The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 54

A couple of days had passed, each one stretching long and quiet.

Nikolas had spent nearly all of his time at the hospital with Zafira since Saphira had shown him the pendant and photos. At first, she stayed with him, sitting by his side as the hours passed, the weight of waiting pressing against her chest.

But then, he told her to get to know the pack, to explore instead of staying couped up in the same space, trapped in the same anticipation.

She had hesitated, reluctant to leave him, reluctant to feel like she was moving forward while he remained locked in his own silent battle.

But in the end she agreed.

She spent time getting used to the pack house, the way it felt lived in, the smaller individual homes where families built their lives. She walked the grounds, traced the pathways worn down by time and footsteps.

Then, she went farther.

She found an opening filled with wild flowers. It was incredible, untouched by time.

Saphira sat there for hours, watching the flowers move, feeling small but somehow calm within its presence.

When she finally returned to the house, she expected the feeling of familiarity to settle in.

But something was still missing.

Even though this place felt like home. Even though the people welcomed her, and felt like family, and even though her half-brother was here… she still felt alone.

Without Nikolas.

He had become her safety blanket, the steady presence she hadn’t realised she depended on until now.

And aside from rescue plans, aside from the looming battle ahead, she didn’t know what to talk about with anyone.

So, she didn’t.

She kept to herself. Waiting. For Nikolas. For Zafira. For something to shift.

Saphira sat in her room, fingers twisting idly in the fabric of her jeans, her mind restless despite the stillness around her.

She wanted to spend time with people.

She needed to.

And she knew her best chance was the game room, especially since it was Saturday.

But every time she considered getting up, walking down the hall, just doing it… something held her back.

Her pulse quickened as she stood abruptly, pacing across the room, her steps uneven, her breath a fraction too fast.

She had spent days alone, wandering the pack grounds, trying to feel settled, trying to understand her place here. But without Nikolas by her side, the weight of isolation pressed harder than she wanted to admit.

Just go, she told herself.

But the thought alone wasn’t enough to push her forward.

Before she could force herself into movement, a sudden knock sounded at the door.

Saphira froze, breath catching.

A brief pause, just long enough for her nerves to spike, before she ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it back in some attempt to collect herself.

Then, she opened the door.

Amara stood on the other side, a wide, excited smile lighting up her face.

“Hey!” she greeted, far too enthusiastically.

Saphira blinked, thrown off by the energy radiating from her. “Hey to you too,” she said, confused, poking her head slightly into the hallway to see if anyone else was with her.

No one.

Just Amara.

“Are you busy?” Amara asked, completely oblivious to Saphira’s momentary hesitation.

Saphira frowned slightly, shaking her head. “Erm… no, why?”

Amara huffed out a breath, crossing her arms. “Well, I haven’t really spent much time with the pack, I've been stuck in my new mate bubble.” She rolled her eyes, but the amusement was clear. “Finn mentioned there’s a playroom or something that people go to on Saturdays.”

Saphira laughed before she could stop herself.

“The game room?” she corrected, raising a brow.

Amara tilted her head, thinking. “Yeah, that’s it.” Then, grinning, she added, “Fancy coming with me?”

Saphira felt an instant rush of relief, like thanking the heavens level of relief.

She wasn’t the only one, it seemed.

She wasn’t the only person struggling to integrate, to step into the space without feeling out of place.

Her chest eased, her hesitation lifting just enough for her to finally move.

“Yes,” she said, nodding, really meaning it.

Then, with more energy than she expected, she smiled.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as Saphira and Amara stepped into the game room, the energy hit them instantly, bright, lively, filled with laughter and conversation. The hum of voices mixed with the occasional clatter of a pool ball hitting the table, the faint electronic sounds of arcade machines buzzing in the background.

Before they could take another step, a familiar figure bolted toward them.

“There you are!”

Raven practically ran across the room, her grin wide, her excitement uncontained.

Saphira barely had time to react before Raven threw an arm around her shoulders in greeting, pulling her in briefly before doing the same to Amara.

“Alright, listen up,” Raven announced, practically bouncing on her feet. “You two have perfect timing. We’re having an official girls’ fun day, and you’re not allowed to say no.”

Saphira blinked, caught off guard by the sudden enthusiasm.

Amara let out a laugh. “I don’t think we would say no, even if we wanted to.”

Raven smirked. “Good. Now, before we get started…”

She turned, gesturing toward another woman standing a few feet away, tall, sharp-featured, with striking green eyes and a confident stance.

“This is Talia,” Raven said, looping an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “My best friend and absolute menace when it comes to pool.”

Talia huffed, rolling her eyes but smirking, nonetheless. “She just says that because I beat her every single time.”

“Exactly!” Raven agreed dramatically.

Saphira chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

Raven clapped her hands together. “Alright! Now that introductions are over, we have games to play, snacks to steal, and zero responsibilities for the next few hours. Sound good?”

Saphira glanced at Amara, who grinned widely, clearly ready to dive in.

Saphira felt the hesitation inside her, brief, lingering. But then… she looked at Raven, at Talia, at Amara, at the ease between them.

And for the first time in days, she let herself relax.

She smiled.

“Sounds perfect.”