Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 24

Aria straightened her spine as the realization sunk in, "You are not my Dad," Aria stated, her voice firm and resolute. Her gaze bore into Lucas, searching for traces of familiarity and connection. His features, though reminiscent of her father, held a subtle difference, a distinction that shattered her preconceived notions.
Lucas blinked, his expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Tilting his head slightly, he studied Aria intently. "You look just like her," he mused, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. His attention then shifted to the three she-wolves surrounding him, their growls resonating with an underlying tension. They snarled at him, ready to attack.
"Tell your friends to shift back. I don't want to fight," Lucas told her. He knew without a doubt that they were no match but he wasn't in the mood to fight three she wolves. It would only waste his time and he had more important things to worry about. Like finally taking back his position as the Alpha of the Silvercrest pack.
Aria's eyes flitted to the lifeless human body part sprawled on the floor, a somber reminder of the violence that had transpired. Her voice wavered slightly as she stated, "You killed someone. Why should I tell them to shift?"
 Lucas's actions. "He attacked me. I only defended myself."
"And so you dismembered his body into parts?"
The she wolves growled again, this time louder than before.
"They are going to end up pretty hurt. Like I said, I don't want to fight."
 She inhaled deeply, her voice steadying as she addressed her she-wolves with an authoritative tone. "Shana, Melody, Sophia, shift," Aria commanded, her Alpha authority permeating the air. The she-wolves, sensing her power, bowed their heads in submission. Bones cracked and morphed as their forms shifted, revealing their human counterparts. Aria's gaze never wavered from Lucas's piercing stare.
Shana, the first to speak, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with a mixture of protectiveness and curiosity. "Who is he?" she questioned, her voice carrying a hint of skepticism.
Aria's gaze remained locked with Lucas' her voice carrying a resolute tone. "Someone who doesn't belong," she replied, the weight of her words resonating with both determination and uncertainty.
Lucas' eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "I see you're just a bitch, just like her," he retorted, his words laced with a venomous edge.
Shana bristled at the insult, her protective instincts surging to the surface. Stepping forward, she confronted Lucas with a defiant stance. "Hey, who are you calling a bitch?" she challenged, her voice laced with anger.
Lucas's eyes flashed his wolf. Shana halted in her tracks, her body frozen in a spot. The Alpha vibes emanating from him were strong. In an instant, his eyes returned to their human state, and a disarming smile played on his lips,"I don't want any trouble," Lucas reassured, his voice now carrying a conciliatory tone. "I'm just here to see my daughter. She asked me to return."
Her eyes locked onto Lucas' gaze, her voice quivering with a mixture of uncertainty and determination. "Seraphina asked you to come back?" she questioned.
Lucas nodded solemnly, his features softening as he met Aria's gaze. "Yes, she did," he affirmed. "Now, if you would be a darling and direct me to the Silvercrest territory, I will be out of your hair."
As if on cue, a haunting howl echoed in the distance. Aria's wolf lunged to the surface and the other three wolves shifted back and dashed in the direction of the Silvercrest territory.
 *******************
Kira's heart raced, her pacing echoing through the cramped confines of their cell. The weight of their dire situation bore down upon her, filling her with a sense of impending doom. She shot a piercing glare at Tyler, her frustration boiling over. "We are going to die. We are going to die," she repeated in a panicked tone. "I knew this was a really bad idea, Tyler. I told you it was. And now, when we are executed, Shana is going to bring me back to life just to kill me again."
Tyler's brow furrowed "Stop pacing, Kira. You are distracting me," he snapped, his tone tinged with frustration. "I'm trying to think."
Kira folded her arms, her expression a mix of annoyance and fear as she glared at him. "Think about what? How dumb of an idea this was from the beginning?" she retorted.
Tyler's glare mirrored Kira's intensity. "No, how to get out of here," he shot back, his voice resolute. "Something I would have figured out if you could just stop whining for a few minutes."
The weight of their argument settled into a tense silence, broken only by the muffled sounds of their shared confinement. Kira slumped back onto the cold, unforgiving ground, her anger dissipating into a cloud of resignation. "Well?" she questioned, her voice softer.
Tyler turned towards her, his features etched with weariness. "Well, what?" he replied, his tone softened.
"I've gone quiet, and you still haven't figured it out," Kira muttered, a tinge of disappointment lingering in her words.
Tyler's frustration gave way to a flicker of guilt, his gaze meeting Kira's "Could you please stop?" he pleaded, his voice tinged with regret. "I really don't want to argue. We need to focus on finding a way out."
Kira's eyes narrowed, her voice filled with a mixture of hurt and defiance. "Then you shouldn't have taken me out of the territory in the first place," she retorted.
Tyler's patience wore thin as he snapped back, his voice tinged with frustration. "Well, then you shouldn't have followed me. I didn't drag you out of there, did I? I was only trying to help you shift," he argued.
Kira flinched at his harsh words. "Shit," Tyler cursed, his anger giving way to remorse. He took a step towards her, but she instinctively backed away. "Stop. Just leave me alone."
Tyler sighed, his shoulders slumping as he retreated to the opposite end of the cell. "I'm really sorry, Kira," he confessed, his voice carrying the weight of his remorse.
Silence hung heavy in the air, the tension between them palpable. Kira remained silent, her thoughts consumed by the bleak reality of their circumstances. She finally mustered the strength to look up at Tyler, her eyes brimming with fear and uncertainty.
"I can't find a way out," Tyler admitted, his voice tinged with defeat.
"So, are we going to die Tyler?"
Tyler sighed, " I don't know. But if there is one thing I do know? It's that Knox will always come for his own."
 *************
Knox's wolf paws pounded on the floor as he moved angrily in the direction of the Silvercrest territory. In his haste, a tree branch dug into its paws and he let out a loud painful howl but he didn't stop.
The Silvercrest territory was packed with wolves moving around all of which made way for him as he angrily prowled through the ground.
His nose picked up on Rebecca's scent first and his wolf turned in that direction.
Nikolai's impatience grew with each passing second, his foot against the cold marble floor. "Where the hell is he?" he growled through clenched teeth, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Rebecca, ever the voice of reason, rose gracefully from her seat and approached Nikolai. She reached out to touch his arm, her voice soothing yet firm. "You know why Julian is doing this, don't you?" she asked, her gaze locked with his.
Nikolai remained silent, his gaze fixed on the entrance, searching for any sign of their elusive ally. The tension in the room seemed palpable, threatening to consume him.
"He's trying to provoke you," Rebecca continued, her words laced with understanding. "He wants to see you explode, to test your resolve."
Nikolai clicked his tongue in frustration, but still refrained from responding. The sound echoed in the room, a reflection of his growing impatience and his struggle to maintain his composure.
Rebecca moved closer, her touch gentle as she ran her fingers in soothing circles on his back. "Julian is an older wolf, more experienced than you," she explained calmly. "I'm not saying he's more powerful, but he knows how to manipulate situations to his advantage. We're guests here, Nikolai. Let's exercise patience and refrain from revealing our hands. Remember, we need his help in our quest to claim more territories."
Nikolai let out a heavy sigh, his frustration momentarily giving way to her logic. He leaned into her touch. "He's testing my patience, Rebecca," he admitted, his voice laden with both annoyance and a sense of helplessness. "He asked me to meet him here, and we've been waiting for almost half an hour. It's disrespectful."
As if on cue, the study door swung open, and Julian sauntered in casually, accompanied by Seraphina at his side. Nikolai's eyes narrowed, a mix of irritation and anger bubbling within him. "Sorry for coming late," Julian drawled with a smirk, his nonchalant demeanor only adding fuel to the fire. "I was quite busy."
Seraphina let out a giggle, further exacerbating Nikolai's frustration. He rose to his feet, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Seriously? You kept me waiting so you could fuck?" His words were laced with accusation.
Julian's smile faltered, his tone growing colder. "Watch your tone, Nikolai," he warned, his eyes narrowing in a silent threat.
Nikolai took a step forward, his frustration boiling over. "No, Julian. You watch your fucking attitude," he shot back, his voice filled with defiance. "I didn't beg you for this alliance. If I remember correctly, you were the one who reached out to me, expressing just how much you needed my pack."
Rebecca swiftly positioned herself between the two alpha males, her voice firm and commanding. "For the last time, we are all friends here," she interjected, her gaze shifting from Julian to Seraphina, a warning glimmering in her eyes.
Seraphina scoffed dismissively, her disdain palpable. Without hesitation, Rebecca turned to face her, her tone cold and filled with venom. "I swear on the moon goddess's name, if you start with me, bitch, I will rip out your throat this instant," she threatened, her anger emanating from every fiber of her being.
Seraphina snarled in response, her own aggression rising to the surface. "Why don't you step forward and say that to my face?"
A clap echoed through the room, drawing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned toward the source of the sound, revealing a man standing in the doorway. His presence commanded attention, exuding an air of authority and power.
Julian's gaze swept across the newcomer, his expression hardening as recognition dawned. "Those clothes belong to me," he stated, his voice dripping with disdain.
A smirk curved on the man's lips as he stepped forward, his eyes locking with Julian's. "Well, no wonder they smell so vile," he retorted, his voice laced with sarcasm and amusement.
Julian's features tightened in response, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and resentment. "Knox," he growled, his tone laced with a thinly veiled threat.
The smile on Knox's face grew, "Well don't let me stop you. Continue. I was really enjoying the show."
Nikolai stepped forward with a smile, "Long time no see."
Knox spared Nikolai a brief glance before dismissing his presence. His eyes went to Rebecca who had taken a step back before they finally landed back on Julian.
"I will say this only once. My wolves. Tell your errand boy to go fetch them."
Julian's jaw clenched, his wolf instincts urging him to react aggressively. However, a flicker of caution and wariness passed through his eyes, reminding him of Knox's reputation and capabilities.
Seraphina, still seething with animosity, couldn't resist the opportunity to provoke Knox. "What are you doing here, Knox? I thought you didn't want anyone in your territory, what are you doing in ours?" she taunted, her voice dripping with contempt.
His eyes went to her and she took a step backwards.
Nikolai's wolf growled in irritation at being ignored but Rebecca held his arm silently conveying the message for him to keep still.
"Your wolves ventured into my territory and as such will be executed."
Knox folded his arms, "Since when did venturing into the Silvercrest territory result in execution?"
Julian smiled, "Since I became Alpha."
Nikolai snorted behind him and all eyes turned to him.
Julian clenched his jaw in irritation, "Nikolai if there is something you need to say why don't you just say it. I'm sure we would all love to hear it."
Knox finally faced his old friend."Yes Nikolai, we are dying to know but first I asked you to go and fetch my wolves.
Nikolai's face tightened in anger, "I am no one's errand boy."
Tired of wasting time, Knox stepped forward, "I don't have all the time in the world for this. I need my wolves so I can get out if this nauseating-"
Knox was interrupted as the study burst open. Shana, Sophia and Melody's wolves entered with Aria following behind.
A smile rose to Julian's face, "Well it looks like the whole family is here."
Another wolf entered the study and everyone kept quiet.
Lucas' eyes immediately went to Julian, "I think we have problem Julian because I am the Alpha of the Silvercrest pack."