Chapter 48: Chapter 48

JASMINE

I walked into the dining room, my heart pounding from the discoveries Aaron and I had made. Erik and Sebastian were already there, engrossed in conversation, their plates barely touched. Theodore was there too, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the table.

Erik was the first to see me. His honey-colored eyes met mine and he called out, “Jasmine,” his voice filled with worry. He rose halfway from his chair, sensing my urgency.

“What’s wrong?”

Sebastian’s gaze followed Erik’s, but he stayed seated, watching me with a silent understanding.

“I…I need to tell you both what we found,” I said, my voice shaky as I stood at the head of the table. My eyes darted between them, and then briefly to Theodore, who raised an eyebrow but remained silent, just listening.

“We found records of all the alphas’ counselors over the years, and Aaron noticed the ones who suggested splitting the packs. But I saw the names, and they were anagrams,” I continued, my breath hitching slightly. “Morgathis. It’s all connected. She’s been planning this for a long time, watching, waiting to strike at the heart of every pack.”

Erik’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing.

Sebastian let out a sharp breath, his posture stiffening as he absorbed the news.

I nodded, placing a hand on the back of a chair for support. “Aaron’s going to keep looking. We’ll find more. There has to be a way to stop her before it’s too late.”

Theodore, who had been silent throughout the conversation, leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying me with a newfound respect. His lips, which had been a tight line, seemed to soften slightly. Maybe he was beginning to understand the gravity of the situation and just how much I was fighting for them all.

I sat down with them and tried to eat, but my stomach was in knots. After breakfast, I found myself drawn to the library.

I missed him, and I knew he needed me.

The library had always been our sanctuary—quiet, filled with the scent of old paper and ink. We often spent hours here together, sharing ideas and getting lost in the ancient texts and books.

But today, the tension was palpable, heavier than ever.

Aaron was already there, seated at a low table, books spread out before him, his brow furrowed in concentration. Seeing him, always so focused, so steady, calmed my racing heart a little.

“Find anything new?” I asked softly, running my fingers along the edge of one of the books as I sat beside him.

Aaron looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. “A few things. Nothing conclusive yet, but we’re close.”

Without thinking, I shifted, laying my head in his lap as I stretched out, one arm draped over his leg. It was a simple, natural movement—one I had done countless times before.

But today, there was something different in the air. Something more intimate.

Aaron’s fingers found their way to my hair, brushing through it absently as he continued reading. The touch was light, almost absentminded, but it sent a wave of warmth and chills through my body.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the steady rhythm of his breathing and the quiet turning of pages soothe me.

For a while, we stayed like that—him reading, me resting, the closeness between us growing. Every so often, he would point something out in the text, his voice soft and deep, and I would murmur my thoughts in response, half lost in the feel of his hand in my hair.

I picked up a book and started reading with him. It was ancient texts and documents—a completely exhausting job—but Aaron was focused, and it seemed like he wasn’t going anywhere soon.

Reading about all this made my heart race. I knew it was big, bigger than us, but now it felt so real. We would change the future of our packs forever. And the weight of it all started pressing down on me.

Despite the comfort of being with Aaron, the weight of everything we’d uncovered pressed down on me. I felt restless, like the walls of the library were closing in around me.

I shifted in place, and his eyes left the book to find mine.

“Are you okay?” Aaron asked, though he already knew the answer through our connection.

“Yes, I just think I need to clear my head,” I said. “I think I’ll go for a run.”

Aaron smiled softly at me. His hand brushed my hair one last time before I sat up.

“Will you promise me something?” I asked, my voice soft. “Go for a walk, eat something, and take a bath?”

His response was a chuckle, warm and comforting. “You’re asking a lot,” he teased, his laughter filling the room. “But I promise.” He reached out to pull me back into his lap as I started to rise.

His arms enveloped me, pulling me close. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “Thank you for taking care of me,” he murmured, his smile brushing against my lips.

“Isn’t that what a luna does?” I replied, my words barely a whisper as my lips brushed against his.

He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. “My queen, you’re no luna,” he said, his words sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re an alpha.” He captured my lips in another kiss.

I left him then, but my heart remained behind, tucked away in the library with Aaron. I sought solace in the forest, shifting into my wolf form and relishing the fresh air. But I wasn’t alone—guards from Bellator shadowed my every move, keeping their distance but always present.

They were following Erik’s orders, I knew. They were there to protect me, to keep me safe. And so, I let them.

With each stride, I could feel the power coursing through me—the blood pumping in my paws, my muscles flexing, my fur rippling in the wind.

When exhaustion finally set in, I returned home. The house was quiet, my mates nowhere to be found. I knew Aaron was still in the library, but the others were missing.

After a bath, I began to wander the corridors, searching for them. As I roamed, I noticed the door to Theodore’s office slightly ajar. Curiosity piqued, I peeked inside, finding him engrossed in some paperwork.

Our eyes met, his gaze piercing. His eyes, a deep brown, seemed to see right through me. But there was a softness there, a gentleness that hadn’t been there before.

Theodore Scire was an imposing figure, a man who commanded respect without uttering a word. His eyes were sharp, always observing, always calculating. His face was lined with the marks of leadership and battle, his hair streaked with silver—a testament to his age and experience.

In many ways, he reminded me of Aaron. The same strong jaw, the same intense gaze. But where Aaron’s eyes were warm and understanding, Theodore’s were hard and unyielding.

Every move he made was deliberate, calculated. He was a man who had spent his life mastering control—over himself, over his pack, over everyone around him.

But beneath that icy exterior, I sensed something more. A part of him that had once been open, perhaps even kind, but had long since been buried beneath layers of duty and betrayal.

His trust had been shattered long ago, and he had never allowed anyone close enough to rebuild it.

Until now.

Despite the cracks in his armor, Theodore remained a mystery. He was a leader who had weathered time and tragedy without faltering, a man who had learned to survive by becoming untouchable.

“Jasmine,” he said. My name sounded different on his lips. His posture was as rigid and commanding as always, his eyes cold but calculating.

He was a man of few words, so his willingness to engage with me was surprising.

“Theodore,” I replied, meeting his gaze.

“Come here,” he said, his voice steady, almost too calm.

I entered, unsure of whether to sit or stand.

He gestured to a small table, a bottle of dark liquor and two glasses resting on its surface. “Join me?” he asked, pouring a drink for each of us.

I raised an eyebrow at the gesture but accepted the drink. He led me to a balcony overlooking his pack, slowly rebuilding.

We stood in silence, sipping our drinks. The air was thick with tension, but something had changed in Theodore since our last conversation.

Finally, he broke the silence. “I never thought I’d see the day when I would trust someone outside of my pack again,” he said, his voice gruff but honest.

I swiveled my head, studying him intently. “Me?”

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper as he took another gulp of his drink. “Your guys—Erik, Sebastian, Aaron—they rallied together to retrieve my professors and my books. They gave me back my dignity and my faith in humanity.”

His eyes were far away as he gazed out over the landscape. “The Silverclaw… It wasn’t just a betrayal of trust. It was a betrayal of everything we believed in. I lost more than books, professors, and money that day. I lost my faith in people—even in myself.”

I stayed silent, letting his words fill the space between us. I could sense the burden of his past, the wounds left by deceit and conflict.

“I thought the walls I built were sturdy enough,” he went on. “I thought I could safeguard my pack by isolating us. But then you…”

His voice faded, and he looked at me with a new emotion in his eyes. Admiration, perhaps. Or something more fragile.

“You united three packs to rescue mine. You accomplished what no one else could. You led them—without any hesitation, without any second thoughts. I didn’t think it was feasible.”

His words made my heart flutter, but I maintained a composed expression. “We all had something worth fighting for. It wasn’t just me. It’s the bond that the four of us share now. I know it’s not typical or easy to have three mates. I didn’t choose it, but I know it’s Her design, and it’s my journey to embark on. And the more we discover about the witches and their schemes, the more I realize that this is bigger than us. The Moon paired me with three mates so we could unite, grow stronger, and finally stand up to them.”

There was a lengthy silence before he spoke again, his voice softer, almost unsure.

“I trust you, Jasmine. You, Erik, and Sebastian. I never thought I’d say that again about anyone. But I do now.”

I looked at him, taken aback by the raw sincerity in his words, and by what my mind was already starting to piece together about what he might say next.

I had always known Theodore as a tough, unyielding leader, someone who kept everyone at a safe distance. But now, here he was, lowering his guard, even if just for a moment.

“I know it’s difficult for you to consider, but I see another way out. I think we need to unite,” I suggested softly, feeling that this was the right moment to bring up the topic.

He let out a deep sigh, placing his glass down. “You’re right. It’s the only path forward. My pack won’t withstand another assault like this. I’m on board with unification now. But it doesn’t alter the fact that the council is opposed to it.”

I nodded, a wave of relief washing over me. I had hoped Theodore would come around, but hearing it straight from him made it tangible.

“One step at a time,” I said, taking another sip of my drink.

We stood there in silence for a while longer, watching the night descend over the landscape. For the first time, there was a sense of unity between us—one forged not out of necessity, but out of mutual respect.

And perhaps, just perhaps, on trust.