By the third morning, Naomi no longer needed anyone to show her around the Redridge medical facility. She arrived shortly after seven and went straight to the treatment room. The staff were already preparing for the day’s patients, and one of the nurses handed her a list before she had even put her bag down.
"Good morning, Madam Naomi."
"Good morning."
"These are the patients scheduled for this morning."
Naomi took the list and looked through it.
"How many?"
"Six so far."
Naomi nodded. "All right."
The nurse smiled. "There may be more later."
"There usually are."
She placed the list beside the patient files and began preparing the room.
The previous two days had made the work easier. Naomi already knew where most supplies were kept, which patients needed follow-up, and which cases required senior medical staff.
She also knew the other healers better now.
They had stopped treating her like someone who had come to help for a few days and started treating her like another member of the team.
Her morning passed quickly.
She treated a warrior with a deep cut on his forearm, examined a child with a fever, and helped one of the younger healers figure out why an older patient kept getting dizzy.
By late morning, the waiting area was full.
Naomi moved from one patient to another without taking a proper break. When she finally stepped away from the treatment room, one of the nurses handed her a bottle of water.
"You need this."
Naomi smiled. "Thank you."
"You’ve been working since seven."
"So have you."
"I wasn’t the one moving between three rooms."
Naomi laughed softly.
"I’ll sit down after this patient."
The nurse shook her head. "You said that an hour ago."
Naomi smiled again and returned to work.
By early afternoon, most of the patients had been attended to. Naomi was reviewing a file when the medical administrator entered the room.
"Healer Naomi."
Naomi looked up. "Yes?"
"Do you have a moment?"
Naomi closed the file. "Of course."
The administrator gestured toward the office.
Naomi followed her inside.
"I wanted to speak with you about your assignment."
Naomi sat down. "Is there a problem?"
"No. Everything is going very well." Naomi waited.
"Our senior healer’s conference was originally supposed to last five days, but we’ve just received an update. She may need to remain away for an additional three days."
Naomi nodded. "I understand."
"We’ve discussed the situation with the medical team, and we’d like to ask if you’d be willing to extend your assignment."
Naomi was quiet for a moment. "How many additional days?"
"Three."
Naomi looked down at the schedule in her hands.
She had originally planned to return to Blackclaw after five days. Three more days wasn’t a long time.
But it meant changing the arrangements she had already made.
"What would the additional work involve?"
"Pretty much the same responsibilities. You’ll continue assisting with consultations, injuries and emergencies. We would also keep the same accommodation and transportation arrangements."
Naomi thought about it. The work had been demanding, but she enjoyed it.
She had also learned more in three days than she had expected.
Most importantly, she felt useful. "I’d be willing to stay."
The administrator smiled. "That’s good news."
"When would the extension begin?"
"Your current assignment ends in two days. The extension would continue immediately after that." "Since we’re asking you to stay an additional three days, your payment will be revised to reflect the extended assignment."
Naomi nodded. "All right."
"I’ll have the revised agreement prepared for you."
"Thank you."
The administrator stood. "And there’s one more thing."
Naomi looked up. "We’ve been very impressed with you."
Naomi smiled slightly. "I appreciate that."
"No, I mean it. The administrator left.
Naomi remained seated for a moment. Three more days. It wasn’t a life-changing decision. She wasn’t leaving Blackclaw; she wasn’t changing her entire career. She was accepting an opportunity that had come to her because someone had recognised her work.
Later that afternoon, Naomi signed the revised agreement.
The administrator took the document and handed her a copy. "You’re officially staying for three more days."
Naomi looked at the paper. "Then I suppose I have more work to do."
The administrator laughed. "That’s exactly what I expected you to say."
Naomi returned to the treatment room. One of the healers noticed the folder in her hand. "Did they extend your assignment?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"Three days."
The healer smiled. "I knew they would ask."
Naomi raised an eyebrow. "You knew?"
"After yesterday? Definitely."
Naomi shook her head. "You people are very confident."
"We’re just observant."
They both laughed before returning to work.
For the rest of the afternoon, Naomi continued treating patients.
She didn’t think about whether Alpha Kaidan would be pleased. She didn’t wonder if he would be angry.
She didn’t worry about explaining her decision.
She had accepted the assignment herself, and she would handle the extension herself. It was a simple decision.
Yet Naomi knew it represented something bigger.
For years, so many of her choices had been connected to Alpha Kaidan. Her training, her marriage, her place in the pack.
Even the decision to ask for a divorce had eventually become something Alpha Kaidan decided whether to allow but this was different. This was her work, her reputation and her opportunity.
And she had decided without waiting for anyone else to tell her what she should do.
John found Alpha Kaidan near the training grounds shortly after lunch.
Alpha Kaidan had just finished speaking with the patrol captain when John approached him with an envelope in his hand.
"Sir."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him. "What is it?"
John held out the envelope. "Redridge sent an update concerning Madam Naomi."
Alpha Kaidan took it and opened the letter. "What happened?"
"They’ve requested an extension to her assignment."
Alpha Kaidan looked at the first page. "How long?"
"Three additional days."
Alpha Kaidan read through the details. "They’re asking her to stay?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Did she agree?"
John nodded. "She accepted the extension."
Alpha Kaidan looked at him. "She agreed already?"
"Yes, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression remained calm, but he read the letter again.
Naomi had made the decision herself. Again.
"Why do they want her to stay?"
"Their senior healer needs another three days before returning. They also said Madam Naomi has been doing well."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "They’ve asked her to return in the future as well."
"Yes, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan lowered the letter. "So she won’t be back when we expected."
"No, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan looked toward the training grounds where several warriors were finishing their drills.
He had expected Naomi to return after five days. The assignment had seemed straightforward when she left. Five days away, then back to Blackclaw.
Now the arrangement had changed.
Naomi had been given another opportunity, and she had accepted it without needing anyone to make the decision for her.
"She should stay if they need her," Alpha Kaidan said.
John nodded. "I thought you’d say that."
Alpha Kaidan glanced at him. "What did you expect me to say?"
"Nothing, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan gave him a warning look.
John smiled faintly. "I’ll inform Redridge that Blackclaw has no objection to the extension."
"Do that."
John folded his hands behind his back.
"Make sure the arrangements for her return are updated."
"Yes, Sir."
John left.
Alpha Kaidan remained near the training grounds, watching the warriors finish their drills.
He wasn’t angry that Naomi had accepted the extension.
She was doing the work she had trained for, and Redridge clearly valued her contribution.
What stayed with Alpha Kaidan was something else.
Naomi had gone to another pack for five days.
Now she would be staying for eight. Naomi was building a professional life that did not depend on her position beside him.
He wasn’t sure when that had started.
He only knew that he was beginning to notice it.