The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 51

It didn’t feel like a long time before Jed arrived to swap shifts with Nikolas and Saphira.

Jed stepped inside, his sharp gaze immediately landing on Zafira before flicking to Nikolas. “Any news?” he asked, his voice lined with quiet concern.

Nikolas stood, instinctively straightening, and Saphira followed suit, pushing off her chair as though shaking off the weight of sitting still for too long.

“The doctor said she’s recovering quicker than expected,” Nikolas explained, his voice holding a touch more ease than earlier. “Hopefully, it won’t be long.”

Jed exhaled, nodding. “I hope so.” He reached out, placing a firm hand on Nikolas’ shoulder, a silent show of support. “I’ll call you if anything changes.”

Nikolas nodded back, the unspoken understanding between them clear.

Then, Jed turned to Saphira, his expression softening slightly. “How are you doing? I know it’s been full on since coming to the pack.”

“It’s okay,” she admitted honestly. “Nikolas has been great, and… I feel at home.”

She hadn’t expected those words to come so easily, but they did, and saying them felt right.

Jed smiled warmly, approval flickering in his gaze. “That’s good to hear.”

“Once everyone’s back to health,” he murmured, amusement threading through his voice, “we will throw another party with the whole pack.”

Saphira let out a breath of amusement, shaking her head slightly as her lips twitched into a small smile. A party. The thought seemed distant, almost surreal after everything they had been through, but there was something reassuring about it. A reminder that life would move forward. That healing would come.

“Sounds like a plan,” she replied, voice carrying a bit more lightness than before.

Nikolas turned toward her fully then, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes locked onto hers. “Alright, shall we go?”

Saphira hesitated for just a beat, as if lingering in the moment, then nodded. “Yes.”

She turned back to Jed, offering him a small nod of farewell. “See you later.”

Jed gave them both a knowing look. “See you both at dinner.”

Saphira and Nikolas stepped out of the hospital, the crisp air brushing against her skin. The tension of waiting had eased, leaving a quiet lull between them, one that felt lighter, hopeful.

Nikolas glanced at her, stretching his shoulders slightly as he spoke. “Fancy some lunch?”

Saphira considered it for only a second before an idea sparked. “Yes, but can we do a picnic?” She gestured toward the sky, the sun spilling warmth over the day. “It’s a lovely day,” she added quickly, her voice carrying a quiet excitement she hadn’t expected.

Nikolas’ expression shifted, something thoughtful flickering across his face before he nodded. “Not a bad idea. Let’s get some food, then find a spot.”

Saphira’s smile widened, a small spark of anticipation settling in her chest.

She hadn’t ever had a proper picnic with company before, had never taken the time to enjoy something so simple.

As they made their way to the kitchens, they took a few containers, packing up the standard food prepared for the pack daily. The process was easy, familiar, but when Nikolas pulled out a picnic basket, both of them stared at it for a beat too long.

Saphira blinked. “We own one?”

Nikolas scoffed, inspecting the item with mild disbelief. “Apparently.”

She huffed out a laugh, shaking her head as she finished packing up the food.

“Now we need a blanket,” Nikolas said, securing the lid of the basket before glancing at her. “We can get one out of the game room.”

Saphira froze slightly, turning toward him. “Game room?”

*How have I not heard of this game room before?*

*What was in it? Was it used often?* The questions were endless, immediate.

Nikolas’ eyes widened slightly, realisation crossing his face. “Oh. I’m so sorry, I haven’t shown you the best parts of the house.” He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “We’ve been so caught up with everything. I promise we’ll do it all.”

Saphira narrowed her eyes playfully, shaking her head. “Hey, it’s fine.” Then, lips curving into a grin, she added, “But I do want to see this game room.”

She stepped forward, her excitement barely contained. “Which way?”

Nikolas laughed, the sound warm and easy, echoing faintly down the corridor. “This way,” he said, gesturing for Saphira to follow.

She moved beside him, her gaze flickering briefly down the hall, scanning the rows of doors she had barely paid attention to before. She had assumed they were meeting rooms or extra bedrooms, nothing special. But clearly, she had been wrong.

Nikolas stopped at the first door, pushing it open effortlessly.

The moment they stepped inside, Saphira’s breath hitched slightly.

The room was huge.

On the far side, a massive TV dominated the wall, surrounded by plush, oversized chairs arranged for optimal viewing. To the right, a sleek bar stood, stocked and ready, adding a quiet luxury to the darkly decorated space.

“This is the movie room,” Nikolas said casually, watching her reaction with amusement.

Saphira turned slowly, taking it all in, the deep hues of the walls, the carefully curated space designed for comfort.

“We’ll arrange a night to watch some films soon,” Nikolas added, leaning against the back of one of the chairs.

Saphira tore her gaze away, grinning. “This is amazing. I can’t wait.”

But curiosity was already pulling her toward the next discovery.

She turned to Nikolas, eyes bright with anticipation. “Now the game room?”

Nikolas huffed a quiet laugh, rolling his eyes playfully. “Come on.”

He led them to the next door in the corridor, opening it smoothly.

The contrast hit instantly.

The décor was the complete opposite, bright, energetic, filled with splashes of colour.

Saphira stepped inside, her eyes darting across the room, taking in the pool table, the table tennis setup, the multiple single-player arcade machines lining the walls, each standing tall and gleaming. Another massive TV sat at the far end; consoles neatly arranged beneath it on the unit below.

She was amazed.

Nikolas folded his arms, smirking as he watched her soak it all in. “We can spend a day in here with the pack at the weekend.”

Saphira turned to him, expression full of excitement.

“The pack meets a few times a week,” he continued, “but it’s most fun on a weekend.”

Saphira didn’t hesitate. “Yes!” she said, her enthusiasm spilling out fully.

Nikolas chuckled, shaking his head slightly before moving toward a closet she hadn’t even noticed when she first entered.

He rummaged for only a few moments before pulling out a neatly folded blanket. “Here we go.”

Saphira was still marvelling at the room, almost reluctant to leave it behind, but Nikolas’ voice brought her back.

“Ready for a picnic?”

Saphira tore her eyes away from the consoles, inhaling deeply before nodding.

“Yeah, I might not leave otherwise,” she said, rushing toward the door before she lost herself completely in the game room.

Nikolas laughed behind her, following easily, the sound lingering in the space as they stepped out.