CHAPTER 21

Saphira sat motionless on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone Nikolas had left her, the weight of his and Jed’s names sitting heavily on the screen. She was physically better—her body had healed, her strength had returned—but inside, uncertainty gnawed at her. She was in a place that wasn’t hers, surrounded by people she hadn’t met, and despite everything, she was supposed to be their leader.

Leader. The title felt foreign, almost unreal. She had agreed, had told herself she could do it, but now that the moment was approaching, anxiety wrapped itself around her chest, tight and unrelenting. It wasn’t that she doubted her ability; she knew she was strong. But strength hadn’t saved her last time. Her last pack had left scars—ones deep enough to whisper doubt, warning her not to trust too easily.

The thought of meeting the rest of the pack was louder than anything else in her mind. Would they look at her and see an outsider? Would they question Nikolas’s choice, question her right to stand beside him? She could handle hesitation, but rejection? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

She exhaled sharply and pushed herself off the bed. Sitting here wouldn’t help. She needed to move, to do something, anything. A shower—it would clear her head, give her a moment to steady herself.

The water was warm, soothing, but the tension in her muscles remained. No amount of steam could erase the unease curling in her gut. She took her time, letting the familiar ritual ground her, before stepping out and dressing in one of her nicer outfits. She didn’t know why it mattered, why she felt the need to look presentable, but maybe if she looked confident, she would feel it too.

Her fingers hovered over the phone for a moment, hesitation creeping back in. She could wait. She could hide here a little longer, let the uncertainty swallow her. But that wasn’t who she was.

She took a steady breath, steeling herself, and typed out the message to Nikolas.

“I’m ready.”

Within minutes, a knock echoed through the room, quick and deliberate.

Saphira’s pulse quickened. This was it.

“Come in,” she called, forcing steadiness into her voice.

The door creaked open slightly, and Nikolas popped his head around the frame. His white hair, effortlessly falling to one side, caught the light just right, accentuating the sharp lines of his face. She knew he was handsome—had always known—but there was something different about him here, in his own domain. The way he carried himself, the quiet confidence in his movements, as if he belonged entirely to the space around him.

“You sure?” he asked, his gaze searching hers, giving her the chance to back out.

She exhaled, pushing aside the nerves threatening to creep in. “Let’s do this.”

"Don't be so nervous, everyone was in the same situation as you at some point," Nikolas assured her. Not that it helped, they may have been new to the pack, but not as a leader. Not as Nikolas' mate.

"Easier said than done. But I need to get it over with, I don't want anyone thinking I am weak," She said confidently. The words left her with conviction, even as anxiety clawed at the edges of her mind. She wasn’t going to hide, and definitely not show weakness. Not now. Not ever again.

Nikolas smiled slightly, opening the door fully and offering his arm. For a brief second, she hesitated—an instinctual wariness—but then, she took it, letting the warmth of his presence steady her.

“I will be by your side the whole time,” he assured her, his voice quiet but firm.

She nodded, gripping onto that promise as they stepped into the hallway. The space stretched before them, lined with doors leading to unknown rooms, each one a part of the life she had yet to understand. But the staircase at the end of the hall loomed—the descent that led to them, to the pack she was about to meet.

Her breath hitched, and she forced herself to take a deep inhale. She couldn’t afford to let doubt consume her now. This was happening.

As they reached the top of the staircase, Nikolas leaned in, his voice a whisper just beside her ear. “Everyone is in the garden. They’re excited to meet you.”

His breath tickled her skin, and a shiver ran down her spine, goosebumps rising in response.

Excited. She wasn’t sure if that comforted her or made everything worse. Would excitement turn to judgment? Would their expectations of her be something she couldn’t meet?

She swallowed, pushing back the lump of uncertainty, and turned her head slightly, meeting Nikolas’s gaze. He was watching her, waiting.

Her grip on his arm tightened just slightly as she steadied herself. “Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

And with that, they stepped forward. Together.