Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox) novel Chapter 8

"What do you mean by that they are coming for the Nightshade's territory?"
"That bastard is making a claim. According to him, he is still Knox's Alpha, so the territory belongs to him."
"I don't understand. It's been years since we left, why is Nikolai coming now?"
Shana bent down, picking some clothes from behind the trees. "I don't know. I just need to find Knox first so we can figure this out. Plan a defense or better still an attack if need be."
Melody followed Shana as she headed in the direction of the pack house.
Shana paused, "Aria, aren't you coming?"
Aria looked at her fingers, "I don't really think it is any of my business."
Melody rolled her eyes, "Are you kidding me? Firstly, you are part of the pack now and secondly, Silvercrest pack was your former pack so this is very much your business. Now come on, let's go."
"But I'm not really sure Knox would like me being there."
Shana laughed, turning to Melody, "She is scared of Knox?"
Melody giggled, "Knox can be really scary when he wants to be. But that doesn't matter. There will be three of us and one of him. We can totally take him."
Aria smiled. She had known them for barely two seconds and they already made her feel like one of them. It felt really nice.
Something she had never had. Back in the Silvercrest pack, Seraphina had always managed to ruin everything for her.
She was an Alpha female yet she had always let Seraphina push her around.
"So….?" Shana started as they walked in silence.
"So what Shana?", Melody asked.
"I was talking to Aria, Mel. No one cares about you."
"Well if you were talking to Aria, you should have specified."
A small smile played on Aria's lips as she watched the banter between the two of them.
"Ariaaaa.", Shana drew out, "What brings you to this part of the land?"
"I thought you were a know it all", Melody muttered under her breath.
"Ryder and Jacob saved me from some wolves and brought me here."
"Oh. And Knox let you into the pack just like that?"
Melody scoffed, "Knox had her face Nebra."
Shana's eyes went round, "And you are still alive?"
"Ryder saved me."
"Oh Ryder" Shana sighed dreamily, "What a wolf in shining armor."
Aria laughed.
 **************
Having given his wolf the freedom he wanted, Knox shifted back into his human form.
He dressed up, preparing to head back into his study. If Nikolai was in the Silvercrest territory and there was a new Alpha, there was going to be an alliance formed and it was only a matter of time before Nikolai made a claim for his land.
Knox knew him too well.
The trio entered the pack house, the air thick with tension. They spotted Knox immediately. His wolf sensed her before he saw her.
Shana strode forward.
Turning to Melody, Aria told her, "I think I will just stay behind."
Melody took her hand dragging her forward.
"Pack business. Pack Member. End of story."
"Open your mouth any wider and your jaw will hit the floor." Shana said as she stood in front of him.
Knox shifted his focus from Aria. He glared at Shana, "Where have you been?"
She waved her hand dismissively, "Here and there. I saw Becca. She is alive."
"I know."
"I spoke to her."
Knox tilted his head, before he calmly spoke, "What did she say?"
"I don't know what happened but the Becca we know is gone. She asked me to give you a message. Nikolai is making a claim on our territory. He says he's still the Alpha and that it belongs to him."
"I see."
Shana crossed her hand, "What do you see?"
"I knew Nikolai would come. I've always known it. All the other packs are scared of me but with Gabriel gone, he thinks aligning himself with the Silvercrest pack will be enough."
Melody joined the conversation, "So we are going to attack first right?"
Knox looked between the two of them. Aria tried to focus on everything around but him as her wolf purred from him being so close.
"No. We are not attacking. If Nikolai wants my territory then he is going to have to make the first move."
"But Knox."
"But nothing Shana and you are not to leave the territory without informing me first. Do you understand?"
Shana bowed her head in submission, "Of course Alpha."
"Tell Mark to gather the pack into the hall. They need to know what is happening." He turned to Aria, "I need to ask you some questions."
Shana and Melody bowed before walking away.
Aria stood staring at him.
His black hair fell to his forehead. She wanted to push it backwards while running her hand through it. His green eyes pierced her, rooting her to the spot. The color changed and they flashed black briefly.
Knox did not only ooze power that made her nipples tighten. He was gorgeous.
Her eyes went down to his lips. His beautiful lips that were pressed in a thin line.
"Aria, I asked you a question." She blinked, "Sorry. I wasn't listening."
She covered her mouth realizing she had said it out loud. The frown marred his face deeper.
"I said," What do I need to know about Julian?"
"Oh. Julian. He is Liam's father. Liam is my mate."
Knox's wolf growled as his eyes flashed black at the mention of another wolf having a claim to her.
"Anything else?"
"He has always been there. Like a shadow. I always avoided him because he gave me the creeps. Like he was always hiding something."
"Okay. That's all."
She nodded as she turned away.
"Aria?"
She turned back to face him.
"I'm sorry about your father."
 ************************
The pack members gathered in the main hall.
Knox stood at the front, his presence commanding attention. Ryder and Jacob stood at his side.
He cleared his throat, "There are no secrets in the pack. Everyone deserves to know the truth of what is happening. Nikolai is making a claim to our territory."
There were low murmurs.
"For those of you that don't know who Nikolai is. He is the Alpha of the Bloodmoon pack, my former pack. I know him and he would be expecting me to make the first move but I won't. The Nightshade pack has managed to stay isolated, away from trouble and I plan to keep it that way but make no mistake. If any pack attacks, there will be blood."
"We didn't have a problem before that bitch showed up." Sophia spat out.
Shana turned to her, "Sophia honey. It's not time for the whores to speak."
"You fucking bitch. I swear-"
"Sophia." Knox growled, making everyone bow their heads.
Sophia threw Shana a dirty look before taking a step backwards.
The tension died down a little before Mark spoke, "So what are we going to do? Just sit back and wait?"
Others hummed in agreement.
"We are going to continue with our daily lives. But I would need you and the other sentinels on extra watch. Anything at all, report to me."
Mark nodded.
Tyler, a teenage wolf, stood, "Why does Nikolai want our territory?"
Knox sighed, "He has always been hungry for power. I just wished I had seen it a little earlier. Does anyone have anything to say?"
Everyone kept quiet.
"Okay then. The meeting is-"
"What if you formed alliances with other packs?"
All heads turned to look at Aria but she continued, "My father told me Alpha Randy was a good wolf. Julian and Nikolai are stronger together and no matter how strong a wolf is they would always need their pack just like you would be stronger with more wolves standing by you."
The room fell silent as Knox studied Aria.
She held her head high facing him like the Alpha female she was.
"Okay."
A few pack members gasped in surprise.
She blinked in surprise too, "Okay?"
"Tomorrow I will visit the Moonlight pack and you are coming with me. Meeting dismissed."
Her eyes widened as she watched him walk out.
Ryder turned to Knox immediately they made it into his study, "I didn't expect you to agree so fast."
"She made a convincing argument."
Ryder eyed him, "Is that all?"
"Yes. What else would there be to it?"
Ryder shrugged, "I don't know. That's why I'm asking."
"There's nothing more to it."
Ryder nodded, "I will reach out to Alpha Randy and set up the meeting."
Ryder lowered his gaze in respect before leaving.
 *************
"Where are we going?" Aria asked as she followed Shana and Melody behind.
Shana laughed, "We are taking to you one of my favorite places on the pack ground."
They led Aria through the pack's training grounds, the air buzzing with anticipation and energy. The scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass filled the air, adding to the atmosphere. As they walked, Melody explained the various areas dedicated to combat training and honing their skills.
"It's really huge. My former pack didn't have anything like this."
She observed the pack members who were on the ground already, their intense focus as they sparred and trained, their movements fluid and precise.
"Aria, you wanna spar?"
She shook her head.
"Come on. It will be fun."
"Thank you but no. I am a really slow healer and I like my bones in one piece."
Shana threw her hair in a messy bun, "Your loss. Mel you are up."
"Uhm thanks but I'm with Aria. She barely even knows you and she already knows you are violent."
"If you two don't want to spar then what am I supposed to do with my time?"
"You could read a book." Melody laughed, earning a glare from Shana.
"I will spar you." They all turned to Sophia who stood with an evil smile on her face.
Shana clicked her tongue, "It still isn't time for whores to speak."
"If you call me a whore one more time Shana. I'm going to-"
Melody stepped forward, "You are going to what Sophia? Run to Knox? Sorry to disappoint but he lost interest in you a long time ago honey. Maybe if you hadn't been so eager to spread your legs everytime he needed a quick fuck, he would still be-"
Sophia slapped Melody across the face before she could finish the sentence.
Melody was about to lunge at her with her claws extracted when Aria spoke up, "I will spar you."
A victorious smile spread across Sophia's face.
Aria stood tall, her gaze locked onto Sophia's determined eyes. She took a deep breath, channeling the confidence she felt. The tension between them was palpable as they entered their combat stances. Pack members gathered around to watch the scene unfolding.
Aria knew it wasn't going to be a spar. Sophia wanted blood.
Shana crossed her arms, whispering to Melody, "Sophia might be a bitch but she has one hell of a powerful wolf."
Melody rubbed her cheeks, "Aria has the mark of the moon goddess."
Sophia lunged forward with a feral growl, her claws slashing through the air. Aria's agility and quick reflexes came into play as she smoothly dodged Sophia's initial attack.
She spent a lot of her time reading but her father ensured she knew how to combat.
Her skills would have done her no good in the woods. There was a difference between combat and fighting vicious wolves off.
That she might have been unprepared for, but this? Sophia wouldn't know what hit her.
Sophia lunged at her again, her energy radiating the anger she felt. Aria's movements were fluid. She anticipated Sophia's strikes, sidestepping and countering with calculated precision.
The more Aria avoided the attack, the angrier Sophia became.
She came at her and this time Aria stood her ground, extracting her claws, she slashed Sophia across the cheeks.
"Holy Shit." Shana and Melody said at the same time as other wolves gasped.
Lydia stood beside Knox and Ryder as they watched the fight with a smile on her face, "Girl knows how to use those claws."
 Sophia removed her hand from her cheek staring at her blood stained fingers. Her eyes darkened.
Bones cracked and with a growl that reverberated through the training grounds, she shifted into her wolf form, her large, menacing figure lunging towards Aria with primal fury.
Aria's eyes widened at the sudden transformation, but she remained focused. Instinctively, she raised her arms, bracing for the impact. Her mark glowed under the sun and as Sophia's wolf collided, her muscles tensed and a burst of energy propelled through her causing Sophia's wolf to be flung backwards.
The wolf crashed to the ground, shifting back into her human form immediately.
"Holy Shit." Shana and Melody said together again.
Aria stared at her hands.
The training grounds fell into an astonished silence. Mirrored look of shock spread round the pack members faces.
Sophia groaned on the floor and Aria was about to rush to her but Melody held her back, "The bitch deserves everything she gets."
Aria was about to protest when an average sized wolf ran past them.
The wolf shifted and Tyler stood in of Knox.
He faced Knox then bowed,"I went for a run and I got curious so I went a little further."
"You know that is not allowed."Ryder's deep voice boomed.
Tyler shook his head, "I promise I didn't go past the boundary but I found something at the border."
He presented a white sheet.
Knox took it from him, scanning through. His eyes went to Aria immediately.
"It's an invitation to the mating ceremony of Seraphina to Julian."
Aria's eyes widened, "What?"
Knox smiled as he read the last line.
"What is it?" Lydia asked.
"An ultimatum from Nikolai. I have until the next full moon to relinquish my claim as Alpha and hand over my territory."