There was an eerie silence after Xaden’s question was sharp enough to slice through bone.
Where is Jasmine?
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The air shifted, thick with sothing unspoken.
Erik averted his gaze. Nanny Nia’s fingers wrung themselves in front of her.
Even Loren, usually blunt and unbothered, suddenly found sothing fascinating in the herbs inside his bag.
Xaden’s brows furrowed, confusion settling into a slow burn across his chest.
What the hell was going on?
But before he could press further, the doors burst open with a gust of perfu and hurried footsteps.
"Xaden!"
It was his sister, Anna.
And he felt guilt wash over him that he had completely forgotten his own sister and only rembered Jasmine.
She ran to him, a blur of gold curls and velvet sleeves.
Her arms threw themselves around his neck before anyone could react.
"Gods, you’re alive," she breathed, her voice cracking. "I thought I’d lost you—"
Xaden hesitated, then allowed his arms to circle her slowly.
She trembled in his embrace, her hands clinging tighter than necessary.
He hadn’t expected to feel relief from seeing her—but he did. Just a little. The familiarity of her, the history. His sister.
She reminded him of the past the he had barely survived.
The family that he had only had for a few years before being snatched from him.
Anna was his sister and his blood.
"I’m glad you’re alright too," he said softly, pulling back just enough to see her face. "You were worried."
"Of course I was. You’re my brother and you are the only thing I care about in this world. I would die if anything ever happened to you."
Her eyes glistened, and she smiled tightly, the kind of smile that tried to hide too many things.
He brought her forehead towards his lips and gave her a kiss.
"I’m here Anna." He promised.
The room watched them. Still silent. Still stiff.
Then ca a lighter knock on the door.
It creaked open and Fiona stepped inside, her expression gentle but composed.
She moved carefully, respectfully, but with a kind of warmth that didn’t need words.
"Xaden," she said, her voice quiet with concern.
He looked toward her, and sothing inside him softened further.
She stepped closer, opening her arms slightly, and—
Anna didn’t move. Didn’t let go.
Her grip on him tightened just enough. Her body remained pressed to his, anchoring him. Blocking the space between him and Fiona without saying a word.
Fiona faltered.
She hesitated, then dropped her arms, lowering her gaze like she hadn’t even tried.
Xaden’s brows drew slightly, but he didn’t comnt.
"It’s good to see that you are back." Fiona gently said. "We were all worried for you."
"It’s good to be back Fiona. It’s good to see you." Xaden said through the hug, Anna still held unto.
And then—
Another sound. Smaller. Softer.
Xaden turned to the door.
Was that Jasmine?
He was disappointed but yet taken aback when he saw Erik walk to the door.
In ca with Damian standing with a Kire and a small boy of the age of eleven.
A boy that Xaden had only seen once in his life.
And for a split second Xaden’s assud that he was imagining see the little boy the sa way he had hallucinated Jasmine.
"Alpha?" ca a timid voice.
He whispered, "Marro...?"
The boy nodded.
And in that mont, Xaden’s throat closed.
He thought he was hallucinating again. Marro had fed him in the forest... then vanished.
He’d assud the worst. He thought the boy had died.
Xaden looked at everyone to be sure they were seeing what he was seeing and not hallucinating.
They were
"You’re alive," Xaden whispered. "You’re... you’re alright. I was worried. I never saw you again."
Marro blinked at him. "Yes."
Xaden took a step forward, his entire body trembling. "I... I thought... I’m so sorry, Marro. How did you even get here? What about your family? How are you even here?"
He couldn’t help saying that.
"They’re gone," Marro said simply, voice even. "They didn’t make it."
Xaden stilled.
The guilt hit him like a blade to the chest. He staggered back a step, as though the words themselves knocked the wind from him.
"I should’ve co back," he said hoarsely. "I should’ve co back for you."
Marro only nodded once. "You were hurt. It’s okay."
But it wasn’t.
Not to Xaden.
He reached forward and touched the little boy’s hair lightly, barely brushing his fingers through the boy’s dark curls.
He turned then—to Kire.
The wolf.
Always with Jasmine.
Why... why was he here?
Xaden’s expression shifted from softness to wariness. "Why is Kire with you?" he asked slowly.
Erik stepped forward too quickly. "We found them. In the forest. Marro and Kire."
Xaden’s eyes narrowed. "You found them? What do you an them? Why was Kire in the forest? Isn’t he always with Jasmine?"
He looked at Erik, at Nanny Nia, at Loren... at Fiona.
And no one... said a word.
They all stood, stone-still, avoiding his gaze again.
He felt it.
That pit in his stomach.
Growing darker. Heavier.
Sothing was wrong.
"Where is Jasmine?" he asked again.
Silence.
Tighter. More unbearable.
"Where the hell is she?" His voice sharpened.
Still no one answered.
And then—Anna exploded.
She stood up to her feet from her brother’s lap.
"She left!" she snapped.
The words crashed into the room like thunder. Everyone turned to her, stunned.
Anna’s eyes were blazing now, her jaw clenched.
Xaden’s mouth dropped.
"She sneaked out of the forest in the middle of the night."
Xaden froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
"What...?" he whispered in shock.
Anna took a step forward, fury masked beneath sweet concern. "Can you imagine? Jasmine didn’t think of her baby. She didn’t even tell anyone. She just up and ran away from the pack."
The room dropped into complete silence.
No one uttered a single word
Xaden stared at her, and then back to each person in the room, his face blank—but his non existent heart was already spiraling.
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