Chapter 152: He's Coming.

AARON. It was getting late, and I needed to start heading out. But before I could make my excuses to leave, my mom's voice broke through. 'Aaron," she said, with that pleading tone I knew too well. 'Why don't you stay the night? It's been so long since we've had a family dinner, and Frida's been so excited to have her big brother here." I felt a pang of guilt. I hadn't exactly bonded with Frida yet, and I knew I should. But I also knew that Luna and Helena were waiting for me back at the Alpha House. I wasn't the type to leave without saying anything. 'I really should head back," I said, glancing toward the door. 'I didn't tell anyone I'd be staying over." 'Please, Aaron," my dad added, leaning back in his chair. 'Just for tonight. It would mean a lot to all of us." Frida looked up at me with wide eyes, and I sighed. They weren't going to let me leave without a fight, and honestly, part of me wanted to stay. It wasn't often that I had a chance to just be with my family like this. 'Alright, fine," I finally said, running a hand through my hair. But I'd text Helena. I wouldn't want her worrying. My mom's smile widened, and she practically glowed with happiness. 'Thank you, Aaron. You have no idea how much this means." Frida jumped up from the couch, clapping her hands. 'Yay! Big brother is staying!" Dinner was soon served, and we all gathered around the table. It was a simple meal, but there was something about the warmth of being surrounded by family that made it feel special. Frida was the star of the evening. At one point, she asked my dad, 'Daddy, why does Aaron look like he's always thinking about something? Is that what alphas do? Think a lot?" We all burst out laughing, my mom chuckling softly while my dad tried to keep a straight face. 'Yes, Frida. Being an alpha means you have a lot to think about." Frida turned to me with a serious expression, 'What are you thinking about right now, Aaron?" I grinned at her. 'I'm thinking about how to answer your questions without getting into trouble." She giggled, completely unaware of the deeper meaning behind my words. Dinner that night was warm, something I hadn't expected. Frida's energy filled the room, her quick wit and innocent curiosity lightening the mood. I could see the love in my parents' eyes as they watched her talk, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything was normal. 'What's your favorite food, Aaron?" Frida asked, her eyes wide with genuine curiosity. 'Hmm, I'm not sure," I replied, smiling at her. 'I think I like anything with meat." 'That's boring," Frida teased, scrunching her nose. 'You should try something more fun. Like... pancakes with chocolate syrup." I couldn't help but laugh at her suggestion. 'Pancakes, huh? I'll have to give that a try." Except I already had. And I was an excellent cook too. But all that would come later. My dad chuckled, shaking his head. 'She's been obsessed with pancakes lately. You'll have to make her some, son." I looked over at my mom, who had been quiet most of the evening. Her eyes met mine, and I could see a flicker of pride behind her smile. After dinner, I helped clean up, trying to keep my mind off the looming threat. But no matter how hard I tried, the thoughts kept creeping back in. Dorian. The festival. Helena. I had so many people to protect, and I wasn't sure how to keep them all safe. Once everything was done, I headed to the guest room, my phone in hand. It was late, but I knew I had to check on Helena. I sent her a quick text, hoping she wasn't asleep yet. Aaron: Hey, sorry for not coming back tonight. Got held up with family stuff. Hope you're okay. I stared at the screen for a moment, waiting to see if she would reply. When nothing came through, I sighed and set my phone on the nightstand. She was probably asleep. My thoughts drifted to her, and I couldn't help but think about how peaceful she looked when she was sleeping. Her hair spread out across the pillow, her breathing soft and steady. I'd caught myself watching her more than once, just marveling at how calm she seemed, even when everything around us felt like it was falling apart. She had a way of grounding me, of making me feel like I wasn't alone in all this chaos. And right now, that was exactly what I needed. With a heavy sigh, I laid back in bed, trying to push the anxiety out of my mind. But sleep didn't come easily. When I finally drifted off, my dreams were anything but peaceful. ********* I found myself standing in the middle of a battlefield. Wolves were running everywhere, growling, fighting. The sky was dark, thick with smoke, and the ground beneath my feet felt unstable, like it could give way at any moment. I spun around, trying to make sense of the chaos. The howls of wolves echoed around me, and I could see flashes of movement, figures darting in and out of the smoke. It was a war—one I didn't recognize. And then I saw him. Dorian. He stood in the middle of the battlefield, calm and composed while everything around him burned. His eyes were cold, calculating, and when they locked onto mine, I felt a chill run down my spine. But there was someone else standing beside him—a female wolf. It took me a moment, but I recognized her. Brownish fur, perky ears, crimson eyes. The same one who had tried to attack Helena. She was grinning, her sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. And then, without warning, they both started walking toward me. I tried to move, tried to run, but my feet wouldn't budge. I was frozen, trapped in place as they got closer and closer. When they were just a few feet away, Dorian spoke, his voice low and menacing. 'I'm coming, Aaron." I jolted awake, my heart pounding, sweat dripping down my forehead. I sat up in bed, breathing heavily, trying to shake the remnants of the dream from my mind. It had felt so real. But it was just a dream. Or was it?