By late afternoon, the grounds of the Blackclaw pack house had become crowded.
Cars arrived one after another, carrying families from across the territory. Pack members gathered around the decorated courtyard while staff moved between tables, checking that there was enough food and seating.
The gathering was one of Blackclaw’s larger yearly events. Families reunited, older members caught up, and the younger ones got a break from their routines.
Serena had been involved in the preparations from the beginning.
Alpha Kaidan had given her responsibility for the family arrangements, and she had taken the role seriously. She had worked with Grace on the seating, checked the arrangements for the elders, and made sure families with young children had room.
It had been a long time since Serena had been involved in anything like this but she remembered how things worked.
Christine arrived shortly before the gathering officially began. She stepped out of her car and immediately looked across the courtyard.
Her eyes settled on Serena.
"Serena."
Serena turned. "Mother."
Christine smiled as she approached. "You’ve been busy."
"I wanted everything to be ready before everyone arrived."
Christine looked around. "It looks good."
Serena smiled. "I’m glad."
Christine lowered her voice. "You should stay close to Alpha Kaidan tonight."
Serena glanced at her. "I’ll be helping with the families."
"I know. I’m only saying that you don’t have to stay in the background."
Serena gave a small smile. "I don’t want people thinking I’m doing too much."
Christine’s expression softened. "Let them think whatever they want. You belong here."
Serena didn’t answer. Christine squeezed her arm, then went to greet the older members arriving at the entrance. Serena watched her go, then returned to the arrangements.
A short while later, Alpha Kaidan arrived. He walked into the courtyard with John, who immediately gave him a quick update.
"Most of the families have arrived, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Good."
John glanced across the courtyard. "Everything has gone smoothly."
Alpha Kaidan followed his gaze and saw Serena speaking with one of the older families.
"She handled the arrangements well?"
"Yes, Sir."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Good."
John left to speak with the security team.
Alpha Kaidan remained near the entrance for a moment before Serena noticed him. She walked over.
"Alpha Kaidan."
Alpha Kaidan looked at her. "Is everything ready?"
"Almost. The last few families are still arriving."
Alpha Kaidan glanced around. "It looks good."
Serena smiled. "Thank you."
A household member asked Serena a question about the seating. Serena answered quickly before returning her attention to Alpha Kaidan.
"I need to check something with the kitchen."
"I’ll come with you."
Serena looked at him briefly. "All right."
They walked across the courtyard together.
They weren’t doing anything unusual. Serena was showing him where the final arrangements had been made, and he listened, offering an occasional opinion. But because they were walking together, people noticed.
Two young women by one of the tables watched them pass.
One of them smiled. "They actually look good together."
Her friend glanced over. "They really do."
The first woman lowered her voice. "I still can’t believe everything changed after Serena disappeared."
Her friend shrugged. "Things might have been different if she hadn’t left."
A third woman joined them. "Do you think they could ever get back together?"
The first woman smiled. "I wouldn’t be surprised."
"I hope they do," the third woman said. "They always looked good together."
The conversation continued quietly.
Serena heard enough of it as she passed. She didn’t turn around.
She continued walking beside Alpha Kaidan.
Her expression remained composed, but she had heard exactly what she needed to hear.
They reached the kitchen area, where Serena checked the final arrangements.
"Everything is ready," she said.
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Let’s go back."
They walked back toward the main courtyard.
More people had arrived while they were away.
Christine stood at the elders’ table, talking with a few of the pack’s older members.
When she saw Alpha Kaidan and Serena returning together, her expression brightened. "There you are."
Alpha Kaidan approached. "Mother."
Christine looked at Serena. "Everything settled?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Christine looked around the courtyard. "You’ve done well."
Serena smiled politely. "Thank you."
Christine then turned toward Alpha Kaidan.
"You should stay with Serena for a while. There are still people she needs to greet."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "All right."
Christine moved away to speak with another family.
Serena looked at Alpha Kaidan. "Your mother seems determined to keep me busy."
Alpha Kaidan smiled faintly. "She always has an opinion."
Serena laughed. "I remember."
They continued through the gathering. Several people stopped to greet Alpha Kaidan. Others greeted Serena.
Some looked surprised to see them walking side by side.
A few older members spoke warmly to Serena about how good it was to see her participating in pack life again. She accepted their words without making a big deal of them.
Naomi’s absence was noticeable without Serena having to bring it up.
Whenever someone asked where Madam Naomi was, Serena answered that Naomi was away on a temporary healer assignment at Redridge.
Nothing more.
Later in the evening, Alpha Kaidan stood near the raised platform while members of the pack settled down for his address.
Serena remained nearby with Christine.
Christine leaned toward her. "You’ve handled yourself well."
Serena glanced at her. "I’ve only been helping with the gathering."
"And you’ve done exactly what you needed to do."
Serena didn’t respond.
Alpha Kaidan stepped forward and addressed the pack.
He spoke about Blackclaw, the importance of staying united, and each member’s responsibility to the community.
When he finished, applause filled the courtyard.
Serena watched him return to the group.
Christine smiled. "You remember when he used to hate these gatherings?"
Serena laughed softly. "He still looks like he’d rather be anywhere else."
Christine laughed. "He hasn’t changed that much."
Alpha Kaidan approached them.
"What are you two laughing about?"
"Nothing," Christine replied.
Serena smiled. "Your mother was telling me about how much you disliked gatherings."
Alpha Kaidan looked at Christine. "You didn’t need to tell her that."
Christine laughed. "She already knew."
The three of them stood together for a moment.
It was an ordinary scene.
A mother. Her son. And the woman she had once expected to become her daughter-in-law.
Several people nearby noticed. But this time, nobody approached them.
The comments stayed among the pack.
"They really look like a family." "I was thinking the same thing." "I wish things could go back to how they were." "Maybe they still can."
Serena heard those words as she stood beside Christine. She kept her expression neutral.
Christine heard them too. She glanced toward Serena.
Serena continued watching the gathering.
As the evening wound down, Serena helped the staff clear away the last arrangements."
Alpha Kaidan was speaking with several senior members nearby when Christine approached him.
"You should thank Serena properly."
Alpha Kaidan glanced toward Serena. "She did well."
Christine nodded. "She did more than well."
Alpha Kaidan didn’t argue. Christine lowered her voice. "She belongs here."
Alpha Kaidan looked at his mother. "Mother."
"I didn’t say anything about what you should do."
Christine’s expression remained calm. "I’m only telling you what I see."
Alpha Kaidan didn’t answer. Christine left him and joined the other elders.
Alpha Kaidan remained where he was.
A few minutes later, Serena returned. "Everything is done."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Thank you."
Serena smiled. "You’re welcome."
She looked around the now quieter courtyard.
"It was a good evening."
"It was."
They stood together for a moment before Serena turned toward the entrance. "I should go inside."
Alpha Kaidan nodded. "Goodnight, Serena."
"Goodnight, Alpha Kaidan."
Serena walked away. Alpha Kaidan remained outside for a while, watching the last few cars leave the grounds.
The gathering had gone exactly as planned.
But the comments he had overheard stayed with him.
And he knew that once a thought became common among the pack, it rarely remained only a thought for long.