Chapter 42: Chapter 42

AARON

The world outside was a blur, but my mind was stuck on the guilt gnawing at my insides. I knew I had made the right choice going to Silverclaw. We needed those books, the knowledge to combat the witches. Yet, the fear inside me twisted like a knife, making me question—what if I was too late?

My pack was under attack—my home, my people, the ones I swore to protect—and as if that wasn’t enough, I had to tell her. In a moment of desperation, seeking solace amidst the chaos, I needed to hear her voice, needed her near.

So, I told her. I told her we were under attack, and I knew Jasmine too well to believe she would just sit idle. She wouldn’t. She would never let anything happen to my pack.

I felt a sense of pride knowing she’d defend them as if they were her own. But at the same time, a cold dread gripped me, knowing she’d be out there, putting herself in danger.

Each mile closer to Scire Pack tightened the knot in my stomach. Erik and Sebastian sat silently beside me, each lost in their own thoughts, the shared worry and frustration hanging heavy in the air.

“I shouldn’t have called her,” I blurted out, guilt consuming me. “She’ll make a move and…”

I saw Erik’s jaw tighten, Sebastian’s usually calm blue eyes now flickering with the same fear that gripped me.

“I tried to stop you,” Erik said, his voice cold and raw, mirroring my inner turmoil. “But she’d find out and go there anyway.”

He sighed, trying to offer some comfort, but we both knew he was right.

We’d tried calling her relentlessly, all the way here. First, there was no signal. Then she wouldn’t answer.

As we reached the border of my pack, my heart sank. The landscape that had always meant home, that had always been familiar and comforting, was now scarred and broken. Fire and ash. Buildings reduced to ruins.

I was too late. But something felt off. There was no chaos, no sounds of fighting. Instead, there was an eerie stillness. A fragile peace.

My eyes scanned the scene, searching for answers. I didn’t see witches anymore, only the remnants of a battle. There were uniforms from Aurum and Bellator, my guards, and mages from Wolfheart, all working together. Wounded being healed, defenses being rebuilt.

And then I saw her. Jasmine. My heart raced, and in that moment, everything else fell away—relief flooded through me, along with an overwhelming sense of love and pride.

Relief because, despite everything, despite my prayers to the Goddess—which I, the skeptic, made with all my heart—Jasmine was alive. Love, because seeing her well, whole, and strong, was more important to me than my pack, more than anything else.

Pride because she didn’t just survive; she fought. She led. She wore a Bellator uniform, battle-worn and dirty, like a true warrior. She looked more than that—she looked like a leader, a force. The savior of my pack.

I saw dried blood on her face and her arms, and the thought of her being injured sent me into a panic. My breath caught in my throat as I watched her. The weight of everything she did settled deep in my bones. She saved us. She did what I couldn’t.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me toward her, but something else caught my attention—my father. He stood there, watching me. His expression was something I’d never seen before. It was pride, yes, but there was something else: understanding.

Without a word, I knew he’d seen the truth. Jasmine wasn’t just my mate. She was the force that would unite them all.

I felt my chest tighten with emotion. It wasn’t just relief, but something deeper. The pack was safe, the witches were gone, and it was all because of her.

Jasmine. Without hesitation, I closed the distance between us, Erik and Sebastian right behind me. When Jasmine turned, her eyes met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stop.

Nothing else mattered. I wrapped my arms around her, desperate to feel her warmth, her strength. Sebastian and Erik did the same, their shared desperation mirroring my own.

“You are okay,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. It wasn’t a question; it was a plea. I needed her to be okay.

In a fleeting moment, it felt like it was just us four, the rest of the world fading into the background. I wanted to express my gratitude, to share our victory, but before I could get a word out, Erik spotted her injury—her leg, tainted with dark magic. His face hardened, and without a second thought, he swept her into his arms.

Jasmine tried to argue, insisting she was okay, but Erik wasn’t having it. He wasn’t doing this solely for her. He was doing it for himself. He hadn’t been there to shield her, to fight alongside her, and carrying her now, even this small act, offered him a semblance of solace.

And she allowed him. She understood what this meant to him, and she didn’t resist.

I observed them for a moment, my heart heavy, my mind a battleground of pride and guilt. I was meant to be here, meant to lead. But Jasmine… She had already seized the reins.

Before I could voice my thoughts, I heard Walter, my chief guard, barking commands. I shook off my introspection and yelled to him, “Fill me in!”

He swiveled to face me, his expression serious but resolute. “We’ve suffered many losses, Alpha, but we held our ground thanks to the reinforcements. They couldn’t defeat us.”

I nodded, my eyes drifting to my father. He stood close by, his face inscrutable, and then he spoke. “I never imagined I’d witness the day when an outsider would battle so fiercely for us,” he murmured, his voice soft yet filled with significance.

His gaze was fixed on Jasmine. His eyes gleamed with respect—an acknowledgment of her actions, of her character.

His words impacted me more than I anticipated, lifting a burden off my shoulders. This was what we’d been striving for, what we’d all been working toward—the packs uniting, becoming stronger as one.

Theodore, the man who held the fate of our pack in his hands, finally got it. He finally comprehended.

And Jasmine… She was the catalyst.

A wave of pride washed over me, not just for her, but for all of us—for Erik, for Sebastian, for what we’d achieved together. This was merely the start of our battle, but we’d taken the most crucial step: we’d united.

I watched Erik carry Jasmine toward the infirmary, Sebastian trailing close behind. I yearned to follow them, to ensure she was all right, but my attention was drawn back to my father.

For a moment, I was torn between my duties as Alpha and my instincts as her mate. My mind pulled me in one direction, my heart in another.

“Aaron.” My father’s voice sliced through the commotion.

I pivoted toward him, my decision made.

“Go. The battle is over. She’s already taken care of the injured. I’ll handle the rest.”

His smile was faint but understanding, and I nodded. I trusted him.

With one final look at the aftermath of the battle—our triumph—I trailed after Erik and Sebastian toward the infirmary.