The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 154

Saphira brushed a leaf from her shoulder as they lingered in the clearing, the last traces of dragonfire still humming faintly in the air. The scent of scorched grass and magic clung to the breeze, and her thoughts circled back to the moment she’d heard Anastasia’s voice, clear, unmistakable, in dragon form. It hadn’t been imagined. It had been real.

She turned to Nikolas, brow furrowed, her voice low. “What’s the problem, exactly? I can mind-link you when I’m shifted. Why was it such a surprise that I could with Anastasia?”

Nikolas glanced at her, his expression thoughtful, hands resting loosely at his sides. “That’s because we’re mates. The bond makes it possible. It’s strong, deeper than most.”

Saphira blinked. “But Anastasia’s family.”

Nikolas shook his head slowly. “It doesn’t usually work like that. I can’t mind-link Jed or Zafira in dragon form. Not even a flicker.”

Saphira’s lips parted slightly. “Oh.” The realization settled in her chest like a stone. *So it’s not normal. It’s something else. Something more.*

She straightened, brushing the thought aside with a quiet breath. *Later. That’s for later.* “We can look into it later. Right now, we’ve got enough to deal with.”

Nikolas nodded, letting it go for now, but Saphira could see it in his eyes. He wouldn’t forget. Neither would she.

Asher stepped forward, arms crossed, his gaze flicking between Zafira and Anastasia. “How do you feel now that you’ve shifted again?”

Zafira rolled her shoulders, still a little flushed, her braid sticking slightly to her neck. “It felt good. I’m not fully ready, but I’m as ready as I can be. I feel more comfortable now.”

Anastasia nodded beside her, her posture relaxed but her eyes still sharp. “Same. It’s not perfect, but I’m not afraid anymore.”

Nikolas smiled, the tension in his posture easing. “That’s good. You’ve both done incredibly well. What you’ve overcome today could take years for some. You should be proud.”

“Thank you, Nikolas,” Anastasia said kindly, her voice soft but sincere.

Nikolas glanced toward the trees, the light filtering through the canopy. “Let’s head back. You two need rest.”

They began walking, the forest quiet around them, birdsong distant and muted. Zafira linked arms with Saphira, her voice low and conspiratorial. “I think it’s cool you can mind-link like that.”

Saphira laughed softly, her smile blooming. “Thanks. It surprised me too.”

The path curved gently, the pack house just beyond the next rise. Halfway there, movement stirred ahead, two figures emerging from the trees with purpose.

Jed raised a hand in greeting, his expression serious. Raven walked beside him, her cloak trailing like smoke, eyes sharp. “We’ve got an update on the Silvermoon pack,” Jed said. “We should discuss it in the office.”

Nikolas nodded, his tone shifting, the warmth replaced by quiet command. “Alright. Let’s go.”

Saphira gave Zafira’s arm a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “See you later.”

“Rest,” Nikolas added, glancing at Anastasia and Zafira with a nod of gratitude.

The group split, Nikolas, Saphira, Jed, and Raven heading toward the pack house with purpose, boots striking the earth with quiet urgency. Behind them, the others trailed back with slower steps, the weight of the day settling into their bones.

Saphira stepped into the office beside Nikolas, the door clicking shut behind them with a finality that made her spine straighten. Jed and Raven walked in behind them and took a seat near the hearth, the fire casting flickering shadows across their faces. The room was quiet, but the air felt heavier.

Nikolas didn’t waste time. He moved toward the centre of the room, his voice low but direct. “What’s happening?”

Raven looked up, her fingers still resting on the edge of her spell book, one thumb tracing the worn leather binding. “We’ve had some pushback on the barrier spell,” she said, her tone clipped and precise. “A witch. Subtle, but deliberate. Not enough to break through, but enough for me to feel it.”

Saphira’s brow furrowed, her arms folding across her chest. *Testing us. Prodding the edges. Seeing how far they can stretch before we snap.*

“They’re gauging our strength,” Raven continued, her gaze steady. “Seeing how far they can go before we respond.”

Nikolas nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. He crossed his arms, the firelight catching the edge of his bracer. “Can you keep an eye on it? If it becomes more forceful, we might need to consider striking first.”

Raven’s eyes gleamed, a flicker of something sharp beneath her calm. “I’ll monitor it closely. If they push harder, I’ll know.”

Jed shifted in his seat, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His expression was grim, voice low. “That’s not all. We’ve confirmed they won’t be getting support from the Elders.”

Saphira’s stomach tightened. Her fingers curled slightly against her arms. “How do you know?”

Jed glanced at her, then at Nikolas. “Jasper’s still monitoring them. He overheard an argument, one of the Elders said they won’t waste resources on a ‘silly feud’ that could jeopardize their larger plan. If Silvermoon ruins what they’ve started over one wolf, they’ll be removed from the plan entirely.”

Saphira exhaled sharply, her breath catching in her throat. “No surprise they won’t leave without Ruby. But I thought the Elders would want to help them wipe us out.”

Nikolas tilted his head, thoughtful. “You’d think they’d want to eliminate the Arrax pack. We’re cross-species. We don’t fit into their bigger plan.”

Jed’s voice dropped, almost a whisper. “Unless they have a different plan for us.”

Saphira’s jaw clenched, her gaze dropping briefly to the floor before lifting again. *That’s what unsettles me. The unknown. The silence behind their strategy.* “I don’t like not knowing what the Elders are planning. We need to find out.”

Raven nodded, her fingers tightening around the edge of her book. “Exactly. That’s why we need to capture some of Silvermoon’s higher-level wolves. The ones who know what’s really going on.”

Nikolas’s gaze darkened, his stance shifting as he stepped forward. His voice was quiet, but resolute. “There’s only one way to do that.”

He looked around the room, meeting each of their eyes.

“We fight.”