CHAPTER 26

Excitement buzzed beneath Saphira’s skin as she prepared for the day ahead. Finally, she was going to learn more about the politics of the supernatural world—a knowledge she had been denied for far too long. Yet, even as anticipation thrummed through her, a quiet nervousness crept in as well. What truths would she uncover? What secrets had been kept from her? She wasn’t sure if she was ready for the answers, but she had no choice but to face them.

Still, there was one undeniable silver lining: she would be spending the entire day with Nikolas. That thought alone brought a warmth she didn’t want to overanalyze too much. Was it the mate bond working its way into her emotions? Perhaps. But whatever the reason, she found she wasn’t bothered by it. Not even a little.

As soon as she finished getting ready, a knock echoed from the door.

“Coming,” she called, skipping across the room with a lightness that surprised even her.

She pulled open the door and nearly faltered. Nikolas stood opposite, leaning casually against the wall, but even in such a relaxed stance, there was something undeniably powerful about him—something effortless in the way he carried himself. He looked... devastating. The kind of handsome that made rational thought difficult.

Okay, stop drooling.

His lips quirked slightly, as if he could read her thoughts, but he simply asked, “Ready for a day of learning?”

She forced herself to focus, flashing him a wide smile. “Yes, let’s do it.”

She closed the door behind her and fell into step beside him, the energy between them humming with something unspoken as they moved through the hallway.

As they made their way to the office, a sense of familiarity settled over Saphira. It was the same room they had occupied the day before yet today felt different—more significant. Nikolas led her forward with quiet assurance, guiding her toward the head of the table. A place of importance. A place she wasn’t entirely sure she belonged.

“Please, sit.” Nikolas’ voice was firm but inviting, gesturing to the chair at his left as he took his own seat at the top of the table.

She hesitated for just a fraction of a second before settling into the seat. The unspoken message in his actions wasn’t lost on her. She wasn’t just an observer here—she was part of something now.

“So,” Nikolas continued, his tone shifting into something more businesslike, “we’ll go over how things run, the politics, and then, hopefully, we should hear back from some of our warriors with information on my sister.”

Saphira caught onto a particular word and felt the faintest flicker of warmth at its inclusion: our warriors. He hadn’t said my warriors—he had said our. She didn’t dwell on it too long, but the simple adjustment carried a weight she couldn’t ignore.

“Okay,” she said, then paused. Now that she was here, now that she had stepped into this world fully, she realized something glaring. “Can I just ask… what is your sister’s name?”

Nikolas’ expression softened, a small but unmistakable smile tugging at his lips. “Zafira,” he said, the name holding quiet reverence, as if speaking it aloud summoned some distant memory he wasn’t quite ready to share.

Saphira took in the shift, recognizing the way his gaze momentarily drifted, how a part of him seemed lost elsewhere. She didn’t know Zafira, but she could feel the depth of his connection to her.

“We will find her,” she said gently, grounding him back in the present.

Nikolas blinked once, then met her gaze fully, the determination settling back into his features. “We will,” he agreed, his voice steady with certainty.

There was a pause—brief but charged with silent understanding—before Nikolas straightened. “Right. Let’s get into it.”

And with that, they began.

As Saphira settled into her seat, she watched Nikolas with keen anticipation. This was the moment she'd finally begin to understand how the supernatural world worked beyond the fractured glimpses she had picked up as an outsider. She had spent her life in a werewolf pack, but without a wolf, she had never truly been a part of it—not in the way the others were. She had been an outcast, a shadow lingering on the edges, never quite belonging. But now, things were different. She had a place here. With Nikolas. With this pack, something she doesnt think she will ever get used to.

Nikolas leaned back slightly; his golden eyes sharp with thought before he began. “There’s a fundamental difference in how dragon clans function compared to werewolf packs. Wolves are instinctively pack-oriented, built on strict hierarchies, unbreakable bonds, and an innate sense of loyalty. But dragons? We operate differently. We are not led by instinct alone—we are governed by wisdom, strength, and legacy.”

Saphira listened closely, adjusting to the shift in understanding. She had known werewolf dynamics intimately, even if she had never truly been included in them. But dragon politics? That was new.

“In a werewolf pack,” Nikolas continued, “the Alpha is supreme, followed by the Beta and other ranked wolves. Pack members know their place, and every decision the Alpha makes is final. The pack functions like one body, moving as a collective unit. Loyalty isn’t just expected—it’s ingrained.”

Saphira nodded. That was the world she had known, even if she had never truly felt its embrace.

“But this pack,” Nikolas said, “is different.”

She watched as his expression shifted slightly—something firm, something deeply rooted in pride.

“Our pack is built to unify all supernatural creatures, not just wolves, vampires or dragons. We follow the core morals that exist across all packs—honour, loyalty, strength, and protection—but we do not limit ourselves by species. Every supernatural being has a place here, as long as they follow our code. We do not tolerate senseless violence. We do not allow chaos. We are built on mutual respect and trust.”

Saphira felt something settle in her chest—a quiet understanding that she was truly part of something unique.

“But make no mistake,” Nikolas continued, his voice firm, steady, unwavering. “My family leads this pack. We govern it, we protect it, and we ensure that order is maintained. My word—our word—stands as law. The supernatural world is full of factions, of broken alliances, of creatures who seek only power. This pack is a sanctuary, but it is not weak. We do what must be done to ensure its survival.”

Saphira exhaled slowly, absorbing the weight of his words. She had spent her life in a place where she had never truly belonged. But here, with Nikolas, with this pack, she had been given something she hadn’t dared to dream of—acceptance.