Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 25

The room fell into an eerie silence, the weight of Lucas' declaration hanging heavy in the air. Julian's features contorted into a volatile mix of surprise, anger, and disbelief. His eyes bore into Lucas's with a fierce intensity. The power dynamics shifted in that moment, as if an invisible force had altered the very fabric of their interaction.
Aria exchanged silent signals with the she-wolves, wordlessly instructing them to exit the room. The three of them slinked away unnoticed, their movements fluid and soundless.
Lucas strode forward, his footsteps echoing ominously in the hushed atmosphere. Every eye in the room was fixed upon him, the intensity of their gazes unwavering. He locked his gaze with Julian.
"If I remember correctly, Julian," his voice dripped with a potent mix of sarcasm and venom, "you were nothing more than an errand boy."
Knox smiled, sharing the sentiment.
 The tension crackled in the air, the palpable animosity between Julian and Lucas.
Seraphina, stepped forward tentatively. Her voice quivered with longing. "Lucas?"
His gaze softened momentarily as it locked onto her face, his stormy eyes mirroring the complicated emotions swirling within him. He stared at her, his expression a kaleidoscope, before tearing his eyes away to address Julian once more. She took another step, "You got my letter."
Julian's voice, sharp and cutting, sliced through the moment that had formed between Lucas and Seraphina. "What letter?"
Aria cleared her throat, "We are not interested in this little family reunion you have going on. We are here for Tyler, Kira and Melody's mother. Why don't you save the tears for later, when we are gone."
Knox's wolf stood proudly, growling in approval.
Nikolai, his jaw clenched tightly in a display of restrained anger, interjected with a venomous tone. "You heard Julian. Any wolf that steps into the territory will be executed."
Knox finally shifted his attention to Nikolai, his eyes narrowing, "Nikolai. You finally have my attention. You can stop barking now."
 Nikolai's features contorted with rage as he took a menacing step toward Knox. The air crackled with an impending clash, the energy thick with the anticipation of violence. "You insult me one more time, and I swear—"
Knox cut him off, his voice laced with an icy resolve. "And what, Nikolai? You will attack me? There is only one reason you are still standing here right now, and it's because I allowed it. A different story was told, twisted to suit your narrative. But why don't you enlighten everyone? Tell them the real reason I chose to spare your miserable life."
A low, guttural growl reverberated from Nikolai's throat as his body transformed, his bones cracking to give way to his wolf.
 In a swift motion, he lunged at Knox, his massive frame hurtling through the air.
Bones cracked and Knox's wolf stood in his place just before Nikolai collided with him.
The room shook as both wolves clashed.
The fierce battle between the two wolves raged on, the room trembling with each bone-crushing clash. Knox, a towering embodiment of raw power, held the upper hand, his jaws clamping down with a bone-shattering force. The scent of blood and fur hung thick in the air, mingling with the tense energy that permeated the room.
Rebecca, her voice filled with desperation, screamed for them to stop. The sound pierced through the chaos, momentarily cutting through the violent symphony of snarls and growls and finally pulling Aria's attention to her. She was beautiful, no doubt but she had also succeeded in hurting Knox, her wolf paced in her head with the reminder, their mate and so Aria let out a growl.
Lucas, his attention momentarily diverted from the chaos of the battle, growled at Seraphina in annoyance. His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he caught a whiff of another familiar scent. "You are wearing his scent," he declared, his voice laced with accusation.
A flicker of hurt and confusion crossed Seraphina's face "We are soon to be mated," she responded.
Lucas's tongue clicked with frustration, his intense gaze boring into Seraphina's. "What was your play here? Why did you ask me to come back? Did you expect that we would be one happy family? Perhaps you thought that I would give you off to him?" His anger simmered beneath his words, a seething resentment for the life he felt was stolen from him.
Seraphina's voice trembled as she tried to find her words amidst the growing tension. "I... I thought... I hoped we could find a way to reconcile, to heal the wounds of the past."
"I am the Alpha of the Silvercrest pack," Lucas cut her off. His eyes darted towards Julian, a silent challenge issued. "And it was my right, my birthright, that was taken away from me. But mark my words, I intend to reclaim that right."
His attention shifted back to his daughter, his voice firm and unwavering. "When the time comes, you will either stand with me or against me. But know this, Seraphina, I will show no mercy to anyone who stands in my way."
With a final brief glance towards Aria, Lucas turned away.
 The room still trembled, the fight between Knox and Nikolai showing no signs of waning.
Aria closed her eyes, her voice carrying a mixture of command and pleading. "Knox, I know you can hear me. The girls have gone to find them. I will give you the signal once they do, but you must stop when I say so. You have won this fight, but you cannot kill him. He deserves to suffer a slow and painful death, and that day will come. But for now, I need you to listen to me."
As if in response to her plea, Knox raised his massive paw and delivered a devastating slice across Nikolai's face. The wounded wolf shifted to his human form in an instant and Nikolai staggered backwards, his body covered in blood and claw marks. Rebecca rushed over to him, her voice a piercing cry of pain.
Shana was the first to shift, Sophia followed suit while Melody stayed in her wolf form.
She turned to her, "Aria said to follow her scent and find her room."
"Don't you think we should find them first before thinking of clothes?"
"We will be really quick. I really don't want to walk around here naked."
"I think we should split up. You go find the clothes. I will look for them and-"
Melody's wolf growled, cutting her off, "And Melody will look for her mother."
"That's a good enough plan. If anything happens?"
"I know Shana. I will let out a howl."
"Okay."
 *****************
Tyler stood up, "Did you hear that?"
Kira sighed tiredly, "For the last time Tyler, there's nothing happening out there. The only sound we are going to be hearing is the sound of keys when someone comes to bring us to our death."
"Really? You are giving up so easily?"
The two teenage wolves whipped their head as Sophia stood dangling keys with a smile on her face.
She inserted the key, "Seriously, these wolves need to up their security game."
"Sophia." Kira threw her hand around her immediately the cell was opened, "I thought we were going to die."
"Oh you are once Shana gets to you." She pinned her with a glare, "What the hell were you thinking leaving the pack? I specifically told you to stay put."
Kira bowed her head as her hands retracted from Sophia's body, "I'm really sorry."
"It was not her fault." Tyler stepped forward, "It was mine. She kept saying she didn't want to go but I insisted. But I swear we didn't mean to-"
"Oh please cut the crap out with the swearing. You are in a lot of trouble." Shana said as joined the conversation as she handed Sophia some clothes.
Her eyes turned in Kira's direction, "Well?"
Kira kept her head bowed, "I'm really sorry Shana."
"You had better be. What is wrong with you?"
"Shana," Sophia stopped her, "You can scold her once we get back to the pack. But for now. We need to get out of here."
"Okay. Melody found her mother. They are already in the woods. We just need to get to Aria and Knox."
"I'm here."
All eyes turned to Aria who was panting, "Knox is still in his wolf form. He wouldn't shift back so I told him to go another way since a really big angry wolf walking through the territory will be really hard to miss."
Shana studied Aria, "You told Knox's wolf to do something and he did it?"
"Yes. Is something wrong?"
"Knox's wolf doesn't listen to anyone. I'm not even sure he listens to the man himself."
"Oh. He probably just saw that it was the sensible thing to do. Julian is preoccupied at the moment arguing with Seraphina about her father returning."
"Wait, I thought you two were sisters." Shana said.
"I will explain it later. We need to go before he sends his wolves after us. Where is Mel?"
"With her mother in the woods already." Sophia answered.
"Good. Now let's go. I know a back route."
With all of them in the woods, Aria finally let out a breath. "Where is Knox?"
"Knox can take care of himself. We need to get going." Shana told the group.
"You are not going anywhere." A voice said.
Tyler growled, taking a step forward as Axel and five other wolves blocked their part. In seconds they all shifted.
Shana and her group were about to do the same but Knox's wolf prowled and stood between.
His vicious snarl took a softer tone as he turned and met Aria's eyes.
"He wants us to go. Right now."
Aria turned back just in time to see his wolf bite into the neck of one of Silvercrest wolves. The wolf shifted back and a lifeless body replaced it.

 ****************
Ryder tapped his foot impatiently, "I'm going there."
"No. Knox gave specific instructions. He will send for us if need be."
"You heard the first howl Jacob."
"You know just like I do that it wasn't a howl that meant we should come."
"But-"
"Ryder, Knox's wolf is the most powerful and most vicious wolf I have ever seen. He will be fine-"
Jacob stopped talking as the noise came from the woods as the group emerged re-entering the pack ground.
Ryder saw them first and turned to Jacob, "We weren't needed in the Silvercrest territory right?"
Jacob sighed as he followed Ryder in their direction.
"Where is Knox?"
"He is coming. Melody's mother needs help." Shana answered.
"All of you go pack into the pack, we will take it from here."
Knox wolf prowled through the pack ground, covered in blood and snarling angrily. He made it to his room and finally shifted to his human form.
Ryder entered, bowing his head, "My wolf heard your call."
Without facing his beta, "Gather everyone. We are having a pack meeting and tell Aria and her group of disobedient wolves to stand at the side."
"Knox, are you okay?"
Knox faced him, leveling him with a glare, "Just do what I asked you to do."
The hush whispers quieted down as Knox entered. His wolf called out to Aria at the corner of the room who kept her head bowed playing with the necklace around her neck.
"What were the four of you thinking? I gave a direct order. No one leaves the pack." Knox growled, barely able to contain his anger.
Shana was the first to speak, "We just thought -"
"No. Shana." Aria stopped her, "We didn't think. We just wanted to get them back."
As the conversation became about them, Tyler and Kira shifted uncomfortably on their feet.
Knox turned to them, "I'm waiting for an explanation."
Tyler kept his head bowed, "I'm sorry Alpha. We didn't mean to enter the territory. One of the Silvercrest wolves came at us and we ran into the territory."
"Oh. He chased you? Would that have been possible if you had stayed in the pack?"
"No Alpha."
He addressed Kira, "You have been here only a week and you are already causing so much trouble."
"It wasn't her fault Alpha. I-"
"I will tell you what you are. In a lot of trouble. I can't even deal with you of you right now. Get out."
Tyler blinked, "What?"
"The six of you get out. Go to your rooms. You are not to set foot outside of it until I saw so."
Knox turned to the rest of the pack, "Anyone that disobeys me again will be out of the pack. Am I clear?"
All the wolves nodded.
"There will be extra security at the borders. I am reinstating a curfew. No one leaves their houses past the rise of the moon. Brace yourself because as of this moment, we are at war."