The council’s letter arrived shortly after breakfast.
John brought it into Alpha Kaidan’s office and placed the sealed envelope on the desk.
"Sir."
Alpha Kaidan looked up from the report he was reading.
"What is it?"
"A formal request from the council."
Alpha Kaidan stared at the envelope for a moment before taking it.
He already knew what it was about. He broke the seal and read the letter carefully.
Alpha Kaidan,
The council respectfully requests your presence at a formal meeting this afternoon at two o’clock.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters concerning the current leadership of Blackclaw, including Serena Cole’s return, the position of Luna, the status of your marriage to Madam Naomi, and matters concerning the future of the Alpha’s line.
The council believes these matters require clarity to ensure the pack’s stability and future.
We respectfully ask that you attend and address the council directly.
—The Blackclaw Council
The council requested his presence that afternoon but Alpha Kaidan understood what was beneath the careful language. They wanted an answer.
He placed the letter on the desk.
"Who signed it?"
"Harold, Richard, Thomas, and three others."
Alpha Kaidan leaned back. "So they have their agreement."
John nodded. "They’ve been speaking to the other members since yesterday."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression hardened. "And now they want me in front of the entire council."
"Yes, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan picked up the letter again. "Anything else?"
John hesitated. "Some members believe the discussion should remain private."
"Good."
"But others believe the council has a responsibility to address the future of the pack."
Alpha Kaidan gave him a cold look. "The future of the pack."
"Yes, Sir."
"That is becoming a convenient phrase."
John said nothing. Alpha Kaidan folded the letter and placed it back on the desk.
"What time?"
"Two o’clock."
"I’ll be there."
"Yes, Sir."
John started to leave.
"John."
He waited.
"Sir?"
"If anyone from the council approaches Naomi directly about this before I speak to them, I want to know."
"Yes, Sir."
John left. Alpha Kaidan remained alone in the office.
His eyes returned to the folded letter.
For years, the council had trusted him to make decisions for Blackclaw. They advised him when necessary. They questioned matters that affected the pack. That was their responsibility but this was different.
They were no longer asking what was best for Blackclaw. They were discussing who should stand beside him and Alpha Kaidan was beginning to resent how easily they had turned his marriage into a political matter.
At the healer’s quarters, Naomi was already working when the council meeting was being arranged.
She had no idea the letter had arrived. She had no idea Alpha Kaidan would soon be sitting in front of the council discussing their marriage.
And for the moment, she didn’t want to know.
The conversation from the previous night was still fresh in her mind, but Naomi refused to let it follow her into her work.
A young woman sat across from her while Naomi examined a swollen wrist.
"How did this happen?"
"I fell while carrying water."
Naomi gently moved the wrist. "Does this hurt?"
"A little."
"And here?"
The woman winced.
Naomi nodded. "It isn’t broken. Keep it supported for the next few days and don’t lift anything heavy with this hand."
"Yes, Madam."
Naomi wrote down the instructions and handed them to her. The woman stood.
"Thank you."
Naomi nodded. "Next."
Another patient entered. Naomi continued working.
She wasn’t waiting for Alpha Kaidan to explain himself. She wasn’t waiting for the council to decide what happened to her marriage.
She had already said what she wanted. She wanted freedom.
If Alpha Kaidan still refused to give her that, then that was his choice. Naomi wasn’t going to spend the rest of her life arguing about it.
She picked up the next patient’s file. "Sit down. Tell me what’s wrong." And she returned to work.
At two o’clock, Alpha Kaidan entered the council chamber. Every member stood.
"Alpha."
Alpha Kaidan gave a brief nod. "Sit."
The council members took their seats. Harold remained at the centre of the table.
"Thank you for coming, Alpha."
Alpha Kaidan took his seat.
"You requested this meeting."
"Yes."
"Then speak."
Harold exchanged a glance with the other council members before continuing.
"The council has been discussing several matters concerning Blackclaw’s leadership."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression remained controlled.
"I know."
Harold nodded. "We wanted to speak to you directly rather than allow assumptions to spread."
"That would have been preferable from the beginning."
A few council members shifted in their seats. Harold continued. "Serena’s return has created a situation none of us expected."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes narrowed. "She’s already returned. That isn’t news."
"No," Harold said carefully. "But her return has raised questions about her position."
Alpha Kaidan leaned back. "Her position?"
"Yes."
Richard spoke next. "Before she disappeared, Serena was recognised as your true mate. The pack expected her to become Luna."
Alpha Kaidan’s voice was quiet. "And now you’re telling me what you expected four years ago?"
"No, Alpha."
Richard kept his tone respectful. "We’re telling you that her return has consequences for the future."
Alpha Kaidan’s fingers tightened against the arm of his chair "Go on."
Thomas spoke. "You are currently married to Naomi under a contract."
"I am aware of my marriage."
"We know."
"Then why are we discussing it?"
Thomas hesitated. "Because the council needs to understand whether that arrangement is still appropriate given Serena’s return."
The room went quiet.
Alpha Kaidan stared at him. "Appropriate?"
"Yes."
Alpha Kaidan leaned forward. "Naomi is my wife."
"No one is denying that."
"You just questioned whether my marriage is appropriate."
"We are questioning what is best for the pack."
Alpha Kaidan’s voice sharpened.
"My marriage is not a council position."
Harold raised a hand. "Alpha, please."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him.
"We aren’t trying to disrespect you."
"Then stop speaking about my wife as though she is a problem that needs to be solved."
No one answered immediately. Richard finally spoke.
"Naomi has done well among the healers. No one is questioning her ability or her contribution."
"Good."
"But there are matters beyond her role as a healer."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression hardened. "Like?"
"The future of the Alpha’s line cannot be ignored."
There it was again.
Alpha Kaidan’s jaw tightened. "You’ve already discussed children."
"Yes."
"You have no place discussing what happens between my wife and me."
Harold spoke carefully. "The council isn’t asking about private matters."
"You are discussing the future of my family."
"That affects the pack."
Alpha Kaidan stood. The movement immediately silenced the room. "My family is not a council project."
Harold remained seated. "Alpha—"
"No."
Alpha Kaidan’s voice was firm. "You asked me here because you wanted clarity. So listen carefully."
Every council member watched him. "Naomi is my wife. Whatever circumstances brought us into this marriage, she has fulfilled every responsibility expected of her."
Richard looked down briefly. Alpha Kaidan continued.
"She has served this pack. She has trained as a healer. She treats our people. She has earned their trust."
His voice lowered. "And none of you will turn her into the reason for problems that have nothing to do with her."
Harold exchanged another glance with the others.
"Then what about Serena?"
Alpha Kaidan looked directly at him. "What about her?"
"She is your true mate."
"I know."
"She returned after four years."
"I know that too."
"And you expect the council to ignore what that means simply?"
Alpha Kaidan’s expression changed. "No."
The room became still. "I expect the council to understand that Serena’s return does not give you the right to make decisions for me."
Harold studied him. "Then what are you going to do?"
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer. The question hung in the room. He could have said Naomi was his choice.
He could have ended the discussion immediately but the words wouldn’t come.
Not because he didn’t know that Naomi had suffered, not because he didn’t understand what she had told him the previous night.
He wasn’t ready to make a promise he wasn’t certain he could keep.
Harold noticed the silence. "We aren’t asking you to decide today."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him. "Then what are you asking?"
"For clarity."
"You have it."
Harold waited. Alpha Kaidan’s voice remained firm.
"Naomi is my wife. Serena is someone who has returned to Blackclaw after four years. Those facts haven’t changed."
Richard leaned forward. "But they cannot remain unresolved forever."
Alpha Kaidan’s eyes hardened. "That’s my decision to make."
Harold nodded slowly. "We understand."
"Do you?"
Alpha Kaidan looked around the room. "Because if I hear that any member of this council has approached Naomi about her marriage or tried to pressure her into leaving, this conversation will be very different."
The warning was clear.
No one challenged him. Alpha Kaidan picked up the letter that had summoned him to the meeting and placed it on the table.
"You wanted to speak to me. You have."
He turned toward the council. "If you have concerns about Blackclaw’s security, finances, warriors, territory, or anything else that falls within your responsibilities, bring them to me."
His gaze moved across the room. "But my marriage is not yours to settle."
With that, Alpha Kaidan left the chamber. The council remained silent after the doors closed.
Harold looked at the others. "He hasn’t chosen."
Richard shook his head. "No."
Thomas leaned back. "But he hasn’t rejected Serena either."
Harold’s expression tightened. "That means we still have work to do."
Alpha Kaidan returned to his office alone. He closed the door behind him and stood there for several seconds.
The council’s words remained in his mind. His marriage, Serena, Naomi, children, a future.
Too many decisions had been left untouched for too long, and now everyone seemed to want answers at once.
Alpha Kaidan walked to his desk then he remembered Naomi’s words from the previous night.
I asked for a divorce. You refused. So whatever happens now is your decision.
Alpha Kaidan sat down slowly. For years, he had been comfortable making decisions because he knew Naomi would remain where he left her.
Now the council wanted him to choose between two futures but Naomi was no longer waiting for him to choose her and that was the part Alpha Kaidan couldn’t ignore.