The Matchmaker (by Sophie Smith) novel Chapter 75

CHAPTER 75

The light filtering through Saphira’s window was soft and golden, the kind of morning that arrived quietly rather than demanding attention. She blinked into the warmth, the blanket twisted around her legs, her body still heavy with sleep. But the knot in her chest–that hadn’t budged.

She sat up slowly, running a hand through her hair before slipping out of bed. Movement helped. Familiar steps: shower, fresh clothes, hair pulled back into a loose braid. One breath at a time.

Nikolas was already awake, seated at the edge of their shared sofa with papers in one hand and a mug in the other. He looked up when she entered the

room.

“I’m going to speak with Finn,” she said quietly, grabbing a light jacket from the back of the chair. “It’s time.”

Nikolas nodded, his eyes holding hers for a moment. “You good?”

“I will be,” she replied. “I just… need to put it behind us. For both of us.”

He stood, closing the space between them to brush a hand lightly over her shoulder. “I’ll be here. Let me know if you need anything.”

She gave a small smile, grateful. Then turned, heading out.

The hallway was still quiet at this hour. She paused outside Finn’s door, heart skipping once before she lifted a hand and knocked.

When he opened it, she offered a small, steady smile. “Hey. Are you free to talk?”

He studied her a second longer, then nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”

They ended up out back, where the garden behind the pack house opened into sun–drenched grass and low stone benches. A few butterflies drifted lazily between the lavender bushes, the kind of peace that almost didn’t feel real after everything.

They sat close but not too close. The silence between them wasn’t tense–it was careful. Respectful.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, voice low, as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Getting there,” she said. “It’s a lot.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I figured.”

They let the quiet settle again, until Saphira exhaled and turned slightly toward him, arms folded loosely.

“I don’t want things to be weird between us,” she said softly. “I don’t blame you. For what happened that night. Especially not with your memory gone.”

Finn dropped his gaze, jaw shifting. “I know. But… I still feel like I should’ve done more. I should’ve been there for you–before everything. Before Ruby.

Before the mess.”

“You couldn’t have known,” she said gently. “None of us could. And even if you had–I don’t think the old Finn would’ve made a difference. Not if it meant we stayed stuck in the dark.”

He looked at her then–really looked–and something in his posture softened.

“I don’t regret where we are,” she added, her voice more certain now. “Because it led us here. And it helped me find out the truth–about me. About everything.”

The sunlight danced off the leaves behind him. Finn nodded slowly, a small smile breaking through at last.

The sun filtered lazily through the trees, dappling the grass in moving gold. Saphira sat with one leg pulled up on the bench, chin resting lightly on ber knee, her eyes fixed somewhere just past the lavender hedge. Finn was beside her, relaxed but alert, fingers idly tracing the grain of the bench seat

He’d been watching her quietly for a few moments now.

CHAPTER 75

“You seem… lighter,” he said eventually. “But also like you’re carrying something.”

Saphira blinked, turning to glance at him.

“I mean, not in a bad way,” he added quickly. “Just… the way you’re talking. It’s like you’re only giving me the top layer.”

She hesitated, her breath catching in her chest. The truth was right there–on the edge of her tongue–but saying it still felt like opening a door she hadn’t quite stepped through..

After a beat, she exhaled slowly.

“I found her,” she said softly.

Finn’s brows drew in. “Who?”

Saphira looked at him fully now, eyes searching his face for any sign this would be too much. “My birth mother.”

Finn’s mouth parted slightly. “Wait–what?”

“And a brother,” she added. “Half–brother, technically.”

He stared at her, blinking like he hadn’t quite processed the words yet. “Who? How?”

She braced herself. “Anastasia,” she said. “And Asher.”

His reaction was immediate, eyes widening, shoulders tensing in shock. “Anastasia? The dragon Alpha?” he asked, voice low. “And Asher?”

Saphira gave a small nod, her gaze falling to her hands in her lap. “Yeah.”

Finn was silent for a moment, too many thoughts flashing across his expression to name. Finally, he asked gently, “How are you feeling about… all of that?”

She let out a breath that felt years old. “It’s a lot. Obviously. But… knowing who she is? That she’s real? That she wanted me?” Her voice wavered a little. “It’s like a knot I didn’t know I had finally unravelled.”

She paused, then looked back up. “But we also found out more. About my birth–how the Elders were involved in covering it up. How they told her I’d died. We think it ties back to the Silvermoon pack.”

Finn’s jaw tightened subtly. “That’s heavy.”

“Yeah.” She gave a tired smile. “It’s strange, though. Even with all the confusion and the weight of it… just knowing who she is? That I belong somewhere?” She shrugged lightly. “It’s a start. But now I have to figure out how to move forward.”

Finn nodded slowly. “Not just who you are, but who you want to be, right?”

Saphira glanced toward the sky, the sunlight warming her cheek.

“Exactly.”

The soft crunch of approaching footsteps broke through the quiet.

Nikolas appeared at the edge of the garden path, his eyes finding Saphira with that familiar steadiness. His expression was calm, but there was something alert in the way his shoulders held–a gentle urgency.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, voice low. “But–Zafira asked to see you.”

Saphira blinked, straightening slightly.

“She said it wasn’t urgent,” Nikolas added, glancing between the two of them. “Just… that she’d like to talk when you’re ready-

12:00

CHAPTER 75

A flutter of nerves flickered in her chest, but she nodded, already rising to her feet. “Okay. I’ll come now.”

Nikolas gave a small nod and stepped back, waiting for her to fall into step beside him.

As she glanced back at Finn, he offered a quiet smile. “You’ve got this.”