Three days after the gathering, Christine invited three senior council members to her home.
A servant delivered each invitation privately, asking only that they come that afternoon.
Christine knew better than to put sensitive matters into writing.
By four o’clock, the first council member arrived.
Harold was the oldest of the three, a senior councilman who had served Blackclaw for many years. He was followed shortly afterwards by Richard and Thomas, both of whom had been part of the council long before Alpha Kaidan took over as Alpha.
Christine welcomed them into the private sitting room of her residence.
The room was separate from the main part of the pack house, quiet enough that their conversation would not be overheard. A tray had already been prepared on the centre table, with tea, small pastries and other refreshments.
"Thank you for coming," Christine said as she took her seat.
Richard smiled. "You said it was important."
"It is."
Harold glanced toward the closed door. "Does Alpha Kaidan know we’re here?"
Christine picked up her teacup. "No."
Thomas exchanged a brief look with the other two men.
Christine noticed. "You don’t need to worry. I didn’t invite you here to discuss anything that concerns the day-to-day running of Blackclaw."
Harold leaned back. "Then what is this about?"
Christine sipped her tea before answering. "Serena."
The room became quiet.
Richard placed his cup back on the saucer. "We expected that."
Christine looked at the three men. "You all know what her return means."
Thomas nodded. "We know."
"But everyone is pretending the situation will resolve itself."
Harold frowned. "What exactly do you expect to happen?"
Christine set her cup down. "I expect the council to address the Luna position."
Richard exchanged another glance with Harold.
"Alpha Kaidan already made his position clear at the last meeting."
"I know."
"He was angry."
"I know that too."
Thomas leaned forward. "Then why bring this up again?"
Christine’s expression remained calm. "Because Alpha Kaidan being angry does not change the reality of the situation."
She looked at each of them in turn. "Her return has changed the balance around Alpha Kaidan. She is becoming involved in pack affairs again, people are responding to her, and sooner or later the council will have to decide how that should be handled."
Harold folded his hands. "And Naomi?"
Christine’s expression tightened slightly. "Naomi is still Alpha Kaidan’s wife."
"That is the problem," Richard said.
Christine nodded. "Exactly."
Thomas picked up his teacup. "The contract is still valid."
"Yes."
"And Alpha Kaidan has refused to end it."
"Yes."
Harold looked thoughtful. "Then what do you want the council to do?"
Christine leaned back. "I want the council to call another meeting."
"When?"
"After Naomi returns from Redridge."
Richard looked at her. "You want Naomi present?"
"Of course."
Christine’s voice was firm. "I don’t want anyone saying the council discussed her position while she was away. She should be there when the matter is addressed."
Harold nodded slowly. "That would make the meeting more difficult."
"It is already difficult."
Christine reached for a small pastry. "What matters is that the council stops treating this as something that can simply be ignored."
Thomas frowned. "And what exactly would you want discussed?"
Christine answered without hesitation. "The position of Luna."
Richard was quiet.
Christine continued. "Not Serena’s feelings. Not Naomi’s feelings. Not who has been married to Alpha Kaidan for four years. The council needs to discuss what the pack expects from its Luna and whether the current arrangement still serves Blackclaw."
Harold looked at her carefully. "You know Alpha Kaidan will object."
"He may."
"He will."
Christine smiled faintly. "He can object."
Richard leaned forward. "And if he refuses to accept the council’s position?"
Christine looked at him. "Then at least the council will have made its position clear."
The room fell silent. The three council members understood what she was saying.
Christine wasn’t asking them to order Alpha Kaidan to divorce Naomi.
She was asking them to create enough pressure that Alpha Kaidan could no longer avoid the question.
Thomas rubbed his thumb against the handle of his cup.
"There are members who still support Naomi."
"I know."
"She has earned respect since becoming a healer."
"I know that too."
Harold looked at Christine. "Then this will not be easy."
Christine gave him a steady look. "I didn’t invite you here because I thought it would be easy."
Richard glanced toward the window. "What about the other council members?"
Christine’s expression remained composed. "Not everyone needs to agree immediately."
She paused. "We only need enough people willing to ask the question."
Harold understood. "And once the meeting is called?"
Christine nodded. "Then we let the council debate."
Thomas looked at her. "You’ve thought this through."
"I have had enough time to think." Christine lifted her teacup again. "I watched Alpha Kaidan spend four years living in a marriage that was never meant to become permanent in the first place."
Harold remained silent. Christine continued.
"Then Serena returned, and suddenly everyone is afraid to speak because Alpha Kaidan doesn’t want anyone interfering with his marriage."
Richard nodded slowly. "But the council has responsibilities too."
"Exactly."
Christine set the cup down. "The pack cannot have two women standing in the same position indefinitely."
Thomas looked at her. "You believe Serena should be restored as Luna."
Christine didn’t hesitate. "Yes."
The answer settled heavily in the room. Harold exchanged a look with Richard. Then he asked quietly, "And if Alpha Kaidan chooses Naomi?"
Christine’s expression remained calm. "Then the council will have an answer."
Richard studied her. "You really believe he will choose Serena?"
Christine looked down at her tea. "I believe Alpha Kaidan has spent too long confusing loyalty with obligation."
She lifted her eyes again. "Serena is his true mate. Naomi is his contract wife. The pack understands the difference."
Harold leaned back. "Not everyone."
"No."
Christine smiled faintly. "But they will."
The room became quiet again. For several moments, no one spoke. Then Christine reached toward the small side table beside her chair and picked up three envelopes.
She placed them on the table. The council members looked at them.
Richard’s eyebrows rose. "What are those?"
"A gesture of appreciation."
Harold’s expression changed. "Christine."
She nudged the envelopes closer. "You have all served this pack for many years. I know the work you do, and I know the sacrifices that come with your positions."
Thomas looked at the envelope in front of him. "What exactly are you suggesting?"
Christine met his gaze. "I am not asking you to lie."
She spoke calmly. "I am asking you to support a matter you already have reason to believe deserves the council’s attention."
Harold didn’t touch the envelope. "And the money?"
Christine’s expression didn’t change. "Compensation for your time and inconvenience."
Richard gave a quiet laugh. "You know people will call this a bribe."
Christine looked directly at him. "People call many things what they want."
She pushed the envelopes closer. "You are free to refuse."
Nobody reached for theirs immediately. Christine waited. The silence stretched across the room.
Eventually, Richard picked up his envelope.
He opened it just enough to see the amount inside.
His expression changed.
Thomas watched him before opening his own.
Harold was the last. The amount was more than enough to make the message clear.
Christine had not invited them there with empty promises. She had come prepared.
Harold slowly closed the envelope. "You’ve certainly planned this."
Christine smiled. "I don’t do things without thinking them through."
Thomas placed his envelope beside his cup. "So what happens now?"
"Speak to the other council members you trust."
Richard nodded. "About the meeting?"
"Yes."
"When?"
Christine looked at him. "Take your time."
The three men waited. "Naomi is still at Redridge," Christine continued. "There is no reason to rush this while she is away. Let her return."
Harold nodded. "And after she returns?"
"Then request the council meeting."
Thomas asked, "All three of us?"
Christine looked at them. "You won’t be the only ones."
She had already considered the other members she needed to approach. "But I want the three of you to make sure the discussion reaches the council table."
Richard nodded slowly. "And Alpha Kaidan?"
Christine’s eyes hardened slightly. "He will be informed through the proper channel when the meeting is called."
She picked up her teacup. "I don’t want him hearing about it through rumours."
Harold studied her for several seconds. "You’ve thought about everything."
Christine took a sip. "I am his mother."
The three men exchanged looks. The meeting ran another half hour as Christine explained the position she wanted the council to take and the questions she wanted raised.
She wanted the council to question whether the current arrangement could continue now that Serena had returned. When the conversation finally ended, the three council members stood.
Harold tucked his envelope inside his jacket. "We’ll speak to the others."
Christine nodded. "Good."
They left one after another. Christine remained in the sitting room after the door closed. The tea had gone cold. She looked at the empty chairs around the table.
Everything was now in motion. The three senior council members had left her house carrying more than money. They knew exactly what Christine expected.
Once Naomi returned to Blackclaw, the council would meet again.
And this time, the question would not be whether Serena had a place in the pack. It would be whether Naomi could keep the position of Luna now that the woman once expected to hold it was back in Blackclaw.