Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 54

Seraphina took a deep breath as she stepped outside the pack house, her bare feet treading on the familiar forest floor. The scent of pine and damp earth filled her senses, but her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the recent battle against the Nightshade pack. It had been a devastating defeat, and tensions were running high within her own pack.
The memories of that fateful day haunted her as she strolled along the winding path.The loss had hit Julian hard. Ever since then, things had changed between them. The once close bond they shared had grown strained, and the pack could feel the tension between them.
As she walked, Seraphina couldn't help but reflect on the events leading up to the battle.
She shook her head, trying to clear the memories from her mind, but they clung to her like thorns. Seraphina felt a heavy weight on her heart as she wondered if there was something they could have done differently. Maybe she should have spoken up, offered an alternative strategy, gathered more wolves, formed more alliances. But it was too late for regrets now.
As she reached a small clearing, Seraphina sat down, gazing at the rays of sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Every wolf in the pack felt the tension, and it was affecting their unity.
She remembered the night after the battle, when the pack gathered to mourn their fallen comrades. Julian had delivered a somber speech, taking responsibility for the loss, but it was clear he was struggling. His once unwavering confidence had been replaced by doubt, and it had shaken the pack's trust in his leadership.
The howls of discontent had grown louder since that night. Some questioned Julian's decisions openly, while others whispered their doubts.
She stood up, her feet leading her down the part towards the cave.
Liam looked up at Seraphina as she stood in front of his cell. A weak mocking smile graced his lips, "Long time no see mate."
Seraphina's gaze hardened as she stared at Liam through the bars of his cell. His weak, mocking smile only fueled her irritation. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check, and then responded, "Save your pleasantries, Liam. We have more pressing matters to discuss."
Liam chuckled softly, but there was a bitter edge to it. "Oh, but it's been such a long time since we've had a heart-to-heart, don't you think? I've missed these delightful chats."
"I'm not here to reminisce," Seraphina retorted, her patience wearing thin. "Your father's position in the pack is not my concern right now. What matters is that we lost the battle against the Nightshade pack, and we need to address the tensions it's causing."
Liam laughed but the sound came out weak, "We?" You come here and you have the audacity to say we? After all you did to me?" Liam sneered, leaning against the cell bars casually. "It must be hard for you, knowing my father isn't as impeccable as you once believed."
Seraphina's jaw clenched, but she refused to let his taunts get to her. Seraphina took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself despite the rising tension between them. "Liam, you need to speak to your father. You are his son, maybe he would listen to you because he refuses to see me."
Liam smiled sadly before his jaw hardened, and he looked away, his eyes filled with anger. "I don't have a father anymore," he spat out bitterly. "Not after what he did to me. You betrayed me then the two of you cast me, leaving me to rot in this cell and you expect me to care?"
"I have no reason to help you. You are nothing to me" Liam snapped, his eyes narrowing with hostility. "After everything you and Julian put me through."
" I know you Liam. You are spineless. Even though you pretend, you know you want to do everything to still please him."
Liam scoffed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his expression. "You think you know me so well, don't you? You think you understand what I feel and what I want."
 "Think about it, Liam. You have a choice now. You can stay locked in this cell, consumed by bitterness and hatred, or I could let you out and you can try to make Julian see reason."
Liam's eyes hardened, his resolve strengthening as he looked back at Seraphina. "Even if I wanted to talk to him. He won't listen to me, just like he is not listening to you. He only cares about himself and his own ambitions."
Seraphina's anger simmered beneath the surface, her frustration evident in her voice. "I understand that he has made mistakes, Liam, but he's still your father. He loves and cares for you."
Liam's laughter was bitter. "Love? You call locking me away and treating me like a traitor love? He only cares about the pack's reputation, not about me."
"You act as if you're so righteous. You are evil Seraphina and you are going to pay for all of it someday Liam retorted, his tone biting. "You manipulated me, used me to get what you wanted, and then tossed me aside like I was nothing."
Seraphina's patience was wearing thin, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I never wanted to use you, Liam. I did what I thought was necessary for the pack's survival."
Liam shook his head, his eyes burning with anger. "And what about my survival? You didn't care about that, did you? You didn't care about the pain I was going through."
"I did care," Seraphina replied, her voice tinged with regret."
Liam's voice was filled with bitterness. "Greater good? Is that what you call it? You and Julian care more about power only. I wronged Aria. I just hope she finds it in her mesrt to forgive me someday."
At the mention of her sister's name, Aria, Seraphina's wolf growled in her head. "Don't bring Aria into this," she warned, her eyes flashing with anger.
Liam smirked, seemingly undeterred. "Oh, but she does. She would never have treated me the way you did. She always cared about me, no matter what."
Liam's eyes glinted with defiance. "You're just like him. You both use people to get what you want, and you don't care about the consequences."
Seraphina's fists clenched, her anger boiling over. "Enough! I came here thinking you would be reasonable but you are just as dumb as I thought."
The tension in the air was thick, the emotions between Seraphina and Liam reaching a boiling point. Seraphina's anger flared, her wolf growling within her as Liam continued to taunt her with Aria's name.
"Liam, I'm warning you," Seraphina's voice was sharp, her eyes blazing with fury. "Stop bringing Aria into this. This is between you and me."
Liam's smirk only widened, his defiance unyielding. "Oh, but it's so much more than that, isn't it? You've always been jealous of her, haven't you? Jealous of her power, her loyalty, her ability to connect with the pack."
Seraphina's jaw clenched, trying to keep her emotions in check. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't I?" Liam retorted. "I've seen the way you look at her, the way you've always tried to outshine her. But no matter what you do, you'll never be more powerful than Aria."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed, a flicker of hurt crossing her features. Liam knew exactly what he was doing knowing Aria had always sparked a nerve.
"And what's right for the pack is for Aria to be the Alpha," Liam shot back. "She's the true leader, not you and definitely not my spiteful father."
"You don't get to decide that," Seraphina said through gritted teeth. "I am Luna and I will do whatever it takes to protect my pack. Atria is gone and she is never coming back.""
Liam's laughter was bitter, filled with contempt. "Protect the pack? You've done a great job of that, haven't you? Look at where we are now, divided and broken."
The exchange of harsh words continued, each word like a dagger aimed at the other's heart. Seraphina's anger grew, her wolf urging her to lash out, but she held onto what little restraint she had left.
And then Liam's words took a different turn as a tiny smile graced his face, "I heard whispers," he said, his voice lower now, "Whispers that you Aria finally shifted. I heard it was glorious and it must kill you knowing that no matter how much you try, no matter how manipulative you are, Aria will always remain the chosen wolf. Marked by the moon goddess and chosen by your father."
Seraphina folded her arms hissing the words out, "Gabriel is not my father." Seraphina seethed, her voice sharp and defensive. "He may have raised me, but he's not my blood."
Liam's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with malice. "Ah, yes. The daughter he raised as his own. How convenient for you, isn't it? He treated you like family, and yet, you were foolish enough to help Julian kill him."
Seraphina's fists clenched at her sides, her anger boiling over. "You have no idea what happened that night," she spat. "You weren't there."
"I know enough," Liam retorted. "I know that you and Julian conspired to take him down, and you succeeded. And now you're reaping the rewards, basking in the glory of being Luna."
"It wasn't like that!" Seraphina snapped. "Gabriel was never going to let the Silvercrest pack reach its full potential."
Liam's laughter was bitter and filled with scorn. "So you killed him? You and Julian thought you were above the consequences. But mark my words, Seraphina, those consequences will catch up to you."
Seraphina's eyes blazed with anger. "It was necessary. I did what needed to be done."
"Necessary? Is that what you tell yourself to justify your actions?" Liam sneered. "You're just as bad as Julian, willing to sacrifice anyone and anything for power."
Liam's eyes bore into hers, his gaze unwavering. "You may have the title of Luna, but you'll never have the respect that Aria commands. She's the true leader, chosen by the moon goddess herself."
At the mention of her sister's name, Seraphina's wolf growled within her, but she forced herself to remain calm. "Aria is gone,"
Liam's expression hardened, his voice dripping with disdain. "And your choice was to betray your own family. To side with Julian and take down Gabriel."
 "I did what I believed was right for the pack. Helping Julian become Alpha is exactly what the pack needed."
"Your version of right is twisted," Liam shot back. "You let power blind you, and now you're trying to control everyone, including me."
"I'm not trying to control you. I am to give you another chance here. Talk to your father. Make him see reason. We can move past it. You will be free to do as you wish, have a family. Perhaps Julian will finally see your true potential and you will be a family."
"A family?" Liam scoffed. "You think we're still a family after what you and Julian did? You destroyed everything and he has never treated me like family."
"You're a fool if you think anything will change," he said coldly. "I will never forgive you, and I will never forget what you've done.There's no reconciling with a monster," Liam said, his voice filled with venom. "You and Julian are both monsters."
But he only turned away, refusing to meet her gaze. "Sorry won't change anything," he said. "You made your choice, and now we all have to live with the consequences."With that, he turned away from her. She stared at him for a moment before finally turning around and walking away.
Lucas waited for a few minutes after Seraphina walked away before finally stepping out of the Shadows.
"You seem to be exactly what I need."
Liam turned around, his eyes clashing with Lucas', "Gabriel? I thought…I don't understand how you are alive."
Lucas smiled, "I am not Gabriel. But you might have heard of me."
Realization dawned on Liam, "Lucas."
"Very good. You know who I am. Now let's get straight to the point here. I am here for the Silvercrest pack. Your father stands him my way."
"I have no father." Liam spat out.
An even bigger smile graced Lucas face, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
The ground shook as Lucas raised his hand. In one second the prison cell burst open.
"I have come to collect what is mine and then every other territory and I will be the Alpha of all Alphas. Will you stand with me?"
Liam stood up shakily, his weakened body almost giving out. He took a bow.
"As your reward. I will give you the chance to kill your father. Tonight Julian dies."