Serena barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the council chamber, the questions, the patrol records, the way Alpha Kaidan had looked at her when he said he no longer knew what to believe. That last sentence bothered her more than anything else, because Alpha Kaidan had always been easy to control when it came to her. All Serena had needed was a reminder of what they had lost, a tear, or a few words about the years she had spent away from him. But now there were records, and records did not care about tears.
Serena sat on the edge of her bed the following morning, staring at the floor while she went over everything she knew. The council had already discovered that the date she gave them did not match the patrol records, and John had spoken to the patrol captain. The patrol captain remembered something Serena had hoped no one would ever ask about: that she had left Blackclaw willingly, not dragged away, not crying for help, not looking afraid. And she had not been alone.
Serena’s fingers tightened around the edge of her dress. That part could ruin everything.
A knock came at the door. Serena quickly composed herself. "Come in." Christine entered. "You’ve been awake for a while," Christine said.
Serena forced a small smile. "I couldn’t sleep." Christine closed the door behind her. "Because of yesterday?"
Serena looked away. "The council doesn’t trust me."
"They don’t know what happened," Christine said firmly. "That is different."
"They are investigating."
"Let them."
Serena looked back at her. Christine sat beside her. "You have Alpha Kaidan. He will not allow them to treat you like a criminal."
Serena’s expression softened. "I know." But she didn’t sound convinced. Christine noticed. "You are worried."
"I don’t want to cause problems for Alpha Kaidan."
Christine reached for her hand. "You already lost four years with him. Don’t let the council take away the little time you’ve just gotten back."
Serena swallowed, the words should have comforted her instead, but they reminded her of what was at stake. "I just wish I knew what they were going to find."
Christine frowned. "Find?"
Serena immediately shook her head. "I mean, I wish I knew what questions they were going to ask next."
Christine studied her for a moment before nodding
"They cannot investigate forever."
Serena smiled. "You’re right."
Christine stood. "I’ll be downstairs if you need me."
"Thank you."
After Christine left, Serena remained seated.
She waited until she heard the door to the hallway close then she stood. There was something she needed to know not about the council and not about the records.
Serena left her room and walked toward the administrative wing. She did not hurry. She did not want anyone to think she was nervous when she reached the corridor, she stopped outside the records room.
The door was closed. Serena glanced down the hallway before entering. Inside, shelves filled the walls. Old reports were arranged by year, territory, patrol routes, household records, and official correspondence.
She knew exactly what she was looking for.
The document she had seen the previous night. It was not the patrol report the council had already found. It was a separate record from the same period, one that contained information about movement through Blackclaw’s territory.
If the council found it, they could compare it with the story she had given them.
Serena walked to the shelf and carefully pulled out the folder. Her heart beat faster as she opened it.
There it was.
The record she had found the previous night.
Serena scanned the page again, her eyes stopping on the entry she had been afraid of.
A movement had been recorded on the same day she left. She read it twice.
The record did not give the man’s name, but it confirmed that the car had passed through one of Blackclaw’s outer routes that evening.
And whoever had been travelling with her had been with her when she left. Serena slowly closed the folder.
If the council connected this record to the patrol captain’s testimony, they would have a much clearer picture of what happened that night.
She looked toward the door. No one was there.
Serena slipped the folder beneath her robe and adjusted the fabric to hide it.
She wasn’t going to leave it where anyone could find it. She walked out of the records room and closed the door behind her. She had barely reached the end of the corridor when she heard footsteps approaching.
Serena looked up. John was coming toward her.
Her heart jumped, but she kept her expression calm.
"Miss Serena."
"John."
John glanced toward the records room behind her.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Christine."
"She’s not here."
"I know. I was about to leave."
John studied her for a moment. Serena smiled. "I’ll find her later."
"All right."
She walked past him without looking back. John watched her leave before turning toward the records room. He stepped inside and glanced around.
Everything appeared normal. The shelves were in order; the records were where they were supposed to be.
He looked at the shelves for another moment before leaving. He had no reason to suspect that Serena had already taken the one record she didn’t want him to find.
Alpha Kaidan was in his office when John arrived.
"Sir."
Alpha Kaidan looked up from the papers on his desk.
"Any update?"
John shook his head. "Nothing new from the administrative records, Sir. I checked the records connected to Miss Serena’s disappearance, but there isn’t anything else that stands out."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "And the patrol captain?"
"His statement remains the same."
Alpha Kaidan leaned back in his chair. "All right. Keep looking, but don’t waste time searching the same records repeatedly."
"Yes, Sir."
John turned to leave. Alpha Kaidan remained at his desk, turning his attention back to the work waiting for him.
Serena returned to her quarters later that morning. She closed the door behind her and immediately pulled the folder from beneath her robe.
She placed it on the table and stared at it. The record had been useful once now it was dangerous.
If John found it, he could connect it to the patrol captain’s statement. The council would have another piece of information to examine, and Serena wasn’t willing to take that risk.
She opened the folder one last time. Her eyes moved over the pages then she carried it to the small fireplace.
One page at a time, she fed the records into the flames. The paper curled. The writing disappeared.
Serena watched until the final page turned black and collapsed into the ashes.
She stirred the remains with the end of the fireplace tool, making sure nothing readable remained.
Then she closed the fireplace.
She looked at herself in the mirror and adjusted her hair. By the time she left her quarters, there was no sign that anything had happened.
By evening, Serena was back at the pack house.
Grace was arranging dinner when Serena walked into the dining room.
"Miss Serena," Grace greeted.
"Grace."
"Dinner will be ready soon." Serena smiled.
"Thank you."
She took a seat at the table and glanced toward the entrance. "Has Alpha Kaidan returned?"
"Not yet."
"All right."
Serena picked up a glass of water. She had decided to wait for him not because she was worried but because she needed everything to look normal.
A little while later, the front door opened. Alpha Kaidan walked into the house; removing his jacket as he entered.
His eyes landed on Serena sitting at the dining table.
"You’re here."
Serena smiled. "I’ve been waiting for you."
Alpha Kaidan walked over and sat opposite her. "How was your day?"
"Quiet." She tilted her head.
"How was yours?"
"Busy."
Serena smiled. "As always"
"Because it usually is."
She laughed softly.
Grace entered with the first dish and placed it on the table.
"Dinner is ready, Alpha."
"Thank you, Grace."
Grace nodded and was about to leave when Alpha Kaidan questioned her. "Grace, what about Naomi?"
"She isn’t home yet," Grace replied.
Alpha Kaidan was about to respond when Serena cut in. "Can we just have dinner quietly?"
Grace walked away. Alpha nodded and they ate dinner.