The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 185

The sun had barely crested the treetops when training wrapped for the day. Saphira wiped a streak of dirt from her cheek as she followed Nikolas back toward the pack house, her muscles pleasantly sore from the morning’s training.

Inside, the halls buzzed with post-training energy. Nikolas led her up the stairs to their room, his steps purposeful.

They reached their room and both showered, removing any lingering sweat and dirt.

“Pack an overnight bag,” Nikolas said, pulling open a drawer and tossing a clean shirt into his own duffel. “Just in case.”

Saphira paused by the wardrobe, grabbing a change of clothes. “You’re thinking it might not be a quick visit?”

Nikolas nodded, zipping his bag. “They didn’t give much detail. Just said they were struggling and wanted to talk. Asked for help.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “What do you know about them?”

“Not much,” he admitted. “We spoke briefly over the phone. Their Alpha, James, lost his Luna a few years ago. That’s all they offered. Said they might have a proposal that could benefit both our packs.”

Saphira got dressed and then went back to the wardrobe for some clothes to pack, her brow furrowed. “That’s sad. But we should be mindful. It feels a little too vague. Could be nothing… or it could be something.”

Nikolas met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “I agree. We’ll stay open-minded, but cautious.”

She nodded, folding a tunic and tucked it into her bag. “Anything else I should know?”

He hesitated, then said, “Yes. While we’re there, don’t use our names. No one outside the pack knows mine and that now extends to you, as my mate.”

Saphira stilled, her hand hovering over a folded cloak. “Ah, I forgot about that,” she said after a beat. “But… if anyone does use our names, we’ll know they’ve been talking to the wrong people. The Elders know who we are. If someone else does too…”

“Exactly,” Nikolas said, his voice low. “We’ll keep an ear out.”

She turned to him, arms crossed. “So how do we address each other?”

He smirked. “Alpha or Luna. Or Alpha Arrax and Luna Arrax, which ever feels most natural.”

Saphira’s lips curved despite herself. “Luna Arrax,” she repeated softly, testing the sound. “That has a nice ring to it.”

Nikolas’s eyes gleamed. “You like it.”

She rolled her eyes, brushing past him to zip her bag. “Don’t get smug. Let’s just get going.”

He laughed, slinging his duffel over his shoulder. “Yes, Luna Arrax.”

They made their way down the stairs and out the front doors, where five warriors stood waiting in formation. Two black SUVs idled nearby, engines humming low. Jed stood at the front steps with Raven, arms folded, his expression unreadable.

“You sure that’s enough backup?” Jed asked, nodding toward the warriors.

Nikolas shook his head. “I don’t want to leave the pack unprotected. If something happens here while we’re gone…”

Jed nodded, understanding. “Call if anything feels off.”

“We will,” Nikolas promised.

They exchanged final goodbyes and climbed into the first SUV. The door shut with a soft thud, and as the vehicle pulled away from the Arrax pack grounds, Saphira glanced out the window, watching the trees blur past.

*Whatever waits for us at Cinderwood*, she thought, *we’ll face it together.*

Nikolas reached over, his fingers brushing hers. She didn’t look away from the window, but she laced her hand with his.

The journey to the Cinderwood Pack took just under three hours. The roads grew narrower the deeper they drove into the forest, the trees thickening, the air growing heavier with the scent of damp earth and pine. Saphira sat beside Nikolas in the lead SUV, her gaze fixed on the passing landscape. The warriors followed in the second vehicle behind them, silent and alert.

As they crossed the boundary into Cinderwood territory, two warriors stepped out from behind a cluster of trees, blocking the road. Their stances were rigid, eyes sharp.

Nikolas rolled down the window, his voice calm but firm. “Alpha Arrax. Here to see Alpha James. We were invited.”

The warriors exchanged a glance, then nodded and stepped aside. One gestured toward the winding path ahead. “Pack house is straight through.”

As they drove deeper, Saphira’s unease grew. The land bore scars, scorched patches of earth, broken branches, claw marks gouged into tree trunks. It looked like a battle had taken place recently. And not a small one.

*‘Vaelora?’* she reached inward, feeling the dragon stir beneath her skin.

The response was immediate, a ripple of tension, a low growl in her chest. *‘Something’s wrong here,’* Vaelora whispered. *‘I can feel it.’*

Saphira’s fingers curled against her thigh. *‘I feel it too.’*

They reached the Cinderwood pack house, a sprawling stone structure with wide steps and tall windows. Out front stood five figures: three men and two women. The one in the centre was the largest, broad-shouldered with a commanding presence. His stance was confident, almost too relaxed. Saphira’s instincts prickled. *The Alpha,* she thought. *A Wolf.*

Nikolas stepped out first, followed by Saphira. The warriors flanked them silently.

The man in front stepped forward, extending a hand. “Alpha James,” he said. “Thank you for coming.”

Nikolas shook his hand. “Of course. We’re here to help.”

Alpha James gestured to the others. “My Betas, Alex and Mara. And their mates, Theo and Lira.”

Saphira nodded politely as each greeted them in turn. Their smiles were practiced, their eyes unreadable.

Nikolas turned slightly, his hand brushing Saphira’s back. “This is Luna Arrax. My mate.”

Alpha James’s brows lifted. “Your mate?” He let out a low chuckle. “Never thought I’d see the day. The almighty, feared Alpha Arrax… settled down.”

Saphira’s spine stiffened. That tone. She didn’t like it. Not when they were supposedly recovering from an attack.

Nikolas’s jaw tightened. “Neither did I,” he said coolly. “But things change.”

Alpha James laughed again, the sound too loud, too casual. “Well, I’ve prepared a room for you both to freshen up. Beta Alex will show you. I’ll come get you in an hour to discuss what happened. Then we’ll have dinner.”

Nikolas nodded. “Thank you.”

Saphira offered a polite smile, though her eyes stayed sharp. *Something’s off.*

Beta Alex led them inside. The moment they crossed the threshold, Saphira’s senses flared. The interior was pristine, gleaming floors, polished wood, soft lighting. It looked more like a shrine than a war zone. Pack members moved through the halls calmly, chatting, smiling. No signs of trauma. No tension. No grief.

*“This doesn’t match what we saw outside,”* she mind-linked Nikolas.

*“I know,”* he replied instantly. *“Be extra careful. Something’s not adding up.”*

A powerful sense of crisis quickly spread throughout Saphira's body, making the hairs on her body stand on end.