Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 16

Knox collapsed against his seat. A mix of anger, hurt, and confusion warred within him, creating a maelstrom of emotions that threatened to consume him.
How could she? Melody was the one she wolf that he trusted his life with.
Rebecca's betrayal had hurt it was nothing compared to this.
The wolf within him paced anxiously, mirroring Knox's internal turmoil. It was as if the world had shifted beneath his feet, leaving him grasping for solid ground. He thought back to the last two months. Every single memory was tainted. Their every interaction. He felt his world crumbling.
How had he not seen it?
A knock sounded on the door. He closed his eyes trying so hard to bury his pain.
He sat taller in his seat, masking his hurt before he said,"Come in."
Randy stepped cautiously into the room. He walked towards Knox, with a heavy sigh he sat down.
"Don't bury it. It would only hurt more."
Knox kept quiet staring through him.
"Is there something I can help you with, Alpha Randy?" His voice cold and detached.
Alpha Randy sighed again. He knew exactly what the younger Alpha was trying to do. But he also knew pushing him to talk about it would only make things worse so he changed the topic.
"What are we doing about the attack?"
"My wolves are ready."
"Good. I will send word to my pack. My sentinels will match in before the day's end."
Ryder stood at the door of Knox's study contemplating whether to go in or not. Alpha Randy had come to find him immediately Knox disappeared.
Melody was the last person he thought would ever betray them.
Speaking of the she wolf, she came into vision, walking towards him with her head bowed.
"Ryder." She kept her head bowed. He looked down at her as a thousand memories flashed through his head.
"How could you?"
"I didn't have a choice Ryder. I-"
"No. You had plenty of choices Mel but you chose to betray Knox. You could have come to us the first time Julian confronted you. We would have helped you. You know what would have happened? We would have helped you and you would be with your mother by now."
"Ryder, I'm sorry."
"You lost the right to apologize Mel. Fucking Christ. What were you thinking?"
"I- I wasn't. I was near the border and I saw him. I didn't know he was but he said he had someone that was really familiar with me and then he took me to her. I thought she was dead. You have to understand Ryder that-"
"I don't understand anything and I never will."
"Okay." She whispered.
She tried to walk past him.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I'm going to see Knox."
Ryder folded his arms glaring at her, "Did the act of betrayal take away your common sense? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"No. But I need to try to explain."
"Explain what? That you stabbed him in the back and twisted the knife."
Melody sucked in a painful breath, "I'm sorry."
"Your sorry would never be enough. What did you do?"
Melody blinked, finally looking up at him, "What?"
"Over the past two months, what did you do?"
"I just told him a few things about the pack. Anytime I told him something useful, he would let me see her. I swear it wasn't until two days ago that he asked me to make sure Aria wore the necklace."
Ryder paused, "What necklace?"
"I thought Knox would have told you."
"I've been busy preparing for the attack. An attack that you may just be responsible for."
"Ryder."
"No. Just don't. What necklace?"
"I don't know much about it. But it's supposed to corrupt her mark with darkness."
"And you gave it to her?"
"I don't know. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."
The door to Knox's study opened. Knox walked out, Alpha Randy following behind.
Knox spared Melody a brief glance before turning to his Beta, "Gather everyone in the pack house."
Ryder nodded before he asked, "What for?"
Knox's eyes hardened as he stared at her, "Melody's trial."

 **************
Shana and Sophia walked in silence.
Sophia broke it, "So…?"
Shana glanced at her with her side eye, "So what?"
"Seriously? You are going to keep quiet throughout the whole journey?"
"I don't know what you want me to discuss with you."
"Look. I know you don't like me."
Shana laughed, "I don't just not like you Sophia. I despise you."
"Well that was a really honest and harsh reply."
"You know what they say. Honesty is the key."
Sophia rolled her eyes, "Fine. You despise me. If it's any consolation, I can't stand you either."
"Good now that we have that established.". Shana kept quiet, indicating that she wanted silence.
The silence only lasted for two minutes before Sophia spoke again, "Come on. The silence is deafening."
Shana blew out a breath, "If I try to make a conversation with you, will that stop you from whining?"
 Sophia folded her hands as they walked, "This is exactly why I never liked you from the very beginning. You carry yourself like you are better than everyone else."
"You must have me mistaken for you." Shana replied.
"I don't think I'm better than everyone else."
"If you say so. I don't even know why I'm trying. I'm going to walk on the other side of the path."
Shana smiled, "That has to be the best thing you've said all day. Infact that has to be-"
"Shana, stop talking."
"I know you didn't just shut me-"
Sophia reduced her voice to barely a whisper, "Don't you hear it? Listen."
Shana paused, channeling her wolf senses. Heavy panting and growls sounded
She turned to Sophia, "It's getting closer."
The two she wolves extracted their claws ready to fight as the panting got closer.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind the thick foliage, running at full speed. It was a young girl, her eyes wide with fear, her clothes torn and disheveled.
As the girl raced past them, a blur of movement caught their attention from the corner of their eyes. Two larger wolves pursued her with relentless determination. Shana and Sophia exchanged glances and then without a single word they shifted into their wolf forms.
The she wolves snarled, ready to fight.
The sound of bones cracking filled the air as the larger wolves shifted into their human form.
Two men stood before them. The taller man spoke first, raising his hand in surrender, "We don't want to fight."
Shana and Sophia's wolf looked at each other before transforming back.
Shana folded her arms, leveling them with a glare, "Why are you chasing her?"
The shorter man stepped forward and Sophia extracted her claws as her eyes darkened. He stopped, "Look, we don't want any trouble."
"Then answer the question. Why were you chasing her?"
The taller man nodded, "She came into our pack two days ago seeking refuge saying her parents were killed and she wanted to join our pack. My father, who is the Alpha, took her in without a second thought and in return she went into his room and stole my mother's gold jewelry."
Sophia's eyes narrowed, her wolf instincts heightened, "How do you know she was the one?"
"I saw her and she ran off. That's why we were chasing her. Like my friend said, we don't want any trouble, we just want the gold back."
Shana looked around the woods, "I know you are here and listening. Come out and give the gold back to them."
The girl emerged from behind the trees, her long red brown hair shielding her face. She threw the gold at their feet. In an instant, the two wolves shifted. They nodded at them. The larger of the two wolves picked up the gold and they ran off in the direction they came.
Shana turned to the girl standing in front of them.
"Well?"
She finally raised her head, her eyes flashing with annoyance. She folded her arms glaring, "Well what?"
Sophia clicked her tongue, "Aren't you going to thank us?"
"Thank you for what? I had it handled."
"Oh really."
"Yes really." She said in a snarky tone.
"Why you little -" Sophia took a step towards her but Shana held her back, "Just leave her Sophia. We don't have time to argue with a child."
"Yes Sophiaaaa, leave me." The girl turned to Shana, "I'm not a child. I'm fourteen years old which means I'm a teenager. If you are going to make assumptions at least try to get it right and could you two put on some clothes. No one wants to see any of this." She waved her hands at both of them.
"Why you little-"
Sophia grabbed Shana's hand pulling her back, "Let's go. We have more important things to worry about."
They walked past the girl going to grab their things.
"Wait." They turned at the same time to look at the girl.
"Yes?"
"Do you have any food?"
Sophia laughed, "We help you and in return you are rude to us and now you expect us to give you food?"
The girl's stance faltered as she placed her hand on her rumbling stomach.
Her stomach rumbled again, louder this time.
Sophia's resolve melted. She tried to reach for a few supplies but Shana stopped her.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Giving her some food."
Shana glared at her before turning to glare at the girl, "You do not reward a rotten attitude. Let's go."
The girl watched them walk away. She waited a few minutes before shouting, "I'm sorry."
Shana stopped walking.
The girl stepped forward, "I had to learn to be tough at a really early age."
Shana turned, "There is a difference between being tough and being rude."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Shana sighed, "Fine. Come here."
The girl stepped forward. Shana handed her their bags. The girl collected them.
"What's your name?"
"Kira."
"You want food then you are going to have to earn it."
She continued walking to meet up with Sophia.
Kira stood.
Shana turned to look back at Kira, "Aren't you coming?"
Sophia handed her two apples as soon as they caught up with her.
Kira trailed behind them carrying their things and munching on the apple.
Shana glanced at Sophia, "Sophia?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe you are not so bad after all."
Sophia laughed, "I was just going to say the exact same thing."
Shana rolled her eyes, "I can't believe you made us ditch Mark."
"Please. He has to be the most boring wolf I have ever met. He would have made this journey so tiring."
"But you slept with him."
Sophia's lips turned up, "Well he does have a really big dick. Too bad he doesn't know how to use it."
Kira made a disgusted sound behind them and they burst out laughing.
 ****************
The pack house was filled with wolves. Each of them sitting quietly awaiting Knox's arrival.
Knox entered with Randy and Ryder following behind.
Melody came in with her head bowed heading straight to the corner of the room.
The wolves bowed their heads, the Alpha vibes in the room thickening with the arrival of two Alphas.
Aria stepped in with Lilian who immediately made her way to her mate.
Knox cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention.
"I know you are all wondering why you are here. It's unfortunate that I have to inform you that we have been betrayed by one of our own. She has been feeding pack information to the rival packs."
Low murmurs filled the room. Knox cleared his throat again and the murmurs died down. He turned to Melody at the side, "I will give Melody a chance to make her plea."
A gasp flew out of Aria's mouth as most wolves widened their eyes.
Lydia's eyes met with her mate and he shook his head sadly.
"Melody." Knox called out again.
Melody kept her head bowed, "I don't have anything to say."
Knox closed his eyes. The pain was evident in his voice as he said the next words, "You have until the break of dawn tomorrow. As of this moment, you are banished from the Nightshade pack."