Serena woke the following morning with the previous evening still on her mind. She had spent years imagining what it would be like to return to Blackclaw.
She had expected questions. She had expected some resistance from the pack. What she hadn’t expected was how quickly Naomi had managed to become someone people respected.
The accident at the eastern boundary had given Serena something she could use.
Naomi had made a decision that belonged to Alpha Kaidan and that mattered.
Serena didn’t intend to accuse Naomi of anything, not directly.
If she did that, Alpha Kaidan might defend his wife out of instinct, and the council might dismiss Serena’s concerns as jealousy. Instead, Serena needed other people to come to their own conclusions.
She dressed carefully, left her room, and headed to the main wing.
Christine was already in the sitting room.
"Good morning," Serena said.
Christine looked up.
"Good morning."
Serena sat across from her. "Did you hear about the council meeting?"
Christine nodded. "Alpha Kaidan told me they want to discuss the investigation."
Serena’s expression remained calm. "Do they still have anything?"
"Apparently not much."
Serena lowered her eyes. "That’s unfortunate."
Christine frowned. "Why?"
"Because I hoped they would finally stop questioning what happened to me."
Christine reached for her hand. "They will. If they have found nothing else, they have no reason to keep digging."
Serena gave a small smile. "I hope you’re right."
She paused before adding, "I heard they spoke to the patrol captain again."
"They did."
"And he still couldn’t remember anything useful?"
"No."
Serena nodded slowly. "That should help."
Christine squeezed her hand. "It will."
Serena looked toward the window. For once, she was relieved that the investigation had stalled.
She needed Alpha Kaidan’s attention elsewhere and the eastern-border incident had given her exactly that opportunity.
"Mother," Serena said quietly, "can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you think the council cares about who makes decisions for the pack?"
Christine looked at her. "What do you mean?"
Serena hesitated. "I heard about Naomi restricting the eastern route."
Christine’s expression tightened. "Yes."
"She probably had good intentions."
"She may have."
Serena nodded.
"But isn’t that something Alpha Kaidan should decide?"
Christine was silent.
Serena continued before she could answer. "I don’t want to make trouble. I think certain responsibilities belong to the Alpha."
"You’re right."
"I suppose people might begin getting confused if everyone starts making decisions outside their position."
Christine’s face became thoughtful. Serena didn’t say anything else. She didn’t need to.
Later that morning, Serena left the pack house.
She had no intention of confronting Naomi.
Instead, she went to see one of the council members who had always been sympathetic toward her.
The councilman welcomed her politely. "Miss Serena."
"Good morning."
"Please, sit."
Serena took the offered seat. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."
"Not at all."
She smiled. "I wanted to thank you."
The councilman looked surprised. "For what?"
"For speaking honestly during the council meeting."
"I was only asking questions."
"I know. But you were fair."
He studied her. "You don’t have to thank me for that."
"I do."
Serena folded her hands in her lap. "I know people are uncertain about my return." "That is understandable and I don’t blame them."
The councilman nodded. Serena looked around the room.
"I’ve been thinking about Blackclaw a lot since I came back."
"About what?"
"The pack."
She smiled faintly. "I remember what it was like before I left. The alliances, the expectations, the responsibilities Alpha Kaidan carried. Things have changed."
"They have."
"I want to help if I can."
The councilman raised an eyebrow. "Help?"
"Not interfere with Alpha Kaidan’s decisions." Serena smiled.
"I know my place. But I understand this pack. I understand the alliances that existed before I disappeared, and I understand what was expected of me as Alpha Kaidan’s mate."
The councilman leaned back. "You were supposed to become Luna."
"Yes." Her voice remained quiet. "But I don’t want to use that position to demand anything. I only want Blackclaw to remain strong."
The councilman nodded slowly. "That is what everyone wants."
"I hope so."
Serena stood after a few more minutes. "Thank you for listening."
"You’re welcome."
As she walked away, Serena knew she had accomplished exactly what she wanted. She hadn’t asked him to support her, she had reminded him who she was.
The council meeting was held that afternoon.
Alpha Kaidan entered the chamber, and the council members rose, then took their seats.
John stood near the side of the room with the latest reports.
Alpha Kaidan took his place at the head of the table.
"Let’s begin."
One of the council members opened the folder in front of him. "We continued the investigation into Miss Serena’s disappearance."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "And?"
"We spoke to the patrol captain."
"What did he say?"
"He repeated his previous statement. He remembers Serena leaving Blackclaw four years ago, but he cannot remember the identity of the man who was with her."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression remained serious. "Nothing else?"
"Nothing useful."
Another council member spoke. "We also reviewed the remaining records available to us."
"And?"
"There are gaps, but we haven’t found enough evidence to explain them."
Alpha Kaidan looked around the table. "So you believe the investigation should end?"
The first councilman shook his head. "Not end permanently."
"Then what?"
"Be placed on hold."
The room became quiet. Alpha Kaidan leaned back.
"We have no evidence proving that Serena lied," the councilman continued. "But we also don’t have enough information to answer every question surrounding her disappearance."
Alpha Kaidan nodded slowly. "I understand."
The councilman closed the folder. "We don’t want to accuse her without proof."
"Neither do I." Alpha Kaidan’s voice was firm.
"But if new information appears, I expect you to bring it to me."
"Yes, Alpha."
Another council member spoke. "There is also another matter."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him.
"The eastern boundary."
John placed the report on the table.
"The accident involving the patrol vehicles?"
"Yes."
The councilman nodded. "We understand Madam Naomi instructed the patrol team to restrict the route before you were informed."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression hardened slightly. "She did."
"Was that authorised?"
"No."
The room fell silent. Alpha Kaidan continued before anyone could misunderstand. "She decided after treating an injured warrior. The barrier had already been damaged, and another vehicle had been involved in the accident."
"So the decision was based on safety concerns?"
"Yes."
The council member nodded.
"I understand why she did it."
Another councilman spoke. "But that doesn’t change the fact that she made a decision concerning the pack’s territory without informing you."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him. "She should have informed me."
No one spoke for a moment. Then another council member said, "That is the concern."
Alpha Kaidan’s gaze moved around the table. "What concern?"
"That people may begin assuming that good intentions are enough to make decisions that belong to the Alpha."
Alpha Kaidan remained quiet. The councilman continued. "Madam Naomi may have been right about the danger. But authority still matters."
"I agree." Alpha Kaidan’s answer surprised some of them. "She was trying to prevent another accident," he continued. "But next time, she needs to inform me before making a decision like that."
The council members nodded.
The matter should have ended there.
But one councilman looked toward the others.
"She has been receiving a lot of praise from the pack lately."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes narrowed slightly. "She is a good healer."
"No one is questioning her ability as a healer."
The councilman paused.
"We are questioning whether her growing influence could eventually make people forget where authority lies."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression became unreadable. "Her reputation as a healer isn’t a threat to my authority."
"No, Alpha."
The councilman lowered his gaze.
"But influence can become power if it isn’t handled carefully."
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer immediately. He knew Naomi had never asked the pack to follow her.
She hadn’t sought attention, she had done her work.
Still, the conversation stayed with him.
Across the room, Serena listened quietly. She had not said a single word. She didn’t need to.
The council was already discussing Naomi without being asked and that was exactly what Serena wanted.
When the meeting ended, the council members stood as Alpha Kaidan rose.
Serena waited outside the chamber. One of the council members approached her. "You were right."
Serena looked at him. "About what?"
"Blackclaw needs stability."
She gave him a polite smile. "Of course."
He nodded and walked away.
Serena watched him go. She had not asked him to choose her, she hadn’t even mentioned Naomi.
But the conversation inside the council chamber had moved exactly where she wanted it to go.
The investigation into her past was losing momentum and attention was beginning to shift toward Naomi.
Serena smiled faintly before turning toward the pack house. She had waited long enough.
Now she would make sure the pack remembered exactly who she was.