The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 170

The walk back to the pack house was quiet. The wind had picked up, rustling through the trees like whispers trailing behind them, brushing against Saphira’s cheeks and tugging at the edges of her jacket. She walked beside Nikolas, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her thoughts looping through what they now knew.

*They’ve planned this for longer than we imagined. And they’re already moving.*

When they reached the office, Nikolas pushed the door open and let her in first. The room was warm, quiet, the soft scent of cedar and parchment lingering in the air like memory. Saphira stepped inside and sank into the couch, her body finally registering the exhaustion. Her shoulders slumped, her legs curled beneath her, and for a moment she just breathed.

Nikolas sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched. She turned to him, her voice low. “Are we calling in the others to talk about this?”

“Eventually,” he said, leaning back, one arm resting along the back of the couch. “But I want to hear Jed and Raven’s take first. See where they stand.”

Saphira nodded. “Good idea.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet between them familiar. Then Nikolas reached out and pulled her gently into his arms. She didn’t resist. She curled into him, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was the only rhythm that made sense right now.

“How are you?” he asked softly. “After talking to both of them?”

Saphira hesitated. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, gripping it lightly. “Hollow,” she said. “I thought it would be harder. That I’d feel torn or hurt. But I didn’t. It’s clear now. They’re not my family. Not anymore. I’ve let it go.”

Nikolas kissed the top of her head, his lips lingering there. “I love that you feel that way. But if that ever changes, if you ever need to revisit it, I’m here. No judgment.”

She nodded against him, then pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting his. “What Lupus said… about taking me from my mother. About disposing of me. I was angry in the moment. But thinking back, I’m not surprised. It’s just… hearing it out loud. That’s what hit me.”

Nikolas’s jaw tightened. His hand slid down to hers, squeezing gently. “I wanted to rip his head off when he said that.”

Saphira gave a small laugh, the sound dry but real. “I know.”

“But I trust you,” he said. “If you want to let it go, I’ll help you move forward. And if you want help disposing of him…” He grinned. “I’m available.”

Saphira laughed, smacking his arm playfully. “You’re terrible.”

“I try.”

A few moments later, the door creaked open and Jed and Raven stepped inside. Raven’s eyes were sharp, but there was a glint of amusement beneath the tension. Jed followed close behind, his expression already heavy with thought, brow furrowed, jaw set. They carried the weight of what they’d just witnessed like cloaks over their shoulders.

Saphira shifted slightly on the couch, straightening as they entered. Nikolas sat beside her, his hand resting lightly on her knee. Jed dropped into the chair across from them, Raven settling close to his side, her arms loosely crossed, one leg tucked beneath the other.

Raven spoke first, her smirk dry. “I’m disappointed I didn’t get to use more force.”

They all laughed, the tension easing slightly.

Jed shook his head, rubbing his jaw. “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get that much information. Makes me suspicious.”

Saphira leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees, fingers laced together. “I believe it.”

Jed raised a brow. “Why?”

“Lupus,” she said, her voice steady. “He was angry. Really angry. You can’t fake that kind of rage and still be calculated. If he’d been calm, I’d question it. But he wasn’t thinking, he was reacting.”

Nikolas nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Good point. He was losing control.”

“And Ruby,” Saphira added, her voice softening. “I’ve never seen her so scared. And when she told us, Lupus didn’t just panic, he tried to shut her down. That told me everything. He’s scared of the Elders’ reaction to us knowing. And Ruby was scared of losing her life.”

They all nodded. Raven’s arms tightened across her chest, her voice quieter now. “I think Ruby learning that we killed her mother made her realise we would actually kill her too if she lied or tried anything.”

Saphira tilted her head, considering. “I agree. We might even be able to get more out of her… if we play our cards right.”

Jed’s mouth pulled into a thin line. “True. I just hope it isn’t a ploy to send us down a different path.”

No one responded immediately. The silence was heavy, filled with quiet hope and the sharp edge of doubt. They all wanted to believe they’d been told the truth, but none of them could afford to be naïve.

Saphira sat back, curling slightly into the corner of the couch, her fingers absently tracing the seam of the cushion. Nikolas leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on Jed and Raven.

“What do you two think,” he asked, voice low but direct, “about what Lupus said regarding the Elders and their plans?”

Jed exchanged a glance with Raven, who gave a subtle nod. He shifted in his seat, resting his forearms on his thighs. “We had it wrong,” he said. “All this time, I thought the Matchmaker system was ruling alongside the Elders. That they were two separate forces working in tandem.”

He looked up, his expression grim. “But it’s clear now. The Elders have already taken full control of the Matchmaker. It’s not a partnership, it’s a puppet.”

Nikolas nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. “That’s what I took from it too.”

Saphira’s voice was quiet but certain. “Same. The way Lupus spoke… there was no hesitation. No ambiguity. They’ve already infiltrated them.”

She leaned forward again, her brows drawn. “I’m worried. Their plans are far more advanced than we thought. We’ve been playing catch-up without even knowing it.”

Raven crossed her arms again, her jaw tight. “I’m worried too. That poison, it’s already in the Matchmaker system. Which means people are already being scanned, flagged, and killed. All because of who they are. What they are.”

Saphira’s stomach twisted. *It’s not just a threat anymore. It’s happening.*

“We need to sort out these antidotes,” she said. “But ideally… we need samples of the poisons themselves. Otherwise we’re guessing. And I have no idea how we’re going to get them.”

Jed exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “We need to sit down and figure out how to move forward. Strategically. No more reacting, we need a plan.”

Nikolas straightened, his voice firm. “I’ll call a meeting with everyone. We need to shift into a more advanced phase. But we still need to be careful. Every move has to be calculated.”

Saphira sighed, her shoulders sinking as she leaned back into the couch. “Things just got a hell of a lot more difficult.”

And no one disagreed.