The Alpha's Unwanted Bride Chapter 198: A QUIET NIGHT

XADEN’S POV

Once they resud their journey back into the forest, it got extrely dark and they could see the moon shining along with the stars in the sky.

Erik who was leading the team put his hand out and said. "Stop."

They all stopped.

He sniffed and then looked around.

"We rest here." Erik said. "We will continue the journey tomorrow."

And then he ca down from the horse.

"Wouldn’t it be better if we went on with the journey?" Xaden asked.

"No." Erik said and then he pointed up ahead. "You see that dark path. That is inside the dark forests. This line here is literally the only thing that separates us from it and I assure you you do not want to be headed in there. It is dangerous."

Erik said as he led his horse to a tree and tied it up.

"Plus the horses are exhausted and they need to rest." He said.

Xaden felt tensed about even resting and then Erik walked up to him as everyone else ca down from their own horses.

"You need to rest." Erik said. "We all need to rest."

"But is this not going to delay?" Xaden asked. "I do not even know how she i feeling. What if sothing has happened to her already."

"God Xaden. You need to calm down." Erik chided. "Nothing has happened to Jasmine. I am pretty sure of that. You are alive. If sothing has happened then you would

Have dropped dead."

Xaden said nothing.

Then Erik added. "Moreover what good would it do if we walk into a death trap? We have already lost soone we can not lose another. You will be putting the other n into a bad situation. The dark forest is not sothing you can handle with ease."

"Rowan just died. I know you Xaden. You will never put your n in danger not on purpose." Erik assured. "Do not let your emotions override your logical thinking. And even if you choose to go to the dark forest, then how do you know you will not die? And If you die Jasmine dies. It will be all over for us all."

Xaden was now much calr.

"I am here so that you can make other decisions. To assist you." Erik said. "Tomorrow we will continue tomorrow. I have no idea how safe being here is either."

Xaden was quiet for a while and then he very gently said. "Thank you."

Erik was seeing a much more subtle side of Xaden.

He did not know what was changing him, but he liked and welcod it.

Or had Jasmine’s sudden illness shaken him so much to the point that he was becoming soft.

Everyone knew that Xaden cared for his people, would die for his people.

He was a great leader and that was why they did not fear him but were loyal to him.

There was a huge difference with being feared and being respected.

But now Xaden was beginning to beco affectionate. So much that he was apologizing and saying thank you.

Erik had never seen Xaden said thank you. He was always too proud to.

"Why have you not returned back here?" Xaden asked. "I know that it is a very shaky subject and I have never bothered to ask. But I am afraid I must."

Erik’s face fell and beca ashen.

Xaden then realized that it was still not a safe ground for him to step on.

"You do not need to speak on it if you do not wish to." Xaden said wisely.

Erik smiled. "My mories there are not vague or they are not so pushed back in my head. They are vivid and to be quite frank I see them every day. See what had happened. It is not a place I ever wanted to return to."

Xaden paused. "And now I am making you return."

"You did not make ." Erik said. "I chose to co along with you. That is what friends do. Moreover I doubt they will rember ."

Before Xaden could ask any more questions Erik went off.

Then the n gathered around and set down their sleeping bags after they had fed the horses.

The fire lit and then they all ate from their pieces of dried at and canned soup.

"This food tastes awful." Greg scowled.

"Then you should have cooked instead." Luli who was the only one who knew how to cook said in annoyance.

"You needed to be there when Jasmine cooked for us." Silas said. "she made the best roast wild pig I have ever eaten."

The n who had been there began to nod and murmur in approval.

"Even though there was barely anything to use it to cook," Percy said. "It was perfectly made. I wish I could eat that again."

"Well too bad we are eating Silas’s food." Erik said as he sat down and ate his own food.

"I still can not believe that Rowan is gone." Didi said and then a very uncomfortable silence followed the entire room.

"He gave up his life for ," Xaden said. "It is sothing that I should have done for him instead."

The foods beca sour in their mouths, and then Xaden turned to his spread. "You should all go to bed. We have things to do tomorrow morning."

And then he closed his eyes to sleep.

All the n went on with their little discussions before eventually retiring .

The fire was turned off, and soon everyone else was asleep.

Snoring could be heard.

But Xaden remained awake.

His eyes wide open as he thought of what he felt.

Considered his feeling and how unsure of it he was.

After a while, he fell asleep.

Then he heard soone calling his na.

"Xaden."

He frowned.

It was a soft feminine voice one that he knew.

"Xaden."

He opened his eyes and the he saw no one.

He was confused and thought maybe his mind was playing gas.

Then he heard it again. "Xaden."

And he saw a luminous figure standing near the path that led to the forest.