CHAPTER 20

Saphira woke to the silence of an unfamiliar room, her mind sluggish as she fought through the lingering haze. Slowly, awareness sharpened, and she reached for her neck, fingers grazing the spot where Nikolas had marked her. The relief was swift—she was alive. He hadn’t killed her.

“I’m sorry.”

His voice came from the corner, low and heavy with something unspoken. She turned to find him stepping forward, hesitation in his movements.

“Why?” she asked, though gratitude hummed beneath the surface of her words.

Nikolas exhaled, settling on the edge of the bed. “I… I’m not a killer.” His eyes searched hers, as if expecting anger.

Instead, she nodded. “I know.” And she did—somehow, she had known all along that he wouldn’t do it.

Still, the weight of what had happened lingered between them. “You’ve lost so much,” she murmured. “Your abilities. Your best chance at finding your sister.”

Nikolas closed his eyes for a brief moment, pain flickering across his face. “I have other ways.”

She could hear the conviction in his voice, but the uncertainty beneath it, too.

“You surely didn’t expect I would just outright kill you, right?” He tilted his head slightly, studying her.

Saphira offered a small, tired smile. No, she hadn’t. And though his choices had cost him greatly, she knew—deep down—that he would find another way.

And if he couldn’t, she would make sure he did.

Saphira exhaled, the weight of the moment pressing against her chest. “Honestly… no. But I thought if I gave you permission—” She hesitated, uncertainty creeping in. “I’m sorry.”

Nikolas let out a short, amused breath, shaking his head. “I marked you without your consent, and you’re the one apologizing?” His tone was light, teasing, and for the first time since waking, Saphira felt the tension ease slightly. He had a point.

She met his gaze, a small smile curling at the corners of her lips. Maybe she should be angrier. Maybe she should resent him for making this choice for her. But instead, there was something else—acceptance, maybe even relief.

“So… how does it work? Now that you’ve marked me?” Her voice was quiet, uncertain, and she bit the inside of her cheek, nerves fluttering in her chest.

Nikolas studied her for a moment before answering. “That’s up to you. You can go about your own thing like we discussed, or…” He shifted slightly, his expression softer now. “You can help me run the pack, and we can get to know each other.”

A choice. Her choice. That meant something.

“If I helped with running the pack, how would that work?” she asked, curiosity flickering through her uncertainty. Could she even do that? Would she be any good at it?

“You’d help with resources, patrols, battle plans,” he explained.

She nodded slowly, weighing it. The responsibility was immense, but it wasn’t just about leadership. It was about being part of something, about standing beside someone rather than being alone.

“And help find your sister?” she added, the thought cementing itself in her mind. She wanted to help. She needed to.

Nikolas hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, I guess so.”

Saphira inhaled, then let the breath out in a slow, steady exhale. “Then I like that idea. I want to help.” The words carried a conviction she hadn’t expected, but they were right. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt like she belonged somewhere.

Nikolas gave a small nod, his expression steady. “Well, that’s settled then. When you’re feeling up to it, let me know, and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the pack.” His hand found her knee, a grounding touch rather than one meant to persuade.

Saphira’s stomach twisted at the thought. The pack. Not just meeting them, but standing among them, expected to belong. What if she couldn’t? What if history repeated itself? Her time with the Silvermoon pack had left scars—ones that whispered doubts into her mind, even now.

“Will they… um, like me?” The words left her hesitantly, barely above a whisper. “You know, because I’m human?”

She hated how uncertain she sounded, but the fear was real. She had spent so long being the outsider, the odd one out, always watched, always doubted. She couldn’t live like that again. She wouldn’t.

Nikolas met her gaze, his reassurance immediate. “Of course they will. We’ve had humans before—ones who never shifted, never turned.” His voice was calm, confident. “And besides, we still don’t know about your other half yet, or if it can be awakened.”

Her other half. The part of her that might not even exist. The words settled uneasily in her mind. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted it to be real or not.

“But…” she hesitated, voice smaller now. “Have they ever had a human help lead them?” The question hung between them, thick with doubt. “They may not like that.”

Nikolas’s voice was steady, unwavering. “Our pack is built on respect and trust. They trust me to decide what’s best and respect my decisions.”

Saphira opened her mouth, ready to protest, but he continued before she could speak. “But… if anyone tries to disrespect you because of who you are, then they will answer to me. I might seem like a softie to you, but I am feared by the world for a reason—and my pack knows that.” His tone held no arrogance, only fact. A quiet assurance that echoed with warning.

Her fingers curled into the blanket draped over her legs, absorbing his words. He was strong. She knew that already—Jed had told her, and the world itself whispered stories of Nikolas’s reputation. Still, hearing it from him, the sheer conviction in his voice, made it feel more real. More solid.

And then she remembered Jed’s words about rules. The invisible boundaries that shaped this world, whether she understood them or not.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her fingers twisting absentmindedly in the fabric. “It means a lot.” And it did—more than she knew how to say.

A pause settled between them before she finally asked, “Jed mentioned before that he had rules to follow regarding you. What are they?”

Nikolas’s lips curved into a slight smile, as if the question amused him. “Ah, the rules are simple.” His tone was matter-of-fact. “No one outside our pack knows too much. So, because I marked you, that will be the biggest secret now.” He leaned forward slightly, eyes intent on hers. “For protection. The same way no one outside the pack will know my name—or yours.”

Saphira frowned, confusion flickering across her expression. “Why not mine?”

His gaze softened slightly, though his words remained firm. “Because you are a co-leader now.”

Co-leader. The weight of the title settled heavily in her chest.

“We go down; the pack goes down,” Nikolas continued. “You have the same authority as me here, so the rules for me apply to you. The pack will know this too, now that you have made your decision.”