30

[Jade’s pov]

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the villa's courtyard, the time had come for Ragnar and me to bid farewell to Zilver and Lily. We stood at the gate, surrounded by the love and support of alpha Zilver, and a mixture of emotions washed over me. Saying goodbye was never easy, but the promise of returning soon brought comfort to my heart.

Zilver wrapped his arms around me, embracing me tightly, and I felt the protective warmth of a brother's love. "Take care of yourself, Jade," he said, his voice filled with affection. "And take care of your little one too." He tapped over my back making sure that I knew I could turn back to him whenever needed.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I managed a smile through the emotions. "I will, Zilver," I replied, my voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for everything. I'm so grateful to have you in my life." I stared into his eyes with affection.

He kissed my forehead, a silent gesture of his love and blessings. "Go with happiness, little sister," he said, "and know that you always have a place to call home with us." I knew that his words weighed a lot and I could believe in my brother.

Next, Ragnar embraced Zilver, and I could see the unspoken gratitude and respect between them. "Thank you for accepting us and supporting us with your resources, Zilver." Ragnar said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Zilver smiled, his eyes reflecting pride. "You have proved yourself to be a worthy mate for my sister," he said, "and I trust that you will take good care of her." I saw my brother and my mate talking to each other as I stood a bit away.

Ragnar nodded, determined in his gaze. "I will protect her with my life," he promised, "and love her with all my heart." I could not help but fathom that he was willing to do everything to protect me. Now I just wanted him to get me my deserving position.

Lily, with tears in her eyes, came to hug both of us. "Take care, Jade," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "And make sure to keep us updated on how you are doing. And how my little one will be due, I will come to your house as soon as possible to make sure you deliver the kiddo at ease.”

I hugged her tightly, feeling the bond of sisterhood between us. "I will, Lily," I assured her, "and I promise we will visit again soon." We hugged for the last time and turned away to leave.

As Ragnar opened the car door for me, I felt a mix of excitement and sadness. We were embarking on a new chapter of our lives together, but saying goodbye to our loved ones was never easy.

As we drove away from the villa, the world outside was bathed in the soft colours of the setting sun. Ragnar held my hand, his grip reassuring and comforting. We shared sweet nothings, talking about our future together, the dreams we had, and the adventures that awaited us.

With every passing mile, I felt the weight of farewell lifting, replaced by the promise of the love and life we were building together. Our bond had grown stronger, and our hearts beat as one, guiding us towards a future filled with love and happiness.

As we drove along the winding road, lost in our thoughts and dreams, the unexpected happened. A sudden jolt and a loud hissing sound filled the air, and the car came to a halt. Ragnar quickly steered the car to the side of the road, his brow furrowed in concern.

"What happened?" I asked, my heart racing with worry. My gut feeling indicated something was not right anymore. A puncture and slippery or what? But it was highly unusual to happen in the middle of the forest.

"It seems like we have a flat tire," Ragnar replied, his voice calm despite the situation. "Stay in the car, Jade. I will go and check it." I nodded, remaining in the safety of the car as Ragnar stepped out.

I watched him in the rearview mirror, feeling a sense of helplessness as he inspected the damaged tire. He was resourceful and capable, but seeing him out there alone, exposed to the unknown elements made my heart ache with concern.

After a few moments, Ragnar returned to the car with a determined expression. "We have a spare tire in the trunk," he said, "but it might take some time to change it." I saw him nodding at me as he touched my cheek to assure me. But my worry increased knowing that we both were alone and not even his beta was there.

"Don't worry," I replied, offering a reassuring smile. "We will get through this together." As Ragnar worked on changing the tire, I tried to distract myself by looking out the window. The setting sun painted the sky with shades of orange and pink, casting a serene and calming glow over the landscape.

It was as if nature itself was trying to remind us that even in challenging moments, beauty could still be found. After what felt like an eternity, Ragnar successfully replaced the flat tire with the spare one.

He returned to the car, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, but with a proud smile on his face. "There, all done, now we can move." he said, his voice laced with relief.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You are amazing, Ragnar," I said, admiration shining in my eyes. "Thank you for taking care of us." I praised him for bare minimum while rubbing over my tummy.

He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "It's my duty and pleasure to take care of you," he replied, his love evident in his gaze.

With the car now back on the road, no matter what obstacles we faced, we knew we could overcome them as long as we were together. As we drove on, the night sky revealed its full splendour, with stars twinkling like diamonds against the dark canvas.

I held Ragnar's hand, feeling the warmth of his touch, and I knew that even amidst the challenges, this journey was a testament to the strength of our love. As we continued driving along the darkened road, a sudden rustling in the nearby forest caught our attention.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw numerous pairs of glowing eyes emerging from the shadows. Wolves, several of them, growled menacingly as they advanced towards Ragnar's car. "Ragnar, what's happening?" I asked, my voice tinged with fear.

Ragnar's expression turned serious as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Stay calm, Jade," he said, his voice steady. "It's probably just a territorial display. We need to show them that we mean no harm."

As the wolves surrounded the car, their growls intensified, and their eyes locked onto us with unwavering intensity. My instincts told me to be afraid, but I trusted Ragnar's judgement and tried to remain as calm as possible.

"They are drawn to the scent of ours," Ragnar explained. "I should get out and try to talk to keep them at bay." I held my breath, praying that whatever Ragnar said would work. We waited in tense silence as the wolves continued to observe us.

It felt like an eternity, but slowly, they began to retreat back into the forest, one by one, until they were out of sight. Ragnar let out a sigh of relief, but he remained vigilant. "We should leave before they change their minds," he said, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

I nodded, my heart still pounding with the intensity of the moment. "Y-yes, let's go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Ragnar started the car and carefully drove away, leaving the eerie encounter behind us. The forest retreated in the rearview mirror, and the familiar landscape of our pack's territory replaced the unsettling darkness.

As we put some distance between us and the wolves, a mix of emotions clouded me. Fear and relief coexisted but above all I felt that in my gut that something was still missing from our eyes. Something hidden which was coming towards us.

"Thank you, Ragnar," I said, my voice soft but filled with gratitude. "You handled that situation so calmly but why did those wolves come out like that? We were just crossing the forest, nothing else." I questioned him knowing that something was still not right and as far as I knew wolves and lycans did not disturb anyone for no reason.

He smiled warmly at me, his hand reaching for mine. "I don’t know, Jade," he replied. "But I will always do everything I can to keep you safe." As we resumed our journey home, the night sky seemed to offer a sense of solace, reminding us of the vastness of the world and the beauty it held, even in its most challenging moments.