’re part of this family."
Serena lowered her gaze so Christine wouldn’t see the relief in her eyes. "Thank you."
A few minutes later, Christine left to speak with one of the household staff. Serena remained at the table.
Her expression changed. She now knew where to start.
The administrative room was at the back of the pack house, away from the main offices.
Serena had passed it several times during her stay but had never had a reason to enter.
That afternoon, she waited until the hallway was empty before walking toward it. She opened the door.
The room smelled of old paper and dust. Shelves lined two walls, filled with boxes and leather-bound records. A large desk sat near the window, and several newer documents were stacked neatly on top.
Serena closed the door behind her. She stood still for a moment, listening to nothing. She walked toward the shelves, the records were arranged by year.
Her fingers moved across the labels. Two years ago. Three years ago. Four years ago.
She stopped, her heart began beating faster. She pulled out the box marked with the year. Inside were patrol reports, territory records and several smaller folders.
Serena began searching, she wasn’t looking for everything. She knew exactly what she needed: something that had happened before her disappearance, something that should never have been connected to her return.
She moved through the papers quickly, checking dates and names. Nothing.
She opened another folder. Still nothing.
Her breathing became shallow as she searched through the remaining papers. Then she found a report.
Serena froze, she stared at the page without touching it.
The name on the report was familiar. Too familiar.
Slowly, she picked it up and read through the details.
Her face drained.
"No." She looked toward the door.
Silence.
Serena read the report again, this time more carefully. This wasn’t the patrol report the council had already found. It was another record from the same period one that could answer questions they hadn’t even thought to ask yet.
Her fingers tightened around the paper, she had thought this record would have been moved, destroyed, or buried beneath years of newer documents.
Anything but this.
It was still here.
After four years, it was still here.
And if the council found it, they would start asking questions she couldn’t answer.
Serena quickly placed the report back inside the folder. She checked the position of the papers around it, making sure everything looked exactly as she had found it.
Then she closed the folder and returned it to the box.
She pushed the box back into its place.
A sound came from the hallway.
Serena froze.
Footsteps.
Someone was coming.
She stepped away from the shelf and tried to control her breathing. The footsteps came closer. The door handle moved.
Serena turned, and the door opened.
It was one of the household attendants carrying a stack of folded linens.
The woman stopped when she saw Serena. "Miss Serena."
Serena smiled. "I was looking for something."
The attendant glanced at the shelves. "Do you need help?"
"No."
Serena’s voice came out too quickly. She corrected herself. "I mean, no, thank you. Luna Christine told me, I could look through some of the old records. I’m trying to remember something from before I disappeared."
The attendant nodded. "Oh."
Serena smiled again. "I should have asked someone to come with me."
The attendant walked past her toward a cabinet on the other side of the room.
Serena waited. "Actually," Serena said, "could you tell Luna Christine I found what I was looking for?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
The attendant left a few moments later. Serena waited until the footsteps disappeared then she looked back at the shelf. Her calm expression vanished.
She had found the record. That was good, but it was also bad because now she knew the council wasn’t simply asking questions. They were getting close.
Serena walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. She made it halfway down the hallway before she stopped.
Alpha Kaidan’s voice came from behind her.
"Serena?"
She turned. Alpha Kaidan was walking toward her.
For a second, panic flashed across her face before she covered it with a smile.
"Alpha Kaidan."
"What are you doing here?"
Serena glanced toward the administrative room.
"I was looking for some old records."
"Why?"
"I told Luna Christine I wanted to see if anything might help me remember the years before I disappeared."
Alpha Kaidan studied her. "Did you find anything?"
Serena smiled softly. "A few things."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "If you need anything, tell me."
"I will."
He walked past her. Serena watched Alpha Kaidan disappear around the corner. Only then did she allow herself to breathe.
She had found the record but now she had another problem, Alpha Kaidan had almost seen through her.
Serena looked back at the closed door. The council had already found something, she couldn’t let them find this one before she had time to deal with it.