The council chamber was unusually full that afternoon. No one had formally announced the meeting, yet almost every senior council member had arrived. The doors were closed, and the guards outside had been instructed not to allow anyone to interrupt unless it was urgent.
Councilman Harold sat at the head of the table, looking around at the others. "We all know why we’re here."
Richard leaned back in his chair. "Do we?"
Harold gave him a pointed look. "Serena."
A few council members exchanged glances.
Richard shook his head. "We’ve already discussed her return."
"Not like this."
The room quieted. Harold placed both hands on the table. "Serena has been back in Blackclaw for weeks. She has settled into the pack, and people have had time to see that she isn’t asking for special treatment. She has also started contributing where she can."
"That doesn’t answer the real question," Thomas said.
Harold looked at him. "And what do you believe the real question is?"
Thomas didn’t hesitate. "Where does Serena stand now?"
No one answered immediately. The answer seemed obvious, but saying it aloud made the situation more complicated.
Before Serena disappeared, everyone had expected her to become Alpha Kaidan’s Luna, then she was gone. Alpha Kaidan married Naomi, now Serena was back.
One council member finally spoke. "She was supposed to be Luna."
Another councilman shook his head. "That was four years ago."
"And now?"
"Now Alpha Kaidan is married."
"Under a contract."
The words immediately changed the mood in the room.
Harold frowned. "A contract is still a contract."
"But it was never supposed to be permanent in the way a true mate bond is."
"That depends on what Alpha Kaidan decides."
Thomas leaned forward.
"That’s exactly the problem. We keep saying it is Alpha Kaidan’s decision, but we are ignoring the fact that his decision affects the entire pack."
Richard looked at him. "His marriage is his personal matter."
"Not entirely."
Richard raised an eyebrow. Thomas continued.
"Alpha Kaidan isn’t an ordinary pack member. Whoever stands beside him becomes part of Blackclaw’s leadership. That person represents the pack with him, attends council meetings, receives visiting Alphas, participates in alliances and eventually influences what comes after him."
Harold nodded slowly. "That is a fair point."
A woman seated near the end of the table spoke.
"And Naomi has already started doing some of those things."
Thomas looked at her. "She has?"
"She has been respected by the warriors and the pack. Her work as a healer has earned her a good reputation."
Richard nodded. "That is true."
Thomas didn’t argue. "I have heard the same."
Another council member added, "Then why are we discussing whether she belongs beside Alpha Kaidan?"
"Because being a respected healer and being Luna are not necessarily the same thing."
The woman frowned. "Why not?"
Thomas looked at her. "Because the responsibilities are different."
Before she could respond, another council member spoke. "Then what exactly are the responsibilities you believe Naomi cannot handle?"
Thomas opened his mouth but stopped. He had no specific answer. Naomi had never caused a public problem, she had never embarrassed Alpha Kaidan in front of the pack. She had done her work, fulfilled her responsibilities and remained out of council disputes.
That made the conversation more difficult.
Harold noticed the hesitation. "Let’s not accuse Naomi of failing at something simply because we are discussing Serena."
Thomas nodded. "Agreed."
Richard looked around the table. "Then let’s discuss the other issue."
Harold frowned. "What other issue?"
Richard’s expression was serious. "The future of Alpha Kaidan’s line."
The room became still. Thomas slowly sat back.
Richard continued. "Alpha Kaidan has been married for four years."
No one interrupted. "There are still no pups."
The silence became heavier. A council member shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "That is a private matter."
"It is private until it affects succession."
Harold looked at Richard. "Are you suggesting Naomi is responsible?"
"No."
"Then be careful where you’re going with this."
Richard nodded. "I am not blaming Naomi. I’m saying we cannot ignore the fact that Blackclaw has no heir."
Another council member spoke.
"Four years is not necessarily unusual."
"No,"
Richard agreed. "But we have always expected the Alpha to eventually have pups who can carry the bloodline forward."
Harold frowned. "And you believe Serena changes that?"
Richard looked around the room. "I believe Serena’s return forces us to look at the future differently."
Thomas understood. "If Serena is Alpha Kaidan’s true mate, then her return changes more than his personal life."
"Exactly."
The woman who had defended Naomi earlier crossed her arms. "You’re assuming Serena would immediately have children with Alpha Kaidan."
"No one is assuming that."
"You are talking as though it is guaranteed."
Richard shook his head. "No. I’m talking about the possibility of an Alpha and his true mate building the future of the pack together."
Harold leaned back. "That’s dangerous territory."
"Why?"
"Because you’re already treating Serena as though she has a position she hasn’t been given."
Richard said nothing. Thomas broke the silence.
"Then perhaps the real question is whether Alpha Kaidan should be the one to decide that."
Everyone looked at him.
"He is the Alpha," Thomas continued. "He chose Naomi. He entered the contract willingly. If Serena’s return has changed his feelings, he should be allowed to deal with that himself."
"And if he refuses to deal with it?" Richard asked.
Thomas frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"What if Alpha Kaidan continues with the contract simply because ending it would be difficult?"
Harold’s expression hardened. "Then that remains his decision."
"But what about the pack?"
The question lingered. The council had spent years trusting Alpha Kaidan to make decisions for Blackclaw but this was different.
This involved the woman he had married and the woman who had once been expected to become his Luna.
One council member finally said, "What happens to Naomi if Serena is accepted back?"
No one answered.
"She cannot remain Alpha Kaidan’s wife while Serena is restored to the same position," the councilman continued.
"She could remain his wife under the contract," another member said. "And Serena could be his true mate?"
The councilman shook his head. "That would create a situation no Alpha should be forced to maintain."
Harold rubbed his forehead. "We are getting ahead of ourselves."
"No," Richard said quietly. "We’re finally discussing what everyone else is already thinking."
Harold looked at him. "What is everyone else thinking?"
Richard answered. "That Alpha Kaidan may eventually have to choose."
The words settled over the room. Some council members nodded. Others remained silent.
The woman who had defended Naomi spoke again.
"You’re forgetting something."
"What?"
"Naomi has spent four years beside Alpha Kaidan."
Richard looked at her.
"She stayed when everyone believed Serena was gone. She accepted the contract. She built a life here. She became a healer and earned the respect of this pack."
Thomas nodded. "That is why this won’t be simple."
"Exactly."
Another councilman shook his head. "But Serena didn’t choose to disappear."
The room went quiet again.
Harold looked at him. "Be careful."
"I am only saying that we cannot erase what happened to her either."
Richard nodded. "And we cannot erase what Naomi has done."
For several moments, no one spoke. Then Thomas looked around the table. "So perhaps we shouldn’t decide which woman deserves Alpha Kaidan."
Harold raised an eyebrow. "What do you suggest?"
"We decide what we believe is best for Blackclaw."
Richard nodded.
"And if what is best for Blackclaw requires Alpha Kaidan to make a choice?"
Thomas looked at him. "Then we tell him."
Harold remained silent. He knew the conversation had reached a point from which there would be no easy return.
The council had never needed to question Alpha Kaidan’s marriage before. Now they were questioning whether the arrangement could continue.
And the more they discussed it, the more divided they became. Some believed Naomi’s four years of loyalty mattered. Others believed Serena’s return changed everything.
Some cared about the contract. Others cared about the mate bond. And some were already thinking beyond both women.
They were thinking about heirs, bloodlines and the future of Blackclaw.
Harold finally stood. "We are not making a decision today."
Richard looked up. "Why not?"
"Because we are divided."
He looked around the table. "And if we approach Alpha Kaidan divided, he can dismiss the entire discussion as individual opinions."
Thomas slowly nodded. "So what do we do?"
Harold’s expression hardened. "We discuss it again."
Richard leaned forward.
"Until?"
"Until we know where the council stands."
One of the older members looked toward the closed doors.
"And if the council reaches an agreement?"
Harold paused. "Then Alpha Kaidan will know exactly what his council believes."
The meeting ended shortly afterwards but two council members remained behind.
Richard gathered the documents from the table while Thomas stood near the window.
"You know where this is going," Richard said.
Thomas looked back. "I do."
"Do you think Alpha Kaidan will choose Serena?"
Thomas shook his head. "I don’t know."
"What if he refuses to choose at all?"
Thomas was quiet.
Richard placed the last document into the folder.
"If Alpha Kaidan will not make the decision himself, perhaps we should make our position clear."
Thomas looked at him. "Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because if we’re going to do this, we can’t do it with half the council behind us."
Richard understood. He slowly nodded. "Then we need the council united."
Outside the chamber, neither man noticed the figure standing farther down the corridor. Serena had not heard every word. She didn’t need to, she had heard enough.
Later that afternoon, Serena was visited by one of the council members who had been openly sympathetic toward her.
She welcomed him politely.
"I hope I’m not intruding," he said.
"You’re not."
He sat down. "I wanted to speak with you privately."
Serena nodded. "What about?"
"The council."
She waited.
"We’ve been discussing your position in Blackclaw."
Serena lowered her gaze. "I don’t want to cause problems."
"I know."
"I only want peace."
The councilman studied her. "That is why some people believe you should have your place restored."
Serena looked at him. "My place?"
"The position you were expected to hold before you disappeared."
She remained silent. The councilman continued. "You were meant to become Luna."
Serena slowly looked away. "I know."
"If the council decides that your return changes the situation, would you accept the position?"
Serena did not answer immediately. Then she said quietly, "I don’t want to take anything from anyone."
The councilman watched her. "But if Alpha Kaidan chooses you?"
Serena looked back at him. "That would be his decision."
The answer was careful. It did not demand anything, it did not attack Naomi but it gave the councilman exactly what he needed to hear.
Serena was not asking to replace Naomi she was waiting for Alpha Kaidan to recognise what the council already believed.
The councilman stood. "I understand."
After he left, Serena remained seated.
Her expression changed; she had finally reached the point where she no longer needed to convince every person herself.
Other people were beginning to carry the argument for her.