Chapter 32: Chapter 32

JASMINE

The looming threat of the witches and the uncertainty of merging our packs hung over me like a storm cloud ready to burst. I knew without a doubt that my three mates were firmly by my side, but it wasn’t just about us. It was about the bigger picture—our packs, our people.

“I just can’t seem to switch off my mind,” I confessed to Aaron, my thoughts tumbling out. He always had a knack for coaxing them out of me.

Aaron’s arms enveloped me from behind, trying to offer me solace. His body heat felt like a protective barrier against my anxieties.

“It’s just…your father,” I continued. “I can sense it, Aaron. He’s not on board with this. And I can’t tell if it’s just skepticism or if there’s something more.”

He paused, and I saw a glimmer of conflict in his eyes. I thought he might dismiss it, but then he let out a breath, sitting up a bit straighter as his hand gently traced circles on my arm.

“It’s more,” he conceded, his voice barely above a whisper. “There’s a reason he’s wary of this whole idea of merging packs.”

I swiveled to face him directly, studying his face. “What reason?”

Aaron’s fingers tightened slightly on my arm, and his gaze seemed to drift off to a far-off memory.

“Years ago, my father attempted to broaden the Scire Pack’s influence. He struck a deal with Alpha Lucian from the Silverclaw Pack. Lucian promised him territory—prime land to build more universities and research centers, where Scire’s wisdom could extend beyond our borders. It was meant to be a collaboration, a way to share our resources, disseminate knowledge.”

I furrowed my brows. “That sounds like a positive thing.”

“In theory, it was,” Aaron admitted, his jaw clenching. “But Lucian exploited him. My father sent our top educators, rare books from our library, everything to help establish this university. But when it was Lucian’s turn to uphold his end of the bargain—to hand over the land and cement the partnership—he reneged. He took everything we offered, renamed the university, and shut my father out. It was a total betrayal.”

My heart dropped. “And your father never trusted another pack again.”

Aaron nodded slowly. “He saw it as more than just a broken agreement. It was as if Lucian had stolen the heart of Scire’s legacy and claimed it as his own. And that bruised his ego. The brilliant strategist Theodore Scire had been duped by a loophole in the contract. Since then, my father’s been cautious and guarded. He won’t risk placing his trust in any other pack—especially not in a union as complex as this one. He respects your father and the other alphas, but improving your minerals extractor is one thing; uniting everything is another.”

I leaned into him, letting his words sink in. “Why didn’t you share this with me earlier?”

“I didn’t want to add to your worries,” he murmured. “You’ve already got enough on your plate.”

“But it clarifies so much,” I whispered, my mind whirling. Theodore’s aloofness, his hesitance—it all clicked now. But it didn’t alter the fact that we had no option but to unite.

“I need to speak with him.”

Aaron’s eyebrows knitted together. “Are you certain? He’s not the easiest to persuade when it comes to this.”

I sat up straighter, feeling resolve solidify in my chest. “I have to try.”

Aaron chuckled softly, a familiar warmth in his voice. “I’ve learned not to argue with you once you’ve made up your mind. But you should get some sleep, Jazzy. Let me worry about this tonight. Come back to bed.”

He guided me to the bed, his touch gentle, and as I lay down, he kissed me with a tenderness that said he’d bear the weight of the world for me if I asked him to.

“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.

“I love you,” I echoed, my fingers tracing the contours of his face until sleep claimed me.

The dream came quickly—an ancient library, shrouded in shadows and whispers, and one woman, strikingly beautiful, with silver hair and violet eyes.

I woke up with the urgency of the dream still lodged in my chest, only to find that Aaron was no longer next to me. Erik was gone too, just Sebastian’s arm draped protectively over me.

“Where are they?” I asked, my voice heavy with sleep and concern.

Sebastian’s laughter echoed warmly against me. “No morning greeting, sweetheart? Am I not enough to satisfy you?”

I grinned, matching his teasing tone. “Apologies, you’re more than enough.”

I pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, earning a contented hum in response.

“Erik’s out for his morning jog, and Aaron mentioned something about the library,” Sebastian informed me, stretching out lazily as I hurriedly slipped into the first pair of pants and shirt I could find.

“I need to catch Aaron. I had a dream about a library,” I announced, already halfway through the door.

“A dream about a library?” Sebastian’s voice trailed after me, filled with amusement.

I didn’t respond, my thoughts already racing as I headed toward the council library. The place was steeped in the scent of aged books and dust, a treasure trove of ancient wisdom and secrets lurking in the shadows.

I had expected to find Aaron engrossed in research, but instead, a shiver ran down my spine when I discovered Theodore there, hunched over a table littered with papers and ancient contracts.

He was oblivious to my presence at first, his back slightly curved as he scrutinized a worn-out document.

I hesitated, but something within me recognized this as an opportunity. I couldn’t let this moment pass.

I was still contemplating whether to seize the chance to talk to him or postpone it when Theodore’s gaze lifted, narrowing slightly as he spotted me.

“Jasmine,” he greeted, setting the paper aside. His voice was steady but cautious. “What brings you here?”

“I was searching for Aaron,” I started, moving closer. “But I’m not surprised to find another Scire here.”

I paused briefly before continuing. Theodore chuckled, and the sound was so eerily similar to Aaron’s laugh, it felt almost familiar.

I noticed the document on the table. It was about the Silverclaw Pack. This was my moment, and I approached the table to examine the papers.

“Aaron told me about Alpha Lucian and the university—about his betrayal.”

Theodore’s jaw clenched, a flash of old pain crossing his features before he concealed it. “That was a long time ago.”

“I understand your reservations about this alliance,” I said softly. “But this isn’t about expanding influence or power. This is about survival and the mate bond. The witches pose a threat to all of us, not just one pack. I truly believe we can’t handle this on our own.”

Theodore’s expression remained stern, but I could tell he was paying attention.

“We can’t fight this alone,” I persisted. “No pack can. I know trust is hard after what happened, but if we don’t unite, we’ll fall. This isn’t about territory or resources—this is about safeguarding the future—for all of us.”

He remained silent, so I pressed on. “I understand. What happened with Alpha Lucian wasn’t just a broken agreement. It felt like he stole a piece of Scire’s soul. But this situation is different. We’re not discussing expansion or power struggles. This is about family—about our packs uniting through a mate bond, and it’s not just your pack making a sacrifice, it’s mine, the Bellator’s, and the Wolfheart’s too. We’re stronger together.”

Theodore leaned back, his gaze thoughtful yet stern. “Passion won’t win this war, Jasmine. It takes more than words and promises.”

“I know,” I replied, my voice steady, but inside I was struggling to keep calm. “But I’m ready to prove it. The bond I share with Aaron, Erik, and Sebastian—it’s real. We’re not just mates; we’re a team. And our packs can be the same.”

He studied me, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts.

“I don’t expect you to trust blindly. You can draft your best contract and agreement for this,” I added. “But let us prove that this can work. The witches won’t wait for us to figure this out. We need to act before it’s too late.”

He sighed softly, rubbing a hand over his face. Theodore leaned back, mulling over my words. “You make a compelling argument, Jasmine. But it’s not that simple. How can I trust that the others, or even you, won’t betray Aaron as Lucian did with me?”

His words struck a chord, but I didn’t waver. “I would never allow it. The bond I share with Aaron, Erik, and Sebastian is just as strong as the one you feel for your luna. I’d die before I let anything come between us.”

“Uniting four packs sounds like a mad idea…” Theodore mused. A chuckle escaped his lips.

“I remember your son once told me, the line between genius and madness is drawn by the success of their ideas. I was going to show you that we were successful…” I said. A smile spread across Theodore’s face.

He looked at me, really looked at me, for what felt like an eternity before he let out a sigh. “You’ve always been a brave one. I can’t make any promises. But…I’ll give it some thought.”

A wave of relief washed over me. It wasn’t the solid yes I was hoping for, but it was something. And at that moment, something was all I needed.

Suddenly, Aaron was there—standing in the doorway, his gaze meeting mine.

“I’ve found something,” he announced, urgency lacing his voice—and my heart started to pound.