Chapter 153: Restless Warning

AARON I lay back down, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I would think about it in the morning. For now, I just needed to rest. But even as I closed my eyes, the image of Dorian's cold stare lingered in my mind. My heart still pounded, the adrenaline from the scene sticking with me. Dorian had always been a wild card, unpredictable and dangerous. His presence in the dream wasn't a coincidence. It couldn't be. I had been dealing with so many threats lately—maybe my subconscious was warning me about something. And the female wolf... Why was she there? She wasn't just any random wolf. I remembered her sneer when she harassed Helena earlier. She had power behind her, confidence in her stance. For her to stand by Dorian's side in the dream meant something, but I couldn't place my finger on it. I wasn't going to let this slide. Helena crossed my mind again, calming my racing thoughts, if only a little. I imagined her, curled up in bed, the way her soft breathing could make the chaos of the world feel so distant. Her hair would fall over her face, and I would brush it aside, catching the slightest hint of a smile on her lips when she stirred in her sleep. Damn, I really missed her. I checked my phone to see if she had responded to my text. Nothing. Maybe she was already asleep, or maybe she was still worried about me. Either way, I knew I'd talk to her in the morning. Still restless, I lay back down, hoping sleep would find me again. But it didn't. The next morning, I woke up earlier than I planned, still unsettled by the dream. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, feeling a heaviness in my chest from the weight of everything that was happening lately. But I had no time to dwell on it. I needed to get back to Helena and Luna as soon as possible. Frida's voice echoed from the kitchen, and I could hear my mom's soft laugh as she responded to whatever Frida said. The warmth of the house, the family atmosphere, it all tugged at me in ways I hadn't expected. I got up, splashed some water on my face, and made my way downstairs. Mom was at the stove, humming softly while she made breakfast. Dad sat at the table, reading the newspaper, looking just as relaxed as ever. And Frida... well, Frida was in her own little world, coloring a picture of a wolf. 'Morning," I muttered, sliding into a chair at the table. 'Good morning, Aaron!" Frida chirped, her bright smile infectious. 'I made this for you." She held up the picture she had been working on, the wolf's fur colored in all kinds of bright, unrealistic shades. But her excitement made me smile. 'Thanks, Frida. It's great." She beamed, obviously proud of her work, and went back to coloring while my mom served breakfast. 'You look tired," my dad commented, glancing at me over his newspaper. 'Bad night?" I shrugged, not wanting to go into the details of my weird dream. 'Just restless." Mom placed a plate in front of me, and I realized how much I'd missed her cooking. 'Eat up," she said. 'You need your energy for the day." We ate in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of Frida's chatter filling the gaps. It wasn't until I had almost finished my meal that my dad cleared his throat. 'Aaron," he began, folding up his newspaper. 'About last night... I know it's a lot to take in. Frida, your responsibilities, everything. I just want you to know that we're here for you. Whatever you need." I nodded, swallowing the last bite of food. 'I know, Dad. Thanks. But I need to get back soon. I have things to handle." He didn't push back, just gave me a nod of understanding. 'Do you really have to go so soon?" Frida pouted, her bottom lip jutting out in a way that made her look even more like the seven-year-old she was. 'I'm afraid so," I replied, ruffling her hair playfully. 'But I'll be back. You can bet on that. And if you need me, just come to the Alpha House." She smiled at that, seemingly content with my promise. I had planned on leaving right after breakfast, but my mom wasn't having it. She insisted that I stay a little longer, at least until Frida finished showing me all the drawings she had done. It was hard to say no to her when she was so excited, so I stayed, my heart warming with each interaction. It was a rare moment for me, being able to sit back and just enjoy time with my family. I'd spent so long away from them, focused on my own selfish desires, that I hadn't realized how much I missed this. But the dream from last night still lingered in the back of my mind, a dark cloud over the peace of the morning. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something big. And Dorian's involvement... that made it all the more dangerous. When I finally said my goodbyes, I felt a strange mix of emotions—grateful for the time with my family, but anxious to get back to Luna and Helena. There was so much going on, and I needed to be there, with them, to make sure everything was alright. There was something about it that didn't sit right with me, and it nagged at me. I kept replaying the scene in my head—wolves running wild, chaos all around. Dorian standing in the center of it, with that look on his face like he knew something I didn't. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a random dream. It felt like a warning, but a warning about what? Even if Dorian were to return, what would happen? I glanced at my phone again, hoping to see a response from Helena. Nothing. Maybe she was still asleep, or maybe she was worried about me. I didn't like leaving her like this, without telling her where I was. I needed to talk to her as soon as I got back. When I finally arrived at the House, it felt different. The usual bustle of the morning had an edge of tension to it, like everyone could sense that something was about to happen. I took a deep breath before stepping in. As I walked through the front door, the familiar scent of the house hit me the scent of wood, apples, potions, mixed with the faint scent of coffee. The house was quiet, too quiet, and I immediately felt a knot in my stomach. I called out Helena's name, but there was no response. The silence felt suffocating, and I quickly made my way to her room, hoping to find her there. But when I opened the door, the room was empty. The bed was neatly made, untouched. Panic started to rise in my chest as I checked the rest of the house, but she wasn't anywhere to be found. Where could she have gone? Just then, I heard the soft sound of footsteps behind me. I turned, expecting to see Helena or Luna, but it was neither of them. Instead, it was Quincy, standing in the hallway with a concerned look on his face. 'Aaron," he said, his voice quiet but firm. 'We need to talk."