Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 31

Knox ground his teeth in frustration, the taste of irritation lingering in his mouth as he stomped his feet, storming out of the pack house. The heavy wooden doors creaked under his forceful push, their echoes fading into the distance. He found solace on a stone bench, carved meticulously to blend with the surrounding nature. As he sank onto the cool surface, the rough texture beneath him offered little comfort.
His wolf growled low in his chest, mirroring his inner turmoil. Their mate was just being difficult without any particular reason. Knox sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair as he gazed into the vast expanse of the night sky. The stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, their brilliance adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the darkness.
A voice interrupted his thoughts, and Knox turned his head to find Lilian approaching him with a warm smile on her lips.
"May I?" Lilian asked, gesturing towards the empty space beside him on the stone bench. Knox nodded reluctantly, silently granting her permission. They sat side by side, their gazes fixed on the celestial canvas above.
"So…" Lilian finally broke the silence, her voice gentle and caring. "Aria told me her wolf thinks you are their mate."
Knox sighed, his breath forming a cloud in the crisp night air. "Aria is my mate," he affirmed firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Lilian furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with genuine curiosity. "And you are sure of it?" she prodded gently.
Knox nodded with conviction, a spark of determination igniting within him. "I have never been more certain of anything in my life," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration.
A flicker of concern crossed Lilian's face as she leaned back, her fingers entwining in her lap. "I guess I'm just trying to understand how or why she thought the wolf that rejected her was her mate."
Knox growled softly in annoyance, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "Aria is my mate," he reiterated, his words sharper this time.
Lilian's gaze held empathy as she reached out, placing a comforting hand on Knox's arm. "Okay, Knox. I get it. But might I ask why she is here?"
Knox released a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his emotions. "I said things I shouldn't have said," he confessed regretfully, his voice heavy with guilt. "So she left, and now she's refusing to come back to the pack with me."
Lilian nodded, her expression understanding. "Did you really think it was going to be that easy? That you would come here, ask her to return, and she would willingly follow you? Did you even apologize for the things you said?"
Knox's jaw tightened, his features contorting into a frown. "She didn't give me a chance to," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.
Shaking her head with mock pity, Lilian spoke with a mixture of wisdom and teasing. "Oh, Knox. You males never truly understand the depths of a female wolf's feelings. Aria is a powerful Alpha female, marked by the moon goddess herself. She might not have realized her full potential yet, but she will eventually. And you expected her to just follow you?"
A surge of defensive pride coursed through Knox's veins, his hackles rising. "I don't need a lecture from you Lilian. If there is a way for her to listen, then say it."
Lilian laughed, her melodious voice ringing in the night air. "Oh, Knox. You're a typical stubborn male, unwilling to see beyond your own perspective. You want her to listen to you yet you can't even listen to me. Apologize, Knox. It's as simple as that."
Knox folded his hands in his lap, his lips still marred by a deep frown. "I don't need to apologize," he admitted, his voice laced with stubbornness. "She just needs to stop being so stubborn herself."
Lilian's eyes twinkled mischievously under the stars, a playful glint dancing within them. "Ah, stubbornness, a quality you both share, it seems. Well, you can sit out here and pout all night, or you can go inside and talk to your mate."
"I won't leave unless Aria is coming with me, so it would be better if I ask what I want first," Knox replied, his tone stubbornly resolute.
Lilian raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile curving her lips. "Well, I'm really sorry to inform you, Knox, but I am taken. So that would be really difficult for me," she teased, her words infused with playful humor.
Despite his frustration, Knox couldn't help but crack a smile at Lilian's lighthearted remark. It was a small spark of joy amidst the turmoil that had enveloped him.
"There it is," she said, her voice softening. "That smile I've been searching for all night."
Lilian returned his smile with warmth, her gaze filled with a blend of understanding and encouragement. "So, tell me, what is it that you need to know?"
Taking a deep breath, Knox turned his attention to the pressing matter that weighed heavily on his heart. "Aria's father's twin brother, Lucas, has returned," he began, his voice tinged with concern. "And something about him doesn't sit well with my wolf."
Lilian's expression grew serious as she absorbed the gravity of the situation. "So, the rumors are indeed true. Lucas is back."
"Yes," Knox confirmed, his tone heavy with a mixture of worry and determination. "And I fear there is a war coming. I need to know how it all started, why he left in the first place."
Lilian's eyes bore into his, a flicker of intensity behind them. "Lucas didn't just leave. He was banished," she revealed, her voice tinged with a hint of solemnity. "It all started when—"
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Aria stood in front of the mirror, frustration coursing through her veins like a raging storm. Each stroke of the brush through her long hair only seemed to tangle it further, testing her patience. With a surge of anger, she hurled the brush at the mirror, the shattering sound echoing in the room. Broken shards of glass lay scattered on the floor, mirroring the shattered pieces of her heart.
Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a silvery glow upon the chaos. Aria's eyes fixated on the fragmented reflection, the cracks becoming symbolic of the pain and confusion consuming her. She closed her eyes, a quote she had once read resurfacing in her mind. "Don't tell me the moon is shining. Show me a glint of light on broken glass."
In that moment, her life felt akin to that broken glass, the shattered pieces scattered across the vast expanse of the earth. With each attempt to gather them, it seemed they slipped further from her grasp. She exhaled heavily, her breath carrying the weight of her frustrations. Why couldn't Knox just leave her be? She had been given a chance to start anew, to potentially find a wolf who would choose her for who she was, unmarred by rejection.
Her hand instinctively went to the necklace that adorned her neck, a reminder of the profound sacrifice the moon goddess had made on the day of her birth. A life exchanged for a life. Aria wondered what her existence would have been like had she been able to experience a mother's love, if her heart hadn't been burdened with such desperate longing for connection. Perhaps then, the sting of rejection wouldn't cut so deeply.
Closing her eyes, Aria attempted to recall the first stirrings of her affection for Liam, the man who had once held her heart. Their friendship had blossomed over the years, gradually transforming into a deep love. But now, doubts lingered. Had her emotions blinded her? Had she desperately clung to the idea of a mate, convincing herself that Liam was the one? Had her wolf ever truly declared him as their mate?
Her thoughts shifted to Knox, the man her wolf recognized as her true mate. The same man she simultaneously wanted to rip apart, to witness his lifeblood spill as he begged for mercy. Visions of violence danced in her mind, fueled by darker instincts, whispering promises of chaos and revenge. The growls within her grew louder, urging her wolf forward, craving the taste of blood and destruction.
Aria's eyes snapped open, their once vibrant hue swallowed by darkness. She let out a primal scream as her wolf surged to the surface with an unstoppable force. The whispers in her mind grew deafening, drowning out all rational thought. Desperate to resist, she clawed at her own flesh, drawing her own blood as she fought to regain control. The battle raged within her, a relentless struggle for dominance.
The door to her room burst open, and JB rushed in, his eyes wide with concern. Kneeling at her side, he called out to her in a voice filled with worry. "Aria, can you hear me? Are you okay?"
Aria's response was a guttural growl, her inner turmoil drowning out JB's attempts to reach her. Blood was all she could hear, a symphony of violent desires echoing in her head. She fought against the overwhelming darkness, her claws digging deep into her own flesh, a desperate attempt to ground herself.
Fear etched across his face, JB pleaded with her, his voice laced with urgency. "Aria, I think you're having a panic attack. Just breathe, focus on my voice."
But the darkness within Aria's wolf refused to relent. It snarled and fought against her attempts to regain control, pushing her to the brink of surrender. Another primal scream tore from her throat as her eyes turned completely black, a feral glint replacing their once vibrant hue.
Sensing the escalating danger, JB's heart raced, his concern transforming into a fierce determination to protect Aria at any cost.
She growled," Go."
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Knox sat in silence as he absorbed the weight of Lilian's words. His mind raced with questions, the unknown details surrounding Lucas's whereabouts for the past twenty-five years gnawing at him. Why had he stayed away for so long? And why hadn't he returned to confront those who had betrayed him, especially Aria's father, the Alpha of the Silvercrest pack?
Lilian, sensing his turmoil, let out a weary sigh, her expression filled with a mix of sadness and concern. "I understand your frustration, Knox, but unfortunately, I cannot provide you with the answers you seek. The moment I laid eyes on Lucas, I sensed that darkness within him. His motives remain a mystery to me, as does the reason for his prolonged absence. But one thing is certain: his return will bring bloodshed. We must remain vigilant, for if he gains control of the Silvercrest territory, his thirst for power will not be satiated."
Knox's jaw clenched in defiance, his determination shining through. "If he desires a war, then we shall give him one. But mark my words, Lilian, the Nightshade and Moonlight territories will remain untouched. We will protect what is ours."
A low growl escaped Knox's throat, and his wolf echoed his sentiment. .
Lilian's eyes flickered with a mixture of admiration and caution. "I will speak with Randy, and together we shall reach out to other packs led by respected Alphas. Unity will be our strength in this trying time. As for Lucas, wherever he may be hiding, I am certain he is plotting his next move."
Curiosity piqued, Knox couldn't help but inquire, "You seem to possess a deep understanding of Lucas. What is the story behind your connection?"
A fleeting smile graced Lilian's lips, but her eyes betrayed a profound sadness. "That, young Alpha, is a tale for another day. For now, go and find your mate. I have told you all you wanted to know."
With a nod of respect, Knox turned on his heels and strode purposefully down the corridor of the pack house. As he walked, he sensed a shift in Aria's energy, an unsettling darkness shrouding her aura.
Instinct kicked in, and Knox quickened his pace, his heart pounding with urgency. Bursting through the door to Aria's room, he froze at the sight that greeted him. Her once vibrant eyes were now blackened, and dark lines trailed down her tear-stained cheeks. Her presence exuded a feral rage, evident in the vicious growl that tore from her throat as she spotted the intruder.
Before Knox could react, Aria lunged toward the window, her fury shattering the glass upon impact. In an instant, she was gone, disappearing into the night.
His gaze fell upon the motionless figure lying on the floor.JB was surrounded by blood.
Knox couldn't feel him so he focused his senses hoping that he was wrong.
He tried again but it was the same. JB lay still unmoving on the ground and he couldn't hear a heartbeat.