Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 18

The witch stood up with a smile.
"Elizabeth." She nodded at the other witches to give her a chance to pass. She walked directly in Shana's direction.
"Judging by the look on your face, you were alive during the time my ancestor made the Crystal?"
Shana nodded.
Elizabeth continued, "The story about how it came to be was twisted in my bloodline. Something had always felt off about it. So I read many old books and did more research. I guess there was a reason the moon goddess pushed me to. It was said that the Crystal was created to keep the bearers of the mark in check but I don't think anything created to corrupt should have been created in the first place."
"The Alpha did not really give me much details. Your friend? The marked wolf, how long has she been wearing it?"
"For a day now."
Elizabeth nodded, "That's good. She still has a little bit more time. I haven't found a permanent solution but I won't stop until I get it."
She turned to one of the other witches in the room who all sat quietly, listening.
One of them stepped forward, handing something over to her in return she gave it to Shana.
"Have your friend wear this. It won't stop the darkness from growing. But it will give her a much longer time before it consumes her. It's not going to be an easy battle from here on out. She is going to have to fight."
Kira curiously stepped forward to see, "What is it?"
The witch turned to her with a smile, "It's a ring. I spelled it. While the Crystal amplifies darkness. The ring will find the light within her. Which is why I said it was going to be a battle."
Shana finally spoke, "So she is going to be at battle with herself for the rest of her life?"
"I'm hoping that won't be the case. The solution would be finding a spell that will remove the Crystal while she is still alive. My witches and I have been trying to find the perfect spell. We weren't in a race against time until now. I am going to do anything I can to find that spell and once I do, I will send word."
Shana studied Elizabeth, "Why are you so eager to help?"
Elizabeth smiled sadly, "I know what really happened over five hundred years ago. I saw it."
"How?"
She laughed, "Oh no I wasn't alive back then. I used a spell to put myself to sleep. It was like a dream only that it was real. No one deserves to experience the pain my ancestor put them through and I have experienced first hand what it feels like to lose someone you love."
Shana wiped a tear from her eyes, "Thank you."
"It's okay. Now better get going. The sooner that ring is on her finger the better."
Shana nodded, saying one last thank you.
She was about the step out of the room when Elizabeth's voice stopped her.
"Shana?"
"Yes?"
"You haven't aged a bit."

 ************
Sophia and Jackson's wolves jumped and pushed at each other. Finally Sophia transformed back and Jackson followed suit.
She lay down on the bare grass panting,"Your wolf is still so exhausting."
Jackson laughed laying next to her, " A similarity he shares with you."
"You are such an ass Jackson." Then she turned serious, "Is it hard? Being the Alpha."
Jackson sat up, "Things have always been so easy in the pack but still there's still a lot of pressure. I can't do the things I used to like simply lay here on the grass or stay in my wolf form all day long. It's like I'm trapped with a responsibility that I never even wanted in the first place."
Sophia placed her hand on his squeezing, "I'm really sorry J."
"I know. But things would be easier if you were here."
Sophia stood up, going behind one the trees where the wolves kept clothing.
She emerged fully clothed. Jackson lay there still staring at her with sadness in his eyes, "You know I can't come back J."
He sighed, "I know."
"How is he?"
"Sophia you don't have to do that to yourself."
"I know but I really want to know."
"He is fine. He has a pup now with her."
Sophia sucked in a deep breath before saying, "It's fine. Rejection is a part of life."
Jackson smiled sadly at his sister, "Doesn't mean anyone should get to experience it."
Quiet followed as the two of them just simply sat staring at the sky.
"What's the Nightshade pack like?"
Sophia made a sound at the back of her throat, "It's great. Just great. Everyone is just great."
Sophia wiped the first tear, then the second. Unfortunately the rest came together and she couldn't stop herself as they came pouring down.
Jackson pulled his little sister into his arms as she cried, "I'm so sorry Soph."
"I don't want to be this angry or so hateful but I can't help myself."
Jackson rubbed her back as she cried, "You will find someone that will choose you first. I promise you."
Sophia finally stopped crying and looked up at him, "Have you found anyone?"
"No. But that's not something I would worry about. At this rate, Mum will have a number of she wolves waiting to claim the role of a Luna."
"Why don't you find someone before she does."
Jackson rolled his eyes, "Geez, why didn't I think of that?"
"Haha. Very funny J."
Jackson looked back to the house where Shana and Kira went inside.
Sophia waited for him to ask but he kept quiet. She kissed her teeth, "Aren't you going to ask me about her?"
Jackson raised a brow at his little sister, "About who?"
"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly who I'm talking about?"
"Oh. I was going to ask. Why is that little girl with you?"
Sophia growled at him playfully, "You know that's not the person I was referring to."
"Fine. Shana."
Sophia clapped her hand gleefully, "I knew it. Well we've never really gotten along. But that's because I'm mostly being a bitch to everyone in the pack but I guess she is cool. She likes to stay in her wolf form most of the time and she is best friends with another wolf Melody who looks so innocent but I know she is hiding something. Well that's all."
"Wow. That was so informative."
Sophia stood up placing her hand on her hip, "Don't sass me. Now come on and please put on some clothes. No one wants to see what you are packing."
Jackson went behind a tree and reemerged clothed.
As they walked, Jackson took her hand, "They've missed you."
"I know."
Kira and Shana walked out of the room, going to look for Sophia so they could leave.
"So…."
Shana looked down at the teenage wolf, "So what?"
"Nothing. I was just trying to make a conversation."
"Okay. What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know that's why I said so."
"Well if you don't have anything you want to say isn't it just better you kept quiet."
Kira stomped her feet on the ground pouting, "Why do you always have to be so mean?"
"Why do you have to be so annoying?"
"Let me guess, sisters right?"
Shana and Kira turned at the same time to the person that spoke behind them.
"My children argue like this all the time. Or at least they used to." Her eyes turned sad, "I haven't seen my daughter in a long time."
The woman looked so familiar and then it clicked in Shana's head.
"You are Sophia's mother."
"Yes. You know my daughter?"
"Yes. Actually she is-"
"Right here." Sophia completed for Shana. With her eyes widened in disbelief, the woman pulled her daughter into her arms for a hug, "I can't believe you are here."
Sophia hugged her back, "Hey Mum."
Within seconds, Sophia's mum dragged Sophia away, probably to go find her father.
"Sophia said your parents let her leave. It seems they didn't want her gone in the first place."
Jackson took a step towards her. Shana's wolf purred and her nipples hardened from him being so close. He smelt like trees and rainfall.
To Shana's wolf, he smelt divine.
"My sister's story is more complicated than that." He stared directly into her eyes hoping that she understood the next words he said clearly, "There is more to my sister than she lets people see."
Kira made a sound before rolling her eyes, "Could you two just get on with it? The googly eyes are becoming tiring."
Jackson's laugh cut Shana's scolding. Jackson fixed his gaze on Kira, she blushed before he asked, "Get on with what?"
She looked down at her feet, her cheek turning even redder.
Jackson smiled, having gotten the reaction he wanted.
He turned back to Shana, "Were the witches able to help?"
"Yes. But not fully. Elizabeth said once she finds a spell to remove the Crystal from Aria's neck she would send word."
Jackson nodded, "I will come right away."
"You will come?"
"Yes. So I can see Sophia."
Kira snorted and they both glared at her.
Sophia came back. She threw her hands around Jackson.
"I'm really going to miss you."
"Maybe we could talk to Knox about forming an alliance." Shana blurted out before she could stop herself.
She cleared her throat as all eyes turned to her, "I mean with the upcoming battle."
The man who had a striking resemblance to Jackson spoke, "What battle?"
Sophia turned to her father, "The Silvercrest pack and Bloodmoon pack have formed an alliance and they are claiming Knox's territory. I'm very sure that if they manage to win, they won't stop at just his territory. Shana is right. An alliance would be the best play plus the witches."
"You know the witches don't use their powers to fight."
Sophia rolled her eyes at the older male wolf, "Yes I know. I was going to say, could help heal."
"Everyone knows you are lying Soph." Sophia laughed as all eyes turned to Jackson.
"So?"
"I guess it's up to Knox. I don't have a problem with it."
"I will talk to him once we get back. Speaking of which, we have to get going."
Sophia nodded.
Her mother stepped out handing Sophia a bag, "For your journey."
"I love you guys, you know that right?"
"Yes we know honey."
Sophia and Shana started walking but Kira stood playing with her fingers.
Shana stopped, "Why are you standing there?"
"Uhmmm."
Shana and Sophia glanced at each other.
Shana started, "You will tune it down with the sass."
"And don't even think for one moment of stealing from Knox. His wolf will tear you to pieces in seconds."
"Oh and one last thing." Shana said.
"Get your ass moving. We have to get back home." Sophia completed.
Kira raised her head, "You want me to come with you?"
Shana rolled her eyes, "Who do you think will carry all these bags?"
Kira stepped forward. Shana handed her the bag.
Shana the reluctance in her eyes "Lydia is going to love you don't worry."
Rebecca rested her back against a tree rubbing her stomach.
"So it's true." All the hair on her body froze.
Knox stood in front of her with a blank expression on his face.
"Knox." She whispered, her voice shaking.
"Rebecca."
His eyes went to the mark on her shoulder and his gaze hardened.
"How long?"
"How long what?"
"How long did it take you to let him mark you?"
"Knox." She tried to move.
"If you move another inch, that will be the last thing you will ever do."
Rebecca swallowed.
"Answer the question."
"A few months."
"How are you alive? I watched you die."
"We. I. Nikolai. We planned it. After the attack, we would fake my death so you would leave me behind thinking I was dead."
"How long?"
"I already answered the question, Knox."
"How long were you two fucking behind my back? If you say anything that is not an answer to my question I swear Rebecca." His eyes flashed wolf.
"A really long time."
Finally he let his pain seep through, "Why? I don't understand why. We were mates."
"No." She whispered.
"What?"
"No. We are not mates. I made you think we were. A witch gave me a necklace. It was to make you think that we were. I grew up with nothing so I wanted to prove that I could be powerful. You were going to be Alpha. You were perfect. You felt a pull but it was all just magic. We were never mates from the start and then I found out that Nikolai was planning a coup and even more, I felt the mating pull with him."
Realization hit him from all angles, his wolf paced. He didn't need to second guess it again.
Aria was his true mate.
He stared at the lying she wolf in front of him as his gaze hardened, "I have one last question. Which of you?"
"What?"
"Which of you do I kill first? You or your pups?
Rebecca's eyes widened as Knox's claws extracted. She let out a gasp as he raised them up and then slashed.