The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 168

They left the pack house just after midday, the sun casting long, dappled shadows across the clearing as they made their way toward the cells on the edge of the pack lands. The wind stirred the trees overhead, rustling through branches like whispers. Saphira walked beside Nikolas, her boots crunching softly against the gravel path. Their footsteps fell into rhythm.

Saphira glanced sideways at him, noting the tension in his jaw, the way his shoulders held just a little tighter than usual. “How are the wounded pack members doing?”

Nikolas didn’t answer right away. His gaze stayed forward, fixed on the path ahead. “Most are stable. Like Anastasia, they’re improving quickly. A few are even asking when they can be discharged.”

“That’s good,” Saphira said, but her voice was cautious. “And the others?”

Nikolas exhaled, his brow furrowing. “Two are still in critical condition. One of them hasn’t regained consciousness. The other’s fighting, but the injury did more internal damage than expected.”

Saphira’s fingers brushed the edge of her jacket, her throat tightening. “Is there anything we can do?”

He shook his head slowly. “Not really. The healers are doing everything they can. They’ve been working nonstop. It’s just… time now. Time and strength.”

Saphira nodded, her gaze dropping to the ground for a moment. *Time. That’s the one thing we never seem to have enough of.*

She hesitated, then asked quietly, “What about Zafira?”

Nikolas sighed, the sound low and tired. His hand flexed at his side, then curled into a fist. “I was hoping it was just a blip. Shock. But she’s… retreated. Completely. She’s disconnected from her dragon. Says she doesn’t want to shift again.”

Saphira stopped walking for a beat, her brows knitting together. “She doesn’t want to shift?”

Nikolas turned to face her, his expression tight. “She won’t talk to me. Or Jed. Not even Asher. She’s shut down. Jed tried to coax her out, but she wouldn’t even look at him. Asher sat with her for hours and she didn’t say a word.”

Saphira’s heart ached. *Zafira, who always stood tall. Who always fought back. This… this broke something.* “She’s scared,” she said softly. “And ashamed, probably. She’s always been the one who could handle anything. But this... this was too much.”

Nikolas nodded, his voice quieter now. “She said she felt like she failed. That her dragon betrayed her. That she doesn’t trust it anymore.”

Saphira reached out, placing a hand gently on his arm. “She might change her mind in time. But even if she doesn’t, we’ll support her. She’s not alone.”

His shoulders eased slightly under her touch. “Yeah. We will.”

They resumed walking, the silence between them now tinged with something heavier.

They reached the outer perimeter of the cells, a tall iron gate flanked by two guards in dark uniforms. One of them stepped forward, nodding to Nikolas before unlocking the gate with a heavy clank. The metal groaned as it swung open.

The group moved in, Nikolas and Saphira first, then Jed and Raven close behind. The air inside was colder, the temperature dropping with each step. The walls were lined with enchantments that shimmered faintly in the torchlight, casting flickers of blue and gold across the stone.

Saphira’s boots echoed louder here, the sound sharper, more hollow. They reached the first cell, the one Lupus was put into.

Lupus sat inside.

His posture was rigid, hands resting on his knees, back straight. His expression was unreadable, but there was something simmering beneath it. A flicker of tension in his jaw. A glint in his eyes.

As they approached, his gaze lifted, settling on Saphira first. Then Nikolas.

Saphira felt her pulse quicken. *Here we go.*

Nikolas stepped forward, unlocking the cell with a slow, deliberate motion. The door creaked open, the sound echoing down the corridor.

They entered together.

The cell door creaked shut behind them, sealing the four of them inside with Lupus. The air was cold, thick with enchantments and the faint scent of iron. Saphira stood just behind Nikolas, her arms folded, her gaze locked on the man who had once called himself her father.

Lupus sat on the bench, posture rigid, hands resting on his knees. His expression was carved from stone, but his eyes flicked between Nikolas and Saphira with quiet calculation.

Nikolas stepped forward, his voice calm but edged with steel. “This is how it’s going to go. I ask questions. You answer them. If you cooperate, we won’t use alternative methods.”

Lupus didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His gaze shifted from Nikolas to Saphira, then back again. No words. No reaction.

Nikolas didn’t flinch. “I’ll start easy,” he said. “Have the Elders initiated new members?”

Silence.

Lupus stared, his eyes dark and flat. Saphira could feel the tension building in Nikolas’s shoulders. He took a slow breath, jaw tightening.

*This is going nowhere.*

Saphira stepped forward, her voice quiet but sharp. “I have a question.”

Lupus’s gaze snapped to hers.

“Why did you take me from my mother?” she asked. “With the Elders’ help.”

His eyes narrowed. “Because you were mine,” he snapped. “You were meant to be a wolf. If it wasn’t for your stupid mother hiding your true nature, I would’ve disposed of you properly if I had known.”

The words hit like a slap. Saphira’s breath caught, her body going still. Disposed of me? The shock was sharp but brief. Anger surged in its place, hot and immediate.

Her fists clenched at her sides. She took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm. *If I react now, we lose control. We lose answers.*

She stepped closer, her voice low. “How long have you been planning things with the Elders?”

Lupus laughed, a dry, bitter sound. “You have no idea. You think you’re prepared? You think this little Arrax pack matters?” He leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. “The Elders control everything. They’ve infiltrated systems, bloodlines, alliances. Soon, they’ll control the entire supernatural world. Pure blooded packs will rise. The rest will fall.”

Saphira glanced at Nikolas, her pulse steady despite the storm inside her. Jed’s jaw was tight, Raven’s eyes narrowed. *He’s revealing more than he thinks.*

Jed stepped forward, voice clipped. “You’ve developed an advanced poison. One for every species. Designed to eliminate anyone who isn’t pure blooded.”

Lupus’s mouth twitched. “I’m not telling you anything.”

Raven raised her hand, her fingers glowing with violet light. The air around Lupus shimmered, then pressed inward—like invisible walls closing in. He grunted, his body tensing.

“Answer,” Raven said coldly.

Lupus bared his teeth. “No, I’d rather die than tell you anything else.”

Saphira stepped forward, her voice calm but cutting. “Then I’ll get Ruby.”

Lupus scoffed. “You’re bluffing.”

Saphira’s eyes didn’t waver. “Stop underestimating me.”

She turned, her boots echoing against the stone as she left the cell. Her heart was pounding, but her steps were sure. *If he wants to test me, he’ll learn exactly what I’m capable of.*

She headed straight for Ruby’s cell.