The Matchmaker - The Arrax Saga Book 1 Chapter 58

Nikolas approached Anastasia’s bed slowly, his posture taut with tension, his golden eyes unreadable as he studied her.

Saphira felt the shift in him before he even spoke, the guarded edge in his stance, the way his fingers flexed slightly, as if preparing himself for something.

“How do you know my name?” Nikolas asked, his voice low, measured, but carrying an unmistakable sharpness.

Saphira inhaled slowly, her stomach tightening. No one outside the pack or the Elders should know his name, especially after everything that had already happened. This was dangerous. This was wrong. And it was only natural that Nikolas would be on edge.

Anastasia stirred, shifting slightly, her movements slow and cautious.

Asher was beside her in an instant, supporting her as she adjusted herself in the bed.

Once she was settled, she gave Nikolas a small, tired smile.

“Because my dear…” she started, voice quiet but steady, “I was there when you were born… When you were named. And you are a spitting image of your father.”

The words hit the room like a weight dropped into still water.

Nikolas’ expression shifted, confusion flickering across his features, pulling his brows together. “I… how?”

“I grew up with your father,” Anastasia continued, her voice softer now, laced with something familiar. “And when he met your mother, we became best friends.”

Silence settled thick between them.

Asher was staring in shock, eyes wide, lips parted slightly as if trying to process it.

Even Saphira felt frozen, her breath uneven, her dragon stirring with unease.

Nikolas hadn’t moved.

He stood stiffly, barely blinking, like his mind was racing too fast to form a response.

Then, slowly, hesitantly, he started, “Do you know…” but the words faltered before he could finish.

Anastasia’s expression dimmed.

“No,” she said, her voice dipping with sorrow, already understanding what he was trying to ask.

Saphira’s chest tightened, watching the way Anastasia’s shoulders curled slightly inward, how the emotion broke through her exhaustion.

“I have been searching for them ever since they disappeared,” she whispered, her gaze distant, like she was seeing something only she had lived through. “I found no leads. I’m so sorry.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, catching on the corner of her lip before she wiped it away absently.

Nikolas exhaled slowly, the sound heavy.

“We have an idea,” he admitted, voice steadier than before, though there was something restrained beneath it, something held back. “But I don’t want to cause you any stress right now.”

Anastasia nodded weakly, her fingers gripping Asher’s hand for silent reassurance.

“You need to heal,” Nikolas continued, squeezing her shoulder gently, offering something quiet, something meant to keep her calm and relaxed, even if only for now. “Then we can talk.”

He turned, stepping back, moving as though preparing to leave, but hesitated.

Pausing at the door, he glanced over his shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

His voice carried more weight than the words alone.

“Welcome home.”

Anastasia let out a slow breath.

Nikolas turned toward Saphira then, his gaze softer but still laced with thought.

“Let’s give them some space,” he murmured, tilting his head slightly toward the door. “We can come back after we eat.”

He reached for the container she had brought in, lifting it off the side table.

“This is cold now so we need some frest food.”

Saphira nodded, falling into step beside him without hesitation.

As they left, Nikolas paused only briefly to speak to one of the doctors, ensuring Zafira would be watched closely until they returned.

Together they walked back to the house.

Saphira and Nikolas moved toward the farthest table in the half-empty dining room, each carrying a plate of food, their movements slow and fatigued.

As they entered, a few pack members exchanged brief words, small talk about border status and any signs of trouble.

Luckily, everything seemed quiet.

Still, Saphira felt the weight of it all pressing against Nikolas, the tension coiling through him even though nothing had been said yet.

Once they settled into their seats, the silence between them stretched, settling thick in the air.

Saphira studied Nikolas for a moment, his shoulders tense, his jaw set, the shadows beneath his eyes deeper than before. He looked like he was carrying everything alone.

She let the silence linger for a beat longer before finally breaking it.

“Are you okay?”

Nikolas exhaled slowly, rubbing his thumb absently against the side of his plate before answering.

“Yes,” he murmured. Then after a pause he continued. “It’s just a lot. And now I have to break the news of my parents’ death to her.”

Saphira felt something sharp twist inside her chest at that.

“It seems ever since the whole ordeal with The Matchmaker… everything has been against us.”

His voice was quieter now, edged with defeat.

Saphira inhaled slowly, watching him, truly seeing him in a way she hadn’t before.

Nikolas Arrax, the most dangerous, fearsome creature alive, looked defeated.

It unsettled her.

But she wasn’t about to let him sit in that feeling.

She reached out, placing her hand firmly on his arm, waiting until his gaze lifted to meet hers.

“That’s because we don’t understand everything yet,” she said, her voice steady, certain. “When we do, we will be in control.”

Nikolas stared at her for a long moment. Slowly, subtly, his lips curved into the smallest hint of a smile.

“I really like your confidence,” he murmured.

Saphira smirked, squeezing his arm briefly before pulling her hand back.

“Because you are Nikolas Arrax. My mate. The most powerful being to exist.”

Nikolas let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

“I don’t feel powerful,” he admitted. “I was able to be taken so easily. Twice.”

Saphira narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers tightening around the edge of her plate.

“But that was because you were weakened and ambushed,” she pointed out. “You can only do so much alone… especially against Elders.”

She softened, nudging his foot lightly beneath the table.

“But you’re not alone anymore.”

Nikolas held her gaze for another long beat, then exhaled, something in his posture loosening just slightly.

They finished eating in silence, but Saphira wasn’t lost in thought the way she normally was.

Until—

Something clicked in her mind.

Something she had overlooked.

Without hesitation, she turned her entire body toward Nikolas, her expression sharpening, her spine straightening with deliberate purpose.

Nikolas blinked, confused by the sudden shift.

“Now seriously,” she said firmly, her tone carrying weight Nikolas wasn’t expecting. “If you ever wander off without any communication to try and resolve this yourself again…”

She leaned in slightly, eyes locked onto his.

“I will never forgive you.”

Nikolas blinked again, his expression flickering between shock and mild amusement, but mostly shock.

“…Understood,” he finally replied, his voice edged with realisation. She wasnt messing around.

Saphira felt the weight lift off her shoulders instantly, the frustration, the unspoken anger she hadn’t even acknowledged until now.

She hadn’t realised how much it had affected her.

How much it had sat inside her, waiting to be spoken.

Now, she had said it, and Nikolas heard it.

That was enough.