Chapter 57: Chapter 57

JASMINE

The morning sun peeked through the trees, casting a soft glow as I said my goodbyes to my parents. My dad’s arms tightened around me, a silent testament to his fears and the dangers he knew all too well. My mom cradled my face, her eyes a mix of pride and worry, and planted a tender kiss on my forehead.

“We’re so proud of you, Jasmine,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. “Stay strong—and believe in the bond you share with them. It’s something Morgathis can’t comprehend.”

I nodded, a wave of emotions washing over me. After one last look at them, I turned to join my mates, and we set off toward the Bellator Pack.

The moment we stepped into Bellator territory, the air seemed to change. Erik’s demeanor shifted—he became determined, a silent spark in his eyes. This was his home, his people, and he bore that responsibility with unwavering pride.

He caught my eye and gave me a reassuring nod, a silent vow that we were prepared for this.

In the heart of the pack, the blacksmiths were waiting for us, their faces etched with the gravity of the task at hand. The master blacksmith stepped forward and took the bag of gold jewelry from me, his fingers lingering on my necklace.

He held it up, examining its intricate design and the moonstone at its center. “The necklace will suffice,” he said, his gaze meeting mine. He handed me back the velvet bag. “Would you like to keep the moonstone, or should we use all of it?”

“Use all of it. You can put the moonstone in the dagger,” I responded, touching the stone that rested against my chest. It had been a part of the Aurum’s for generations, a symbol of my family and heritage, and they would be proud.

The blacksmith nodded, understanding. Erik stepped up, shrugging off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. “I’ll stay and help,” he said, a sense of familiarity in his voice.

The blacksmiths around him nodded in approval. Erik was no stranger to the forge, and seeing him take on this role earned him a new level of respect from his people—and from me.

Next to us, magicians from Sebastian’s pack began their incantations. The forging of this dagger required not just physical strength but a tremendous amount of magic.

As the work commenced, the energy in the room heightened; sparks flew from the metal as Erik hammered, and strands of magic wove into the molten Seraphium, binding it to the purpose we’d envisioned.

Aaron and I joined in to help with the intricate symbols that would be etched into the blade—a protective barrier of sorts, potent enough to contain the energy we needed to confront Morgathis.

Aaron was engrossed, carefully inscribing ancient marks into the metal, his eyes sharp and focused. At one point, he paused, giving me a thoughtful look.

“We should incorporate the coat of arms of each family,” Aaron proposed, his voice low but steady. “Or better yet—merge them all. It would symbolize our collective strength, a reminder of what we’re fighting for.”

I smiled, nodding. “I love that idea.” It felt right, like a seal on everything we’d become—our families, our packs, united as one.

Despite my lingering doubts about unification, knowing the council would never agree, this was our path. The dagger itself was a symbol of that unity, a pledge to protect our people—all of them.

“If we’re truly going to unite, we need a name and a coat of arms,” I said, raising my voice so Erik and Sebastian could hear. Even though they were engrossed in their tasks, I saw smiles spread across their faces.

“I love this idea,” Sebastian said, his grin widening as he looked up from the forge. “We don’t have a name yet, but for the coat of arms, we could combine the symbols of all four packs.”

Erik nodded and quickly sketched on a piece of paper. In a few swift strokes, he drew a shield, dividing it into four sections. Each quadrant bore the emblem and color of one pack—Aurum’s pickaxe in gleaming gold, Wolfheart’s potion bottle in deep blue, Bellator’s crossed swords in bold red, and Scire’s ancient book in rich green.

“It’s perfect,” I whispered, emotion welling up in my chest.

Aaron and Sebastian nodded in agreement, their eyes mirroring the awe and pride I felt.

Erik studied the sketch with a thoughtful expression, his eyes lingering on each symbol. “I’m going to etch this new coat of arms into the dagger,” he declared, his face lit up with resolve.

“I was thinking,” I chimed in, “maybe we could merge our pack names for the new one.” I took the sketch from Erik, glancing at Aaron.

We spent a good chunk of time trying out different combinations, each one feeling almost right but not quite—until a word struck me, sudden and electrifying, making my heart pound.

I knew this was it. My heart, my mind, my soul—they all knew it.

“Wolscibella,” I voiced, the name echoing in the room like a spell. The entire place fell into a hush, even the blacksmiths and magicians, as if the name held an ancient power we hadn’t yet grasped.

My mates stared at me, their faces a blend of surprise and awe.

“I love it, but are you sure?” Aaron asked softly. “It merges our pack names, but…there’s no mention of ~Aurum~…”

His concern mirrored my own thoughts. But I had my reasons.

“I wanted a name that honors the legacy of each of my mates for our united packs,” I explained, locking eyes with each of them. “We’re stronger together because each of us brings something unique, something powerful, to this bond.”

I paused, feeling the gravity of the moment. “I chose Wolscibella,” I went on, my voice steady but filled with emotion. “A fusion of ~Wolfheart~, ~Scire~, and ~Bellator~. This name symbolizes the loyalty, wisdom, and bravery my mates bring to our pack.”

A voice whispered, “What about Aurum?”

I smiled, my heart swelling with pride. “Aurum is a part of me, woven into my very being. I carry it with me always, as the heart and soul of our new alliance. By standing here, leading us together, I represent Aurum every moment.”

My voice grew stronger. “Wolscibella isn’t just a name. It’s a promise that we’ll honor the legacies we come from while building a future—one that’s for all of us.”

My mates’ smiles mirrored my own, and even the blacksmiths and magicians murmured and nodded in approval, their faces glowing with a hope I hadn’t seen in ages.

But before I could say more, something unexpected happened. One of Sebastian’s magicians, the oldest among them, stepped forward, his face lit up with a knowing smile.

“It’s a powerful name, one that holds much magic and strength, even more than you realize right now,” the old man murmured. He raised his hands, letting his fingers dance in the air as threads of magic spun from his fingertips, forming the letters of Wolscibella, glowing and pulsing with life.

“It’s not my place to give an opinion,” he continued, his voice wise and gentle. “But perhaps you could use it as a new family name. In the beginning, the alphas of Wolfheart carried another last name—Cavahal. That is, until a powerful sorceress from an ancient family of wizards, Lunae Lumen, became the mate of Emma Cavahal. When they had their daughter, she was named Willa Wolfheart in honor of the pack.

“Willa was a wolf with magical abilities, and Alpha Sebastian is her descendant.” He looked at me with warmth and reverence. “The name Wolscibella could carry the same legacy—a new line of unity and strength.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, my heart swelling with gratitude and pride. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.

“So, that’s it?” Erik asked, his voice trembling with excitement. “Our new pack will be named Wolscibella?”

I nodded, feeling a profound sense of joy. “Our new pack,” I confirmed, my voice filled with purpose. “And our children, our future generations, our legacy will carry the name Wolscibella.”

The room seemed to vibrate with energy, and I felt my heart light up, full of love and certainty. We were on the right path, building something new and powerful that would endure through time—our legacy, our promise, Wolscibella.

Together, Aaron and I completed the final symbols while Sebastian worked alongside the magicians, guiding the magical flow into the dagger. Hours passed, the hum of magic and the clang of metal forming a rhythm that filled the room.

Eventually, our work was done, though Erik and Sebastian still had to stay until the final stages of the dagger’s creation were complete. Aaron swiped the sweat off his forehead, shooting me a weary yet warm grin. “Let’s take a breather, grab some coffee,” he suggested.

We found a cozy nook in the kitchen, our hands cradling the warm mugs as an uneasy silence enveloped us. Aaron looked at me, his gaze intense, before he finally broke the silence. “The dagger should be ready by tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest,” he said, his voice steady. “Then…we confront Morgathis.”

He paused, as if searching for the right words. “You know, typically, as alphas, we would’ve marked each other at our mating ceremony—a formal union.” His voice dipped, almost hesitant. “But with everything that’s happening, I’m not sure if the council will ever sanction our union.”

My heart plummeted. I had always dreamed of a grand ceremony, a moment of joy to commemorate our union. But here we were, on the verge of war, with no assurance that moment would ever arrive. Aaron must have sensed my disappointment because his gaze softened, and he reached across the table to hold my hand.

“What if…what if we mark each other before the battle?” His words were gentle, yet heavy with meaning. “It would fortify our connection, make us even more formidable as we face Morgathis—and we wouldn’t have to wait.”

I swallowed, my thoughts stuck on the dream of a perfect ceremony. But as I looked at him, the reality of our situation weighed heavily on my heart. The council didn’t control our feelings or what we shared. Our bond was already genuine, already unbreakable.

“You’re right,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I want this, Aaron. I want that bond, that intimacy with all of you.”

He nodded, but there was something else in his eyes, something unresolved. “There’s one more thing, though. If we do this, if we mark each other, I believe that we have to do it all at once.” His voice was even quieter, but firm. “The bond will ache otherwise. If I mark you first, your bond with Sebastian and Erik will feel…incomplete. It will leave you yearning, and that could weaken you before the battle. You’d feel a void that would pull at your soul. I’m not sure how a bond and a mark with more than one mate will function, but the quicker we all mark you, the safer it will be.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but it made sense. “So, if I’m marked by you, I’ll need to be marked by them, almost simultaneously.”

I voiced it out loud, but it was a complex matter because the marking was something that completed the bond, on heart, soul, and body. It was a moment intertwined with sex, and we would need to experience it with all my mates at once. I felt my heart pound and my cheeks redden.

He nodded. “Exactly. We’re stronger together when we’re bound, and if each of us marks you at the same time, it will forge a unity that even Morgathis can’t break.”

The gravity of what he was saying struck me. This wasn’t just about the mark—it was about creating something indestructible, a force that would transcend magic or council laws.

“But Aaron…” I hesitated, a wave of emotion washing over me. “What if…what if we’re rushing this? I don’t want to feel like we’re marking each other out of fear.”

He gave a small smile, his hand squeezing mine. “It’s not fear, Jasmine. It’s strength. We’re marking each other because we know, without a doubt, that we’re in this together. Marking is a choice, a commitment. It’s not bound by time or ceremonies; it’s bound by the heart.”

His words filled me with a fierce determination. I could feel it deep in my bones—an ache, yes, but one born of desire and love, not fear.

“I want this,” I said, my voice steady. “I want this before we go into battle. Because it’s not just about the council or the rules. It’s about us.”

Aaron’s eyes sparkled with pride. “Then let’s talk to the others. Let’s make this happen.”