By the following morning, Alpha Kaidan was noticeably better. He could sit upright without as much assistance, and the pain that had kept him still the previous day had eased considerably. The gunshot wound still required care, but he was no longer as exhausted by every small movement.
Naomi entered his bedroom carrying the supplies she needed to change his dressing. She had remained at the house rather than returning to the healer quarters, determined to oversee his treatment herself.
"Good morning," she greeted him as she placed the supplies on the bedside table.
Alpha Kaidan looked up from the window. "You were awake early."
"I had work to do."
She helped him settle into a comfortable position, then carefully removed the old dressing. The wound was healing, although the area remained tender.
Naomi cleaned it gently, examined it, and applied a fresh dressing.
Alpha Kaidan watched her work without interrupting.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"Not as much as yesterday."
"That’s good. But don’t mistake feeling better for being completely healed. You still need to be careful."
"I understand."
Naomi secured the dressing and put away the used materials. After washing her hands, she returned to the bedside to check that he was comfortable.
"I’m going to bring you breakfast," she said.
"I can manage that myself."
She gave him a look. "Alpha Kaidan, unless you intend to eat through the power of your authority, you’ll wait until I bring it."
A small smile appeared on his face. "All right, healer."
Naomi shook her head, hiding a faint smile of her own as she left the room. When she returned with breakfast, Alpha Kaidan ate without complaint. He followed her instructions with real effort, and she appreciated it more than she said aloud.
They had just finished when Christine arrived.
She greeted Naomi, then crossed to her son, her expression softening when she saw him sitting up in bed.
"You look better today," she said.
"I feel better, Mother."
Christine took the chair beside him. For a moment, she seemed unsure how to begin, and Alpha Kaidan waited patiently.
"I owe you an apology," she said at last. "I allowed my attachment to Serena to cloud my judgment. I believed her without questioning her story, and I supported her when I should have been more careful. I even wanted her to take Naomi’s place as Luna."
Alpha Kaidan’s expression grew serious.
"I kept defending Serena because I wanted to believe she was the person I remembered. I didn’t consider how much damage I could cause by refusing to see what was in front of me." Christine lowered her gaze. "I’m sorry, son. I should have trusted my judgment instead of allowing my feelings for her to influence me."
Alpha Kaidan reached for her hand. "It’s fine, Mother."
Christine looked at him. "You don’t have to say that just to make me feel better."
"I’m not." He paused before continuing. "What’s done is done. We can’t change it now."
Her eyes glistened, but she nodded. "I know. I only hope I haven’t damaged things beyond repair."
Alpha Kaidan glanced briefly towards Naomi, who was putting the breakfast tray aside. "Some things will take time," he said.
Christine followed his gaze. He wasn’t only talking about Serena.
She squeezed his hand before releasing it. "I’ll do better."
"I hope so, Mother."
She stayed a little longer, talking with him about ordinary family matters before leaving them to the day.
After Christine had gone, Naomi returned to the bedside with the last of her supplies. She checked that everything was in order, then began arranging the items she would need for his next dressing change.
Alpha Kaidan watched her quietly. "Naomi, can we talk?"
She turned towards him. "Of course."
He took a breath, choosing his words carefully.
"Why did you do it?" she asked before he could begin.
He looked at her, surprised.
"When you saw Serena point the gun at me, you stepped in front of me without hesitation." Naomi’s voice remained steady, but her eyes held the question she had been carrying since the council meeting. "Why did you risk your life for me?"
Alpha Kaidan lowered his gaze briefly before meeting hers again. "Because I couldn’t stand there and watch you get hurt."
"You could have been killed."
"I know."
"You didn’t even stop to think about it."
"No," he admitted. "I didn’t."
Naomi sat in the chair beside his bed. She had replayed that moment in her mind more than once, trying to understand how the man who had spent years making her feel unwanted had placed himself between her and a bullet without hesitation.
Alpha Kaidan seemed to understand that his answer alone would not settle the question.
"I am sorry, Naomi," he said. "Not just for what happened at the council meeting, but for everything I put you through during our marriage. I neglected you. I made you feel as though you were never important enough to come first, and I allowed you to carry the weight of a marriage I should have worked harder to protect."
Naomi remained silent, giving him the chance to finish.
"I kept expecting you to accept whatever little attention I gave you, as though being my wife meant you should be satisfied with less. I was wrong." His voice softened. "You deserved better from me. You deserved a husband who stood beside you, who listened to you, and who made you feel loved instead of making you question your place in his life."
He paused, visibly searching for words that would not sound like excuses. "I can’t undo those years. I can’t ask you to forget them because I finally understand what I did. But I am sorry. Truly."
Naomi looked down at her hands for a moment. His apology reached the places in her heart she had spent years protecting, but she wouldn’t pretend the words had erased everything.
"I’ve heard you, Alpha Kaidan," she said gently. "And I appreciate that you’re finally acknowledging what happened between us."
He waited. "But we can’t return to normal in a day.
There has been too much hurt, too much disappointment, and too much distrust. I need time to see whether the changes you’re talking about are real."
"I understand."
"We need to take this one step at a time. We need to rebuild what was broken, and that won’t happen through one apology or one good decision."
Alpha Kaidan nodded slowly. "I won’t rush you."
"Good. Because I don’t want promises made because you’re afraid of losing me; I want honesty, consistency, and actions that match your words."
"You have my word."
Naomi held his gaze. "I hope you keep it."
She stood and returned the remaining supplies to their place. The conversation had not solved everything, but she was glad they had finally spoken honestly about their marriage without either of them trying to force an immediate answer.
A knock sounded at the door.
John entered after Naomi invited him in. He carried a folder and greeted Alpha Kaidan.
"Sir, I came to give you a brief update. The pack is running smoothly, and the matters that require immediate attention are being handled."
Alpha Kaidan accepted the folder but did not open it.
"Is there anything that requires my decision today?"
"No, Sir. Nothing that cannot wait."
"Then continue as you have been doing. Bring me anything urgent, but don’t interrupt my recovery with matters you can handle yourself."
"Understood."
John glanced towards Naomi. "How is he doing?"
"Much better," she replied. "But he still needs to follow his treatment and rest."
"I’ll make sure nobody brings unnecessary work to him."
After a brief exchange, John left to return to his duties.
Later that afternoon, the head of the council and the second-in-command arrived to visit Alpha Kaidan. Naomi received them and led them into the bedroom.
Both men greeted Alpha Kaidan warmly. The head of the council took the chair near the bed while the second-in-command stood beside him.
"We were glad to hear you were recovering," the head of the council said. "We thought we should come and see you ourselves."
"I appreciate the visit," Alpha Kaidan replied.
The second-in-command smiled. "How soon do you think you’ll be back in the office?"
Alpha Kaidan leaned back against the pillows, considering the question. "A few more days, perhaps."
The head of the council gave a light laugh. "Take your time, Alpha. The office will still be there when you’re ready. There’s no need to rush your recovery."
"That’s good to hear," Alpha Kaidan said with a faint smile.
They spoke briefly about the pack’s routine and exchanged a few ordinary pleasantries before standing to leave.
"Rest well, Alpha," the head of the council said. "We’ll see you when you’re ready to return."
"Thank you for coming."
Naomi saw them out and returned to the bedroom. Alpha Kaidan looked more relaxed than before, and she was glad the visit had lifted his spirits without tiring him.
"You seem determined to return to work as soon as possible," she remarked.
"I have responsibilities."
"And you can fulfil them when you’re ready. The council has already told you not to rush."
He smiled. "I heard them."
"Then listen to them."
Naomi checked the time and prepared his next dose. Alpha Kaidan took it without argument, then settled back against the pillows while she tidied the bedside table.
For the first time since he had returned home, their conversation had left neither of them searching for a way to end it. They had not mended their marriage, but they had taken an honest step toward it.
Naomi returned to her chair beside him, ready to continue his care. Neither of them tried to turn that small change into a promise of what would come next.