The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 152

Saphira stood beside Nikolas in the clearing, her boots rooted in the earth, eyes locked on the horizon where the plane had vanished behind the trees. The wind tugged gently at her hair, loosening a few strands that danced across her cheek, but she didn’t move to tuck them away. Her thoughts were too loud.

Nikolas turned toward her, his voice low and clipped. “You saw it too?”

She nodded, arms folded tightly across her chest, fingers digging into the fabric of her sleeves. “I did. It was close. Too close.” Her gaze didn’t waver. “Do you recognise it?”

He shook his head, jaw tight, a muscle ticking near his temple. “No. And there isn’t another pack near enough to justify it landing here.”

Saphira’s stomach sank. *Then it’s not random. It’s deliberate.* Her voice came out sharper than she intended. “They’ve called for backup.”

Nikolas stepped closer, slipping his arm around her shoulders. His warmth was calming, but his tone was steel. “It doesn’t matter. They won’t bring us down.”

She leaned into him for a breath, letting herself borrow his steadiness, then straightened. “Let’s go. We need to get the warriors and Sam to check it out.”

They moved quickly, boots crunching against the path as they made their way back to the pack house. The tension between them was unspoken but shared, every step a beat closer to action. Saphira’s mind raced ahead, already sorting names, roles, contingencies. *If it’s Silvermoon reinforcements, we need eyes on the perimeter. We need to know what kind of threat we’re facing.*

As they approached the entrance, Jed and Sam were already waiting, eyes sharp, postures alert. Jed’s arms were crossed, his stance wide and ready. Sam had one hand on his belt, the other resting near the hilt of his blade.

Jed raised a brow. “You saw the plane too?”

Nikolas nodded. “We did. I want a team to check it out.”

Sam didn’t hesitate. “I’ll gather a couple of warriors and head out immediately.”

“I’m going too,” Jed added, already turning toward the barracks, his boots striking the stone with purpose.

Saphira stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “Do you need a witch with you?”

Jed shook his head. “Raven and the others are occupied. If anything shifts magically, they’ll sense it.”

Nikolas looked between them, then made his decision. “I’ll go with you. Just the three of us.”

Saphira’s breath caught. Her mouth opened, but she stopped herself. *He’s the pack’s leader. He trusted me. I need to trust him.*

She stepped closer, her hand brushing his arm. “Be careful,” she said softly, then turned to Jed and Sam. “All of you.”

Nikolas gave her a small smile, quiet but resolute. “Thank you.”

“I’ll gather the others,” she said, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her chest.

They parted at the threshold, Nikolas, Jed, and Sam heading out into the trees with swift, purposeful strides, and Saphira stepping into the pack house, her mind already shifting into strategy.

Saphira rounded the corner of the corridor, her steps brisk, her breath shallow with urgency. Her mind was already racing with contingencies, formations, fallback points. She barely registered the blur of movement before nearly colliding with Anastasia, who caught her by the arm with practiced reflexes.

Anastasia’s eyes narrowed instantly, her grip firm. “What’s wrong?” she asked, voice low but commanding. Her gaze scanned Saphira’s face, reading the tension etched into every line, the tight jaw, the flicker of worry behind her eyes.

Saphira exhaled sharply, brushing a hand across her forehead. “We think Silvermoon called for backup. Nikolas and I saw a plane coming in to land, too close to our territory to be coincidence. I need to gather everyone in the office.”

Anastasia’s expression shifted, sharpening with understanding. Her posture straightened. “I’ll get them. You go ahead, I’ll meet you there.”

Saphira touched her arm, her fingers lingering for a beat. “Thank you. Really. I mean it.”

Anastasia gave a nod, her eyes steady. “We’ve got this.” Then she turned swiftly down the hall.

Saphira headed toward the office, her boots striking the stone floor with quiet urgency. *If they’ve brought reinforcements… we need to be ready. We need to know what kind of fight we’re facing. What kind of power they’re bringing.*

Inside the office, she paced near the window, arms folded tightly across her chest. Her eyes flicked to the treeline beyond, scanning for movement, for signs. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, but it did little to warm the chill creeping into her bones.

The door opened in stages, first Anastasia with Asher and Zafira, their expressions already grim. Then Finn and Amara, walking close, Amara’s hand resting protectively over her stomach. Finally, Talia entered, her braid swinging as she closed the door behind her.

Talia stepped forward, her voice quiet but clear. “Jasper decided to join Nikolas, Jed, and Sam.”

Saphira nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Everyone settled into seats around the fire-lit room, the air thick with anticipation. Saphira remained standing, her posture straight, her voice steady.

“Nikolas and I saw a plane landing near the edge of our territory,” she began, her gaze sweeping the room. “He, Jed, Sam, and Jasper went to check it out. But I suspect it’s more members from the Silvermoon pack.”

A murmur rippled through the room. Asher leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his voice low. “If they’re Silvermoon, they’ve come to fight. Not negotiate.”

Saphira met his gaze, her own unwavering. “I agree. That’s why we need to be ready.”

She turned to Amara, her tone softening. “If it comes to a battle, I’d like you to stay back. Protected. Along with the younger pack members and those who can’t fight.”

Amara’s jaw tightened. Her hand drifted to her stomach, fingers curling slightly. Saphira saw the flicker of resistance in her eyes, the instinct to stand, to fight, but also the quiet understanding beneath it.

“I don’t like it,” Amara said quietly. “But I understand.”

Finn placed a hand on her knee. “It’s the right call.”

Before the tension could settle, the door opened again. Nikolas entered, followed by Jed, Sam, Jasper, and Raven, her expression already serious.

They took seats quickly, the room shifting into full attention.

Saphira stepped forward. “What did you find?”

Nikolas leaned forward, his voice steady but grim. “It was Silvermoon. More warriors. And those with power.”

Raven added, her voice clipped, “I sensed another witch among them. Not as strong as the last one, but still dangerous.”

Finn frowned, brows drawing together. “Will the elders help them now?”

Jed shook his head, his tone uncertain. “I don’t know. We could send someone to track their movements, but that means pulling fighters from here.”

Saphira’s jaw tightened, her mind already calculating. *A risk either way. If we send someone, we lose strength. If we don’t, we stay blind.*

“Then we need to be ready for the possibility that the elders are involved,” Nikolas said. “And we’ll be fighting blind.”

The room fell quiet, the fire crackling in the silence. Saphira looked around at each face, some tense, some resolute, all waiting.