Christine had always believed that a pack was strongest when its Alpha was surrounded by the right people.
She believed in tradition, bloodlines, alliances, and the importance of choosing a Luna who understood what the position required. Those beliefs had not changed during the four years Serena was gone.
If anything, Serena’s return had made Christine more determined to see things restored to the way she believed they should have been.
That evening, Christine sat in her sitting room when Serena arrived.
"Mother."
Christine looked up from the papers in her hands. "Serena."
Serena smiled and walked inside. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."
"You’re not." Christine set the papers aside. "Sit."
Serena took the chair opposite her. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Christine asked, "How are things with Alpha Kaidan?"
Serena lowered her eyes. "Complicated."
Christine frowned. "Because of Naomi?"
Serena hesitated before answering. "Partly."
Christine leaned back. "I thought Alpha Kaidan was beginning to understand what he feels."
"He is confused," Serena said carefully. "And I don’t blame him."
Christine studied her. "You still love him."
Serena looked up. "I never stopped." The answer came quietly, without hesitation.
Christine sighed. "I always believed the two of you would eventually find your way back to each other."
"So did I."
Serena looked down at her hands. "But four years is a long time. Things changed while I was gone."
Christine knew exactly what she meant. "Naomi."
Serena nodded. "She is his wife now."
"Contract wife," Christine corrected.
Serena looked at her.
Christine’s expression remained firm. "There is a difference."
Serena did not respond immediately. She knew better than to push Christine too quickly. The woman already had strong opinions about Naomi, and Serena only needed to give those opinions somewhere to grow.
"I know what the contract says," Serena finally replied. "But I don’t want to create problems for Alpha Kaidan."
Christine’s eyebrows lifted. "You don’t?" "No."
Serena shook her head. "I came back because I thought I could finally return home. I never imagined I would have to compete with anyone."
Christine’s expression softened. "You shouldn’t have to."
Serena gave a small smile. "That is what I keep telling myself."
Christine reached for the teapot and poured Serena a cup. "You were supposed to be his mate."
"I know."
"You were the woman everyone expected to become Luna."
"I know that too."
"And then you disappeared."
Serena’s expression changed. Christine noticed.
"I’m sorry," she said more gently. "I shouldn’t have brought it up."
Serena shook her head. "It’s fine."
She took the cup. "I’ve spent four years trying not to think about everything I lost."
Christine watched her carefully. "And now?"
"Now I have a chance to rebuild my life."
Christine nodded. "You should."
Serena took a sip before placing the cup down.
"There is just one problem."
"What?"
"The council."
Christine’s face hardened slightly. "What about them?"
"I don’t know if they will understand me."
"They should."
Serena continued carefully. "I’ve noticed some of them aren’t focusing on what Blackclaw needs now."
"And what does Blackclaw need?"
"A strong Alpha. Stability. Good alliances."
Christine nodded slowly. "That is exactly what I’ve been saying for years."
Serena looked at her. "I remember."
Christine smiled faintly. "Then you understand."
Serena did. That was the opening she had been waiting for.
"I don’t want to interfere with Alpha Kaidan’s decisions," Serena said. "But I remember what we discussed before I left. The alliances we were building. The packs we had planned to work with. The expectations surrounding the Alpha’s mate."
Christine leaned forward. "You remember all of that?"
"Of course."
"You were very involved before you disappeared."
"I was."
Christine looked thoughtful. "You could still be useful."
Serena smiled. "That is all I want."
Christine narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are you sure?"
Serena met her gaze. "I don’t want to take anything from Naomi."
Christine gave a short, humourless laugh. "You don’t have to."
Serena said nothing. Christine continued.
"Naomi may be Alpha Kaidan’s wife by contract, but being Luna requires more than signing a document."
Serena lowered her gaze, hiding the satisfaction in her expression. "I don’t want to speak against her."
"You don’t have to," Christine said. "People will notice things for themselves."
Serena looked up again. "What things?"
Christine counted them calmly. "Tradition. Bloodline. Alliances. Experience. The responsibilities that come with standing beside an Alpha."
Serena listened. "Naomi is a healer," Christine continued. "And she may be a good one. I have heard people praising her."
Serena’s jaw tightened for a second before she relaxed it.
"But being a healer isn’t the same as being Luna."
"I know."
"You understand what Alpha Kaidan’s position requires."
"I do."
"You understand the council."
"I do."
"You understand what it means to represent the pack."
Serena nodded. Christine leaned back.
"Then stop thinking about what Naomi has and start thinking about what you can offer."
Serena smiled. "That sounds like something Alpha Kaidan’s mother would say."
Christine smiled back. "I am his mother."
They both laughed softly. For the first time since Serena had returned, Christine felt certain that she could help her.
Not by forcing Alpha Kaidan to make a decision, nor by confronting Naomi but by reminding the right people of what Blackclaw had expected before Serena disappeared.
The next morning, Christine visited the council offices. She did not announce why she was there.
She spoke with two council members about an upcoming alliance discussion, asked about pack resources, and listened while they explained their concerns.
Eventually, the conversation shifted. "Things have changed since Serena returned," one councilman said.
Christine nodded. "They have."
"Do you think Alpha Kaidan is handling everything properly?"
Christine looked at him. "Alpha Kaidan has a difficult decision to make."
The councilman waited for Christine to continue. "I don’t intend to make that decision for him, that isn’t what I asked."
"I know."
She folded her hands on the table. "But I believe Alpha Kaidan needs people around him who understand the responsibilities of his position."
The councilman nodded slowly. "And who do you believe understands those responsibilities?"
Christine did not answer immediately. Instead, she said, "Serena was raised around pack leadership. She understands alliances. She understands what the council expects from an Alpha’s mate."
The councilman leaned back. "And Naomi?"
Christine kept her expression neutral. "Naomi has proven herself as a healer."
That was all she said; she did not insult Naomi. She did not call her unfit. She just placed the two women in different categories and allowed the councilman to draw his own conclusion.
Another council member entered the room. Christine greeted him before continuing the conversation.
By the time she left, Serena’s name had entered the discussion without Christine ever directly asking them to support her. That was exactly how she wanted it.
Meanwhile, Serena continued meeting people.
She visited the pack’s administrative offices and spoke with the people handling trade arrangements.
She remembered details from before her disappearance that surprised several of them.
She asked questions about changes in nearby packs.
She listened when they complained about new regulations.
She offered suggestions when asked. She never demanded authority. Instead, she behaved as though she already understood where she belonged.
That made people comfortable with her, and comfort slowly became familiarity. Familiarity became trust.
By the end of the week, several council members had spoken privately about Serena’s knowledge of pack affairs. One of them even mentioned that Blackclaw had lost something important when she disappeared.
The statement reached Alpha Kaidan through John.
Alpha Kaidan was in his office reviewing patrol reports when John entered.
"Sir."
Alpha Kaidan looked up. "What is it?"
"The council has been speaking positively about Serena."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression remained neutral. "About what?"
"Her knowledge of alliances. Her understanding of pack traditions. Some of them believe she could be useful in future negotiations."
Alpha Kaidan set the report down. "Who?"
John named two council members.
Alpha Kaidan thought about it. "Anything else?"
"Luna Christine has also been speaking with some of them."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him. "My mother?"
"Yes, Sir."
"What is she saying?"
John hesitated. "She hasn’t openly asked them to support Serena." "But?" "She has been talking about tradition and the responsibilities of the Alpha’s mate."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression tightened. "Does she mention Naomi?"
"Not directly."
Alpha Kaidan leaned back. He had expected his mother to favour Serena. That was nothing new.
What concerned him was that the conversations were moving beyond personal preference.
They were becoming political.
"Keep me informed," Alpha Kaidan said.
"Yes, Sir."
John left.
Alpha Kaidan remained seated for several minutes.
He knew the council. Once they began discussing what was best for Blackclaw, personal feelings could quickly become secondary.
And Serena was beginning to understand that.
At the healer’s quarters, Naomi knew nothing about the conversations taking place around her.
Her days remained busy. She treated warriors, pack members, children, and elderly residents. More people came to her because they trusted her judgment.
That afternoon, one of the senior healers approached her while she was organising medicine.
"Madam."
Naomi looked up. "Yes?"
"The Alpha’s office sent word that they want copies of your recent treatment reports."
Naomi frowned. "Why?"
"The Alpha wants them included in the medical records."
Naomi nodded. "All right. I’ll prepare them."
The healer smiled. "People are starting to rely on you around here."
Naomi gave her a puzzled look. "I’m just doing my job."
"I know."
The woman laughed softly. "But people notice."
Naomi returned her attention to the files. She wasn’t interested in being noticed, she only wanted to do her work well.
Outside, more pack members waited for treatment.
Inside the council offices, people were discussing who should stand beside the Alpha.
And in the pack house, Christine was already making plans for another conversation with the council.
Serena had found the support she needed. Christine had decided to help her gain more.
Neither woman had confronted Naomi. Neither had demanded that Alpha Kaidan choose.
But the idea they wanted the pack to consider was beginning to take shape.
Naomi was Alpha Kaidan’s contract wife. Serena was the woman the pack had once expected to become his true mate and Luna.
Soon, the council would have to decide what that difference meant.